SKECHERS Adorbs

As the weather is still really very cold and I am not yet able to wear my Fitflops, I am still living quite comfortably in my warm snug, fur-lined boots which keep my as a snug as a bug in a rug after a hug, stop me sliding on that pesky black ice and wear well with my skinny jeans and leggings.

Skechers are a brand that I really really like. My trainers are Skechers and now my boots, Skechers Adorbs from Brantano are also made by Skechers. Grey in colour, these boots have a gum rubber flat heel and are pull on boots, so no pesky zips snagging on your tights and leggings.  On the back of the heel of the boot is a stitched tab with the brand name.

Made of faux suede and in an unusual grey colour, the faux fur lining is incredibly snug and the hiding underneath that cuff is woven, a grey pattern which is almost geometric in design which you can just about see under the faux fur, as these are ankle boots there isn't the option to roll the fur up to have calf length boots, but it does add a nice little extra design to the boots. 

For those like me with flat feet, a bit of comfort is a must when it comes to shoes and boots. As much as I would love to wear Louboutins and Jimmy Choo, I like my flat boots and shoes, walking like a hippo on rollerskates is not attractive. So inside the boots is a memory foam cushioned sole and it is so comfortable, I never want to take them off.

At just £62, these boots cost less than half that of other brands (from which I have owned boots from) and these are such fantastic value for money.  The heel doesn't sag in the rain, my feet are kept warm the entire time I wear them, so there is no need to buy extra thick socks. They are comfortable, they look great with jeans, leggings or skirts with tights and perfect for this horrible cold weather.

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*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Valentines Gift Inspiration for HER

Valentines Day is looming and whether you have a loved one, don't have a loved one, love Valentines, hate it and so on, there is always a reason to treat yourself, your best girl, sister or even your mum.  So I have put together a budget gift guide of treats that I would be absolutely thrilled with.

Selfridges - I Heart You Valentine's Day Beauty Box £35 (here). Featuring an exclusive cotton make-up pouch from family-run British label Alphabet Bags, alongside a selection of cult products from the brands you love with a combined value of £130 - Including Molton brown, Lord & Berry, STARSKIN®, Zelens, TONYMOLY and more

Too Faced 'Sweet Peach' Collection here in Debenhams. With a cute eyeshadow palette, glow palette and lip oil to choose from, this long-awaited collection is amazing, looks amazing and yeah I want it.

Charlotte Tilbury Quick & Easy  Look Set £55 (here). Not only are these sets amazing value for money, there are four different ones to choose from depending upon your mood and what look you want to go for - Smokey Eye, Daytime Chic, Party and Natural Glowing, there is something for everyone.

Eve Lom Radiant Ritual - SpaceNK £50 (here) - A collection of Eve Lom classics for lasting hydration and unstoppable glow. This set includes a 50ml Cleanser, a 15ml Rescue mask alongside others and at £50 it is a bargain.

Rituals - The Ritual of Sakura Relaxing Collection £29.50 (here). This is a stunning collection by Rituals which I have featured on my blog already 

Latest in Beauty date night box £20 (here). This curated collection features all the essentials you need to prep for the perfect romantic evening and it features some amazing brand such as Givenchy, The White Company, Rimmel, Nuxe, Benefit and Trilogy to name just a few.

Therapie Love Me Set, £42 (here) The ultimate girls' night in kit and it includes a candle, bath infusion and face serum. The ritual of spiritual bathing creates a perfect time to reconnect with body and spirit and I love that each of these kits includes a healing life ritual for you to follow.

L'Occitane Care Collection £19 (here). L'Occitane is one of my favourite brands and this box of joy contains a hand-picked selection of L’Occitane’s best-selling products such as Verbena shower gel and Rose Hand Cream. 

I would love to know if any of these have caught your eye or whether you plan on purchasing something for you or for someone else!

*this post contains PR samples/AF Links unless indicated otherwise

Pamper yourself with Beautii

Do you love a bit of pampering and often wish that you had more hours in the day to get that manicure or that much-needed pedicure? How about when you have that rare night out or big event and you just want someone to come and do your hair or makeup? Well, I have that service for you and it is called Beautii.

