Newlook Sale Dresses

Monday, March 31, 2014
When the Newlook midseason sale started just over one week ago I did go a little crazy, I bought three dresses, two jumpers, a pair of grey flats and a pair of boots. A top and the boots had to go back but here are the dresses that I bought in the sale. You may still be able to find the dresses in stores, although it can be difficult to find great items in the Newlook sales in the stores - too messy! 
Outfit one - Elephant Print Dress (£14.99, reduced to £7). Sadly this dress is not on the website anymore but there is a similar black version. I went a little bit dress crazy but I just loved the print of this dress. The material is really smooth and silky and the dress fits really well. This is my first purchase from the Newlook petite range and I am very happy with the dress!

Outfit two - Red Floral Smock Dress (£17.99, reduced to around £6): A lot of the dresses in the Newlook sale when it started online were only about £5 or £6 each thats why I bought three! Even though I cannot find this exact dress online there are a lot on the website that look very similar. I love the colour, print and the style of this dress. The only problem for me is the waist, it is not elasticated so it is difficult to take off, even though it is a UK 8 so I would probably size up if you find this dress. 

Outfit three - Grey 2 in 1 T-Shirt Dress (£17.99, reduced to £10): This dress is still in stock on the website! I love this dress, it is my favourite out of the three - the way it fits me and the way it hangs is really nice. It is super comfy and casual. I paired it with my *Delilah Dust Quartz necklace and my Black Tied Circle Necklace. 

All of my outfits are paired with my Select (Yoox) black velvet wedges and my *Oroblu tights from Luxury Legs. The faux leather jacket is from Promod. All photographs were taken by my sister who has her own student/lifestyle blog, click here to check it out

What do you think of these dresses? Have you bought anything in the recent sales?

Spring Beauty Wish List

Sunday, March 30, 2014
So spring has now sprung - it is sunny and the daffodils are in bloom so it is time for a spring beauty wish list. I am also going to post a spring fashion and spring homeware wish list too. 

1. Lush Bunch of Carrots (Easter Collection, £5.95 for three): How cute! Not only do you get a cute multi-use bubble bar but you get three. The carrots are supposed to smell like lemon, bergamot and tropical fruits. I think these cuties are great value too. 

2. Benefit Gimme Brow (£17): I have read so many blog posts and photos of this product, it looks amazing. It is a brow gel that has fibres in it to fill in and set the brows in one. As a statement brow loving girl I feel like I have to try it especially as I have quite unruly brows that need filling in everyday.

3. MAC Warm Neutrals Palette (£65): Now I have the Cool Neutral palette and I adore it, I have been using it everyday since I bought it but I have been drooling over the Warm Neutrals palette too and come on you can never have too many neutral palettes!

4. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks (£23): I am so late on the band wagon with these, I hear so many good things about them. I am currently craving the shade Canvas which I do need in my life. The pigmentation and lasting power sound fantastic. 

5. GHD IV Lavender Limited Edition Styler (£110): I have entered a GHD Hair Pinterest competition to win the lavender styler, I think it is a gorgeous shade and I have had my GHD IV Salon Styler (wide) for going on five years now and I hate my current straighteners from Nicky Clarke so these are very high on my wish list.

6. Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum (50ml, £39-41): I recently won a runner up prize in a Nuxe blogger competition and my prize was a Nuxe face mask and the box/paper it came in smelled just heavenly and I asked what the scent was and it was this fragrance - I have already bought it and I LOVE IT!

What is on your spring beauty wish list? Have you tried any of these products?

Review: Fashion Union Judy Biker Jacket

Saturday, March 29, 2014
I picked this gorgeous jacket from Fashion Union (through EtailPR) to review. Even though this item was sent for review it does not change my opinion of the brand/product. I have reviewed an item from Fashion Union previously, click here to read the post
I have the *Fashion Union Judy Oversized Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket (£60) in a size S, Small. I have a couple of biker jackets but they are not like this one, it is just gorgeous! I love the style, the fur collar and the fit is fantastic. It also feels very well made and thick. I am a UK size 8/10 for jackets and a size Small fits very well, I am really happy with the fit. 

I think the jacket is supposed to be a bit cropped but as I am really tiny at 4ft 10 inches it is almost normal length on me. I would have preferred it to be slightly longer but that is my only complain about this jacket. I love the grey tweedesque material and the super soft faux fur collar. There is also a soft furry lining too which makes it a really warm, cosy and practical jacket. I have paired the jacket with my Dorothy Perkins Petite Skinny jeans, a primark black cami and my Asos ankle boots. I think this jacket would also look great with black jeans or a basic skater dress and boots. 

