Lacoste Joy of pink perfume

Last week, I was invited along to the launch of Joy of Pink, the new perfume from Lacoste.

Given the name and the promotional images, I was expecting something fresh and fun and I wasn't disappointed.

Joy of pink opens with a sparkling citrus grapefruit scent, and over time, the base notes of peony and cedar wood become more obvious, giving the fragrance a more mellow and 'warmer' feel.

I love my fruity floral fragrances, and this one is perfect for wearing during the day, even if it does feel a little summery with the grapefruit and blue curacao notes.

The only downside is that it is an EDT, and I find the fragrance fades quite quickly, so top ups are essential throughout the day.

The perfume reminds me of Anna Sui secret wish, so if you like that or if you want a light fruity, easy to wear daytime fragrance then definitely give this a sniff.

Have you tried any of the Lacoste perfumes?

NOTD- Eyeko saucy polish

A gorgeous ruby red colour with a glossy finish. This is one of their more pigmented nail varnishes, so I only needed one coat for a streak free even finish.

The formula was on the thin side, so I found it really quick and easy to paint my nails and the nail varnish dried in minutes, making it one of my quickest manicures to date!

Are you a fan of red nails? What nail varnish are you sporting this weekend?

Don't forget you can use the code E9624 for a free gift with every Eyeko order.

Urban decay razor sharp ultra definition finishing powder

Face powder is one of my must have products, but I find it quite stressful getting colour matched, so after reading online reviews and talking to Helen, I decided to get Urban Decay razor sharp high definition finishing powder:

The first thing to talk about is the packaging. As you can see in the photo above, it comes with a huge sponge, which is near impossible to use, as it is too big and unhygenic! Having read Helen's post, I decided to open the case and dip my brush straight in then use another lid to buff the powder into my brush before applying to my face.

The powder is nude coloured, but it applies competely translucent to the skin. It won't give you any coverage, but it does a great job of absorbing oil, smoothing over pores and giving a flawless finish to the skin.

(L side- sprinkled on, R side- blended in)

My T-zone gets shiny throughout the day, but I hate the super matte look you get with a lot of powders, and this one is perfect for me, as it absorbs the oil but still allows the natural radiance of my skin to shine through. I do need to top up throughout the day, but no matter how much I apply, the powder doesn't ever look cakey or flat.

It retails at £17.50 which is expensive for a powder, but you do get 12g of product and it is one of the best powders I've tried, I just wish it was packaged slightly differently!

Have you tried this product? What do you use to keep your skin matte during the day?

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) free shower gels

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a common ingredient in many shower gels and shampoos, but it can cause skin irritation, so over the last few months I've been making a real effort to find some good SLS free shower gels, and I currently have 3 on rotation:

Elizabeth's daughter bath and shower wash
This is my favourite of the 3. It has a gorgeous fresh floral scent and is so gentle on my skin. It doesn't leave my skin tight or dry and I can easily get away with not moisturizing after using this. It doesn't foam up very well, so I need to use more shower gel than normal, but it's gorgoeus scent and non drying formula more than makes up for it.

A'kin orange blossom body wash
I can't detect any orange blossom in this shower gel, instead it has a really strong woody scent, which I find quite masculine. The body wash foams up easily and again it's nice and gentle, so if I wanted to, I can get away with not moisturizing afterwards.

Occo mirnavina No 4 bath and body wash
This has a slightly woody citrus scent and of the 3, it lathers up the most. Because it lathers up so well a little bit goes a long way so a bottle will last you ages! Although this shower gel isn't drying, it's not as moisturizing as the other 2 and I usually need to moisturize my legs after using this.

Do you actively avoid products that contain SLS? What are your favourite SLS free shower gels?

A couple of new purchases

Does anyone else find that when you go shopping for a specific item, you end up buying everything but the item you went out for?

That was exactly what happened last week- I wanted to find a graduation outfit, but ended up buying a top, shoes and make up instead!

