Ted Baker Lyla Purse Spray

Ted Baker is one of those brands that has surprised me in the beauty world. Be it a nail polish, nail file, a cream, lotion, potion, candle or perfume, I have never felt disappointed. The Ted Baker aftershaves have been a big hit with the mister and likewise the perfumes with me which you can read about here and here. Today I have a further offering from the Ted Baker perfume range and today it is all about Lyla**.

Lyla is the latest addition to the Sweet Treats range of perfumes which are aptly described as being purse sprays and as well as having Mia and Polly from this range and love them, so I had high hopes for Lyla.

Described as follows: "Quietly confident with an enchanting elegance, Lyla turns heads. Glamorous from head to toe and perfectly polished at all times, she is the girl everyone wants to be. With an enchanting elegance and infectious allure Lyla combines fruity top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and peach with soft floral extracts of jasmine and rose and an enticing base of amber, sandalwood, vanilla and musk". 

So with top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and peach, the mid notes being floral with both rose and jasmine, and a base of vanilla, sandalwood, amber and musk, you have a fragrance which hits both the floral and fruity notes without being too heavy on either. I personally am not a fan of Vanilla scents in anything at all, I find it too overpowering as a scent and it leaves me with a headache, even if it is in food, so I was a little unsure as to how I would find this perfume, but thankfully, whilst I can tell the vanilla is present, it doesn't stay long enough, the sandalwood for me becomes the dominant scent. 

Top notes are those scents that are perceived immediately on application of a perfume. The middle notes which are the ingredients used to make up the perfume, and can range from plant and flower extracts to fruity extracts and in this perfume we have Jasmine sambac and plush, darkly fruity black plum and Indian black tea. So the base notes, which are perhaps the most important because they determine how long a fragrance will last, and most fragrances have similar base notes which often include sandalwood, amber, musk or vanilla. The reason being is because there are only a certain number of notes that will last long enough on the skin to form the base of a fragrance.

Lyla is presented in a white box with rose gold detailing and the actual bottle matches the design of the box perfectly.   It has a frosted white finish bottle with a faceted glass detail on the lid with the initials TB being visible.

I really like this scent, it is one which has grown on me and it is one which works really well with the oils in my skin, it lasts all day whenever I apply it and for me it is a scent I would wear during the daytime rather than an evening scent, so it is perfect for work.  Priced at just £15 for the 10ml bottle, this perfume would make a great gift either for yourself, a female friend or even your Mum.  It is available exclusively from Ted Baker stores right now and is launching into Boots in the Spring.

Does Lyla sound like the perfume for you?

Sampling

It has been a long time since I have done one of these posts, but as I have made a point of trying and using up some of my sample products, instead of just hoarding them, I thought I would share with you some of my favourites over the past couple of months. There are 5 products in total and it is fair to say, they have all made a huge impression on me.

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil - This is a product from my Look Fantastic beauty Box and because my skin is often quite dry in parts, but oily in others, the joys of combination skin, I wasn't too sure how my skin would react to it. My skin loved it and after using just once, it felt incredibly hydrated, smooth and not at all as oily as I had feared, infact there was less oily patches the following day, when my lunchtime I would be grabbing my compact to dab off anything excess. This is one product I will finish and if I had nothing similar it is one I would purchase without debate because I like it that much. A full sized bottle retails at £47 

Eve Lom Cleanser - I received this within my first Look Fantastic Beauty Box, I've heard amazing things about this hot cloth cleanser from many bloggers who really rate it, so I was really looking forwarding to giving this a try. Considering I live in London where the air is not exactly clean and I wear makeup on a daily basis, I found this cleanser really does do a fantastic job at removing every single trace of my makeup not to mention surface dirt and grime which just seems to cling to my skin.  Eve Lom describe this product as "a multi-tasking marvel which removed every last trace of make-up, even waterproof mascara, it also decongests, tones and gently exfoliates the skin".

After using, I found my skin to be feeling extremely soft afterwards and really clean feeling but at £85 for a full sized tub, it didn't wow me enough to want to rush out and purchase it when I have similar products which do the same job just as well for a whole lot less. 

CoLab Dry Shampoo - I got these two beauties from my You Beauty Discovery Box and as someone who loves dry shampoo, I couldn't want to try them. I have heard amazing things about them and I have to say they more than live up to the claims as to how good they are. 

The one thing that started to bug me about dry shampoo was the 'white' residue that was left behind, no matter how much you shook or brushed your hair, throughout the day more would drop onto your shoulders. Not doth these! For a start there is no white residue, you simply spray it onto your hair and massage in, them brush your hair and voila, fresh looking and smelling hair! This is one product I will definitely repurchase!