Overall, I am extremely happy with this jacket! I love the design, fit, quality and it is super warm/cosy. I cannot recommend this jacket enough and even though it is a bit expensive, I think it is worth it and I will definitely get a lot of wear out of it!You can check out more items from Fashion Union, here. Also Fashion Union currently offer 15% off for students. ★★★★★, this jacket is easily a 5/5 for me!

Have you bought anything from Fashion Union before? What do you think of this jacket?

Review: Nuxe & Caudalie Shower Gels

Friday, March 28, 2014
I was very kindly sent a few products from the lovely people at Farmaline which is a online pharmacy based in Belgium that sell a wide range of skincare (particularly french skincare) that you cannot really find in the UK. For more information on my disclaimer, click here, honesty as always. 

Caudalie Fleur De Vigne Shower Gel (£8.02, 200ml): I have the fragrance from Caudalie of this scent and I adore it. The scent is so fresh - it smells like freshly cut grass and a summers day! The shower gel packaging is great and the delivery time was fantastic (super fast delivery). The shower gel lathers really well so you only need a small amount each time and the scent is just heaven, perfect for this time of the year. It leaves my skin smooth, clean and it doesn't irritate my skin at all. Overall, I love Caudalie as a brand and every product from them (apart from one) has been amazing, including this one. ★★★★★, 5/5 stars!

Nuxe Fondant Shower Gel (£7.22, 200ml): If you are not a fan of super fresh, almost herbal scents then this one may be for you. I haven't tried any other Nuxe shower gels but I need too now. This one is soap free so if you are sensitive to soap, this one may be one to try. The scent is just gorgeous, it smells like sugared almonds, vanilla, marshmallow - so lush, girly and sweet! I adore the scent of both shower gels. As with the Caudalie shower gel, this one lathers really well too, you only need a small amount. So even though they are a little expensive, you do get a lot of product and a little does a long way with these two shower gels. ★★★★★, 5/5 stars.

Have you tried either of these shower gels before? 

Review: Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum

Tuesday, March 25, 2014
I was very happy to receive this serum from the lovely people at Escentual (my favourite destination for French skincare in the UK)! Even though I received this product to review, my opinions are my own - honesty as always. For more information on my personal disclaimer, click here.
I have the *Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum (£12.75 1/3 off throughout March, 30ml). I have tried a few skincare products from Avene - I hate the Avene rich compensating cream as it does irritate my skin but the Avene no rinse gentle cleanser and the Avene water spray are just amazing! 

Firstly, the delivery was quick and the product was well packaged. The packaging for the serum is simple and effective, no excess packaging in my opinion. The bottle is made of frosted glass which looks and feels very expensive and luxe in my opinion - it makes the product feel nicer to use if it has pretty, luxe packaging! 

I have tried a few serums such as the YSL youth liberator serum (which I adore), the Caudalie sos serum and the Boots botanics skin relief serum, all of which I like. I haven't used a serum since this one for a while and I think serums do make a nice, effective addition to my skincare routine. A serum is used after cleansing and before moisturising, there are a lot of serums on the market and they all have different claims. This serum is aimed at dry/dehydrated/sensitive skin types which described my skin perfectly. I have been using this serum twice a day for about one week now and I love it! 

The serum glides onto the skin so effortlessly, you only need one pump for the whole face and it makes my skin feel so smooth, soft and moisturised. It doesn't irritate my skin at all (and I have on/off eczema patches). I love the way it feels on the skin, it absorbs quickly and it makes a nice addition to my skin care routine. I find it adds an almost instant boost of smoothness and moisture to my skin which it definitely needs! 

Overall, I am very happy with the packaging, application and results of this serum. I will be buying it when I have finished this bottle. All french skincare brands are currently 1/3 off throughout March on Escentual and I have quite a few items on my wish list such as the Avene gentle toner, the Caudalie nourishing body lotion (which I LOVE) and the Caudalie divine oil. As for this little wonder serum, it has to be ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried this serum? What are your top french skincare products?

Mother's Day Gift Guide #2

Monday, March 24, 2014
I have already created a Mother's Day gift guide which is more lifestyle/home themed so I wanted to create a beauty gift guide. I love fragrance, makeup and gift sets and my mum does too, it is a great go to present if you are a bit stuck for ideas. Here are my picks from Fragrance Direct, this is not a sponsored post.
 1. Orla Kiely Geranium Bath & Hand Set (£9.99): I am a fan of Orla Kiely prints/products and this set looks so cute and expensive! It contains four (50ml) bath/body/hand products. A great all round gift set that definitely looks the part.

