Tuesday 30 September 2014

Orly Kiely Begamot Handwash

If there is a design or print that makes me to 'oooh' it is an Orly Kiely** one. Everything I have come across to date has made me coo and ahh, they just look so fantastic.

This Geranium hand wash, certainly makes a statement in any bathroom with its retro floral print in oranges and browns, bringing a bit of life to what could be a very dull bathroom.


Orly Kiely Bergamot Handwash,

Orly Kiely Bergamot Handwash,

Orly Kiely Bergamot Handwash,

Orly Kiely Bergamot Handwash,


It uses a blend of essential oils which include geranium, eucalyptus and clary sage. Also added are Begamot, Grapefuit, Neroli, Orange Flower and Petigrain. Along with violet leaf extract known for anti-bacterial properties.  Add to that the spicyness of Cardamom and Coriander along with a hint of aniseed and you won't be surprised at how clean this hand wash leaves your hands.


The scent, as you can imagine is absolutely stunning, quite earthy but with a mixture of floral and fruity undertones, a very luxurious product which lathers quickly as soon as it comes into contact with water. I was also delighted to find that this product is free from parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals and artificial colourings, so if you have sensitive skin, this would be perfect for you!

As I tend to spend a lot of my working day on the computer or shuffling paper (technical term), my hands tend to get quite dry, apparently it is all the ink which is on the paper that dries my hands out, so when I am using a handwash, I want something that is luxurious, lathers well, cleans my hands but at the same time washes and cleanses them and with this, it is exactly what I get.

A 250ml bottle costs just £10 and is available from all leading department stores.  Also within the range you can find a hand cream, a body lotion, Soap Bar, hand Sanitiser, shower gel and hand lotion all in the same stunning fragrance.

Have you ever tried anything from the Orly Kiely range?

Monday 29 September 2014

Burt's Bees

Did you know that Burt's Bees have just celebrated their 30th birthday? Well on September 17th, Burt's Bees celebrated their 30th birthday and I thought I would share with you some of their amazing products.





Born in 1984, Roxanne Quimby uses leftover Beeswax from Burt Shavitz's honey bees to make candles and the brand was born. by 1991 the Beeswax lipbalm quickly became and still is a best seller. You can read more about the history of Burt's Bees right here, it is a truly fascinating story.

Hand Salve is Burt's Bees' most intensive hand treatment, this formula is packed with botanical oils, herbs and beeswax to moisturise hard-working, rough, dry hands. It's an everyday miracle. The scent of this hand Salve is absolutely stunning, the Lavender, Rosemary and Eucalyptus scents all work together and one your hands, it simply sinks into the skin, leaving behind soft, soothed and very moisturised hands.




Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - Designed for normal to dry skin, this non-greasy, lightweight natural moisturiser goes to work the minute you apply it, and it’s scientifically proven to moisturise for up to 24 hours. Milk nourishes while honey helps to soften skin; plus, coconut and grape seed oils and vitamin E deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin. Burt's Bees' dermatologist-tested formula absorbs quickly but stays with you all day and night.





Sensitive Eye Cream - Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Cream is scientifically proven to moisturise the delicate eye area without causing redness or irritation. This lightweight eye cream helps reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness. Formulated with softening Cotton Extract, it helps skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers while Rice Extract moisturizes and Aloe soothes. Infused with White Genepi Extract, an ingredient known for its anti-inflammatory properties and Eyebright, which contains tannins that are thought to decrease inflammation. Best of all, it's naturally gentle and skin-friendly, so you can use it every day. Giving your sensitive skin the daily care it deserves.





Radiance Serum - Burt's Bees' Radiance Serum is a scientifically tested serum that combines royal jelly, licorice root extract and glycerin to bring out skin’s natural radiance. These ingredients increase moisturisation while nourishing skin with 134 nutrients including vitamins A, C, D and K, minerals and 17 amino acids. In 4 weeks, you’ll notice your skin becoming more evenly toned. The result is more radiant beautiful looking skin, naturally.





Lemon Butter cuticle cream - gives your needy nails a helping hand. Nourish and moisturise nails and cuticles with this intensive, natural treatment. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails smell incredibly clean, healthy and beautiful, naturally.





Alongside skincare, Burt's Bees also have some amazing lip products and again I am going to share some of them with you.

Cherry Cerise Lip Shimmer - These lip shimmers use Shea Butter and antioxidant-rich Fruit Oils moisturise, nourish and soften lips naturally and lovingly. There are 11 different shades to choose from.