This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray which comes from my October LookFantastic Box. It is described as acting faster than the original spray it is a fast acting natural remedy to help restore healthy sleep patterns for restless sleepers and is clinically proven to provide a better night’s sleep. It contains a potent blend of Lavender which naturally encapsulates to gradually release aromatherapeutic benefits as you sleep. This edition has more of a lavender fragrance and does smell a little medicinal. 

Firstly, I love this spray, whilst it doesn't send me off into a quick sleep, what it does help with is restlessness and it is relaxing and calming, perfect for spraying on your pillows whilst you are getting ready for bed, cleansing your face and adding your night cream. Once it has settled it smells absolutely divine.

Estee Lauder Modern Muse - I got this in my November Fragrance Shop Discovery Box and it is a scent I have come to absolutely love.  Described as follows: "Be an inspiration. Experience the fragrance that captures your style, your confidence, your creative spirit. An alluring contrast of sparkling florals and sleek, sensual woods". 

Now this scent is really lovely, one you would perhaps use for special occasions rather than everyday wear and it is one of those long lasting scents, once applied you can literally smell it all day and there is a wearing time of around 7-8 hours for me before it becomes obsolete. 

So as you can see the money that I have been spending on Beauty Boxes has really paid off. Firstly it is unlikely, other than CoLab that I would have bought anything by Eve Lom or Ole Henriksson, though I might possibly I have bought Sleep Plus given the rave reviews. Secondly, they are all really good sized samples and big enough to give you more than a couple of weeks usage. 

As much as I love sachets, unless it is a facemask, I am often left on the fence as to whether I like something enough to buy it after squeezing enough out to try it the once, I tend to use them when I am away for a LNG weekend as they might travelling lighter.

Have you tried any of these products? Do you like the sound of any of them?

Urban Apothecary London Peony Rose Luxury Candle

Urban Apothecary London is a brand I have heard of, but not used a product from until now. British lifestyle brand Urban Apothecary is the brilliant brainchild of its founder Tajinder Banwait. Tajinder has over 10 years experience within the beauty industry and brings her extensive knowledge and creative flair to this innovative brand. A brand that is about enjoying luxury and indulgence everyday. Tajindr started Urban Apothecary from her kitchen table, something I am sure many of use dream of doing but never actually have given it a go. It is from this kitchen and table that she designed logos, sourced packaging and received hundreds of scent submissions. Everything received the same attention to detail until absolutely perfect. It was the search for just the right glass candle jar that marked the birth of the brand.

I was very kindly sent the Peony Rose Luxury Candle which is just stunning to look at, everything about it from the label, glass jar and lid screams luxury. This candle is from the miniature candle range of which there are eight different scents to choose from. They include Fig, Frangipan, Vanilla Flower, Plum Blossom, Mint Crème, Strawberries and cream, Violet Cassis and my very own Peony Rose.

Described as follows "Experience this full-bodied fragrance of 2 of nature’s most classic and beautiful flowers, synonymous with romance and happiness. Enjoy a sweet seduction of the senses with the heady scent of red roses and pink peonies lifted by an unexpected green apple note. With the addition of powdery white musks and soft, spicy amber, this alluring fragrance is elegant and feminine".

The first thing I noticed about this candle was that before the lid was even removed, the fresh scent of rose was really evident and then as the candle burns you can smell both the Peonies and the Roses, though for me the Roses are more dominant.  

This candle is 65g and has a burn time of around 17 hours, which is actually quite a long time.  Around 15 minutes after it has been lit, the scent lingers throughout the house, which compared to other candles is really quick.  After an hour, the scent is well and truly fragrant and you can extinguish the flame and still smell the fresh rose scent a few hours later.  For me the strength of the scent in this candle is similar to that of a wax tart.

I absolutely love the design of this candle, the glass jar is really solidly put together and it is quite weighty but delicate at the same time.  I have no doubts that when this candle come to the end of its life, I will use the jar for something else, quite what that something else will be I do not know, but it would be such a shame to not use it because it is so stunning.

A candle of this size costs just £13 and if you fancy something a little bigger then there are plenty to choose from right HERE.  As well as candles you can find Reed Diffusers and plenty of other gift offerings.

From Nail Care to Shopping Nirvana

When searching on the Internet for a product or a range of products that you want to check out, there is a way to do this that can save you a lot of money. Let’s say that you want to look at nail care and you want to buy something in this range. Instead of going to Google and typing in the keyword, go to VoucherBin.co.uk and type in “nail care” and you will get a selection of sites that you can visit and save money by using the coupon code provided.

VoucherBin is a site that offers discounts from virtually all of the major UK retail stores. You should really check this out before you buy anything online as you will be amazed at not only the selection that you have, but also the amount of savings that can be made. If you look at this site Feelunique you will end up spending ages just browsing through the selection that is presented to you. They have everything that you could ever wish for from a Beauty store, from fragrances, makeup, nails, skin care etc.