2.  Prada Infusion D'Iris Perfume Set (£45.99, 50ml): I actually have this fragrance - I bought the 100ml EDP while on a Royal Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago for....$100, I can't believe I spent that much money on one fragrance but it is my favourite fragrance of all time. It is gorgeous, fresh, floral and I think everyone would like it. This set comes with a 50ml fragrance and a body lotion. 

3. Rose & Co Patisserie De Bain English Tea Room Bath Melts (£4.99): How cute are these bath melts, I have been lusting after these sets for a while as an alternative to Lush bath bombs. I think this set would make a really nice relaxing gift. Also the price is fantastic in my opinion.

4. Macadamia Natural Oil Canteen Set (£34.99): A bit more of an expensive gift, this gift looks like a really nice substantial set. It contains the shampoo, mask, healing oil treatment and the oil infused comb. I have heard so many good things about the Macadamia Oil brand/products. The box it comes in looks pretty amazing too, great to keep afterwards as a storage box. 

5. Lancome La Vie Est Belle (£36.99, 30ml edp): I have a mini bottle of this fragrance from Lancome, it is one of their most recent fragrance releases. Firstly, the bottle is gorgeous - even the mini bottle I have has the cute bow. It is a feminine, sweet and fresh but musky fragrance - quite unique, girly but sophisticated. 

6. Ciate Mini Mani Month Set (£16.99): Now this would be a fantastic Mother's Day gift - they could open all of the advent calendar set in one or they could spread out the Mother's Day joy through out 24 days. Also who doesn't love Ciate polishes, I have at least six at they are great! The colour range and selection in this set looks like there will be something to suit everyone. 

I really want all of these sets for myself....daughter's day anyone? 

Review: Wild Olive Peony Sundae

Sunday, March 23, 2014
Here is another item that I was very kindly sent to review by the lovely people at Wild Olive, which is a British bath, body and candle company. I have already reviewed the Wild Olive Tuberose & Jasmine Natural Soy & Olive Candle and I LOVE it, click here to read my review. Even though these products were sent to me my opinions are my own, to read my disclaimer, click here

I have the *Wild Olive Bath Sundae in the scent 'Peony' (£2.25) - the photograph online looks different to the item I have. I have tried quite a lot of bath bombs from Lush and also Bomb Cosmetics and this has to be one of the cutest bath bombs/melts I have seen! It looks like a little ice cream sundae with pink hearts on it in its own little paper cup! 

As with the Wild Olive candle the presentation and appearance of this products is just gorgeous! This bath sundae smells divine, so sweet and floral, I love it! I used this bath bomb/melt a last week when I had really bad chest ache (part muscular, part infection) and it was such a nice product to use. 

The top half of the sundae is a creamy melt and the lower half in the paper cup is a bath bomb that fizzes. The combination is really nice as you get the exciting fizzling bath bomb with a creamy moisturising bath melt - genius! The scent is so sweet and lovely but not overpowering. It took a while to melt/dissolve fully which is great, it filled the bathroom with a lovely floral scent and it actually made the water smell floral and sweet. A lot of Lush bath bombs smell nice before the bath but they don't seem to smell while they are in the bath so it was nice to find that this one does. 

The gorgeously sweet, floral scent even lingered on my skin (and in the bathroom), very impressive. The bath sundae also left my skin feeling smooth, soft and moisturised - I didn't need to use a body butter after my bath which is fantastic. Overall, cute packaging, good price, gorgeous scent and it leaves the skin scented slightly and well moisturised. ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried anything from Wild Olive before?

Mother's Day Gifts With Fragrance Direct

Friday, March 21, 2014
I think this perfume gift set is the most beautifully packaged/presented gift set ever! I was able to choose this gift set to review by the amazingly lovely people at Fragrance Direct. I have made quite a few orders through Fragrance Direct before with my own money so I definitely wanted to work with them. Even though this product was sent for review it does not change my opinion of the brand/products, my opinions are my own - for more information on my disclaimer, click here.
I have the *Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum Gift Set (50ml, £52.50) which I have to say is just so beautiful, I am a bit of a sucker for packaging and this box and perfume bottle are divine! I haven't owned a perfume from Valentino before but I do always give them a sniff when I am browsing through Boots etc. Firstly, the delivery time was good and the gift set was very well protected. 

Now, the packaging, I really cannot say enough good things about the packaging and presentation of this fragrance. The box looks like a designer hat box, it is a gorgeous pale pink with a ribbon so you can carry it I guess. The box would be great as a storage box too, it just looks so decadent, luxe and super expensive in my opinion. The set looks like a stunning Mother's Day or birthday gift. For these photos I did want to have pink flowers but I could only find red, I think I am going to start doing the typical blogger thing and have flowers in more photograph backgrounds, so pretty! The perfume and lotion bottles themselves are equally beautiful. 

