Magazine Freebies - July 2015

Everyone loves a good Magazine Freebie, I know I do and each month I have a look and decide whether or not it is a product I want, need or have been waiting to try. July (my birthday month) it seems is a month for some fantastic freebies which have drawn me in and ive succumbed to two of them!

Marie Claire has two amazing products from Elemis this month. The first offering is the Papaya Enzyme Peel which I have tried and really liked, so instead I opted for the Pro-radiance Illuminating Flash Balm (15ml) which I have never tried before. It is described as being:

"Introducing an exciting new generation "hybrid moisturiser" whose instant skin-flattering qualities are as compelling as its ability to hydrate the skin. More than a look-good cream, this is a feel good cream. Sweep on this soft balm and the benefits are instant. The finish has diligently been created to deliver the optimum amount of sheen and luminosity for a healthy, vibrant glow"

Each product is worth £11.  Plus there is also a chance to book yourself in for a FREE Aveda blow-dry (at participating salons until 31st July) plus 25% off an Elemis Facial which sounds like absolute bliss!

Red Magazine this month are offering a REN skincare Lip Balm. A rich balm formulated to replenish dry and chapped lips. Helps repair, protect and soothe irritated lips, restores softness, elasticity and comfort. It uses:

• Vitamin E from Soybean protects against free radicals
• Trace Elements from Acacia Honey have anti-bacterial properties and boost energy levels
• Hesteroside from Calendula calms and soothes

Put them altogether and you get soft, smooth lips.  This Lip Balm is worth £9.

Other freebies this month include:

Instyle Magazine - The Limited-Edition Nails Inc Polishes Inspired By The 80s. They are all full sized and worth £11 each.

Source - Instyle.co.uk

From left to right - Love Will Tear Us Apart, The Tide Is High, Boys Of Summer,

When Doves Cry

Will you be picking up any of these freebies?

Jo Loves Shot Candle

It's not every day that you get to meet someone truly inspirational and someone whose name is iconic when it comes to perfume and candles. Readers of my blog will know I am a huge candle fan and it is a household item I wouldn't be without, but when you are given the chance to create your own candle with Jo Malone, you can definitely count me in!

So off I went to the amazing Jo Loves store in Belgravia here in London to find out more about more about what this unique candle shot was, meet Jo Malone and have a go at making my very own candle.

Naturally it was just totally amazing, not only is Jo just brilliant at what she does, but as she described to those present how the idea came to her (it is on my Periscope if you haven't seen it) her eye lit up and then the magic began.

What Jo has done is to create a very unique Jo Loves Candle Shot studio which gives you the opportunity to create your very own bespoke candle from a stunning range of fragrances on the Jo Loves menu and she says of this creation:

"The Shot Candle™ is such an exciting innovation which we create together. This is the first time I have designed a product which invites you to become part of the creative process and a make a candle unique to you"

So how does it work? There are three steps involved in the entire process:

• Step One - You start with your base and you choose from a range of different fragrances. For each one Jo explained where the inspiration came from. The choice currently is between Mint Mojito, Charcoaled Lemons, Tahitian Gardenia or Fig Trees. Each scent is fresh scented and not in the slightest bit manufactured. 
• Step Two - Once you have chosen your base, you choose your shot and the choices are Lemongrass, Pettigrain, Mango, Salty Caramel or you can just choose another from the base fragrances.
• Step Three - You need to seal your base and the shot together and it is done by using a blow torch before being gift-wrapped and presented in this stunning white, Union Jack embossed box and tied with a beautiful red bow - it is truly exquisite. As a final gesture Jo hand signed our labels after we had painted them with the scents we had chosen as a reminder of our time.

What choice did I make?  I have to admit it, the choice is difficult and I struggled to choose between Mint Mojito and Tahitian Gardenia for my base, but as I wanted a fresh scent that reminded me of summer, I opted for Mint Mojito and my shot of choice was Lemongrass.  Together they are absolutely stunning, fresh and incredibly amazing.

The entire experience was absolutely mind-blowing and unique.  I couldn't wait to get home and try my candle.  For the first three hours of it being alight you will get your shot and then the two shots begin to blend and voila, your signature scent.  Each Shot Candle has a burn time of 60 hours.

If you can’t make it down to Belgravia then you will be pleased to know that the Jo Loves Candle Shot studio has opened online and you can create your own candle that way, the Shot Candle retails for £75 and in my opinion, it is worth every single penny. It will also make an amazingly unique gift for you or someone special.

Which two scents do you think you would choose?

The Fable Bar and Restaurant

When the Mister said "Do you fancy Brunch in the City" I thought yeah why not... far from being a romantic gesture, it was for a review he was doing.  So off we went to The Fable, a bar and restaurant near the Holbon Viaduct (central London) and I knew I would love it as soon as I read about it:

"Once upon a time in a land far, far away The Fable Bar was created for the Drake & Morgan collection. Inspired by the fantasy world of fairy tales, the fabulous fables of Aesop & influences from around the globe, it is a bar & restaurant out of the ordinary, where every detail tells a story. A veritable jewel box brimming with unexpected surprises, The Fable offers seasonal food & sensational cocktails alongside bespoke events, fascinating masterclasses & unique customised experiences.

From a writing desk complete with vintage typewriter to the wine shop & florist, ‘Bottles & Blooms’ & the library lined with leather bound story books sourced from vintage markets across the country, expect to be entranced & enthralled".

Inside is this beautifully designed eatery which is everything the description gives.  It is bright, airy and really spacious, not to mention really comfy and very funky chairs.

When it came to deciding what to choose from the menu, the choice is amazing, there is something for everyone and as soon as I saw the words scotch egg and piccalilli my decision was made.  The Mister opting for Salt and Pepper Squid, the food arrived not too long after ordering and was an absolute taste sensation.  The egg was perfectly cooked and perfectly runny and the piccalilli was spicy enough not to overpower and dominate the taste, but give enough kick that there was a gentle heat.   

The salt and pepper squid was equally tasty, perfectly cooked so you didn't have that rubbery texture and seasoned enough so that you didn't have to add anything to it.

When choosing a main, this is where I struggled the most because there are 4-5 dishes that I really wanted to try.  Steve choosing a traditional sunny lunch rather quickly whereas I decided to go for the Wagyu Burger which is served with a blue cheese dressing accompanied by a tomato chutney - far too good to pass up the chance to try it.

With my burger came a choice of sides and I opted for Cowboy fries which are drizzled in honey, chilli and garlic, again they sounded too good to give up and provided the perfect accompaniment to my burger.

The beef in this burger was just so succulent and perfectly cooked.  I am one of those people who hates meat to be overcooked and resembling shoe leather.  Moist and mouth watering, the blue cheese dressing was again not too dominant that it disguised the taste of the meat, but served well as a dressing.  The chips, absolutely stunning, really well cooked but the fiery taste of the dressing on them was perfect, much more interesting than ketchup and they packed a powerful punch on the palette.

As well as sampling the food, we also got the sample a few drinks.  Starting first with some Green Tea, of which I am a huge fan, this was fresh tasting and had not bitter aftertaste to it, instead it was refreshing and thirst quenching.  Then feeling slightly more adventurous it was cocktail time.  I opted for a Passionfruit Mojito and Steve an original Mojito and all I can say is not only was it the best tasting Mojito I had ever had, but I could have happily sat there all day drinking them!

At this point we are both feeling rather full and out come the dessert menus to tempt us.  Before eating I had already spotted one dessert I rather fancied trying but I was far too stuffed to even contemplate it.  Then came the chance to try a cocktail in a teacup, my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a Tipsy Affogato and Steve had the Raspberry Ripple.

The Tipsy Affogato with vanilla ice-cream, Amaretto and Kahula with a side helping of espresso is the perfect way to end what had been a stunning a brunch. It was tasty, though naturally teaming with alcohol, but not so much it left you with brain fog and to be served in a teacup and saucer was just brilliant. The Raspberry ripple which was a mixture of Johnny Walker Black, Drambuie and Honey Liquor was topped off with Raspberries and Cream and again it hit the right spot with a combination of being a tipple of alcohol and a dessert in one. If by this point you are still fully functioning and can eat something else, there are further options on the menu, but for me, I was fully stuffed and didn't need to see another scrap of food for the rest of the day.

If you are looking for somewhere in the (London) City, then The Fable Bar is more than definitely somewhere you should check out. Whether you want a snack, Lunch, a quick bite to eat or a full blown epic meal like we had, the prices are so reasonable and the food so flavoursome and filling that it more than good value for money.

*We were kindly sent to The Fable for review purposes.

L’Occitane Almond Velvet Collection

Following on from the beautiful Bleu & Iris Blanc Perfume, L’Occitane’s latest releases are scientifically formulated to help improve the signs of aging on the body as well as reducing age spots and hyper pigmentation, and helping to restore firmness whilst combating lines and wrinkles. The new Almond Velvet Duo which consists of a balm and a serum have been my go to products for the last month and boy are they something amazing.

I personally cannot stand marzipan but I love almonds and anything almond scented, so I was really eager to try these two products out.

The Almond Velvet Balm** (£42) is such a beautifully scented balm you cannot help but love it and want to use it. On the skin it feels luxurious and rich and incredibly moisturising. The scent was not quite what I was expecting, as someone who loathes the taste and smell of marzipan, it filled me with dread that my skin would end up smelling like someone's wedding cake. Thankfully, that was not the case at all. 

Instead what you get is a really light and very refreshing floral scent which lingers for a good few hours after application on the skin. It isn't overly sweet or sickly it is just stunning. The purpose of the Almond Velvet Balm is to target the five signs of ageing which include dryness, skin slackening, lack of tonicity, fine lines and skin irregularities. Having applied this religiously, my skin is so soft and smooth that if I could bathe in this, I would.

The Almond Velvet Serum** (£38) is the second beautifully scented product in this duo. This serum is the first ever anti-ageing serum by L’Occitane and it combines the almond youth complex of Vitamin C and carefully selected active ingredients to help even out skin tone and brighten the complexion. 

This serum is really lightweight on the skin, it has a silky texture that once applied, rapidly absorbs itself into the skin where it acts deep within the skin to reverse sun damage and plump and firm. Again on the skin, this serum, like the Balm is so incredibly moisturising, it is simply divine. Designed to be used on your entire body on its own or with the Velvet Balm. The scent again mirrors that of the soft floral fragrance previously mentioned and again once on the skin, the scent lingers for a good few hours after application.

L’Occitane promises that after only one month, skin texture will look smoother and more even. And after two months, sun induced dark spots will appear less visible and skin’s youthfulness will be revealed.

Both of these products are on the pricey side but in my honest opinion, are more than definitely worth every single penny. If you’re looking to up your skin care game then I highly recommend you try the Almond Velvet Duo out and coming from someone who is totally useless at applying bodycream, to have applied this every day for the last month without fail, they must be superb products.

The L’Occitane Almond Velvet Collection is available to purchase now from L’Occitane.