Only Fingers and Toes

An invite hits your inbox inviting you come along and make your own manicure, what do you reply? Yes of course. So Off I went into central London to a fabulous event to see what OFAT which stands for Only Fingers and Toes was all about- how fab!

When I arrived, I was handed some champagne and taken to a nail polish mixing station - OMG heaven! I was then asked to choose a nail polish, if I wanted too, I could have more than one, mix two together or whatever I wanted to do and then if I am feeling really brave choose something glittery to accompany it. Once that had been done and trust with me over 60 different shades it was quite a hard decision, I decided to do things a little bit differently and choose a glitter first and a polish to match! Once the task had been completed, I handed my choices over for them to be mixed up in a science style petri dish and then off I went to a manicurist who applied it professionally for me!

So I opted for a dark black shade called Luxe Noir and then had glitter added to it.  The glitter was shades of red, gold and black which when added to my nails and I think it looked amazing, better still, it lasted for over a week before chipping, which to me is amazing!

I had a great time at this event, it was amazing to see a brand with so many different shades, have a chance to chat to the owner and see at first hand all of the amazing products in one place, not to mention, the mani red carpet, you can see my first appearance below

I am really grateful that I was invited to this event, it was such good fun and everyone was so lovely.  Inside the goody bag which we got to take home, was a trio of polishes which could be found inside this amazing packaging, who wouldn't want their nail polishes presented in this way?

These three gorgeous shades from left to right are called: 

Tuberose - Tuberose is a Mexican plant with heavily scented waxy flowers and was once cultivated for flavouring chocolate. This Only Fingers And Toes beautiful lilac hue has soft blue undertones with an undulating shimmer. From the Lustre Collecton, Tuberose is a true two coat polish.

Delish - From the Lustre Collection, this Only Fingers And Toes bubblegum pink shimmer has fabulous silver undertones and is reminiscent of childhood sweeties. Delish is both youthful and mature with a hint of cheek and is a true two coat polish. 

Bond - Inspired by the gorgeous pastel gowns of early Bond film vixens, this delicious lavender by Only Fingers And Toes is one of the shining stars of the Vivid Collection. This beautiful hue is a velvety two coat polish. 

Priced at £16 a bottle you can purchase them right here

Urban Veda Body and Skin Care

Urban Veda is not a brand I have been all too familiar with.  I have had the odd sample here and there but not enough to be able to decide whether or not I like them as a brand.Then I was kindly sent a set of three products to try, which I have been using for the last 6 weeks and this is what I think!

The philosphy being the brand is one I like and it is this Originating 5000 years ago in the Himalayas, Ayurveda's holistic health and wellbeing system is based on the therapeutic properties of plants. Brimming with plants rich in vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients, our products are uniquely formulated to help maintain skin's natural balance. Our key ranges help to harmonise environmental factors, to purify, soothe, revive and add radiance. We believe in the value of nature and source natural, fresh, and pure ingredients to create our holistic products.  So you know that whatever product it is that you are using, is one that is full of goodness to take care of your skin, rather than one that is full of nasties to cause further irritations.

Starting with the Radiance Body wash in the lovely purple tube, I have to say it is a scent I absolutely adore, as soon as I used it for the first time, it was love.  The little accompanying blurb states:

"Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles, our Radiance Body Wash cleanses, moisturises and boosts all-over skin tone and radiance. Brightening bioactive and skin softening extracts help to soothe dry areas, boost collagen production and support skin's natural barrier function, helping to protect from transepidermal water loss and keeping skin healthy and hydrated".

The cream inside is quite a thick white texture, so it is one which only needs a small amount to cover your entire body and as you do so, the scent really comes to life. It is the kind of scent you can imagine in a candle which is supposed to relax you after a hectic day at work or a stressful moment in time. After using it in both a shower or the bath, it leaves the scent lingering on your body pretty much all day. The use of Turmeric to brighten the skin, skin softening liquorice and collagen boosting Arjuna all come together to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and incredibly moisturised. Add to that the aromatic scents of Marigold, Patchouli and Coriander to revitalise, this is one amazing product.  Priced at £8.99 for 200ml it is something I will be definitely repurchasing.

Next on the list is the Purifying Body Scrub which is described as follows:

"Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles, our Purifying Body Scrub harnesses powerful plant-based cleansers, botanical extracts and aromatic essential oils to cleanse, moisturise and detoxify skin. Star ingredient cold-pressed Neem oil aids skin health and combines with natural exfoliants Walnut shell powder and Pumice to buff away dead skin cells. Antioxidant-rich botanicals and collagen-boosting extracts keep skin supple, smooth and hydrated."

The first thing I noticed about this was the Tea Tree scent, which I have to say is not a favourite of mine. I was put right off it when in my youth I tried some in a spot removing treatment which made my eyes water for hours. That aside, I have just had a heavy head cold and this product was absolutely amazing at clearing my sinuses, I went into the shower sniffing and snorting and came out being able to breathe - amazing! Using Neem Oils to bring your skin back to health, it also uses a natural exfoliant of walnut shells and pumice to remove dead and dry skin cells and mixed in with the cream, it can be as light an exfoliant as you want it to be or with a little pressure, a lot more abrasive and it is very very effective. Also included in Arjuna to keep your skin supple, smooth and hydrated. Again, after using this, the scent lingers on your skin and flows throughout your home leaving a really lovely scent. Again priced at £8.99 for a 200ml tube, it is something I will definitely repurchase.

The final product in my set of three is the Daily Soothing Facial Wash in the orange coloured tube and it has the following description:

"Gently remove grease and grime and balance irregular dry and oily patches with uplifting yet balancing Ayurvedic ingredients. Aromatic flower, herb and spice essential oils combine to help enhance vitality, while moisturising, skin softening and vitamin-rich botanicals leave skin soft, supple and refreshed".

This is perfect for my skin which is combination with oily patches on my Tzone. Using Palmarose, Ylang Ylang and Clary Sage to gently remove grease and grime whilst bringing balance to dry irregular patches, this product uses Rose Geranium, Clove and Rosemary to help tone your skin leaving Sandalwood, Arjuna, Orange and lemon which are rich in vitamins to leave your skin feeling soft, supple and full of vitality. The scent of this is totally different to the other two, it is one which you would find in a lovely spa, those fresh scents which instantly make you feel relaxed when you walk in all pent up with stress and in need of a good massage, infact I think this product would make a lovely relaxing massage cream! As you apply it to wet skin and massage across your face, the instant feeling of cleanliness hits you. Once your skin is dry, that lovely fresh clean skin feel is fully evident. Priced at £8.99 for a 150ml tube, this again is a product I want to keep on my shelf.

It has been an absolute pleasure to use all three of these products, and I have even noticed my hubby Beautykinguk using them as well, so they must be good because he is quite fussy about what he will and won't use on his skin.

Have you tried any of these products? Are you an Urban Veda fan?

Anjolee Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, I can be quite fussy about what I like. I am a simple a girl at heart and don't like rings that are too big, necklaces that cling to my neck or bracelets that dangle too far off my wrist, oh and I am allergic to gold and some silver - so not alot to ask for really!

Anjolee Jewellery is based in San Diego, California and is one of the biggest diamond jewelry manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1977 and has an extensive catalogue of bridal jewellery, rings, diamond bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and pendants, all of which are absolutely stunning. However, Anjolee is the only jewellery website which has a unique customization system in place which gives you, the customer, the ability to custom-build all of our jewellery designs based on taste and budget.

When it came to choosing my own engagement and wedding ring, thankfully my hubby knew me quite well.  I don't like rings which have big diamonds standing off them, I have quite small hands and use a fair amount of machinery at work, within which I am always putting my hands, so I would be terrified of constantly losing or breaking my ring.  That said, I love eternity band, I know most people get them after having their first child, but as I have none but do have three cats, I think I deserve one right (a girl can try)?  So, this is my top ten eternity rings that I love from Anjolee and I would love to know what you think!

As you can see, each and every one of them is absolutely stunning and definitely the kind of ring I can see myself wearing, the decision of which one however is one I would struggle to decide upon.

Which one would you choose?

*This is a sponsored post

Chloe Parfum De Roses

I love perfume and Chloe perfume is something that I have had on my list for a long long time.  It is one of those brands I really like, but have never got around to buying it, instead always opting for something else, usually something similar to one I already have.  So when the chance came up to choose a perfume from the very brilliant website Cosme-De.com, I jumped at the chance to choose this little set and I absolutely adore it.

If you didn't know, Chloe was launched by Karl Lagerfeld design house in 1975, as a sexy floral fragrance for women. Notes in this product consist of orange blossom, ylang-ylang, honeysuckle and lilac blended over mid notes of jasmine and rose. Orris root, sandalwood and musk complete this fragrance.

The presentation box is naturally made of the highest standard and is totally and utterly stunning, it is the kind of product you want to have on show and never ever use, it is that beautiful.  Within this presentation box you will find five bottles of perfume which includes:

• 1 x 5ml EDP Intense 
• 2 x 5ml EDP 
• 2 x 5ml EDT

Priced at just £32.00, which is a massive saving of between £20-£30 depending on where you shop, the quality is just amazing and the scents are simply divine.

Cosme-De have been kind enough to give my readers a discount of 10% plus free shipping using this code - CDNUK1014 which you simply enter at the check-out. Happy Shopping.

You Beauty Discovery Advent Calendar

Yep here is another one! I love You Beauty Discovery Boxes and had been waiting to see if there would be an advent calendar which would equal the amazing boxes, this is it!

The YOU Beauty Discovery Advent Calendar is said to contain products worth £240, including the likes of Laura Mercier, Liz Earle, Sisley, Rodial, Benefit, Caudalie and Molton Brown - to name just a few!  Priced at £49.95 it is available to members and non-members, it is available now.

I also did a post on other calendars which are to be launched or are currently available as well as a chance to win a calendar that I am going to put together myself and you can see all of that right HERE

So, hands up who will be getting their hands on this little beauty?

EcoHydra Hand Sanitiser

Did you know The average ‘clean looking’ pair of hands can hold up to a shocking 10 million germs, leaving many of us guilty of passing on the stubborn bacteria that can cause illnesses such as colds, influenza, skin infections, and food poisoning, without even realising it? - Ewwww!

With the job that I do, I tend to spend quite a lot of my time dealing with members of the public, people I don't know and have never met until they ring the office doorbell, so the constant shaking of hands, germs and bacteria is something I always worry about. I could spend half of my day constantly washing my hands in a bid to ensure they are kept clean, but overtime that plays havoc with your skin, so I started to use hand santisers as an alternative.  When I was sent a product called EcoHydra, an alcohol free hand sanitiser which claims to kill up to 99.9999% of bacteria, I was delighted to be trying it out.

For me, alcohol based hand sanitisers are a no-no, they dry my skin out and are too harsh on my skin. EcoHydra comes out of its container, which features a pump, in a foam consistancy and once rubbed into my hands, it disappears almost immediately, leaving behind no stick trace or greasy feel afterwards. There is chemical scent, infact no scent at all and my hands are left feeling nice and clean, the added inclusion of Aloe Vera is something I really like, because it is soothing on the skin and it has a lasting protection of up to 4 hours, which I find to be quite impressive.

EcoHydra state that their Free Hand Sanitiser 100 times more effective at killing bugs and germs to the high street equivalents and It has proven efficacy against E coli, Sars, Bird Flu, MRSA and NoroVirus not to mention that it has been chosen for use by NASA and is now approved by the NHS.  It is suitable for use on all skin types as well as being gentle enough for use on children.

Since using it, my hands have not become sore or irritated from over-washing and in 4 weeks of using 5 times a week, approximately 4-5 times a day, I have probably more than half of my bottle left to use. EcoHydra Hand Sanitiser comes in 50ml bottles and will retail for £2.49 at boots.

Do you use a hand sanitiser? 

My Real Techniques Brushes Collection

I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques brushes, I have quite a few and am always looking to add to my collection. My fascination began with the powder brush which I was given for my birthday a few years ago, but then consequently lost on holiday and was truly gutted because it was one of my staple items. Anyway, for the purpose of this post, I have washed all of my brushed (except the Kabuki one oops) and put them back in their original packaging - note to self, I need somewhere or something to store my brushes in.

Today my collection has grown quite a bit and it includes the following:

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush - This is the best Kabuki brush that I have ever owned and I absolutely love the fact that it is retractable because it means it is easy to fit into your handbag, make-up bag, overnight bag or whatever and the bristles remain protected because the lid, which is very secure. protects them.

The Real Techniques Core Collection - I bought this after realising I had lost my powder brush because there was a discount offer online which was too good to miss. The collection includes 4 brushes which are detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, buffing brush and contour brush and out of the 4, the buffing brush is the one I use the most.

Sam's Picks - This is a set I got for Christmas from a good friend of mine and again it is a fantastic kit which includes:

- Multi-Task Brush: for effortless application of powder, blush and bronzer
- Buffing Brush: ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation
- Essential Crease Brush: soft, tapered design for effortless contouring
- Setting Brush: complete any look with a controlled dusting of powder or highlighter
- Pointed Foundation brush: use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage
- Fine Liner Brush: ultimate tool for precision application of liquid or cream eyeliner

The final kit that I own is one I bought for my holiday because I didn't want to carry more than I needed (famous last words) and it is this Little Mini Trio of brushes set, which I also have in my work make-up bag. Inside this handy little carrying pouch there is:

- Mini Foundation Brush: use with liquid foundation or concealer to touch up throughout the day.
- Mini Shading Brush: transform your eye shadow on-the-go from day natural to night glam.
- Mini Face Brush: effortlessly apply powder, blush and bronzer as needed during the day.

As you might have noticed, I never did replace my beloved Powder Brush, it is always something I had planned on doing but never did and I actually don't know why that is. This mini foundation brush is actually really good, not as good as the properly sized version, but it does a good job and is especially useful for carrying around, taking on holiday and so on. From this kit, it is possibly the most used brush.  

I now have my eyes on Nic's picks because I love the look of the Duo Fibre Powder brush and the Cheek Brush.

Do you have any Real Techniques Brushes? Do you have a favourite?