Versace Bright Crystal Giftset

Sometimes you can be drawn instantly to a product by package alone and today was definitely one of those cases. I didn't care for what was in the box, but out of the corner of my eye whilst shopping in TK Maxx I saw a glimpse wonderful floral box and knew I had to have it. 

This box has Versace written all over it. Floral, highly decorative and above all it stands out from the crowd. Until today I had never come across the Versace Bright Crystal gift set and I can pretty much guarantee if I saw it any earlier I would have bought it months ago.

The Versace Bright Crystal box set is a perfect present for a loved one at Christmas. Not only is the box beautifully designed, but also inside you have two bottles of perfumed body lotion and shower gel, as well as a 50ml bottle of the Versace Bright Crystal perfume. Versace Bright Crystal is a really feminine, sensual floral scented perfumed with base notes of Planter Amber and Musk and top notes of Yuzu and Pomegranate. The majority of my perfume collection is made up of floral scents and I don't know, why it has always been something that I'm drawn to. I put this down to being a really girly girl and unleashing my inner hippie.

As TK Maxx is renowned for it designer discounts, this box was an absolute bargain. The retail of the Versace Crystal 50ml is alone £44.99, but at TK Maxx I was able grab this wonderful gift set for £39.99. I have looked at various other perfume websites and I think this may be one of the older gift sets, however I just love how neatly presented the gift box is and overall I think it would make a lovely asset to anyone's dressing table.

Have you bought anything from TK Maxx lately?

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A day in the sunshine

Last week the weather was cold and the rain was in heavy force, but this week, there has been such a drastic change. It finally feels like we're entering British Summer Time and for me, it's an opportunity to grab those beautiful summer dresses, chic wedged heels and drink plenty of cocktails. There's nothing like summer fun and having the freedom to venture out of the house without a coat on. My confidence feels at it's peak when it's sunny, because I can show off the figure I've worked damn well hard for the last few years, instead of adding layers to keep myself warm, which inevitably make me look chubby.

This burgundy skater dress from Brave Soul is one of my favourite daywear outfits. It's elegant, yet funky and looks really feminine.  Being a little bit of a 'rock chic', I love the fact that it has studded shoulder pads. It's great to wear to my local rock bar or for cocktails with the girls somewhere a little more high class. 

Bravesoul.co.uk has many great outfits available at such a low price range. This dress was only £25.00, which is great for any budget and there's plenty more dresses where this came from.

www.bravesoul.co.uk

What would you buy?

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Time to refresh

Exams are finally over and it's time for me to give time and effort back to my body. When you're under pressure, your body feels it too - from spots, bags under the eyes due to sleep deprivation to weight gain, weight loss and the general feeling of lethargy.  My face has been worse hit. I've come out with spots which I've never really had before and my eyes look like they have been punched black. I'm hoping the hours I've put into my work will eventually pay off and now it's time to do the same for my body. The first thing I've been doing to get my body back in shape is going to the gym quite frequently as I've gained 5lbs...this isn't much to most people, but it's making me feel uncomfortable.  I'm guessing this is most likely due to comfort eating my way through politics revision. I've been feeling so much better after swimming each day and getting my body into the rhythm of exercise. I love the feeling of endorphines and being energised when I get home. 

   

On a morning to help my skin, I've been doing lately is using this Vitamin serum to inject some life back into my face.  The Dermaviduals DMS Vitamin Serum is full of vitamin's A, C, E and D, which help promote healthy skin.  I've found the product rather light, refreshing and very easy to use.  Many of my dry skin patches are vanishing away, but I think I will need to use this product a little bit longer than I have been doing to see better results. 

Finally, I've been using a nude nail polish to make me look healthy and preened.  I love this ZOYA nail polish in shade Bela. The colour makes my nails look naturally groomed and it goes with many of my outfits. I find that the nail polish applies really easily and dries easily too, making this a perfect mini investment. The nail polish is £10.50 to buy, which I think is a pretty good value for this brand. I already prefer this product to my Nail Inc polish in the same colour, even though Nail Inc are one of my  favourite brands.

http://www.biggreensmile.com/

What steps do you take to feel naturally beautiful?

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Gimme a Smooch!

The weather is ever so slightly picking up and i'm seeing myself grabbing more exotic coloured lipsticks. Orange and apricot shades are my favourite at the moment, because they are subtly bright and not too over the top.  This Smooch lipstick in shade Inferno is my latest obsession and I like it that much, that I've bought two of them. 

The first thing I need to comment on is the cute packaging.  It has a vintage vibe and I love the adorable chantilly lace design. The casing has a soft, easy grip texture, which makes the lipstick easy to apply. It doesn't slip out of your hands and it helps create a surdy application. The packaging feels rather expensive for the £7.50 price tag, which makes this lipstick a great bargain.