Tinted Lip Balm - These tinted balms give you a lovely hint of colour with a soft, sweet flavor and natural ingredients that moisturise and condition your lips. Available in nine different shades





Lip Gloss - Rich, pearlised colour combines with natural oils rich in nutrients to leave your lips soft, shiny and 100% naturally beautiful. Available in 12 shades, I have Rosey Dawn which is a fabulous pink shade.





Lip Shine - Available in 6 shades, these lip shine products give a natural, sheer colour which is enriched with moisturising Apricot Wax glides on lips for a sweet and super shiny finish.





The final lip product is one that Burt's Bees hydrating lip balm with coconut and pear and it is absolutely stunning. Incredibly fragrant, the lip balms use coconut oil, shea butter and pear extract . This one smells exactly as you expect it too.




I am a huge Burt's Bees fan.  Every product that I have tried from the range has been fantastic and they have all had the most amazing scents.


Have you ever tried Burt's Bees? Do you have a favourite product?

Sunday 28 September 2014

The Big Call

Can one phone call change your life forever?

In an effort to inspire small businesses to pick up the phone to an extra £26,000 a year, three of the UK’s top entrepreneurs – fragrance queen Jo Malone MBE, millionaire plumber Charlie Mullins and advertising legend Mark Denton – star in a new film about the single phone calls that changed each of their business lives.

Watch their inspirational stories and see why we’re encouraging startups and small businesses to make sure they are ready for their big call. Below is the video starring Jo Malone MBE.  Jo, who despite being severely dyslexic, built up her brand and its name from a kitchen table business to one of the world’s most famous fragrance empires in the world. At just 16 years old she discovered her gift for scent whilst working in a florist and was later awarded an MBE for her services to the beauty industry.

Jo talks about the call that kick-started her second fragrance business JO LOVES and brought her life full-circle back to the steps of the flower shop she first worked at as a teenager.


I found the video to be a fascinating insight into a small part of the world and life that is Jo Malone.







*This is a sponsored post

Saturday 27 September 2014

#ZoellaBeauty



I love seeing Bloggers become successful and when I first noticed Zoella was to have her own Beauty range at a Superdrug event I went too, I was really happy. Why? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say that one day I dream of being offered the chance to have my own beauty range, who wouldn't... Sadly, I'm just not in the same league.

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on some of the products from the #ZoellaBeauty range and I have to say they are amazing! From the packaging to the scent, I love them all, so what did I get?


#ZoellaBeauty

Firstly the Candle 'Lets Glow'. I am a candle obsessive, you know it, I know it and it's an obsession i can't cure (I would also love to create my own candle range too). The candle itself is quite petite and really quite cute, inside this tin, is a pure white looking candle which carries the same scent as the rest of the range which is somewhere between the fruity scent and a very slight hint of Vanilla. Described as "Delicately scented candle to create your own relaxing space. This cute and calming candle will help you free your mind with its gentle blend of white wood accents, sweet vanilla and soft floral notes".


#ZoellaBeauty

#ZoellaBeauty

Next comes the body mist called 'Blissful Mistful'. Now I'm not usually one for body mists I have to say, but for the scent alone it is lovely and in saying that, it doesn't half make your room smell lovely after a few spritzes, so perhaps it can be a bit multifunctional? Again packaged inside this cute little bottle the scent is the same as the cane, only slight stronger but a scent I actual like. Described as being "A super light and feminine body spritz to scent your body with fresh and floral notes. Enriched with Vitamin E and fruit extracts - bliss in a bottle!" It is everything the description states it is.


#ZoellaBeauty

#ZoellaBeauty


Following on from that is the bath soak and shower cream called 'Soak Opera' and it is a beautiful peach colour with a slightly pearlesque look to it.. "A delicately fragranced 'beauty in a bottle' bath soak to calm the senses with soothing floral notes. Enriched with Vitamin E, Aloe and Shea Butter extracts to soften and condition the skin" I am told. Found inside this chunky bottle, the cream is similar in texture to any you can buy from Soap and Glory and every bit as lovely and again for me it is the scent that is the winner here. 


#ZoellaBeauty

#ZoellaBeauty

The final item to find its way into my collection is the 'Fizz Bar', what a funky name! What is it? Well in short it is described as being "A super bar of 8 fizzy cubes to make your bath time fizz! Drop 1-2 cubes into warm running water for a fragrantly fizzy bath and some much needed "wash your cares away" me-time. As you can see, the bar is a pure white and divided into 8 cubes with the letter Z clearly noticeable.