Image Source - Beautii

Described as being London's premier on-demand luxury beauty service, Beautii uses highly trained experts in beauty to bring those services to you home, desk and hotel.  Using only industry professionals; top-tier makeup artists, hairstylists and manicurists, all of whom regularly work red carpet events and editorial shoots.  Each professional has been fully vetted and carefully selected.

If you live in London, be it north, south, east or west (and some selected areas within M25 upon request) then this is a service you can use. When it comes to booking what you want, you can do it by phone, email or even online through the booking system and it can be as far ahead as 4 months. Once you have booked, a booking confirmation with all the details before a trained professional comes to your door to begin your personal pampering experience.

There are so many treatments that you can choose from such as a blow dry, a classic up-do, party makeup, classic makeup, a manicure with or without shellac, a pedicure with or without shellac and so much more. 

With prices starting at £35 Beautii is the perfect solution for time-short women seeking luxury beauty services from at-home pampering and holiday prep to party makeovers and bridal beauty. Not forgetting it is a service that comes to you at home, at the office, to your hotel.

 

Is this the kind of service you would use?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Valentines Day with Lush Cosmetics

We all know that one thing Lush do really well is their Limited Editions and their seasonal selections. One of my favourite collections is always Valentines themed, the uber cute, kooky and quirky come out to play and I always want everything. Last week I went into the Oxford Street store here in London and basically could have done a trolley dash. If you have never been to this store, you need to, it is filled with happiness, everyone is cheery and it is an adults playground.  

I picked up three products from the Valentines Collection that I haven't used before but which caught my attention  - Cupid Bath Bomb, Kiss Lip Scrub and Two Hearts Beat as One, I also secretly wanted The Unicorn Horn but someone was taking a lot of photos of them and it felt rude to intrude!

The Cupid Bath Bomb is brand new for 2017 and shaped like a heart with an arrow running through it, what more could you want for Valentines Day. For me, it smells similar to Razzle Dazzle if you are familiar with Lush Bath Melts and it is described as being 'Fantastically Floral'. 

Ingredients include Bergamot which is really refreshing, Persian Lime oil which stimulates the blood flow and helps to scrub away dead skin cells, Rose Petal Powder which is calming and soothing and Violet Leaf Absolute which is both antiseptic and antibacterial on the skin. Once it is in the water, it fizzes around quite quickly and melts away to leave copious amounts of bubbles which smell just incredible. Priced at just £2.95 I think this is a bargain and it could even be broken in half so that you could enjoy at least two baths from it.

The second product is Two Hearts Beat As One and this is a luxury bath melt which features two interlocking hearts. They can be used individually or together depending upon your mood and again the scent is just absolutely stunning. Using Ylang Ylang oil which is incredibly uplifting, Bergamot Oil which is great for refreshing the skin, Jasmine Oil which is great for relieving stress and tension and finally Rose Absolute which is great at lifting the mood.

As soon as the hearts are submerged into the water, the oils come to life and the scent totally fills the house. As you climb into the water, not only will it have turned into a bright mixture of orange and red, you will feel absolutely relaxed.  Further ingredients within this product are Argan Oil, Cocoa Butter and Almond Oil which moisturise, nourish and condition the skin. Priced at £3.95.

One product I do love from Lush is their lip scrubs so I couldn't leave the store without picking up The Kiss. Using both Sea Salt and Caster Sugar to act as an exfoliant to remove that dry and dead skin, you can choose how abrasive this is when you use it. 

Fair Trade Cocoa Butter helps to soften the skin before it is exfoliated and Mandarin Oil helps to improve the circulation of blood as well as promote the growth of new cells and tissues, reviving the skin. Almond essential oil helps with healing and protecting whilst soothing and softening the skin. Finally to give this product that little something extra for Valentines Day we have Red Edible Hearts and Soft Pink Glimmer Lustre. Priced at £5.75.

