Zadig & Voltaire Fragrances

It is a rare occasion that I smell a fragrance and it wows me immediately, infact it is highly likely that the scent in question might take a good 2-3 weeks before I decide that I even like it. This is not the case with Zadig & Voltaire, it did wow me from the very first spritz and I just absolutely, utterly and without question adore it.

You may have come across the Zadig & Voltaire brand within the world of fashion. With items which are edgy and chic they have a handbag and shoe collection to die for, they are slightly out of my budget, but a girl can dream and for now (and perhaps forever) I am more than delighted with my fragrance.

With a fragrance for both male and female they have a few notes in common but smells incredibly different but just simply stunning. 

THIS IS HER! The female fragrance is described as being sensual, free and jauntily. The woody, floral and gourmand This is Her, signed by perfumer duo Sidonie Lancesseur and Michel Almairac, contains notes of pink pepper, Sambac jasmine, milky chestnut cream, vanilla and sandalwood. As a scent it is cosy, it is sweet, it is indulgent and most definitely unique. I love that it smells so totally different to anything else I currently own or have tried and on the skin it starts out being quite floral until the fragrance settles and is mixed with vanilla and sandalwood it becomes just beautiful and I cannot get enough of it.  Impressively it is one of those scents which lasts all day without the need to re-apply and it can still be smelt the following day if it is applied to clothing.  

This is her comes available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles and is priced between £50 and £75 which is an absolute bargain and for me, this is a scent which will forever remain within my collection.

THIS IS HIM! is described as being manly, wild and free. It is made of grapefruit aroma, black pepper, incense, milky sandalwood and vanilla. Upon opening there is an initial grapefruit blast which is fresh and invigorating and it soon fades into quite a sharp vanilla scent which when mixed with the incense it wows. Once the smokiness of the incense and black pepper settles on the skin the note of Sandalwood comes into its own and it is just a fantastic scent. Once the mister spritzes himself with it, no matter which room he is in, I can smell it and it is just truly divine and again, it is long lasting and the strong scent does last all day. 

Once he comes home from work some 9 hours after leaving the house, I can still smell This is Him quite clearly. This is her comes available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles and is priced between £35 and £60 which is an absolute bargain and for me, this is a scent which will forever remain within my collection.

This is Her denotes the female version and it arrives in an all white box which is as plain as a box can be when featuring just the brand name, some may call it chic. The bottle inside is very edgy with clean lines and a rough edge which stands out to attract your attention, it is only when you investigate the male fragrance do you realise that the bottles fit together, almost as if they should be one.

If you haven't guessed already, I am besotted with these fragrances and wear This Is Her pretty much everyday I love it that much. It is the perfect gift for anyone who loves fragrance and likes something that little bit different because this is exactly what you get.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Liz Earle Superskin™ Dry Oil for Body

The Liz Earle Superskin™ Dry Oil for Body is one of the latest launches and is a product I have had now for a few months. I have said many times that when it comes to moisturising, I am pretty rubbish at remembering to use body butters and creams but give me something in a spray that absorbs quickly without me having to stand around waiting for it to dry or sink in, I want it - well we have a winner!

This Dry Oil is described as being 'Formulated with their Superskin™ botanical blend of cranberry, rosehip and borage seed oils to instantly smooth, nourish and revitalise skin. This lightweight dry oil delivers an irresistible ritual that will leave you divinely scented and silky soft' and with the key ingredients being Cranberry seed oil which has the nourishing Omegas 3,6 and 9 making it super moistursiing, Borage Oil which is one of the richest sources of the essential fatty acid GLA (gamma linolenic acid), which helps to lock moisture onto the skin and Rosehip Oil, which I absolutely love, is a good source of essential fatty acids which help lock moisture onto the skin.

This new body formula is a spray and be applied directly onto skin. Housed inside a stunning glass bottle, the pump when pressed dispenses a fine mist which doesn't soak you through, but there is enough to massage onto and into the skin. One spritz does distrbute a large amount of oil, so be care how many times you need to press it. Once on the body, you smooth in using large circular movements in an upwards direction and as it is a dry oil, it is fast-absorbing so you don’t have to hang around for half an hour waiting for it to sink in, you simply spray, massage and get dressed.

At £35 for 100ml, I actually this it is amazing value for money and because it is so easy to use, it is a spray and it leaves my skin feeling and smelling just incredible, I am all ready to purchase a second bottle.  You can find this product in stores such as John Lewis, QVC, Liz Earle Flagship stores and Boots.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Eye creams for Winter!

Tired eyes are not the best look when you have that presentation of your career to give, that appraisal at work where you are hoping for a pay rise or promotion or even for date night with the hubby/boyfriend and so on.  There are times when no matte how much concealer you slap on, those suitcases under your eyes just will not go into hiding. It might not even be a lack of sleep that could be the issue, indeed for me, it is often dry eyes or even dehydrated skin under my eyes that is an issue.  In the winter, I always ensure I up my skincare regime and that includes more moisture, more protection, I continue to use an SPF, I exfoliate more and I also power through facial mists in an bid to ensure my skin remains moisturised as I go from a heated home or office out into the cold.

Eye-creams are for me, a big part of my skincare routine and whilst I am currently obsessed with eye masks (that is another post) I do use an eye cream and the two that I am currently using are:

Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado £20.  Now I love Avocados and I love Kiehls, so a combination of the two is quite possibly dreamy. The texture of the cream is really lovely. It is rich, thick, luxurious and incredibly hydrating and soothing. You only need a really small amount for the under eye area. 