The fragrance contains top notes of tuber and green apple, middle notes of jasmine, strawberry, African orange flower and tuberose and base notes of cedar, amber and vanilla. It sounds just like the type of fragrance that myself and my mum love. It smells divine, I think it would suit a wide range of ages as it is a feminine, floral but musky fragrance that I think most will love.Overall, a lovely fragrance with equally lovely packaging that would make a fantastic (and very luxe) Mother's Day gift! 

For more information on this fragrance and to view other gift sets check out Fragrance Direct, here. You can save 10% of this beautiful gift set and others by using the code: GIFTSET10 at the 
checkout (ends midnight 23rd March)! What do you think of this gift set?

Other gift sets @ Fragrance Direct:
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Review: Arbonne #1

Thursday, March 20, 2014
I was contacted last year about reviewing some products from Arbonne and Arbonne isn't a brand that I had heard of before but after a browse on their site I said yes, even though these products/samples were sent for review it doesn't change my opinion of the brand/products, for more information on my disclaimer, click here

Firstly, I have the *Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation in the shade 'Porcelain' (£31) which I wouldn't really describe as 'Porcelain' but it does match my pale skin well, I think it is the lightest shade. I have a sample of it (about 1/3 of a bottle) and I have been using it on and off for almost two weeks and I have to say, it is a really nice foundation. I have dry and sensitive skin so finding a good foundation can be really difficult but this one has full/medium coverage and when applied on top of moisturiser and primer it doesn't emphasise dryness. It blends really well, it doesn't irritate my skin and it covers most of what I want to cover - you only need the tiniest amount otherwise it can look a bit caky. ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

I also have the *full size blusher in the shade 'Ballet' (£20) and if you have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I do not wear blusher. It is one of the very few makeup items that I never really use (along with tan and fake lashes). Although I have used this to review and it is such a pretty natural pink shade - the name 'ballet' is definitely accurate. The blush applies and blends well, it is not super pigmented so you don't have to worry about looking like a clown! ★★★★☆, 4/5.

The last product I have to review in this post is the *Lip Polish in 'Brown Sugar' (£18) - now before opening the sachet I expected it to be a brown sugar lip scrub (clearly I didn't read the leaflets for this sample) so I was disappointed to see it was a lip gloss in a browny shade. I tried it and it is actually really nice, on my lips it looks like a rosy pink, brown shade (because of my natural lip colour) and it makes my lips looks fuller and glossy. It does feel a little bit sticky and heavy on the lips but it lasted fairly well and it was very smooth on the lips. ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Overall, I am impressed with the products I have tried and I am definitely interested in more Arbonne cosmetics such as their eyeshadows, CC cream and fragrances too. I will have another post reviewing the other samples I received over the next week or so - to see more Arbonne products, click here. Have you tried Arbonne products before? 

Blogger Competition: HOF 'Inspired By Mum'

Tuesday, March 18, 2014
I was recently contacted by House of Fraser asking whether I would like to take part in their new Mother's Day, 'Inspired by Mum' blogger competition. You have to be a blogger to enter - to enter you just need to create an outfit or beauty look inspired by your mum, then photograph your look and post it on your blog. In the post you need say which item from House of Fraser would 'complete' your look, it could be an accessory, clothing item or a beauty item. Leave a comment on the House of Fraser Competition blog post (here) with a link so they can see your blog post entry. The competition closes on the 2nd April at midnight, for more information check out House of Fraser's blog. Here is my entry/look!
The photos of me are from a couple of months ago, I have been ill recently so I had to use older photos but the makeup is the same as I wear all of the time



This makeup look is one that I wear the majority of the time, it is inspired by my mum as she wear very natural makeup which is defined and simple but pretty. My mum is never overly made up with makeup (unless she is dressed as an umpalumpa for world book day at work) so I take her lead with my makeup. My stance on my makeup on the whole is to define and perfect as much as I can, I love to contour and cover but keep my skin looking like skin. I think less is more although I do love me some winged liner. Here are the steps to achieve my natural 'inspired by mum' makeup look.

Base: For my foundation I used the Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in the shade 'believe in me ivory' (£25.50) which I love but the shade is a bit too dark so I use a really small amount and blend it down my neck too. I used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply my foundation, it is amazing as all of the RT brushes are. Now onto concealer, I have super dark circles and dry skin especially around my eyes...then add in a couple of very fine lines and it is a concealers worst nightmare! I haven't found my dream concealer and I don't think I ever will but this Clinique Airbrush Concealer (04, £18) is the closest thing I have found so far to perfection. It is a great shade, it has medium coverage, it doesn't emphasise dryness and it blends incredibly quickly/easily. 