The nail care section is extremely comprehensive and you will be able to get everything that you were looking for from Feelunique and also saved yourself some money into the bargain. The amount of false nails available was mind blowing. The manufacturers included L’Oreal, ncLA, Elegant Touch and a host of others.

By looking at the main menu on these sites you will be pleasantly surprised to see the amount of stores and retailers that are offering discounts. High Street names like Debenhams, Bonmarche, BHS, La Redoute etc. were all there amongst a myriad of others. Your shopping experience will never be the same once you get used to using a voucher site to get all your needs.

The other advantage of this is that you will find a great many retailers that you have not heard of previously. You will have tremendous fun just browsing through the retailers that are new to you and discovering lots of items that will be useful in the future. When looking for gifts, you can return to this site to get lots of ideas.

The advent of voucher codes is not new, and many people search out these codes prior to making a purchase. However, having a site where there are so many stores offering bargains is not only a good way to save money, it will save a tremendous amount of time in looking for individual vouchers and bargains.

In future, make voucher sites your one stop shop when searching online. You will not only have more choice that you could ever need, but you can get some great bargains that would not have been available had you gone directly to the retailers site via Google. When it is time for Christmas to come round again, you will be spoiled for choice. You cannot top this for convenience and enabling you to save money as well.

**Guestpost

Capital Hair and Beauty

 I am all for championing UK grown businesses on my blog and indeed I have featured one or two in my time. Today's honour is bestowed upon Capital Hair and Beauty who began their journey some 60 years ago as a scissor sharpening company based in Brighton, East Sussex.  Today they have gone on to became the UK's largest independent supplier to Hairdressers, Beauty Therapists and Nail Technicians with over 34 cash & carry stores throughout the UK and Ireland.

The company for me has a really fascinating history, back in 1954, the scissor sharpening service used push bikes to deliver their service, not using a courier service as you might use today or indeed a Boris bike for those of you who live in London.  Throughout the 60s and 70s the business grew and self-service trade counters began to appear, then fast forward to the 1980s and there is the very first cash and carry wholesale outlet in Hayes, Middlesex.  Today with stores and distribution warehouses expanding rapidly, we hit the year 2004 to see Capital’s first eCommerce website which was later launched and in 2005.  It was at this point they started providing training courses to encourage customers to pick up new skills and broaden expertise, plus give them a chance to meet new people in the business and share tips!  Now the website has a mobile version of the website and most interestingly of all, a blog and a step into the ever growing and rapidly changing universe of social media.

I know a few of my readers are beauticians in many different forms and this website has everything I can think of for running your own business.  Whether you need a barbers chair, styling units or even a nail station, which look super handy for make-up storage, this site covers it all and at amazing prices, I somehow expected to see chairs costing a lot more than they do, my own office chair is three times the price of one of these and it isn't that comfortable - I wonder if I can trade!

Furniture aside and there is a huge lost of products for sale with every brand you can think of from Tigi, American Crew, Babyliss, Fudge, L'Oreal and Schwarzkopf to name just a few of them.  As this is a wholesale site you can only imagine some of the bargains to be had and if you do run your own company, are just starting out or have been thinking about starting out, then Capital Hair and Beauty is more than worth checking out.


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Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

MeruMaya is a brand I have read a lot about and not tried until I selected it as one of my choices in my January You Beauty Discovery Box.  Since then, I have pretty much used it every day, if not every other day, that is how much I love it.  Cleansing Balms are something new to me, I know a lot of people rave about Emma Hardie and it is on my wishlist, but it has to be seriously amazing to replace this product.

The tube I have is 30ml, so it has lasted over a month which is quite impressive and I still have just under half a tube left to use before it runs out.  The claims are at "The Melting Cleansing Balm claims to efficaciously removes all traces of make up and grime and leaves the skin feeling velvety soft".  I am delighted this balm comes in a tube too, makes it much easier to use.

Merumaya recommends that you massage the balm on to dry skin and you really only need a small blob because as sayings go, a little goes a long way. In the tube, the balm looks every bit like you would expect a balm to look, it is thicker than your average Micellar water and thinner in texture than a face mask.  Once you begin to massage the balm onto your face, it immediately begins to melt and as you massage it in, you can see your mascara, foundation and other products on your face simply melt along with dirt and grime from your day.  After massaging, you add water and for a another minute or two, further massage your face and you will notice that the balm now becomes like a cleansing milk, it is at this point that I grab a clean Muslin cloth to wipe my face clean.  Afterwards my skin feels absolutely amazing, soft and smooth to the touch, clean and incredibly moisturised, all in what is effectively less than 5 minutes of my time. 