I've been loving sheer tops recently, so when I spotted this one in H&M, I couldn't resist picking it up. It goes on quite baggy, but it looks lovely and casual when worn with jeans.

I've been trying to find a nice pair of flats for weeks, and these ones from Dorothy Perkins are so cute with the little zip flowers.

Whilst in Dorothy Perkins I also picked up a pair of flat black boots to wear with skinny jeans during the cold winter month. A few days later, whilst browsing in Primark, I came across another pair of black boots, this time with a small heel, for a much needed height boost!

Finally my boyfriend kindly treated me to the Urban decay razor sharp ultra definition finish powder. I was recommended this by Helen and absolutely love it. It goes on completely translucent, and gives me a perfect semi-matte finish!

What have you been buying recently?

My winter moisturizer - Liz Earle skin repair

Come winter-time, I like to switch to a richer moisturizer, and the product of choice this year is Liz Earle skin repair moisturiser for normal/combination skin.

I would describe it as a thick creamy moisturizer with a subtle floral scent. For such a thick cream, it sinks in surprisingly quickly and it leaves my skin fairly matte, with only a little bit of shine on my nose. Throughout the day, my t-zone does get oilier, but its no more than usual.

A few weeks ago, my skin felt very dehydrated but since I've started using this sample, my hydration levels are completely restored and my skin no longer feels sensitive.

For the summertime, I think the moisturizer will be too thick, but for now, it's just what my skin needs to protect it against the harsh winter weather!

Does your skin change in the Winter? What are you using to protect your skin during the cold weather?

Last minute heads-up: St Tropez London fashion week kit

Following on from London Fashion Week, St Tropez have created a special offer, where you can get their wash off mousse, skin illuminator, wash off face glow lotion and an application mitt for £30.

On first impressions, the applicator mitt is very similar to the He-Shi one. I found it very easy to use and it has a water-proof backing to stop the product transferring to the hands.

The skin illuminator was especially created for London fashion week and gives a slightly glittery lilac shimmer to the skin

The face glow lotion was lovely and light and easy to blend in but I found that the colour wasn't dark enough to show up on my NC25 skintone.

Unfortunately I was sent the instant glow body lotion instead of the mousse, so I can't comment on what that's like, but the body lotion blended easily and gives a lovely golden glow to the skin.

I was hoping to try out and properly review the products before doing a post, however the offer expires tonight, and I received the samples very last minute, but if you'd like a more detailed review of any of the products, leave me a comment below and I'll happily do a blogpost :)

Product rave- A'kin mandarin shampoo

I like the idea of a SLS free shampoo, but the ones I've tried in the past have left my hair feeling stripped and dry or they didn't lather up at all, however I'm pleased to say this Akin one (which I was sent from myPure) ticks all the boxes for a good shampoo!

Like all A'kin products, it comes in a recyclable plastic bottle with a vintage looking label and it has a definite smell of oranges, although its more of an herbal orange smell rather than a citrus one.

I didn't have any problems getting this shampoo to lather up, and it rinsed away easily without leaving any residue. The shampoo left my hair feeling squeaky clean but not at all stripped or dry and afterwards my hair was as silky and shiny as normal.

Since I've started using this, my scalp gets a lot less itchy and irritated (and I'm hoping with continued use, it'll go away altogether), and because it doesn't coat my hair like other shampoos, I can get away with washing it less often, so all in all, a definite thumbs up from me!

Do you actively avoid SLS products? What are your favourite SLS free shampoos?

A lovely pamper parcel from Aussie

I was recently lucky enough to be made an Aussie Angel and whilst getting ready this morning I had an unexpected knock on the door from DHL who delivered a lovely surprise parcel courtsey of Aussie haircare.

In the ribbon wrapped box was a lovely selection of products, including their new Take the heat protection cream and spray, all of which were designed to keep us feeling warm and looking good this winter:

Thank you so much Aussie for the lovely parcel, it certainly brightened up my Monday morning and the hot chocolate and lavender cushion are just what I need to relax this evening!