Brows: My mum doesn't do anything to her brows but mine are so unruly that I have too. I fill them in pretty much everyday and I used my Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering (£13). It is a fantastic twist up pencil, so quick and easy to use. Then seal with brow gel, I love the Tweezerman Brow Mousse but for this look I used a MUA clear mascara. 

Eyes: I always apply something on my eyes and for a quick two eyeshadow look I use my Nars Pleasures of Paris palette which I have had for ages. I use my trusty Nars Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer (£18) first and this primer is one of my holy grail products. I have quite deep set eyes and eyeshadow always creases on me - this primer keeps my eyeshadow crease free for most of the day, which for me is very impressive. Then I apply the shade 'abyssinia' all over the lid for a brightening base; then just along the upper lash line I apply the shade 'cordura' to define the eyes and it makes the lashes look thicker and fuller instantly! Then onto the lashes themselves, both myself and my mum always wear mascara, I think it makes a real difference overall.  Firstly I use my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and yes it is worth the hype (and the slightly steep price tag). I either use my Lancome Hypnose Star mascara (£22.50) or my Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara. 

Lips: For the lips both myself and my mum like to keep it natural - unless it is an evening look, in which case it is plum shades all the way! For this natural daytime look I used the Revlon Lip Butter in the shade 'pink truffle'. 

To complete my 'inspired my mum' look I would have to choose the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Fragrance (£48). For as long as I can remember my mum has had Chanel fragrances as a gift from my dad. They look so expensive and luxe, I love the smell of Coco Mademoiselle, it always reminds me of my mum when ever I smell it. 

There is my entry into the House of Fraser Blogger 'Inspired my mum' Competition! What do you think of my look? Are you going to enter the blogger competition? 

Mother's Day Gift Guide #1

Sunday, March 16, 2014
Mothers day in the UK is just around the corner, it's Sunday 30th March so I thought I would create a gift guide, suggesting items for you to give your mother/guardian or grandma. This is not a sponsored post, the items featured are from Jasper Jewellery, Lush, After Noah and Joules. 

1. Jasper Jewellery Platinum Swarovski Crystal Necklace (£18, €22): I actually have this necklace, I was very kindly sent it to review and my mum really likes it so I think it would make a nice dainty, sophisticated present for mothers day. And Jasper Jewellery items come in boxes and they are already gift wrapped for you! Don't forget you can use my code to get €5 off your order, valid until 31st march - ofbeautyandnothingness5

2. Joules Floral Patch Dog Keyring (£6.95): A cheaper but still cute option. I love this adorable dog keyring, it is a cute and fun present which definitely doesn't break the bank. Great for dog/animal lovers. 

3. Joules Yellow Floral Handy Hand iPhone 5 Case (£19.95): For those techy mums (not my mum!) here is a gorgeous floral iPhone case, it comes in an iPhone 4 size too. As well as this lovely floral design there is also a cute nautical style design. A similar floral design is also available for other tech items and luggage tags etc. Joules is a fantastic place for gifts, in my opinion. 

4. Lush Mothers Day Rose Bubble Bar (£2.95): The cheapest bubble bar and in my opinion, the cutest. Lush bring out new collections for monthers day and other holidays, they are limited edition. Ths one looks and sounds, well, lush!

5. Bougie Artisanale Parfumee Petit Madeleine Candle (@ After Noah, £24): Who doesn't love candles (well my mum is quite paranoid about candles) but I think candles can be so relaxing and cosy especially at this time of the year when it is still really cold outside. I actually won this candle yesterday on Ahem it's Emme's blog giveaway - I can't wait to try it! 

6. The Guilt Free Gourmet Book (£16.99): This recipe book contains gorgeous sounding recipes that do not contain wheat, dairy or sugar - great for a health conscious mum or a cooking mad mum like mine! I really want to have a look through this book, it sounds great, especially as a vegetarian I eat practially the same food all of the time - the grilled polenta with mushrooms and swiss chard sounds great! 

There are my picks for mothers day gifts, well I like all of them for myself too...

Review: Wild Olive Tuberose & Jasmine Candle

Saturday, March 15, 2014
I was very kindly sent three items from the lovely people at Wild Olive, which is a bath, body and candle company based in Derbyshire, England. I am always happy to support British brands. Even though I was sent these products to review, my opinions are my own, for more information on my disclaimer, click here.
I have the *Wild Olive Tuberose and Jasmine Natural Soy & Olive Candle (170g, £6.95). Firstly, the packaging is just gorgeous, the box is super cute and it would make a lovely gift for Mother's Day or birthdays. The presentation is divine, the candle tumbler is glass so it feels quite expensive and I love glass tumbler print too. Overall, it looks quite luxe and expensive!

