House of Fraser Makeup Wishlist

With my Christmas vouchers from House of Fraser still burning a hole in my pocket and little of the sales offerings capturing my attention, there have been a few items from other blogs that I have been reading that have captured my attention.

Starting with Charlotte Tilbury, a store I have visiting many time in Covent Garden but have always left empty handed having struggled to decide what I would really like to own. However this Charlotte Tilbury Quick and Easy Natural Glowing Look kit which retails at £55 here and contains five products which are classed as being hyper-intelligent, multi-tasking, bestselling, award-winners which have you ready to go in just 5 minutes. 

Another brand I have seen everywhere is from bareMinerals and again whilst I have a Moxie lipgloss and a mascara, there is a whole lot more to discover and this bareMinerals Get Started Complexion Kit which costs just £39 here is said to get you on your way to radiant, healthy-looking skin, using award-winning bareMinerals Foundation and signature complexion essentials such as the Prime Time Foundation Primer and Mineral Veil® Finishing Powder. 

Givenchy Rouge Interdit is a lipstick I have seen everywhere and they are just stunning. Yes lipsticks are something I am obsessed with and they are usually the first item of makeup I decide upon when putting my face on. This particular lipstick is is enriched with precious black rose oil, which caresses lips with softness and moisture whilst ensuring an unparalleled texture. Its creamy and silky feel makes it the perfect lipstick for any occasion. Rose Alibi or Rouge Insomnie both have my name on and at £25 it sounds like an absolute must have. You can see it and the rest of the collection here.

NARS Velvet Shadow Sticks are again products which people rave about and as I have said I am not buying anymore palettes until I have used up the ones I have then shadow sticks are not on my horizon. Oaxaca is described as being a quartz shade but in some of the reviews I have read it has been described as a muted, medium-dark taupe brown and some say it warm, rosy undertones. At £21 here it costs almost as much as some palettes I own, but I am intrigued by it. 

When it comes to bronzers I am a Benefit girl and am never without Hoola, it is like a comfort blanket and I adore it. However, Elizabeth Arden is also a brand I happen to adore and the Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing Powder has caught my attention with the description alone. Using microlight minerals this powder filled with Minerals, Mica, Sea Water Complex, Aloe and Vitamins A, C and E. Priced at £26 here, it isn't overly expensive and it does come in a cute compact with a mini folding kabuki brush.

So those are the products that have, over the last few weeks, caught my attention. If you do have money and vouchers to spend at House of Fraser there is a great Gift With Purchase offer if you spend £75 or more on beauty online because you can then purchase the All About Skincare Kit for £25 (worth over £85), (excluding delivery charges and any other discount), from Monday 9th January - 25th January 2017 (inclusive). Click here for the Exclusive Skincare Set. 

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

Banish Winter Lips with Carmex

As the weather forecast threatens snow, the wind is quite bitter and the need to moisturise never greater (don't forget the SPF) there is also the need to ensure your lips stay kissably soft and smooth, who wants to kiss someone with bits of skin flaking from their lips - grim!

One brand that you can't help but notice with its bright cheerful yellow packaging is Carmex. This cult classic all began with Alfred Woelbing back in the late 1930's in America suffering from dry, chapped lips and with a knowledge of kitchen chemistry he was able to hand make his special formula. Selling out the back of his car to pharmacists the demand grew and grew. Now over 130 Carmex products are sold every minute worldwide still with the original formulation.

I am sure you will either be familiar with the a squeezy tube or a little pot but it comes in quite a few varieties, shapes and sizes and with that a range of scents too. The thing I love about Carmex is the ingredients include camphor and beeswax to hydrate, soothe and protect along with Camphor Oil which relieves painful chapped skin and of course the menthol scent which tingles.

A product which can be used under lipstick and acts really well as a base or on its own, you can find on the high street in stores such as Boots and Superdrug and it won't break the bank when you purchase it with prices starting at just £2.69.

Are you a Carmex fan?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

The 6 best reasons why Ukraine should be your next holiday destination!

In Europe, Ukraine stands among one of the most visited countries. Spread over 603,628 square kilometers, Ukraine has a population of 45.59 million and the capital of the country, Kiev, is something that you should definitely visit. It sports some of the best churches, castles, squares, buildings and landscapes among other things to offer. If you are a traveller who wishes to explore new destination, Ukraine is one of the best spots to visit.

For people who seek interest in unknown places and the pristine nature in the old architectural backdrop, Ukraine is the best destination you can head to. We bring to you a list of six places that you definitely have to visit whenever you are planning to go to Ukraine:

1 Castle in Gaspra

Set in the middle of Yalta and Alupka in Crimea, this decorative castle is 40 meters high and is inspired by the Neo-Gothic design. It was built between 1911 and 1912 by a Russian architect named Leonid Sherwood. It offers stunning views of the Black Sea coast and it is a prominent place in the south coast Crimea.

2. Chervonograd, Bridge Over Waterfall

Thousands of people visit Chervonograd, Bridge over Waterfall which is located in the waterfall city of Chervonograd. Not many people know about this place and it definitely is a place worth visiting. With crystal clear water flowing down the rocky terrain, the small mountains in the vicinity are green and have some ancient trees, taking you back in time in this serene and lovely place.

3. Former Leipzig Hotel, Pushcha-Voditsa

Pushcha-Voditsa is a historic town and is located in the dense forests and is in the proximity of Kiev. It has several antique buildings that you would love to visit and it will an amazing experience indeed! The Former Leipzig Hotel should be your choice of stay when you are there.

4. Old Church, Kremenets, Ternopil Region

Kremenets has a rich history and it is one of the towns to have witnessed the sad Holocaust. With such rich history involved, you will definitely have to visit this place to explore and know more about history. The botanical garden, architectural buildings and other places of interest are definitely worth your attention and you would have to be here!

5. St. Sophia, Kiev

A marvellous architectural monument and known as one of the best heritage sites in Ukraine, it has made to the World Heritage List and dates back to the 6th century. It is also accounted for one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine and is of high cultural and historical significance.

6. Golden Monastery, Pochaiv

One of the most spiritual places in Ukraine, it is a monastery on a 60 meter hell in Pochaiv and it was started by several monks during the Mongol invasion. It offers scenic views and has multiple places of attraction from within, making it one among the must-visit places in Ukraine. 

So why wait?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise/GP

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold Eau de Toilette

Perfumes and fragrances I obsess about, I know what I like and over the years I have moved away from my comfort zone of 2-3 staple perfumes to trying quite a few new ones.  A friend of mine suggested I should try Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold as she felt I would like it and it also happens to be one of her go-to scents. I hold my hands up, I didn't like the look of the bottle and never went near to trying it out, I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but I did.

Anyway, as some of my favourite perfumes ran out, I decided not to repurchase them but instead try others, there are so many on my wishlist that I am never going to get through them if I don't branch out.  I bought Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold and having read a few posts about a site called Love the Sales and a mention of saving up to 75% I searched for it and presented with a lot of choices offering me anything from 14% to a 31% discount on this fragrance.  So I chose my option and was directed Fragrance Direct and instead of paying £63.50 for 80ml I paid £47.99 and it arrived within a few days.

So the fragrance is encased in an elongated diamond shaped bottle with a gold lid and it looks really pretty when it catches the sunlight and creates a prism on the wall.  It has a whole host of ingredients which give a burst of zesty freshness before they settle down to a soft powdery scent that I have actually grown to really like.  The top notes of Mango and Grapefruit open this scent up with quite a zesty explosion from the grapefruit which is ultimately the first scent you get, it is fresh and lively and takes some time to settle. The heart notes of Violet Leaf and Orange blossom give a soft floral scent which when intermixed with that of the grapefruit they come to live before the base notes of Cedar Heart and Ambery Musks settle the fragrance down to give that soft powdery scent. 

Once spritzed on my pulse points Lady Million Eau My Gold doesn't have the longevity of other fragrances, such as YSL Black Opium or Zadig and Voltaire This is Her, but you do get a scent which has a strong start and as the day progresses, you will need to re-apply if you are going out of an evening, or if you are like me, just because you want to smell good all the time.  

I think this scent is perfect for the spring and is one I am glad I gave in and purchased because it is unlike any other scent I own.

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