Hydrating face masks

For the last few years, as soon as the weather gets colder, my skin starts to feel more sensitive and dehydrated and I always find myself buying a thicker moisturizer and using hydrating face masks to try and restore the moisture the levels in my skin:

Boots Botanics quenching face mask
I would describe this as a runny cream with a very subtle rubbery/herbal scent. Because of the runny texture, it's prone to dripping, so I usually squeeze a dollop onto my hand, then apply to my face.

Whenever I use this, I get a slight burning sensation, but there is never any redness or irritation.You are advised to leave this on for 5-10 minutes, but I've often left it on for much longer and it doesn't cause any adverse effects. I find the drier my skin is, the more the mask gets absorbed, and it can be left on overnight for a really intense treatment.

The mask washes off fairly easily without leaving a residue, and it leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised with a natural radiance to it.

Biotherm hydra-detox mask
This is more of a creamy lotion , which I find very easy to apply and it has more of a fresh floral scent. Unlike the Botanics mask, there is no irritation at all- in fact it feels nice and soothing on my skin.

The mask is meant to be left on for 10 minutes, but again you can leave it on for longer to really hydrate the skin. After 10 minutes, it washes off easily without leaving any residue and it always leaves my skin feeling deep cleansed yet super moisturized and radiant!

Neither of the masks are a miracle cure, but they do make a lovely treat for dry skin. At less than £5, the Botanics mask is definitely the more affordable of the 2, but because of the burning sensation, I wouldn't repurchase when I run out. The Biotherm mask on the other hand, I would happily repurchase for as long as its available in the shops.

Does your skin suffer during the winter? What are your favourite hydrating treats for dry skin?

Lipgloss of the day- Benefit fresh squeezed

A really pretty dark pink coral colour with small shimmery particles running through it. It's quite a thick gloss and it is a little sticky, but as lip glosses go, its fairly long lasting and it felt nice and moisturising on my lips.

For me it's a great shade to help brighten up my face during the cold winter month and if you still have a flake lipstick/gloss to claim then I would definitely recommend this shade!

Are you a fan of lipglosses? What lip product did you use today?

Liz Earle cleanse and polish

Liz Earle has been one of the most raved about brands on blogger recently, and being the product junkie that I am, I decided to try out a small tube of cleanse and polish to see what all the fuss was about.

I always thought it would be really thick like a balm but its actually a nice creamy cleanser. When I first used it, the scent of eucaplytus was really strong, but over time it gets less obvious and now I only smell it when I'm cleansing around my nose.

I did get 3 small spots when I first used it, but I can't be sure if it was the cleanser or a combination of hormones and a bad diet. Either way, the spots disappeared quickly and I've not had any more problems since.

It comes with a muslin cloth, which does a really good job of gently exfoliating the skin. You're supposed to use the cloth to remove the cleanser but I like to wash it off first then use the cloth to remove any last traces and to exfoliate.

The cleanser does a good job of removing make up, leaves my skin soft and radiant, and I've noticed my pores are a smaller and less noticable.

Overall I'm really impressed with this cleanser, and I'm definitely going to try out some more Liz Earle products- next on my list is their new shampoo!

Are you a fan of cleanse and polish? What other Liz Earle products would you recommend?

A couple of new bracelets and a bag

I think bracelets are such an easy way to accessorize an outfit, and whilst out shopping, I couldn't resist buying a few more from H+M.

How pretty is the floral bangle? The whole set cost £5.99 and it comes in 2 different sizes, which is good for me as they're usually too big and fall off.

These bracelets are made from fabric so are super comfy to wear, plus they're only £1.99 each so I got all 3 colours.

Primark has been quite disappointing recently, but on the way to the returns desk, I spotted this grey bag, which looks a lot more expensive than its £7 price tag! At the moment it looks really smart, but I'll probably get a bag charm to make it a bit more girly and fun :)

What have you brought recently?

Purity skincare giveaway winners

Thank you to everyone who entered my Purity skincare giveaway, I really enjoyed reading all about your favourite holiday destinations.