I absolutely love the scent of this balm which adds to the number of reasons why I love it already. It has three main active ingredients which are:

• RevitElix™ is Echium oil providing Omega 3, 6 & 9 to reduce lines and wrinkles, improve elasticity and participate in barrier repair. It helps rebuild the hydro lipid film as the skins surface and is also anti-irritant.
• Sucragel™ which contains Sweet Almond Oil and acts as a ‘wash on’ moisturiser and leaves a velvety finish while thoroughly cleansing
• Mangosteen Fruit Extract which is rich in vitamins and polyphenols providing anti-oxidant protection

All of those ingredients, plus a few others come together to leave your skin feeling soft, clean, hydrated and as though it can breathe. As you can see, not only is this a great budget friendly cleansing balm that doesn't strip the skin, it feels luxurious and works so effectively at what it is meant to do, what more could you want? I would happily try everything else in the range.

If you are looking for a new Cleansing Balm and haven't yet tried this one, I cannot recommend Merumaya enough, it is a complete bargain at £15.50 for 100ml. 

Look Fantastic Beauty Box - February Edition

I have been getting the Look Fantastic box for the last few months and it has all been detailed on my blog if you would like to see previous boxes. For just £15 a month you get such great quality products that for me, this is one of the best subscription boxes that there is out there. The January Box last month was amazing, there was nothing I disliked or wouldn't use, so for me February had a lot to live up to! 

This is what I found in my box:

The first product nestled inside the February is a 25ml bottle of the Moroccanoil Treatment which is worth £13.45.  I am a huge fan of these products because it is great at eliminating any frizz and detangling any knots especially when you are on holiday.  Whenever I go away, I always ensure I have a bottle of this in my bag because it is just amazing and you only need to use such a small amount. This oil also helps to provide long-term conditioning and added shine.

Next up is this cute little 10ml sample tube of the Dr. PawPaw Multipurpose Soothing Balm worth around £2.50. The balm is a multipurpose balm which means it can be used on your lips, hair and skin and it is made in the UK from a variety of natural ingredients including Pawpaw, Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Oil which, blended together, create a multi-purpose formula for you to carry around at all times thanks to the handy little tube.

The next product is a 50ml bottle of Korres Citrus Little Body Milk which has a value of around £2.50. I am a huge fan of Korres products but have never tried a moisturising body milk, so I am really delighted to see this in my box.  This Body Milk is enriched with vitamins, trace elements and essential skin energy boosting agents along with a combination of almond oil, active aloe, b5 and shea butter for long-lasting hydration. This citrus scent smells quite fresh and because the milk is such a lightweight consistency it absorbs really quickly leaving behind soft moistursed skin.

The next product is this tiny 17g Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar which has a value of around £5.50. It is described as being 'Iconic' it is a cleansing bar that removes impurities and exfoliates the skin for soft, smooth skin. The soap is 97% natural and contains therapeutic dead sea mud to dramatically improve the overall quality of your skin.  It has three different roles - exfoliates to remove dead skin cells for more radiant skin, it stimulates to improve circulation and motivate natural skin regeneration and finally it cleanses to makeup and grime without stripping the skin of natural oils. I love the sound of this soap and wish the sample was much bigger so I could give it a really good try.  That said, I am going away for a long weekend in a few weeks and will take it with me to try.

My next item is a 20ml bottle of MONU Illuminating Primer which is worth £11. This Primer has an SPF of 15 and has a paraben free formula that acts as a base for makeup. It is said to smooth the skin and reduce the appearance of blemishes to create a lasting radiant glow.  I have used tis product before and was sat on the fence as to whether or not I liked it, the consistency is really nice though to me it is more of a moisturiser than a primer because it is so hydrating, so I am more than willing to try it again to see if my opinion changes.

The last product in the box is a full sized Bellapiere Cosmetics Lip Liner in shade Cinnamon worth £16. Sadly this isn't a shade I would use as it is too dark and too brown for me which is a shame because when I swatched it on my hand, it simply glided onto my skin with no effort and is so smooth.  Bellapierre lip liner pencils provide a finished look for a beautiful pout. Available in 4 shades (Natural, Nude, Cinnamon and Truly Red) they are made from 100% pure mineral pigments, all natural botanical waxes such as jojoba, safflower, and vitamin E creating waterproof wear so you never have to worry about re-applying after eating or drinking.

So that was the February Box.  I don't think it is as good as the January Bo which I absolutely loved, but I do think this box was full of great products that I am going to really enjoy using. I love that these boxes include a nice range of products from well known and high end brands and that the sizes are really generous on the whole, especially when it only costs £15!  If you like the look of this box you can purchase your own here.