P.A.M | Precious About Makeup

P.A.M or Precious About Makeup (Formally known as M.A.P) is a professional makeup store located in West Central London that will celebrate it's 20th birthday this year! I have to hold my hands up and say that I had not come across the brand until recently, but I am very glad to have been introduced.

PAM (Precious About Makeup) was established by makeup artists for makeup artists, in 1996. PAM founders, Kate and Jan, are professional makeup artists, who still work in the field which keeps them up-to-date with the latest tips, tricks and products among other things and you can read more about their story here.

It was established by makeup artists for makeup artists and stocks an impressive selection of makeup brands including:

• Beauty Blender,
• Ben Nye, 
• Japonesque
• Kryolan,
• Makeup Forever,
• MUD,
• Sigma
• Z-Palette,
• Zuca.

Plus so much more. I was kindly sent a selection of products to play with and I have been so incredibly impressed with what I have:

MUD Mai Tai Lipstick £15.50

This is my first contact with MUD and as lipsticks go, this is one I initially thought I would really dislike, but infact I was very wrong and it is a shade I love. Designed similarly to MAC lipsticks with the bullet design, this lipstick is shade Mai Tai which is described as being a deep reddish-pink color lipstick with a muted blue undertone. 

The formula is also really lovely, it glides onto the lips with minimal effort and stays in place for a good 5 hours before you need to touch up.

MUD Blush - Glow £17.95

Again, this was my first time using a MUD blusher and this one reminds me of NARS Orgasm, even the texture is incredibly similar with how smooth it is. 

Described as being a sheer peach cheek color with a subtle golden shimmer it is absolutely stunning and an easy shade to wear.

Make Up Forever Aqua Matic £9.60

I am a big fan of Make Up Forever and this is my first contact with Aqua Matic. Aqua Matic is a waterproof and smudgeproof eye shadow that comes in an automatic retractable pencil. It has an integrated sharpener in the tip so the pencil is always sharpened. 

Aqua Matic S-60 is described as a satiny warm brown with warm undertones and it has a satin-matte finish. It is easy to use and blends incredibly smoothly until it sets, which takes about a minute and once it has set, this crayon has amazing staying power, nothing budges it and nor does it fade or crease and it is of course waterproof. If it isn't quite the shade you would usually use as an eyeshadow, it works just as well as eyeliner.

The prices of the products from P.A.M are incredible and there are some amazing savings to be had, whether you shop online or go to the actual store. Whether you are a beauty blogger, professional Make Up Artist or even obsessed with make up and tools, then P.A.M will have something for you at an amazing price.

Have you shopped with P.A.M yet?

Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Collection

I have been a fan of Palmers Cocoa butter for as long as I can remember, there is something quite special about the scent and the amazing things it does to keep your skin feeling soft, smooth and moisturised. So when I got to see the launch of the new Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula which comprises of four luxuriously nourishing, and amazing scented products I was in my element!

All four of the Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula products use mainly ethically and sustainably sourced raw organic Coconut Oil. To make it even more luxurious, the range is infused with the ancient Polynesian sacred oil - Tahitian Monoï Oil and is infused with Tiare Flower Petals. Added together with anti-oxidants, Vitamin E and proteins, they all work together to ensure your skin is deeply hydrated, supple, soft and sooth and they all help boost skin's health and radiance. Of course the decadently rich coconut scent is just incredible.

The four products within the range are:

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Body Lotion 

The one thing I am useless at is remembering to use up body lotions, but give me something that smells as incredible as this and I am lapping it up. I often find after being wrapped up all winter, that my skin, especially on my legs and arms, is in need of extra moisture and hydration having been hidden away under thick tights and chunky knits. This lotion is incredibly luxurious, milky, creamy all without being greasy or tacky when on the skin. It absorbs itself with minimal contact leaving behind soft, soothe and supple skin and a delicious coconut scent. At just £4/250ml via Boots this is worth every penny.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Hand Cream.

As far as I am concerned you can never have too many tubes of hand cream in your posession. I have three or four on the go at all times, plus a hand scrub. This offering from Palmers smells good enough to it, it is just delightful. Again with that luxurious intensely creamy lotion, this hand cream is fast absorbing and is perfect for hands which are dry and cracked or in need of moisture.  As soon as the cream disappears again your hands are left moisturised and smooth.  At just £2.40/60g via Boots this hand cream is worth every single penny and is perfect for having in your handbag, on your desk or even in your gym bag.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Body Cream

If you want something that is more of a lotion and almost the same as the tub of cocoa butter you might be more familair with from Palmer's then this tub of body cream is that.  The richest moisturising product from the range, the cream is incredibly moisturising and almost cocoons the skin as it comes into contact. The difference between this cream and the body lotion is thickness of texture and the time it takes to absorb.  The Lotion absorbs much quicker than the cream, but the cream is a much thicker texture so it does take that bit longer to absorb, both however leave the skin feeling moisturised and soft.  A 125g tub costs just £5.25 from Boots.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Body Oil. 

The hero product of the range for me is this body oil, it is just superb. The oil has a light, silky, non-greasy formula which is designed to quench the thirstiest of skin and it doesn't leave behind any greasiness or tackiness on the skin. I have used this a lot on my legs which is where I turn half lizard/half mermaid with scaly legs owing to dryness and from the first application, the dryness is almost eradicated, but you must allow it to fully dry and disappear onto and into your skin before getting dressed as it may stain your clothes. This oil can be used daily as an everyday oil, in the bath or shower. I personally use it after my long hot bath at the weekend as part of my pampering routine. This oils costs just £7/150ml from Boots.

Free from Parabens, Phthalates, Dyes, Mineral Oil, Gluten and Sulfates, this is such a fabulous range of products and one which won't break the bank, it smells simply divine and it leaves your skin looking and feeling amazing! Even Dexter approves!

Magazine Freebies July 2016!

This month see's some absolutely amazing Magazine Freebies, making up for a few months where there has either been none or there is just one or two pretty decent ones, if you follow me on Instagram, I have featured them for this month. The best so far has to come from Elle Magazine and they have a collaboration with Benefit. If you haven't seen or heard by now, Benefit will soon be launching (24th June) a whole new Brow collection, which I have had a sneak peek of and it is pretty fantastic, keep your eye out here for more information. 

That said, in Elle Magazine this month, you can get your hands on one of those brand new products - Good Proof Brow Pencil and it is the product I think I am likely to reach for the most. Goof Proof Brow Pencil features a tip which is angled and pointed, so you can create any kind of finish you like. You can build colour, add definition, fill and shape your brows all with this one pencil. If that isn't enough, there is no need to sharpen this pencil because it is a twist-up pencil.

As you can see it looks stunning in its chrome packaging, but that is not all you get free with Elle.  Are your brows in need of taming? Well also included this month is a card which entitles you to a free Brow Wax at any Benefit Brow Bar at Debenhams and it is valid right up until 31st July!

Also this month:

In Tatler Magazine there is a free pair of sunglasses in a choice of three colours

Red Magazine gives a free luxury Rodial eyeliner duo in black and brown and that is worth a massive £34!

Harper's Bazaar is giving a Balance Me Restore and Replenish Cream worth £15

Marie Claire has a fabulous offer from Elemis with the choice of a Hydra Boost Day Cream or a Hydra Nourish Night Cream both in 15ml tubes.

Instyle is offering a choice of Eyeko freebies in the form of a black mascara, eyeliner or brow gel.

Glamour is offering free make-up from Model Co in the form of a Lipgloss, Eyeliner, Lip liner or Mascara.

What do you think to the current freebies on offer? 

Have you got any of them?

My Purrfect Gift Box - Unique cat lover gift box

Everyone knows I am a crazy cat lady, everyone who buys gifts for the cats usually send gift cards so I can buy them presents.  If you didn't know, I have three cats which regularly feature on my blog and across my social media, so when the opportunity arose to review the My Purrfect Gift Box, it had such an amazing back story that I was delighted to accept.

Kim and Juan Kniveton the founders of My Purrfect Gift Box are dedicated cat lovers, so much so they moved back from the USA to the Isle of Man to set up and run their own idyllic countryside retreat for cats - Boodee Beg Boarding Cattery, something I dream of doing (if I ever win the lottery). With their onsite gift shop not doing as well as they had hoped, Kim and Juan decided to start My Purffect Box and each month they choose to focus on a different cat charity, rescue centre or shelter and highlight the work they do through their social media sites and through information that comes in each box. They then donate 5% of all our profits from that month's box to that chosen charity of the month.

The very first box arrived a few weeks ago and it was designed to reflect the fun and colourful aspects of Spring as well as highlight many handmade items from cat loving artisans across the globe.

The first item in the box was the one my three heard rattling as I carefully opened the box as to not displace anything and it was a toy for them and they absolutely love playing with it, especially hector.  So it is simply feathers on a long wire with a handle that rattles owing to the bell that is attached.  This is a toy Hector loves to play tug-o-war with and yes he is a cat!  

There was also a catnip fish from FreakMEOWt which Dude managed to get hold of and anything that contains catnip, usually has his name written all over it.

There was also the inclusion of Green & Wilds cat niblets in plaice flavour.  They are 100% natural and are packed with proteins, oils and vitamins to build and maintain health and to keep teeth strong. Stimulates growth of bone structure and helps provide a beautiful shiny coat as they are rich in Omega 3 and 6. Heart and blood vessels also benefit from the polyunsaturated fatty acids.

As there was something for the cats, there is a lot more for crazy cat lovers like me:

A print by AmyLyn Birhle which depicts a Siamese cat with its umbrella in a field of flowers and it is such a lovely print that it takes pride of place on my desk at work, but it would make a great gift for a Siamese cat lover.

A cat printed umbrella and this I absolutely adore.  I am forever looking for an umbrella and now I have one which is so bright and colourful and covered in cats, that everyone will see me before I see them. You can find the umbrella right here.

Valerie Hart cute and colourful notecards which have a spring theme to them. Again they have a cat theme and they feature a little beige cat in the garden among the flowers with the saying; "We are all in the same garden". I can never find notecards when I need them, so now I have 8 to choose from.  

These notecards can be found right here on Etsy.

Temporary cat-in-flowers tattoo. I am not one for temporary tattoos, though I do like them, this one is just so pretty and detailed it is hard not to love it and I am actually using it as a bookmark. These tattoos can be found on Etsy right here. 

Finally, the last item in the box is a plantable seeded paper which is shaped like a cat. They have been made from recycled, handmade paper that can be recycled itself in a unique way — by planting it! So now it is planted, I am looking forward to see what it grows! You can find this and other items right here.

What I love about this box is that clearly a lot of thought went into the contents and it is obviously done so with a theme in mind.  Boxes start from £15.95 and there is a choice of three boxes to choose from depending on your budget and then you have a further option as to whether you would like a one off box or a subscription.

So, if like me, you are a crazy cat lady or have a crazy cat friend, this is a perfect little unique gift to give or purchase for yourself as well as do you bit for charity! 

Create your own skincare regime with MixNature

Having tried a lot of skincare in my time, ive never had the opportunity to make my own, until now. MixNature is one of the most interesting brands I have come across in a long time. Based at their state of the art lab in Latvia, MixNature create unique, handmade, vegan and natural products, which are freshly made with a promise: “You are unique, your cosmetics should be too”. With that in mind you can create face creams, scrubs, liquid soaps, cleansing milks, face masks, eye creams, shampoos, hair masks, hair balms, shower gels, body lotions, hand or foot creams, practically everything you need for a bespoke skincare regime all at the click of a button.

The process of deciding which products you want and each one has a base category to get you started - Is your skin dry, combination, oily or mature. Once you have made your selection, you then begin the process of adding essential oils (such as Neroli, Myrtle, Peppermint, Lavender, Jasmine and Rosewood), extracts (such as Rosehip, Dragons Blood, Ginseng, Green Coffee, Echinacea and Chamomile) and then activating agents (such as Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Bio Collagen and Arnica) each one comes with an easy to read description as what properties it holds and what it will do for your skin, body or hair.  I sat and read through quite a lot of information before deciding which products I wanted to try and naturally given the number of combinations, you can select from thousands of combinations, which in part makes it all the more fun.  I am a firm believer in knowing what is best for my body and having the ability to choose and make my own products is just amazing.

Even more amazing is that a service like this will not break the bank, infact I was incredibly surprised at how affordable it is. The starting price is around £7.07 for the basic cream and then for each additional ingredient (but no more than 6) it costs just 79p (*This week all ingredients are free). Adding all of those together and you can have specially formulated and unique to you products for less than £15.

I was kindly given a credit to allow me to create my own products and I choose and formulated:

Body Scrub for Dry Skin (150ml) and I included Jasmine Essential Oil, Pentavitin and Neroli Essential Oil.  Body scrub for dry skin based on sweet almond oil, avocado oil, panthenol, sugar and vitamin E is a perfect cleanser, making your skin softer, firmer and velvety. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and moisturizes, softens and smoothes the skin. 

This scrub is incredible, it is similar in texture to Soap & Glory Sugar Crush only the exfoliating particles are slightly bigger and they are more effective at removing dead and dry skin without being overly abrasive. 

Face mask for normal and combination skin (50ml) and included Sea Buckthorn Extract, Lavender Essential Oil and Lemongrass Essential Oil. This nourishing mask contains natural cocoa, jojoba, sacha inchi and almond oils, vitamin E, urea and panthenol to deeply nourish and rejuvenate your skin. It makes the skin softer and more elastic and younger and healthier-looking. 

The cream is quite thick and therefore you only need a small amount to cover your face and neck. I leave the mask on for up to 15 minutes before washing off with warm water. 

Eye Cream for Dry Skin (30ml) and included Ginseng Extract, Parsley Extract and Linden Tree Extract. This moisturizing and nourishing cream-gel for dry skin with no aromatic additives contains macadamia oil, vitamin E, panthenol and hyaluronic acid and is for the delicate sensitive skin around the eyes. The cream-gel will repair, relax and refresh your skin, keeping it moisturized for longer and helping to iron out fine lines. It will relieve irritation and dryness and make your skin feel smooth and silky. 

I have had a skin scan on a few occasions where they look for issues or concerns. Each time, there has been slight dehydration under my eyes, despite using eye cream regularly. So I have opted for this product, picking ingredients which are known to moisturise and nourish to see if it can make any difference, again the cream is quite thick so one pump is enough for both under-eye areas. 

Shower Gel for Dry Skin (250ml) and I included Silk Protein, Pentavitin and Lemongrass Essential Oil. The natural soap base and Atlantic salt gently remove dead skin cells and dirt. The active ingredients protect the skin from dryness, improve cell respiration and balance microcirculation. They have an active effect on subcutaneous fat. 

This is a luxurious feeling shower gel, the gel is thick and gloopy and you only need a small amount to create a lather.  It smells incredible given the Lemongrass inclusion and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch. 

So having had fun deciding what to include within my products, it is worth noting that all MixNature products are 100% natural and are free from colorants, silicone, paragons, mineral oils, artificial flavours and sodium laurel sulphate; they are also vegan, freshly handmade and freshly produced. I placed my order on a Wednesday and they arrived the following day, beautifully packaged via DHL which is just amazing service.

The lovely people at Mixnature have put together a video to explain more about themselves in this video.  Personally speaking, this is an amazing service and one I have enjoyed exploring, I like knowing that I am choosing what goes into my products and that there is nothing hidden.

Maui Fantasy by Britney Spears

I am not usually a fan of celebrity perfumes but there is something about those by Britney Spears that are just that little bit good, okay they are really good and whether you are a fan of her music or not, Maui Fantasy, the new offering which is limited edition, is a fragrance well worth looking for.

Maui Fantasy is Britney's 19th scent (wow) and it a scent I would associate with summer holidays. It is said that Britney feels a deep connection to Maui and whenever she has a break she travels to the breathtaking island to relax, kick back, rejuvenate and spend some quality time with her family.

The bottle is quite something, designed to embody the essence of Hawaii, the bottle takes its inspiration from the crystal blue waters of the sea which surrounds the island and featuring a pink Hibiscus flower, one of the many symbols of the tropical island. The shape fitting in perfectly well within the Fantasy Collection.

The fragrance is infuses elements of Maui's natural beauty and it opens with a mouthwatering combination of bird of paradise flower, pink grapefruit and passion fruit. The heart is a heady mix of beachy florals such as hibiscus petals, cyclamen, orange blossom and tiare flower (Hawaiian monoi). The base brings a warm and sensual aura with notes of coconut, vanilla, blue musk, white amber and beachy blonde woods. Put together you have a fragrance that is said to represent Britney's multi-faceted personality and it is really lovely.  

I had assumed that this fragrance would be for the teen market and that I would therefore not like it at all, however whilst it may be suitable for the older teen, I have no qualms about wearing it, it is as equally floral as it is sweet and is a scent that you could very well imagine wearing whilst relaxing on a white sandy beach as the waves ripple in the background.

You can find the limited edition Britney Spears Maui Fantasy here for £35 for 100ml.

O’Sullivans@The Shard

If I could afford to, I would happily pay for someone to wash and blow dry my hair for me a few times a week, there is something about that freshly blow dried hair which makes you feel a million dollars.  Last week, I was given the opportunity to go along to The Shard Arcade and have my hair washed and blow dried at an amazing salon called O'Sullivans.

This was my first visit to The Shard Arcade and the boutique was really easy to find. One of two hair salons, O’Sullivans@The Shard is a place which offers you the perfect cut, expert colour or complete restyle, the group’s latest state of the art salon specialises in big bouncy and luxurious blowdrys which I was there to enjoy.

Walking into the salon, you cannot help but notice how quaint yet bright it is. Immediately welcomed, my confirmation of appointment was confirmed and I was shown to an amazingly comfy chair to await my stylist for the day. Morgan, my stylist, was amazingly friendly, bubbly and a delight to chat too as she washed my hair and then making sure to ask what I would like as my blow dry, I trusted her enough to say 'Free reign, do whatever you think' - a rarity for me in any salon. 

As my hair was dried, it was nice to look around and see customers come in and go whether it was for a hair cut, style or a manicure, another of the salon's offerings. Stocked with well-known brands of both nail polish (Essie) and hair care (think L'Oreal, RedKen and Kerastase) which I found really impressive and not forgetting to mention the pink hair styling tools!

As you can see my hair went from being poker straight to big bouncy curls which on the night lasted longer than they ever have before despite the rain and humidity.

My appointment lasted just 40 minutes which is incredibly impressive, a great service for those in a hurry and need their hair being blow-dried before a big event or just as a treat.  The service is really lovely and relaxing and if you are in need of a last minute blow dry then O'Sullivans is well worthy of your attention, even better you can book online with even less of a need to rush giving you time to take in the most amazing views of The Shard both before and after your appointment. Prices start from £15 depending on what treatment you have.

Thank you O'Sullivans and Morgan for my amazing bouncy curls, I am sure I will be returning soon.

*The service I received was complimentary and all words and views are my own.

Little-Known Box

Little-Known Box is the UK’s newest luxurious beauty subscription box and you might have spotted them on your social media because they have, in my opinion, put a lot of effort into getting themselves noticed, no mean feat within a market that seems saturated with beauty boxes offering everything!

Little-Known Box is something a little bit different, every month you will receive a box of carefully selected luxurious beauty products and gifts featuring 'little-known' products, from independent, niche, upcoming and emerging brands. Chosen with ethics and wellness in mind. Having recognised that emerging and small luxury brands are really under-represented in beauty subscription boxes, Little-Known Box aim to fix this gap and use their beauty box to introduce you to some fantastic little-known brands, particularly those specialising in niche beauty fields including; natural/organic, vegan friendly, cruelty free and free-from brands.

Having caught my attention, I decided to sign up and see for myself what Little-Known Box was all about. Promising to include full and sample size luxury products from skincare, makeup, hair, body and grooming products to nail care, nail art, lifestyle and beauty accessories and with the occasional surprise thrown in! This is the first box:

Flint and Flint Moisturiser 3x (Full size 50ml rrp £42) - A rich repair cream that protects against glycation, boosts collagen and elastin production and regenerates the skin. Contains a powerful combination of active ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol and Malikara Leaf to reverse the signs of premature ageing. Hydrates and nourishes the skin.  Whilst the packaging is quite simple and understated, to me it does seem just a little bit masculine and isn't ordinarily something I would usually pick up.

The Vintage Cosmetics Company Eyelash Curlers - These are a limited edition rose gold pair of eyelash curlers and I am quite a fan of The Vintage Cosmetics Company for their cute and kitsch packaging. What makes these curlers slightly different is that they are spring loaded. These are obviously full sized and cost around £7.00.

Medusa Makeup Lipgloss - Described as being fun, vibrant and innovative, Medusa's makeup is made in the USA, Vegan and is Paraben free.  I have shade Bite Me which is a fantastic vibrant red shade, whilst I won't be able to get any use out of it as I don't pull of red at all, a friend of mine will and it is perfect for her.  Available in 12 different shades they retail at £6.25 (Full sized product $9).

Dirtea - I am a tad obsessed with tea and coffee bath products nd Dirtea is described as being the 'original self-love tea scrub'. Dirtea products are products are tediously tested and have unique recipes formulated to target acne, scarring, stretch marks, cellulite, psoriasis, eczema, and more. Our organic tea's are freshly ground into a fine powder and combined with specific high-grade essential oils, minerals, and vitamins to create a powerful blend that works wonders for your skin. They are not only Vegan but also Paraben, Gluten, Cruelty, Phosphate and Chemical Preservative-Free. (£2.15 per sachet)

Thumbs Up Nail Wraps - I have to admit, I am not into nail wraps at all and they are everywhere right now. This set has a metallic marble gold effect which will delight some people, personally, I prefer nail polish.  Each pack contains 20 nail wraps and they are described as being easy to apply and waterproof. (£7.99 full sized product)

For a first box, I think this is pretty okay, I am not as wowed as I thought I would be, but I am not overly disappointed because there are some new brands for me to try out. A one off box costs £15.95 upon which there is a postage and packaging charge of £3.75. A monthly subscription to this box costs £14.95 and there are further subscription options available.

What do you think to Little-Known Box?