I have never tried anything, candles or bath/body products, that have 'tuberose' in them, I'm not sure what it is supposed to smell like but it is gorgeous. The scent is very sweet, floral, powdery and it makes me think of sugared almonds, marshmallows and sweet summer time flowers when I smell this candle. The candle burns/melts well, it melts all the way to the sides of the glass tumbler so all of the wax is being used and none of it will be wasted. The wax melts slowly so I think this candle will last quite a long time, the candle is stated to burn for approx. 23 hours. 

The scent is lovely, it is not too strong which I think is a good thing because the scent is quite sweet and floral and if it was very strong then it may be a bit sickly. The scent is quite delicate but definitely noticeable and it disperses fairly well to other rooms. Overall, I am very impressed with the price, packaging, scent and quality of this candle. I am looking into other scents - the mandarin & bergamot candle sounds gorgeous!  ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Have you tried Wild Olive products before? 

Lulu Loves Birchbox

Friday, March 14, 2014
I was subscribed to Glossybox for about one year and then I subscribed to Birchbox and a lot of the boxes were amazing, especially their first box but back in September/October 2013 I unsubscribed to all of the boxes as I was receiving really poor boxes! However, when I saw that Lulu Guinness was going to collaborate with Birchbox, I was quite excited so I ordered! But all is not as it seems...
Firstly, the box, now I thought that the actual box had the Lulu Guinness stripes/design on it but no it is a sleeve! I wanted to keep the box for the stripes on it but it is a flimsy sleeve that I am going to be throwing away so I was really disappointed!

The leaflets that come with the box - one is an information sheet about the samples in the box, there is also a code to get you £20 off a £100 spend on Lulu Guinness. The third leaflet is for a free 'makeupper' and to try the new Gimme Brow. You also get a stick of Lulu Guinness rock/candy which is cute but I will not be eating it, I am giving it to a friend. 

The first sample is a fragrance sample and I am not a big fan of fragrance samples I think they are kind of filler samples to make it look like you received more. However this is the Christopher Wicks English Laundry No7 Fragrance which smells sweet but musky, my mum likes it and it is quite nice but I am going to give it to my mum. I do love the simplistic packaging though. 

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer is the second sample and it is the one I wanted the most. I have wanted to try this primer for months but I am in love with my Nars pro prime. I have tried this a couple of times and while it keeps my eyeshadow looking nice, it isn't as good as my Nars pro prime. Also it has a tint which is too dark/orange for my skin and it emphasises dryness. 

Thirdly, Molton Brown Rhubarb and Rose Hand Cream, this hand cream smells just as nice as it sounds. It smells like old fashioned boiled sweets, maybe like pear drops or rhubarb and custard sweets/candy. I love the scent but I hope it doesn't irritate the eczema on my hand. 

The last couple of samples include the Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner which I will try and use on my nose as I do have large pores there and see how it works. The last sample is the Aromaworks Serenity Body Oil which I haven't tried and I am not a fan of oils - for the face, hair or body so we will have to see about this. 

Overall, I am quite disappointed by this Birchbox, I thought the box would be striped but it is a sleeve. The sample I was most looking forward to using (benefit primer) was a bit disappointing and didn't live up to the hype for me. It is safe to say that I am going to unsubscribe now...again! ★★☆☆☆, 2/5. 

Did you receive the Lulu Loves Birchbox? What do you think?

Review: Earthnicity Minerals

Wednesday, March 12, 2014
I was kindly sent a few makeup samples from Earthnicity Minerals (through The Blogger Programme). I have not tried mineral makeup before but I have been interested in it for a while especially as Estee from Essie Button uses quite a lot of mineral foundations.
 I received four samples to try including: Concealer (ivory), Skin Glow Light Finishing Powder, Blush (Sweet Pink) and the Foundation (Natural Light). I was a bit reluctant to try mineral makeup for ages because I have dry skin and I thought it would just emphasise dryness but after using these products I really do like the idea of mineral makeup and I might have fallen in love with one product in particular. 
Swatches (left to right): foundation, concealer, silk glow powder and the blush on the far right. 
Earthnicity Minerals Foundation (Natural Light): Firstly, as you can see from the swatches above (the foundation is the far left swatch) - the shade 'natural light' is too dark/orange for my super pale skin tone. I have been trying it though and as it is buildable it doesn't look too dark on my skin. To use I have just been tapping out some of the mineral powder into the lid of the tub and swirling my brush into the powder. Then I have been buffing it into the skin lightly as I do have dry skin so I am quite light handed with it. The foundation does blend well, it doesn't look caky on the skin and it has light- medium coverage, depending on how much you apply and blend. I would use it a lot more but it is too dark for my skin and it isn't as much coverage as I need for dark circle etc - ★★☆, 4/5.

Earthnicity Minerals Concealer (Ivory): This product is the one that I have fallen in love with, it is the perfect shade for my pale skin. I have been using it with my Ecotools mini kabuki style concealer brush and it is fantastic. You can see my disgusting pores on my forehead above, before and after concealer there is a massive difference. This concealer erases pores like nothing else I have tried, it is magic! ★★★★★, 5/5.

Earthnicity Minerals Silk Glow Finishing Powder: I personally would not use this as a finishing powder, it is far too shimmery for that in my opinion. Third swatch from the left in the photo above. I have been using this powder as a highlighter on the top of my cheekbones and my brow bone. It is a lovely shimmery highlighter that works well with my super pale skin. It blends well and it looks really pretty on the skin. ★★★★★, 5/5.

Earthnicity Minerals Blush (Sweet Pink): Now I am not a blush kind of girl at all, I rarely wear or buy blush so I was not super excited about this product. But the shade is really pretty and I think it would be great during spring/summer. The blush is buildable, as with all of the products (expect the highlighter) it starts out quite sheer but you just apply more and blend until you get the effect/coverage/intensity you want. ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Overall, I LOVE the concealer and when the sample has been used up I will be buying the full size! The highlighter is also gorgeous. I am not massively impressed by the foundation, mainly because of the shade and I am used to liquid foundations. The blush is pretty and I would recommend it but as I said I don't really wear blush. You can buy sample sets for only £5 so if you are interested in mineral makeup I think Earthnicity Minerals is a good and affordable place to start.

Have you tried Earthnicity Minerals before? 

Review: Bioderma Sensibio Soothing Mask

Monday, March 10, 2014
Bioderma is one of my favourite skincare brands, I have been using Bioderma Sebium Micelle Solution to remove my makeup for about three years now (on and off) and I adore it - I bought a two 500ml pack while on holiday in Corsica for around €15 which is incredible. But Bioderma is not that widely available at all in the UK but I recently found a fantastic website full of french skincare such as Bioderma and so much more - it is Farmaline.co.uk. I was very kindly sent a few items to review from Farmaline although this does not affect my opinion of the brands/products, for more information about my disclaimer, click here.

Farmaline is a pharmacy that ships to the UK at really low prices - so much cheaper than French online pharmacies - approx. £6/7 shipping or delivery is free if you spend £75. Farmaline is based in Belgium and the delivery was very fast!
I am a massive fan of French skincare from Bioderma and Caudalie to Vichy, Avene and Aderma - all of which are sold by Farmaline. For this review I have the *Bioderma Sensibio Soothing Mask for sensitive and intolerant skin (75ml, £13.48). I have tried a few products from Bioderma such as the Sebium micelle solution, Hydrabio micelle solution, Atoderm PO Zinc Soothing Cream and the Atoderm foaming gel - all of which I love.

I haven't tried a new face mask (or any actually) for a long time as I had a very bad experience with the I Love...Strawberries Mask last year - I would never recommend that mask, it ruined my skin for about a month! Anyway, I have tried a few Bioderma products before so I wasn't worried about this one at all, Bioderma is a fantastic brand for sensitive skin. I have used this mask four times and I love it. It just looks like a white cream moisturiser and you apply a layer after cleansing and let it absorb for about 10 minutes then wipe off the excess. I use the Avene water spray on a cotton pad to remove it.

I find this mask does not irritate my skin at all! It feels nice and smooth on the skin, it doesn't really have a scent to it and the mask is very quick and easy to use. There is no mess with this mask, it is a cream and once it has absorbed it leaves my skin feeling soothed, moisturised and nourished. Overall, I am very happy with this mask, it is fantastic for sensitive and dry skin types. I would highly recommend it, I will be buying a new tube from Farmaline when this one runs out. ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you bought anything from Farmaline before? Have you tried any products from Bioderma? 

Review: Persunmall Peter Pan Dress

Friday, March 07, 2014
Here is the second dress I was kindly sent by Persunmall, I have already reviewed one dress, click here to see my review. Even though this dress was sent for review it does not change my opinion of the brand/product, for more information about my disclaimer, click here.
I have the *Persunmall Color Block Peter Pan Collar Dress ($18.99) in a size S, Small - again as with the first dress this one fits really well, I am a UK size 6 (for asos dresses) and a UK 8 and it fits perfectly. I am calling this dress my 'wednesday addams' dress as it is definitely from Wednesday Addams's wardrobe! 