After numbering all the valid enteries, I used random.org to select 6 winners, and in order of entry, the winners are:

Jess

Dreams that glitter

Nic@the war paint guru

Olivia

DaisyBee

The doll on fashion

Can you please email me your address and I'll pass it onto the PR company who will then send you your prizes.

Thanks again to everyone for entering!

September favourites

Can you believe it's October already? This year's gone by so quickly and before we'll know it it'll be Christmas time! September was quite a busy month for me as I had uni placements and I was regularly going home to practice my driving, but hopefully October will be less hectic and I'll have more time to blog.

My favourites this month are:

The body shop soft hands kind heart hand cream

I'm quite OCD when it comes to washing my hands so hand cream is essential, and this mini tube is the perfect size for my handbag. The gel cream formula isn't at all greasy and it always leaves my hands feeling soft and moisturized.

Johnson's radiance body lotion

During the winter months my skin tends to get drier than normal but this has really helped to keep it soft and smooth. Its a lovely creamy formula and sinks in very quickly after application. The scent reminds me of chocolate ice cream, which I find a little strong to use all over, but it makes a great moisturizer for my legs.

Pantene aqua light shampoo

Out of all my shampoos this is by far my favourite. It smells really nice and fresh, lathers up well and rinses away easily. This still has silicons in it, but because it rinses away easily, it doesn't weigh down my hair or make it greasy, plus it leaves my hair nicely nourished and shiny.

Boss orange celebration of happiness perfume

A creamy yet spicy vanilla perfume that smells absoutely gorgeous and completely unique to all the other perfumes I've tried. Despite being an EDT it lasts well throughout the day and it's versatile enough to be worn during the day or for a night out.

MAC springsheen blush

This is more of a forgotten favourite as I used to love this product. Its a gorgeous peachy pink colour with lots of shimmer particles and it gives a natural pop of colour to my cheeks which really helps to brighten up my face.

L'oreal renewal lash serum

Since I've started using this, my lashes are much more even in length and look more voluminous than before. I've noticed that less lashes are falling out and despite the funny shaped wand, its actually very easy to apply, plus I can away with applying it every few days and still see the benefits.

What were your favourite products for September?

MAC venomous villains : Product photos, swatches and Cruella inspired look

Last night MAC had an event to promote the launch of their new venamous villains collection and I was lucky enough to be invited for a sneak preview of the make up.

The evening started with a demonstration/tutorial on how to create a Cruella inspired look, then we were allowed to play and swatch the products to our heart's content!

Product photos
This collection is a collorabation between MAC and Disney and is inspired by 4 Disney villains: Cruella de Vil, Evil Queen, Maleficent and Dr Facilier.


Lipstick and lipgloss swatches

L-R: Heartless, Innocence, Beware!, Sinister, Toxic tale,
Top-Bottom: Violetta, Dark deed

I was very tempted to get Innocence (cremesheen) lipstick, but although it looks pinker than Creme d'nude, on my pigmented lips there was little difference between the two.

For me, the lipglasses are the standout products in the collection, they are a little sticky but they're pigmented yet wearable and the shimmery particles are so pretty!

Strange potions, Wicked ways
Hot house, Devilishly stylish

Resort life lipgelee

How to create a Cruella inspired look:

Face
Mineralize satinfinish foundation
- Moisturecover concealer (under-eyes)
- Mineralize skinfinish natural dark (to contour)

Cheeks
- Her own devices beauty powder
- Darkly my dear blusher (apply t0 cheeks all the way to the ear)

Eyes
Sweet joy eyeshadow
- De-vil eyshadow
-Carbon eyeshadow (socket line and upper lashline)
- Nylon eyeshadow (highlight)
- Smoulder eye pencil (water line and upper inside line)
- Penultimate eyeliner (Upper lashline and flicked out at end)
- Number 44 false eyelashes
- Black mascara

Lips
- Red lip pencil (to line and colour lip)
- Heartless lipstick
- Wicked ways lipglass

Are you a fan of Disney movies? What are liking from this new collection?