I use my index finger to gently apply and pat the cream in. Having said it is rich and thick textured, if you find it is quite solidified, then run your finger across the top of the pot, it melts with the heat from your fingers to allow you to apply it.  Once applied to the skin, it feels incredibly smooth and it is hydrating and I have really enjoyed trying it and wouldn't rule out a repurchase.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Sync Complex II £40 (I have the mini version) - I absolutely love that this sample is an exact replica of the full sized version making it uber cute. The gel creme has a formula which is rich, luxurious and just disappears into the skin. Said to maximize the power of night to re-ignite the vital, youthful-looking light that can fade due to fatigue, pollution and age. Using the advanced formula with the exclusive ChronoluxCB technology, it helps significantly inhibit the appearance of visible damage: fine lines, crow's feet, dark circles, puffiness, dryness and uneven texture. 

What I love about this eye cream is how luxurious it feels on the skin and it is one of those products that just absorbs on contact so there is no need to really pat the under eye area too much.

Alongside Kiehls and Estee Lauder, I have my eye (no pun intended) on other creams that have had really good reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue £40 - I have read so many reviews and comments on Charlotte Tilbury skincare that I am itching to give it a try.  One item that has caught my attention is the Magic Eye rescue. Said to be a new formula which will help to reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles, smooth crow`s feet, minimise fine lines and re-energise the delicate under eye area where the first signs of ageing often occur. This miracle Magic Eye Rescue is described as being 'a revitalising and reinvigorating, anti-ageing rescue remedy that gets to work to slow down the ticking time bomb of ageing'. Which sounds too good to be true but one I feel I have to try.

La Prairie Essence Of Skin Caviar Eye Complex 15ml (£107) - I have always been intrigued by La Prairie because firstly the price is usually a wow factor and secondly do you really get value for money?  The La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar eye complex caviar extract is described as being the perfect pick-me-up for the sensitive skin surrounding your eyes, this lightweight, rapidly penetrating gel acts like a mini eyelift. Add to that it is said to be instantly firming, nourishing and re-energizing the eye zone, it also improves its tone and texture, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles while brightening and hydrating the delicate tissue and soothing away signs of stress and fatigue. One thing that did grab my attention is that is also claims to help increase the staying power of eye makeup.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Serum Light-Pearl 20ml (£46) - Lancome is a brand that is everywhere right now, whether it is with its skincare products or cushion makeup products and as a brand, it is one which has caught my attention.  This Eye serum is said to be a new and improved formula for our best-selling eye serum. Reduces the appearance of eye bags, whilst targeting the look of wrinkles and lines around the skin of your eye contour to look fresher and younger. This cooling serum massages the eye area to revive your eyes` youthful and radiant appearance.

Benefit Firm It Up Eye Serum (£28.50). Firm it up! eye serum helps to visibly tighten & brighten the delicate skin around your eyes. The lightweight texture absorbs in seconds, leaving skin feeling refreshed, smooth and silky-soft. Feel the firmness, see the brightness. Having seen a preview of this at a Benefit Press Day I cannot wait to give it a try. One thing people tend not to think about when it comes to Benefit is their skincare which happens to be pretty darn good!

Do you find that you up your skincare routine in the winter?

*this post contains PR samples/affiliate links unless indicated otherwise

Makeup for Halloween with Superdrug

Halloween is a time of year that I wish we celebrated like they do in America. A friend of mine is heading to Salem for the event and I am inanely jealous.  That said, here in the UK some of us do make more of an effort than we used too and if you look hard enough there are events happening where you live.

Once you have chosen your outfit, next comes the makeup and Superdrug also have an amazing range from across the brands sold in store and one stand out brand right now is Freedom, the sister brand of Make Up Revolution.

Freedom Pro Black Swan Makeup kit is an absolute bargain at £8 and it is also on a 3 for 2 offer. Comprising of a White Foundation, a Black Gel Eyeliner, a White Liquid Eyeliner, a Quad Eyeshadow and a Black Liquid Lipstick. 

Designed to allow you to create the perfect Black Swan look, you have everything you need in one kit and you can find it here.

This is such a fantastic kit and the black liquid lipstick is just stunning. Of course you might feel the need to add to your make up and items such as these, which are all again on a 3 for 2 offer might just capture your attention.

Freedom Pro SFX Fake Blood again is on a 3 for 2 offer and is just £2. A Halloween must, this tube of liquid fake blood is designed to give a realistic splash or smear of blood to add some horror to any outfit. Available right here.

Freedom Pro SFX Ghost Whitener and as before, it is on a 3 for 2 offer and is priced at £3. An easy to use pure white liquid foundation that blends well to ensure a high coverage pure white finish ideal for the perfect base to the rest of your makeup. Available right here.

Aside from Freedom, Superdrug have their own brands and I have three other products right here to complete your Halloween look

Superdrug Colour Hairspray Black: Designed to be a spray in and wash out product, this black hairspray gives an instant hit of colour. Available in a wide array of colours such as blue and red, it adds that finishing touch to your look and a bit of fun.  Priced at £2.99 it is also on a 3 for 2 deal and available right here.

Lash Halloween are a limited edition pair of Halloween eyelashes which add dramatic length and volume.  Suitable for those who wear contact lenses, they are also cruelty free and are exclusive to Superdrug.

Gosh Giant Pro Eyeliner: From the AW16 Copenhagen range (see my post here) this Giant Pro Eyeliner is an intense black colour and pointed nib make it incredibly easy to apply either a thin or stronger line with accuracy, it is water based so incredibly easy to remove and is easy to hold. Priced at just £6.99 it is brilliant value for money.

So now you have found everything you need for Halloween to create that scary look! 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise