bagsy - Meet your handbag's new best friends!

Today I am introducing bagsy to you, a new beauty collection of multi-tasking must-haves for the handbag. If you are anything like me then the make-up bag you carry around is probably full to the point of seam ripping because you need and want so many products with you on the go. Well bagsy is a British born collection of easy to use beauty essentials which let you be prepared for any event with their new collection.

The one thing that stands out to me with bagsy is the packaging, yes really. I was lucky enough to to go a preview event to see the collection for myself and it is stunning. Someone has clearly put a lot of thought and effort into making these items look aesthetically delightful, making you want them before you even know what it is. Created by a team of people who have for years worked alongside some of the worlds biggest brands, they have come together to launch their own collection, using their expert knowledge of formulas, shapes, shades, colours and popular selling products and this is what they have:

Wonder Wand - I absolutely loved this product from the first swatch. It is one pencil which doubles up to be a highlighting and concealing crayon (how clever is that!). This little 2-in-1 product is great for highlighting and concealing on the go, so whether it is blemishes or undereye circles - voila, toodle pip Wonder Wand has it dealt with. (£18).

Pretty Cheeks - The little blush is dome shaped and has a formula that looks like a cream, feels like a cream but it isn't a cream, it acts like a powder. The dome shape allows you to use it on those cheeks bones and then effortlessly blend it in, using your fingers or a brush with no effort at all. It is available in two shades - Velvet Rose and Velvet Coral and even I loved the look of Coral on my swatch. (£16)

Ray on Sunshine - This matte-finish bronzer is delightful. The packaging is slim rather than bulky and it has a mirror. It is engraved with "Sunshine is my favourite accessory" to make it even more amazing and it is sold in two shades - Light medium and Medium Dark which sounds a tad daunting, but the light medium works really well with my skin tone because again it is an effortless blender. (£18)

There are three types of lip products which are called Lip Velvet, Wow Lips and Lip Cocoon and all three are again items I feel like I need in my life.

Lip Velvet is a matte liquid lipstick which is lightweight, soft, hydrating and amazingly pigmented. Once applied it lasts for a good 4-5 hours before you need to re-apply it but as it does fade, it leave behind a lovely tint on the lips, which can be brightened with a bit of clear gloss. 

It is available in four different shades - No Frills, Spilling Plates, Rush Hour and Living the Dream. What I love about these is the packaging, some people on Instagram have compared them to the Opaque Rogue sticks from Hourglass, but you can judge for yourself what you think. The shade swatched below is Spilling Plates (£12)

Lip Cocoon - This is another product I loved as soon as I saw it. It is a lip balm but not just any lip balm, it is one of the prettiest designed lip balms I have come across. 

Available in Lemon and Raspberry, they are scented and smell like fresh Lemons and Raspberries and give a very subtle hint of colour. They glide onto the lips and are super hydrating. (£7)

Wow Lips is a chubby stick, something most people love, have and use. There are four different shades available - Killer Heels, Happy Days, Ready to Wear and Cocktail Hour and they are not only glossy but also again very pigmented. (£12)

The final piece of make-up is for the eyes and is called Beautiful Eyes. This lightweight eyeshader is easily blended and the feathery texture stays put throughout the day no matter what’s thrown at you. Available in Pearly Bird, Caffeine Fix, The Big Smoke and Take The Plunge.  The shade swatched below is Caffeine Switch.

Hair Wonder - (£5.00) An instant refresh for hair, this subtly scented dry shampoo mist volumises roots and absorbs oil with a blend of rice and tapioca. It smells absolutely amazing and in my view, you can never ever have too much dry shampoo at home because you never know when you might need it!

Heavenly Hands - (£6.00) Made with a blend of natural essential minerals of zinc, magnesium, iron and silicon, this soft-whipped cream leaves hands silky soft but never greasy.  Again, this is another definite handbag must for me and the cream for this is divine.

Make Up Bag - (£15.00) For all your bagsy treats, this amazing Flamingo designed pouch is roomy, it looks amazing, it is very cute and it looks amazing in any handbag.

So there you have it, bagsy!  A range which is beautifully packaged and one that has excited me enough to want to know what they have planned next!

The bagsy collection is launching on Monday 15th June on Feelunique.

What are your impressions of bagsy?

PMD Personal Microderma Device

Microdermabrasion is something that has always intrigued me and is a treatment that I assumed you should only have done at a clinic/treatment center.  So when I was offered the chance to try a device that could be used at home, I jumped at the chance.

The *PMD Personal Microderma (£150) is said to replicate the treatment given by professionals to help unclog pores, smooth and even tone, reduce blemishes and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Inside the box you will find everything you need - 7 exfoliating discs, 1 electrical cord, 2 caps and a really helpful and easy to read/understand leaflet and instructional DVD. So, before I even considered using the device, I watched the DVD a number of times just to ensure I understood what I need to do to get this right and to ensure I was using it properly. 

The discs that accompany the set include an initial white training disc, two green discs and four blue discs all of which have different levels of abrasiveness. 

To use the devise, your skin needs to be product free and completely dry and then holding the skin so it is taught slightly, gently glide the device over the skin making sure to only pass over the same area once. The first time I tried this, I used my arm to practice on and whilst I was expecting the sound to be that of a dentists drill, I was surprised to find it less noisy than my hairdryer, though the noise is quite similar.  Once I had done my test patch, there was some slight reddening which quickly disappeared, so I was quite keen to try it on my face.  I don't have sensitive skin, but I do have an oily t-zone with dryness on both cheeks, so I started with the blue disc which is designed for sensitive skin and it took me quite a while to get the hang of it.  

As the disc spins, it not only exfoliates but has suction to it, so it sucks up the skin and any other grime that comes off your skin right out the way.  For me this took a few attempts to get used to, especially on my face because even though there is no pain, it does feel slightly odd to start with.  After finishing, the one thing I did notice was a very small amount of redness after using the device but not nearly as much as I thought I would and I haven't experienced any other effects such as breakouts which I had expected. 

Having used the device for the past few months, there is a notable difference in the softness of my skin and there is less dryness, plus the number of blackheads that had gathered on my chin have now almost gone, so for that I am hugely impressed.  What I do like about this device is how easy it is to use once you become comfortable with it, it is lightweight so it doesn't leave you with a dead arm and it is also really easy to clean which is another added bonus.

Have you tried an at-home or salon microdermabrasion treatment? Have you tried this PMD Personal Microderm device?

It's all in the Eyes!

Just like going to the dentist, getting your eyes tested is really important. I know that, you know that but it is one 'thing' that I always put off.  Infact I haven't been for over five years oops and it isn't as though the television advertisements are not a constant reminder.

I am short-sighted or what is referred to as mild myopia, which is not too severe but enough that I need to wear glasses when watching the TV, driving, reading a book/Kindle and sitting at a computer.  I went through a phase of wearing daily contact lenses, but a very drunken night out led to my forgetting I had them in and it was painful to remove them and my vanity was shoved to one side and I was back wearing glasses, not something I like wearing, but they are must.

So I need to go and have my eyes tested again to see if there has been any improvement or to see if I need new glasses and where I live there are not many easy accessible places to get to despite living on a high street.  Do I choose one of two independent optometrists or something more recognised like Optical Express?  I did use Boots for a time but my local store moved their resources to a new bigger store.  So for me it is more about finding somewhere new that I am comfortable with, a bit like going to the hairdressers, when my regular stylist who had been doing my hair for over ten years left, I suddenly didn't want to go to that salon anymore, even though everyone in there knew me and were very friendly.

I know I am going to have to go and have my eye tested, I need new glasses, my current ones (Silhouette Rimless) are in need of refreshing and there is now so much more choice than there was and even apps you can use on some online sites to upload your photo and choose your frames, something I have spent hours doing and here is my shortlist:

However I do need to get my eyes tested first before I can buy glasses!

How often do you have your eyes tested? Is it a regular appointment or are you like me and go infrequently?

SEWLOMAX SOS KIT

Did you Gran or your Mum ever explain to you the importance of having a safety pin in your handbag for emergencies, but you never listened and at times wished you had? For me, it is always something I intend to do, make up an emergency list of items I should have in my handbag(s) for those 'just in case' moments.  

Emma Lomax whom you may know better as SewLomax has a solution and has developed a whole range of emergency kits to tackle every problem imaginable and I was very kindly sent the SewLomax Gold Heart SOS Kit which is not just functional but super pretty too.

I love the gold design and think it really stands out.  The bag itself is really well made and the zip is really sturdy.  Inside the bag, which is really spacious there are quite a few items and it fits into my handbag really easily too.

A mirror which is encased in fabric to match the gold bag and it is a great size for and most definitely an essential that every bag needs.  There is also a mini hairbrush, lip balm, travel wipes, tweezers, a plaster, an emery board, a small sewing kit complete with needle, thread and some buttons, two kirby grips and a hair tie.

What I love about this kit is how much thought has gone into things you might need.  I for one am usually scrabbling around the bottom of my bag for a hair tie and a plaster, now I have them in one place and there is room for you to add other items too.

I think this is such a fantastic idea and it really is full of things that you might just need!  The SewLomax SOS Kit range in size and prices £20-£30 and you can see them all HERE

What do you think of these Sew Lomax SOS kits?  Are there particular items you keep in your handbags for emergencies?

June You Beauty Discovery Box - 'Beauty Hereos'

This month's You Beauty Discovery Box is themed 'Beauty Hereos' and the products selected are from some of the biggest brands in beauty, as well as the introduction of some lesser known brands. Choosing two products to go into my box was again quite difficult because the selection was once again so good!

In the box every month are at least two treats. This month we were treated to three treats which included:

• A packet of Urban Fruit which is described as being delicious baked fruit to curb on-the-go or desk based snack cravings. I have Magnificent Mango. 
• Two sachets of Clipper Tea of which one of Organic Green Tea and the other is Red Fruits & Aronia Berry
• Three handy Good To Go Anywhere wipes which are flushable and great for having in your bag.

When it came to the actual selections, there was a choice of skincare, make up and bodycare for product choices and brands such as Amie, Sanctuary Spa, Inika and Xen Tan are some of the brands to choose from. I decided to opt for two products that I had heard of but had never used.

Nude Skincare Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil (£9.50) is something I have had my eye for some time now, so I am delighted I was able to select it for my box. 

 I am a huge fan of facial oils and this one is described as being a skin saviour that refines and clarifies skin. Using Bakuchiol, nature’s alternative to retinol which is known to smooth and refine skin’s texture. Coleus root clarifies the complexion while antioxidant rich Rosemary and Thyme extracts help protect from environmental stresses. 

This fast-absorbing, ultra-sheer treatment oil revives and repairs skin with natural, healthy ingredients for results you can see.

The final item I chose is the Crown Brush C436 Mini Duo Fibre Blender (£7.39) which is the latest addition in the brands Duo Fibre Range, it has a slightly shorter head but is very soft and excellent for blending.

Due to the duo fibre blend of goat and synthetic hair, this brush is ideal for use with liquid, cream and powder. This brush is recommended for foundation application and/or concealer, and also to blend out areas of contour and highlight.

So that is this months box. It costs just £6.95 and look at the contents, isn't that just great value for money?  I would love to know if you also subscribe and what you chose from the list!

La Collection de Grasse Figuier & Osmanthus

I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes, I either like them or I don't and it is rare I come across one that I am on the fence about. When I was introduced to Figuier & Osmanthus which is L’Occitane’s newest addition to their La Collection De Grasse fragrance range, I immediately loved it. Inspired by and named after the famous town of Grasse in the South of France 'the world capital of perfumery'. 

Designed exclusively to celebrate L’Occitane’s 2015 Chelsea Flower Show Garden – ‘A Perfumer’s Garden in Grasse’ with the help of garden designer James Basson, for which they won the gold medal!
A unique and exclusive scent is described as being "a delicious mouth-watering fragrance that captures the essence of Provençal summertime, it unites the sun-warmed fig tree from Provence and the sparkling osmanthus from the Far East" and it is one I loved as soon as I was introduced to it earlier this month.

The fragrance opens with top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant and unsurprisingly there is also a ripe, fruity fig. The heart notes of fig leaves and the Osmanthus flower. Finally there is a warm base of cedar and musk.

As soon as I tried this in the Covent Garden L'Occitane store, I liked the scent. As soon as it is spritzed the warm fruity floral tones of the blackcurrant and fig are immediately noticeable with the cedar and musk also there lingering in the background. Once it has settled on the skin, it is those warm fruity floral tones which remain noticable and for me it is the perfect summery scent which on my skin lasts pretty much all day, I felt only a need to re-apply when leaving work to go on to a meeting, function or out to dinner just to top it up. 

Launched this month, Figuier & Osmanthus retails at £28 for 30ml which is great value for money and definitely a scent I would recommend.

.