I love the colour of the lipstick as it compliments my skin tone and hair colour, however I admit it's a colour that not everyone could probably pull off.  I think the product is definitely more suited to darker hair colours as it makes the lipstick look dramatic, but yet toned down. 

As I've mentioned before, I love this lipstick and adding fact that I've already bought another when I haven't even finished the first one, I can definitely see this as a product that I will be wearing for quite sometime.

http://www.smoochcosmeticsuk.com/

Have you tried any Smooch Cosmetics before?

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Let's Go Lashes

I'm surprised I'm in such high spirits right now - maybe it's due to Christmas being round the corner, or the fact that I'm going late night shopping this evening. The last few weeks have been a nightmare with university work and there has been times I've literally been screaming. Below are just a few of the books I've had to read and reference, so if you have been wondering where I have been, i've probably had my head in one of these books at the library. 

My friends have always been the ones that would never leave for a night out without fake eyelashes. I never used to wear them and to be fair, I never really knew how to put them on. Recently, i've had somewhat of an addiction to lashes and each week, I'm gradually wearing them more and more. I love the way they make your eyes stand out and grab attention. I feel like they emphasis my blue puppy dog eyes and that I could bat them at my fiance and hopefully he will be seduced. Unfortunately he doesn't quite understand the relationship between a girl and her eyelashes and he doesn't see the point. From my perspective, they give me confidence when my eye lashes wont curl or do as they're told with mascara.

My recent eyelash endeavour has been the 'Let's Go' eyelashes. The packaging is bold and striking and there's a variety for you to choose from. I love the quirky names such as, Tease, Temptress, Flirt and HeartBreaker to name, but a few. There's lots of styles to choose from at the small price of £6.50. Whether you prefer big and bold, natural or quite daring, there's something to make your eyes flutter.

I decided to show you the 'Tease' eyelashes and I adore the tagline on the back of the packet:

"Seductive, intensive and ruthless. Want to transform your eyes into gorgeous smouldering man-magnets? Let's go girls"

As you can see, the lashes look dramatic, yet have a natural flair. You could wear them shopping or even for a fancy meal as they don't look over the top. Applying them was a little bit of a faff. The glue was not really to my liking, but once it was applied, they stayed on really well. I prefer eyelashes with clear glue, but if you don't like the one that's included, you can always buy a miniature bottle separate. 

So what do you think? Are you ready to buy some 'let's go' lashes?

http://shop.nouveaubeautygroup.com/brands/lets-go/

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Clarins Essential Hydration

The winter weather is settling in the neighbourhoods and the cold harsh frosty atmosphere has began leaving most people anxious about their skin. I'm one of these people. My skin suffers from extremely dry patches during the colder weather and with all the dry, flaky skin, I end up looking rather like a snow ball than a snow queen.

I was shopping in my local town a few days ago and the dreaded blistery feeling started to arrive. During the summer, I'm incredibly lucky as I have perfectly normal skin with no spots. During the winter, I look run down and my face tends to hurt.

Having noticed the signs, I walked to my local Clarins counter and asked about their skin creams. The wonderful woman directed me to their new Clarins Hydraquench Christmas gift set. The set came with three items for £33 - a saving of just above £26 if bought alone. I leaped at the offer and arrived home eagerly wanting to try it.

The gift set is primarily for dry skin and includes: a Hydraquench Cream Mask, Hydraquench Cream and a multi-hydratant serum. The products have a truly classic Clarins design making them a timeless product for your beauty cabinet.

The HydraQuench Mask

The HydraQuench mask is exactly what it says on the container - a hydrating mask that you leave on for approximately 5 - 10 minutes to leave your skin feeling wonderfully mositurised. The product is light and works like a treat. The woman at the counter told me that she leaves the mask on all evening sometimes and wakes up feeling soft and refreshed, but i'm yet to try this method.

The HydraQuench Cream

I've always been one of those people that buys skin care product and never use them properly, but having woken up and used this everyday, I have noticed my skin is definitely reaping in the benefits. My skin is looking soft and almost glowing in the winter weather and even without makeup, I finally feel comfortable.

HydraQuench Serum

According to my Clarins advisor, you should apply the serum then apply the mosituriser. The serum soaks up any excess dry skin and the cream then works it's magic on the rest. I love the serum, it glides gently on my skin with little effort and soaks up instantly. It feels light as a feather and I feel far from clogged up - something that generally happens when I use cheaper brands such as Nivea...not that I'm against them products, they just don't agree with my skin type.

As a loyal Clarins customer, I've often been rewarded with mini-treats to take home when I've purchased something. This time they have given me the Blue Orchid Treatment Oil. I still haven't used this, but none of my Clarins products have failed me yet.

Finally, my little makeup bag was turned into one of my various 'sample' bags. I get far too many samples from magazines, shops and sometimes the press, so this bag contains some of my mini products. I will be introducing you to them very soon!

What have you bought lately? Are you a Clarins fan?

♥♥♥

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