So those are my Valentines Day picks and if you fancy having a look as to what is offer then you can find these products and everything else Lush has to offer right here. 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

NIOD 4 Piece Dermal Science Skincare Set

I've made no secret of the fact that I adore Deciem, the company who consider themselves abnormal but are just fantastic. Giving me my first big break in the world of blogging, when Inhibitif began to hit the shelves in Boots, Deciem has gone from strength to strength and have so many products now on the market it has, for them been quite a journey. Having had an amazing Black Friday deal just a few months ago, which I know many of my readers clambered over themselves to snap up, there is now an available offer with QVC on Friday 3rd February that you need!

The NIOD, which stands for Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science, will be offering a 4 Piece Dermal Science Skincare Set (which has an RRP of £140) will be available on QVC for just £49!! This offer will be available for 24 hours only and it includes:

Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1.00% (15ml) - This serum offers a novel approach to target all signs of skin ageing indirectly. 

This concentrated serum departs from the traditional thinking of addressing visible aspects of skin ageing individually and instead forms a foundation to respect skin health. You mix the two together before use.

Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (30ml) - A multi-dimensional approach to topical hyaluronic supplementation. 

This advanced serum combines 12 forms of hyaluronic compounds in a peptide-charged delivery system to offer hydration and to help skin surface look plump, comfortable and uniform.

Sanskrit Saponins (90ml) - is a viscous and intense cleaning balm for the face formulated with highly concentrated, very-unrefined Ayurvedic plant surfactants unsupported by any modern cleaning technology. 

Sanskrit Saponins contains no purified or synthetic surfactants, sulphates, oils, esters or micellar technologies. It is a pH-balanced suspension of the amino acid, Lysine, in saponins from the Ayurvedic plants shikakai and Sapindus mukorossi.

Fractionated Eye Contour Complex (15ml) - This is a hyper-concentrated bio-serum for the eye contour which combines 28 clinical technologies to target many signs of under-eye and above-eye ageing in one treatment.

Issues such as static lines, fine superficial under-eye lines , loss of elasticity (especially upper-eyelids), dark circles, puffiness and textural unevenness with positive visible results starting within 3 days and improving into 8 weeks with continued use

Again, if you love Deciem especially NIOD then this is one special offer you do not want to be missing out on and equally if you want a change from your everyday skincare and want to try something new, NIOD is one to try, it is just fantastic.  

You can find the deal right here on QVC on FRIDAY 3rd February!

If you are still looking for some NIOD bargains John Bell & Croydon are now a stockist.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Valentines Day Gift Challenge with John Lewis

Valentines Day is creeping up quickly from the back and having been challenged by John Lewis to join in with their Valentines Day Campaign, the mister and I went off in search of something we thought each other would like.

I absolutely love shopping in John Lewis and always manage to spend any vouchers given to me as a gift in the beauty haul with no problem at all, but this time, I was there to buy something for Stephen and whilst I could go straight for a bottle of Creed and be totally predictable, I decided to go for something he doesn't own.  So I started in the grooming section and quickly decided that something beard related would be a good idea because he has decided to see how long he can continue to grow his beard before he gets bored and shaves it off.  With the choice between a Kent Beard Brush and a Men Rock Awakening Beard Care Gift Set, I settled on the latter which comes presented in a really nice box with four products to keep that beard in check. Inside there is a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Beard Soap, (100ml), a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Beard Balm (100ml), a Sicilian Lime & Caffeine Moustache Wax (25g) and the all important Men Rock Beard Comb and as an added extra, a packet of Love Heart Sweets and it is priced at just £29.95.

The second gift is something I had been toying with for some time.  For anyone who reads his blog (here), there is one thing which will stand out - aftershave, he is obsessed with it and has quite the collection, but the one thing he doesn't have is any Jo Malone. So I went over to the counter and explained I was looking for a Valentine's gift for my husband and that I didn't really know where to begin looking, so I was shown to a comfy chair, handed some amazing chocolate and told to relax whilst some scents would be picked for me to try. 

The whole there was no pressure from the amazing sales lady, she picked 6 fragrances in total and it soon became apparent where my decision was heading, Oud and Bergamot Cologne Intense, the one I was first introduced to and the one which clearly made the biggest impression and it has the most amazing description "Precious oud, reframed. The mysterious, smoky character of this revered wood, central to Middle Eastern fragrance traditions, radiates with the clarity of crisp bergamot and an orange granite accord". I purchased a 50ml bottle which is priced at £74 here.