I love the style of the dress it is cute but a bit gothic/Wednesday Addams. One thing to note with this dress is that it is VERY short - it is about four inches or more above my knee which is super short and I am only 4ft 10 inches! I would say that if you are taller than 5ft (as most people are!) then you will not be able to wear this dress, as a dress, it would be far too short! 

Anyway for my very petite frame this dress is great, if a little short. I love the long sleeves, the cute peter pan collar and the material is fairly thick so it would be fine in winter/spring. The dress has a waist band so it is flattering and skims over my slightly large hips...

Overall, I am really happy with the style and quality of this dress, I can see myself wearing it a lot and it could even double up as a halloween dress for a Wednesday Addams look (I have the hair for it too!). I wore the dress with my *oroblu tights and Newlook heels. 

What do you think of this dress? Have you bought anything from Persunmall? 

Review: Persunmall Classical Plaid Dress

Wednesday, March 05, 2014
You may have read my Persunmall wish list post at the beginning of February (click here to see my wish list post). In my wish list I had this dress and I just adore it, a lot of people commented on that post saying the dress looked amazing so when it was time to pick what I wanted to review I had to choose this plaid dress. Even though I was sent this dress to review it does not change my opinion of the brand/products, my opinions are my own - for more information on my disclaimer, click here
I have the *Classical Plaid Lapel One-Step Dress ($21.99) in a size S, Small. The delivery time was good considering it came from Hong Kong and the dress is just as pictured on the website. I picked a size Small and it fits perfectly - I wear dresses in a UK size 6 (from asos) and UK 8. The material is fairly thin and there is no give but the dress is very well made! I love the cute white pointed collar and the overall print of the dress. 

If this dress was in Topshop or somewhere like that it would be a lot more expensive and I might not have bought it but I am so glad I picked this dress! It is a shift dress so there is no waist band as all of my dresses have and it makes a nice change. I am so impressed with the design, print and quality of this dress! I wore it with my Black Tied necklace, *Oroblu tights and my Asos ankle boots. I think it looks like a modern take on a sixties type dress, I LOVE it. My sister and my mum love it too, it is gorgeous. 

Overall, I am so impressed and I will definitely be getting a lot of use out of this dress, it would be nice in the winter with tights and a leather jacket (maybe some cute collar tips) or in the spring/summer with ballet flats. This dress definitely gets 5/5 stars from me, ★★★★★.

What do you think of this dress? 

International sleep week wish list

Tuesday, March 04, 2014
From the 2nd March to the 9th March it is international sleep week and as I really have problems trying to sleep I thought now would be a perfect time to create a sleep products wish list from some of my favourite online stores. This is not a sponsored post. In my opinion all of these products would make great mothers day gifts too!
 1. Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Room Spray (£22, 100ml): I love room sprays and scented candles, I find them really relaxing. I haven't tried Molton Brown products before but I have heard so many good things about the brand/products. This room spray contains: ylang ylang, ginger and amber among other notes, it sounds gorgeous.

2. SpaceNK Life Drift Away Body Lotion (£15, 250ml): I had a couple of samples of this body lotion last year and it was the dreamiest body lotion scent ever. It smells so relaxing and very unique. It is quite expensive but I am seriously considering buying it!

3. This Works Baby Sleep Pillow Spray (£16, 75ml): I have tried the avon sleep spray and it worked fairly well, I would definitely like to try more pillow sprays. This one is specifically designed for babies but it says that it is effective on adults. It is a bestseller on bathandunwind.com.

4. Whittards Dreamtime Hot Chocolate (£5.50, 375g): Is there anything nicer, especially at this time of the year, than a mug of creamy hot chocolate - this one from Whittards contains additional ingredients of malt extract, camomile and honey, for a better nights sleep.

5. Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath Oil (£39, 55ml): I have a few mini sample bottles of the Aromatherapy Associates bath oils and they smell gorgeous, I am going to be using them soon to see if they help. They always have really positive reviews so I am sure they will be fantastic for helping me drifting off naturally. 

6. Neom Candles (£15-£39.50): Neom candles are very famous in the blogging world, most people have them or are lusting after them. They look and sound delicious and very luxe. The 'relax' and 'serenity' scents sound great for relaxing. 

7. This Works Dream Believers Set (£10, sale): This duo set is currently on sale at SpaceNK, I have added it to my basket and I may get it. The RRP is £20 and it looks like a great set, it contains the 'dream cream' and 'sleep balm'. It would make a great mothers day gift set too. 

There are my wish list picks for relaxing and hopefully a better nights sleep, if you have any relaxation tips or top products leave a comment below. What is on your sleep week wish list?