#ZoellaBeauty

#ZoellaBeauty

I take my hat off to Zoe, she has done an amazing job and has managed to create a list of products that I think everyone will love and is most definitely worthy of the hype. The scent is stunning, the packaging is stunning and there is more to the range than I have got here - a body wash and two make up bags also feature and again they make you squee because they are so cute. 

How much is everything? Well entire range contains..

Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion - £5
Soak Opera Bath Soak and Shower Cream - £5
Blissful Mistful Fragranced Body Mist - £8
Let's Glow Fragranced Candle - £5
Fizz Bar Fragranced Bath Fizzer - £5
Guinea Pig & Eyes Makeup Bag/ Pencil Case - £8

Have you managed to get your hands on any of this range? Are you wanting to buy it?

Friday 26 September 2014

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

A few weeks ago I got my very first Lipstick Queen lipstick! I had been hankering after one for a long time and finally decided it was time to be brave, go and swatch a few and pick one. Well having swatched a few, okay a lot, I was really torn between which shade to get. The choice between Liptropolis - Elegant Nude, Butterfly Ball - Soft Rosebud Blush, Lipstick Queen Saint, Sunny Rouge or Smitten - Butterfly Ball.

In the end I opted for Smitten from the Butterfly Ball range, an absolutely stunning lipstick in a subtle rose shade. 

Described as being

"The light, airy and magical look of the butterfly wing is the ultimate in glamour produced exclusively by Mother Nature. All the subtle Butterfly Ball shades pay tribute to this. They are as sheer as a butterfly wing with a beautiful hint of shimmer and radiance when they catch the light. The formula is incredibly soft and moisturising to condition your lips, while dressing them in colour at the same time".

As well as being a stunning lipstick, the packaging is magical.  With a black and purple background, the Lipstick Queen and Butterfly Ball words stand out.  Then there is one side of the box which features two beautiful blue butterflies with the word 'smitten' written between them.  The lipstick tube again features the Lipstick Queen name and is a stunning mauve shade.


Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

I absolutely love this lipstick, it is light once on the lips and the formula is incredibly soft and moisturizing and not in the slightest sticky. Each lipstick from this range is said to contain a subtle flash of blue pearl, which is flattering on the lips and also helps teeth appear whiter.


Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Lipstick Queen - Smitten

Priced at £22 it is an absolute bargain and I know already that I will be back for more from this range.

Thursday 25 September 2014

Make-up Revolution Haul

Yes I finally did it, I succumbed to the magic that is Make-up Revolution/I Love Make-up Range. My local Superdrug doesn't stock any of the brand, but in the West End, there is everything you need and much more, so I thought I would treat myself to a few bits and this is what I bought:




Summer of Love Triple Baked Bronzer - My beloved Hoola has almost run out, so I decided it was time to try something new, after all I can always go back to it right? This caught my eye because of the packaging and having had a quick swatch, I think I am going to like it alot! Priced at £4.99 this cute 3D heart-shaped box is just stunning.







Goddess of Love Triple Baked Highlighter - Again, a similar design to the bronze with the 3D heart shaped box, this highlighter is perfect for my complexion and one I am looking forward to using a lot. Priced at £4.99, an absolute bargain.







I want Candy Blusher - I bought this because I loved the swatch in store, it is a beige pink to me, not too neutral, not too pink but a perfect mixture of the two and for £2.99 again it is a bargain.






I Heart Definition Palette - I bought this in fair because these are the shades which closesly match my skintone and as a palette of three you get a Blush, bronzer and highlighter all in one compact with a really handy mirror. Again it costs just £4.99







Make-up Revolution Nail Polish in Heavens above - with over 40 shades to choose from, I was like a kid in a sweet shop and I finally settled on this shade as I don't have one like it.  It is a deep pink shade and for £1 pretty amazing.  The two shades I had actually gone to purchase, Are You Available and You Are Amazing available were out of stock, so I have my eye on the two of those still along with Devil Inside and Heart was broken, which again are two amazing shades!




The final item I bought was a lipstick - oops.  I saw it and just had to have it, I was intrigued by the shape and design, not to mention the shade is just amazing.  The Amazing Care #Happylips in Nude, is everything I want in a nude lipstick.  As I said it was the design which drew me in.  The colour is seen in the inside and surrounding it is Argan oil to add hydration to your lips. Once applied it feels really smooth and almost like a lip butter on the lips as well as leaving behind a glossy sheen.  It costs just £3.






So there you have it, my very first look and purchases from Make-up Revolution and I have to say, I am really impressed with every item so far and don't doubt that I will be adding to my collection.

Which piece from Make-up Revolution do you recommend as a next purchase? Do you have a favourite product?


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