With my purchases in hand, Stephen was somewhere in the store doing his shopping and he clearly reads my blog because he also managed to purchase two items, one I had coveted for quite some time and the other a complete and total, but very welcome, surprise. My first ever Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick and he went for a Matte Revolution Lipstick in the shade Bond Girl which is described as being a medium-dark rosy plum which has warm undertones and a satin finish and I just absolutely love it.

The second gift comes from Jo Malone too, so we obviously had the same idea in mind when we went shopping and he clearly has been reading my tweets. The scent that he chose was Oud and Velvet Rose which is just absolutely incredible. Again arriving beautifully packaged and in a 50ml which is black and so very classy looking, as a scent is described as being "Darkest Damask rose is rich and textural, wrapped with smoky oud wood. Spiked with clove, decadent with praline". I love rose scent products, there is something about that fresh scent of roses which is incredibly relaxing but is a scent which works so well with my skin that it smells amazing. As an added extra, I have also been booked in to go and experience a hand and arm massage to get the full Jo Malone experience which I am really looking forward too.

I really enjoyed this challenge and I loved seeing what John Lewis had to offer. At no point did I feel hassled into buying anything.

What do you think to the gifts we bought one another? Have you got plans to purchase things for your better half this Valentines?

*this post contains PR samples/AF Links unless indicated otherwise.

Bee Good Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair 50ml

Keeping your hands soft and moisturised in this bitterly cold weather we seem to be having right now is a bit of a challenge. I have been using Bee Good Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair which I absolutely love, as a cream it is thick, luxurious and smells just incredible.

Described as being 'A powerful multi-use intensive hand repair to rescue and soothe even the most dehydrated skin' this hand repair cream when applied quickly absorbs itself into the skin and leaves no greasy residue behind. If your hand are really dehydrated, sore, cracked then this is a hand cream which will soothe, moisturise and rehydrate. 

As the name might suggest this cream is packed with super moisturising ingredients such as British Wild Flower Honey and Shea and Cocoa Butter, replenishing and calming echium oil, antioxidant Vitamin E, strengthening borage oil, antibacterial propolis and then beeswax which helps to combat dryness.  This cream is thick, it is intensely luxurious and you only need to use just one pump to ensure both hands are covered.  I also love that this cream can also be used on your elbows and on your feet too.

If you have never come across them before, Bee Good is an independent British skincare company based in rural Hampshire, who have harnessed the centuries-old healing powers of British honey, propolis and beeswax in an innovative skincare range, designed to make a real difference without the use of parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone or SLS/SLES. Each and every one of their products is described as being packed with hard-working intensively soothing ingredients, there is nothing better to care for your lips than this nourishing and protective treatment delivered from the flower to the bee, to you.

At just £12 for 50ml, this is a cream to grab and try, your hands will not only thank you for it, your feet and elbows will too not forgetting those bees!

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

Label J Clothing with Jacamo

Regular readers of my blog will no doubt be aware that Beautykinguk and I are married (yes really) and every so often he features on my blog. This time he features because I was asked to choose some clothes for him from Jacamo.  Jacamo is a men's clothing website and shop, they have one here in London on Oxford Street and you will see celebrities such as Freddie Flintoff appearing in TV adverts and he has his own line of clothing with Jacamo. Brands such as Firetrap, Lambretta and French Connection also all appear and they have sizes going from a Small right up to 5XL and with everything from mens jeans, t-shirts and jumpers so there is always something for everyone.

I decided that the one thing the mister needed was a coat to keep him warm in this horrid cold spell we have just had. He has numerous coats but none have a hood, they don't look warm and whilst they are long and cashmere, something a little different was what I chose and it is this, the Label J Parka. 

This parka from Label J is described as being 'this season's must-have piece'. It features a pretty good sized hood with a faux-fur trim, plenty of pockets with on the outside and one inside, making room for an iPhone, iPod, wallet, Oyster cards and whatever else is needed. It also features a full zip from bottom to top along with press-stud front fasteners, so he is warmly wrapped and the press-studs don't pop open at any point.

I opted for a large size in the event a jumper would be worn underneath the coat, there is nothing worse than buying a coat which fits snugly but add an item of clothing underneath and all of a sudden it is unbearable to move. In this case, the large fits perfectly well and as a regular length, it comes just below the buttocks.  Made from cotton, there is a quilted inside and this coat is machine washable and is priced at just £65 here, so an absolute bargain.

Sticking with Label J, I also opted for a pair of jeans. The Balham worker jeans from Label J are said to be this season's take on the classic straight-leg jean and I like that they can be worn with absolutely anything being the classic denim blue and because Stephen wears jeans for work in a smart casual kind of way.

As he is quite tall, approaching 6ft, with long legs, finding a fit that works is often an issue and he is an in-between size of a 33-inch leg, so we do usually opt for a 34 and find they are just that bit too long.  These fit perfectly, even whilst wearing the big biker boots, his favourite ones.  With a zip fly and pockets to the front and back these jeans are a perfect fit and at just £35 here, they are an absolute bargain.

Was Stephen happy with my choices? Certainly was, the jeans are stupidly comfy and a great fit around my biker boots. The denim is really soft. The coat has been an absolute dream over the last few weeks. With sideways rain and subzero temperatures having a coat that blocks out the howling wind and a snug fur lined hood has meant that I've stayed toasty and warm. It's a fab coat, although whenever I wear the parka I feel the urge to walk with my knees bent and shouting 'r kid' in a thick Manc accent.

Have you ever shopped at Jacamo?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Elegant Touch Premium Implement Kit

When it comes to my nails I’m pretty obsessed and love nothing more than having a pampering manicure and hand massage, it is incredibly relaxing and stress relieving, particularly as my hands are on the go all of the time. So a few hours in a salon is absolute bliss, but when I haven't found the time to ensure my talons are in tip top condition, I do like to take care of them at home.  The Elegant Touch Premium Implement Kit is the newest addition to my nail care collection and it is perfectly sized for being on the go, on holidays and at home.

Retailing at £25, the Elegant Touch Premium Implement Kit is housed inside a stunning watercolour floral print case which opens by simply pressing the silver metal button on the side. Opening up there are four nail tools inside the kit which are: 

Elegant Touch Nail Clippers - Crafted from high-quality stainless steel with perfectly aligned, sharp blades for precision cutting of the nails.

Elegant Touch Cuticle Pusher and Cleaner - This is a dual-ended tool to preen and perfect cuticles and for cleaning under the nails. Allows secure, comfortable grip for controlled tidying.

Elegant Touch Glass Nail File - This helps to gently shape natural and artificial nails, whilst protecting from splitting and peeling.

Elegant Touch Nail Buffer - This is a super-fine grit buffer which smoothes ridges and imperfections for a neater polish application.

This really is a cute kit which would be perfect for any beauty lover, and who doesn't want to have Pink coloured tools to keep their nails in tip-top condition? This kit also comes with it even includes a 5-year guarantee and it can here found here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Shay & Blue London Dandelion Fig

If you read this blog regularly, then you will know that I am obsessed with fragrances and have over the past few years moved away from my comfort zone and have found a whole load of scents that I just find incredible. I like to think a fragrance can be chosen to suit your mood, complement your outfit or and very often in my case, you wear for the memories that it recreates and evokes in your mind.

Shay & Blue is a new brand to me, I have never tried any of their products before but I know a few of my blogger friends are simply devoted to the brand. Their newest fragrance, which hits the shelves this March is called Dandelion & Fig and I adored it from the very first spritz. 

Dandelion & Fig is a unisex fragrance which is unusual, eclectic and is fresh and just stunning.

