Modern Vintage Style Jewellery

When I was given the opportunity to review some jewellery from Modern Vintage Style, I was overwhelmed with how many beautiful pieces I had the choice between. Modern Vintage Style is the home of beautiful vintage jewellery which includes stunning vintage and designer jewellery, as well as vintage inspired handmade jewellery.

All of the vintage inspired jewellery is delicately handcrafted, using a mixture of quality components including Sterling Silver, vintage beads, semi precious stones, quality glass beads and Swarovski Crystals. All of the designs are just beautiful and original, making them easy to wear and are ideal as a treat for you or perfect as a special gift.

I chose the Capri Multi Gemstone Necklace which is a multi colour gemstone necklace which is comprised of a combination of facested green amethyst, aquamarine quartz and rose quartz gemstones bezel set in gold vermeil settings. Packaged beautifully in a plain white box with gold lettering, this would look exceptional as a gift for a loved one.

The necklace itself has a gold vermeil chain (gold vermeil is gold plated sterling silver), and bail. I love that the three stones drop vertically so that they hand low down the neck and chest but sit flat. The photos below have been taken both with the flash on and off so you can see how beautiful the stones are.

The chain length measures approximately 16 inches ( 41cm) and the chain has a spring ring necklace closure. The drop length of the pendant is approximately 5.8 cm (including the bail). The stones themselves are not too big that they look out of place and something so delicate but they are large enough to draw attention.

What I love about this necklace is how it can be worn with any outfit, whether you are dressing up or dressing down, it adds that little bit of something extra and I just absolutely adore it.

If you are looking for something a little bit special for a loved one, then I would definitely recommend a visit to Modern Vintage Style to find something whether it is a ring, necklace, bracelet, a pair of earrings or something designer, there will be something there to catch your attention.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Patisserie De Bain

Patisserie De Bain is one of those brands that you didn't know you would love until you find them (run to Superdrug). Cute, kooky and a little bit quirky they are just a delight to have around with their sweet scents, nostalgic names and of course smelling good enough to eat. 

This is what they say about themselves:

Sweet Scents from Patisserie de Bain Here at Patisserie de Bain we love to have a bit of fun. We inject a little of our quirky personality and retro style into every bath and body product and gift we create. Whether you need to rise and shine with the sweet burst of our Bath & Shower Crèmes, keep your skin silky soft with our glycerin-rich Patisserie de Bain Hand Creams or unwind with a handmade bath treat – you can be sure sweetness is always with you to brighten your mood and broaden your smile. 

Bursting with happiness and nostalgia, our Patisserie de Bain sweet scents have a personality of their own. Will you fall head over heels for the free spirited Cranberries and Cream, the delightful Strawberry Cupcake, the classic Sugared Violet, the fresh-faced Lemon Bon Bon, the bold Sweet as Cherry Pie or the sunny outlook of Orange Crush? Or will our newest sweet scent Crème Patissière, our little romantic, capture your heart?

I am a huge fan of the brand and I love that they have scents that remind me of food and sweets and of course the packaging is simply delightful. There are little sets that make amazing gifts and then there are individual products which are an amazing treat or you can buy a few to make your own little gift set. Today I am sharing some of those with you.

The newest sweet scent, Crème Patissiere is inspired by traditional French confectionners creams and classic English vanilla custard. Sure to inject a little sweet luxury wherever your day may take you. In this package is a shower gel and body souffle along with a very handy to have shower puff.

You can never have too many handcreams and this little set, which has appeared on the blog before (here) is a delight to have around.  They can also be purchased individually.

If you like sweet smelling handcreams, then you will love these. Those three scents within this trio are:

• Sweet as Cherry Pie is just stunning. It smell reminds me of fresh ripe cherries that have just been cooked in a pie as it happens and in the background is a slight sprinkling of vanilla to add to the sweetness.
• Cranberries and Cream is quite a sweet scent, much sweeter than I had anticipated and the fruity scent you associate with Cranberries is most definitely present with the cream part being much more dominant than in Sweet as Cherry Pie
• Sugar Rose is perhaps my favourite of the three, it combines rosehip, grapes and sugar cane which is just heavenly and for me the right sweetness to not be too vanilla based or too perfumed.

The final items to share with you are these two cute products which I think are my favourite from the collection so far.

The Strawberry Cupcake bath and shower cream is summer in a tube. The scent is a delicious blend of that British classic strawberries & cream and when it comes into contact with water and creates a lather, the scent is just divine. Sugared Violet hand and body lotion contains everything you need to keep hands and body moisturised. Using ingredients such as Beeswax, Shea and Cocoa Butter to hydrate and protect dry hands. I love the beautiful sweet scent of sugared violet which reminds me of those purple violet sweets you use to get in your 10p mix.

With prices for these products ranging from £2.99 right up to £9.99 you can buy some really nice products to create your own little gift hamper and it would make such a lovely treat that wouldn't break the bank.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

How to work in the beauty industry

Getting your foot into the beauty industry is probably the hardest part when it comes to securing a job in this industry. There are very many opportunities available in the beauty industry as new trends are always coming up and people are out to try new things. With this craze, there are bound to be hundreds of windows to get into this industry. The question is ‘how do you set yourself apart from all the others trying to get into the industry?’ It is very important to have an edge over the other beauticians if you are hoping to make a name for yourself in this immensely competitive industry. Take note of the following essentials that will play a great role in marketing yourself as a beautician. 

Use internet

Thanks to job search engines, you can find many jobs in the beauty industry and opportunities that match your skills and ambitions. If you are looking for a job in the United Kingdom, you can check sites like uk.jobrapido where you will be able to find many jobs in major cities like Birmingham, which is reputed for its events in fashion and beauty industry. Another good option could be to take a look at company sites and apply directly for a specific position.

Create a portfolio

Note down your achievements and display them in a way that showcases your various abilities in the beauty industry. This can be very important as potential clients will be able to assess what you have done in the past and it shows that you have a sense of professionalism and interest in the work you do. As you progress as a beautician, you will be able to add more items to your portfolio to make it even more attractive as you gain more clients. 

Ensure that you are ahead of the curve

The beauty industry is full of new products such as new makeup brushes, concealers and foundation creams. As a beautician, you need to stay on top of such things by conducting extensive research on beauty products that are new in the market. You can do this by reading beauty magazines that feature the trends in the market as well as having informed contacts in the beauty industry who can keep you up to date on upcoming trends. With such information, you can apply the new ideas in your career to help you get your desired job.

Choose your desired path

There are various directions which a beautician can take and it is advisable to choose one that you are qualified for and work on perfecting yourself in that career route. In this way, you stand a chance to become one of the best in the beauty industry. Additionally, for those considering pursuing a degree, platforms like Degree Query can provide valuable information on the best educational paths to enhance your skills and advance your career.

Have passion and great drive so as to get your desired results

Develop a strong interest in your chosen career route and work tirelessly to achieve your career goals. You will have to make a lot of sacrifices along the way and it will all be worth it when you attain your goals. 

Work your way to the top

Getting into the industry may be hard at the beginning and you may have to start at the bottom as an intern or as an employee in a trend-focused company. These experiences will go a long way in helping you make contacts in the beauty industry as you prepare for your big break. You can try to use job aggregators to find a job in this industry. Just insert a necessary title into the search field and start your searching.

Getting beauty jobs can be made much easier by following the tips above. It may be hard at the beginning but all you need is patience and hard work and you will definitely make it big.

The Vegan Effect

Did you know that November is Vegan Beauty Month? One question I am asked more and more these days whenever I review a product is whether or not it is Vegan.  I hold my hands up and admit, I am not the first to check whether or not a product is Vegan or even suitable for Vegetarians, I tend to use products because I like the look and sound of them.

With that in mind, I thought today, I would share with you some amazing brands that I am really fond of that are in actual fact Vegan! Aside from Lush which you might be more familiar with there is a whole host of brands who fit into this category, more than I thought. Now you might not have known this, you might know it, you might not even be bothered, but here they are:

EcoTools - Possibly the one brand people will be most aware of for being Vegan but did you know that in addition to their animal-free cosmetics brushes, EcoTools also carries fake eyelashes, bath and spa products, and hair brushes.

B Beauty - Exclusive to Superdrug and a brand which I am a fan of, B is a bargain Vegan beauty brand who proudly display on their website that B. "does not contain any animal derived ingredients or by-products, even beeswax which can often be found in mascara."

Barry M - One of my favourite Highstreet brands have never tested their finished products or ingredients on animals or engaged another company to do so on their behalf. Those products which are Vegan are marked as being so and you can check all the ingredients online too. With a growing nail polish collection and makeup range, it is a highstreet brand that is well worth looking at and available in Superdrug and Boots.

Parissa Warm Wax - A liquid salon quality hair remover. ALL of their products are vegetarian friendly. Parissa Warm Wax and Parissa Organic Wax are completely Vegan.

Skyn Iceland - A brand that I have on my list to try out, do not test their products on animals and are vegan. They are also free of parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, chemical sulfates, and phthaletes.  You can find the whole brand in Marks and Spencers.

Cover FX  - As well as being Vegan and cruelty-free (with the exception of MintTint FX & MintGlaze FX), did you know that the range is created and developed by former chief chemist and MD at MAC cosmetics! What I love is that here are 25 inclusive shades, and the unique formulas provide a precise match, based on your undertone, for skin of all ethnicities for your foundation, pretty impressive!You can find Cover FX in House of Fraser.

Inika - I have featured Inika before (here) and for me it is one of the most popular vegan makeup brands that I have come across and used. Inika has an extensive makeup range which seems to grow by the day and I am especially fond of their Mineral Blusher Puff Pot! You can find the brand collection on LookFantastic and right now there is a deal!

The brand which everyone is cooing over right over - Spectrum! Not only are Spectrum makeup brushes everywhere on my social media timelines, but they're also 100% vegan and are proud to state that not a single unicorn was harmed during the making of their brushes!

Kat Von D - Earlier this year Kat Von D announced her plans to reformulate her entire cosmetics line to ensure every product was vegan. While the process takes a while, she already has a section of her website titled #VeganAlert which is full of products that do not contain any animal products or by-products, and have not been tested on animals. Find the whole collection in Debenhams right now.

Remember as always there are labels and logos which specifiy what is and isn't Vegan and it is always worth looking and checking.

Do you look out for Vegan products when making a purchase? Did you know these featured were Vegan?

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