• The top notes open with Dandelion Leaf which gives it that fresh greenness scent which when mixed with lemongrass to give it a touch a heat come together to create a scent which is so different to anything else I have tried and nothing to compare it to, it is that authentic to me.
• The Heart Notes have a combination of Tomato Vine which again gives a hint of greenness to the scent and it is followed by Juniper which is zingy and hits you quickly before settling down.
• The base note is all about the fig scent which is as it dries down gives such an earthy tone it grabs hold of the juniper, the Tomato Vine, the Dandelion Leaf and brings them all together so you have the earthy tones intermixed with lemongrass and juniper and it is just incredible.

For me this is a spring scent and I just absolutely adore it and cannot wait to wear it and I am secretly hoping BeautykingUK won't like it so I don't have to fight him for the bottle! Dandelion & Fig is definitely daring and different but so stunning.

The fragrance will be available from Shay & Blue Marleybone Boutique, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis or M&S in March 2017 and will be priced at £53 for 100ml or £30 for a portable 30ml size.

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

Dermalogica Skincare with ASOS

New Year New Start and all that stuff... well I believe we have enough stress and pressure in life without adding to it with a long list of I will and I won't style commitments. But I do believe you need a good skincare regime that works for you and if this is one of the commitments you haven't yet made or have made but haven't got around to it just yet, then Dermalogica have everything you need and you can get it all from ASOS.

Dermalogica Foaming Wash - This foaming wash decreases the sign of clogged pores and breakouts with the help of its key ingredients Tea Tree, Lavender and Camellia. It also works to clear away dead skin cells, dirt and excess oils helping to clear the skin. I love a good foaming wash and I love how refreshed my skin feels after using. 

I am not usually a fan of products with Tea Tree in them, they are too clinical smelling for me, but within this facial wash it is just noticeable and isn't too much that your eyes water. Gentle on the skin and priced at just £13.10 (here) it is a great product that you can use as often as you feel you need too.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing All Over Toner -This described as being 'a unique mist-all-over purifying toner' and it works to control excess oils and helps eliminate breakouts on the face and body. Refreshing extracts of Lavender, Witch Hazel and Licorice Root Extract to name a few, help cool and revive skin. 

To use, you simply spritz over your face with your eyes closed and leave to absorb. I am a huge fan of facial sprays and I have never quite got round to using a toner as part of my routine, with this I have and I love it. Priced at just £13.10 (here) it is a great product to have.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Overnight Treatment - Wake up to clearer skin! This invisible treatment absorbs quickly then works all night to fight breakouts and reduce redness.  Using Tea Tree, Camellia extract and Lavender to name a few of the ingredients. 

To use you simply apply after cleansing and toning, pat a thin layer of the cream onto your skin and allow it to absorb, which it does really quickly. Then leave it on overnight and wash off in the morning.  Having used this several times now, the cream is quite light and a little goes a long way, it does feel sticky on the skin until it has completely absorbed and it doesn't leave a trace on your pillows.  Once it has been washed off, I noticed that my skin was incredibly smooth to the touch. For me, this is a product I would use when blemishes appear or when your skin is threatening a break out, every now and again I do feel the beginning of the odd pimple under the skin and priced at £13.10 (here) it isn't overpriced.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Cooling Masque - Designed to cool down inflammation and reduce the redness of irritated skin. On the skin, this mask, when applied instantly gives that cooing sensation which I find quite soothing. With ingredients such as camphor which feels tingly and cooling on the skin and has a menthol scent which you immediately notice upon application. Thyme acts as an antibacterial agent and as well as being great for oily skin, it is also said to be great for conditions such as acne. Liquorice is an ingredient that appears in quite a lot of skincare and it works to brighten the skin fade blemishes and it has antioxidants which help to protect against free radicals. Lavender and Aloe Vera are also ingredients. 

This mask has a gel texture and has quite a thin consistency so you only need a small amount to cover your face. It glides easily over the face and neck and quite quickly absorbs so that only a very thin, tacky-like film is left on the skin until the mask is rinsed off. The mask is to be left on the skin for up to ten minutes before being washed off and it does leave your skin feeling soothed, smoothed and refreshing clean. Priced at £16.15 (here) this is a little gem of a find.

If you haven't yet found a skincare routine that works for you, then these products from Dermalogica are not going to break the bank.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise