Pierre Marcolini Valentines Collection

When it comes to chocolate, I can honestly say that I am a choc-a-holic and just absolutely love it. So when the chance to experience the new Valentines range from expert chocolatier Pierre Marcolini I wasn't about to say no.  Pierre Marcolini established his luxury chocolate brand in Brussels in 1995 and it is renowned for its use of rare and exotic ingredients such as Sichuan pepper to Moroccan pink berries. 

The Valentines range has imagery which has been commissioned by Parisian illustrator Séverine Assous, to illustrate its cases in the theme of a romantic Provençale dance and it features mythical characters and fairy tale heroines which are just totally divine.

The Duo of hearts comes presented in an incredibly cute minimalist box which is dressed in a Collection case. Inside there is a duo of raspberry hearts which are just so beautifully packaged and would make such a lovely romantic gesture. 

What you get are two hearts which are a dark chocolate ganache with a raspberry pulp and as soon as you open the box, the scent of chocolate is just mouthwateringly good. Priced at £4 you can find them here.

If chocolate isn't something you are a fan of but Macarons are more your thing then there is a gift for you too. Again the Macarons come presented inside an incredible luxe box which is dressed with a case adorned with those mythical characters and fairy tale heroines and if you do look closely enough you will see Little Red Riding Hood dancing with a wolf or throwing macarons and Snow White receiving a love letter from a beast.  Inside the beautifully presented box are 12 macarons which smell just absolutely incredible and look beautiful. 

The macarons which are neatly packaged in rows feature an array of amazing flavours such as: 

• Roasted pistachio from Iran with a hint of Maldon sea salt
• Caramel, sweet butter and Maldon sea salt flakes
• Blend of vanilla from Tahiti and Madagascar
• Rose water from Morocco
• Summer raspberry pulp and milk chocolate from Ecuador and Ghana
• Buttercream praline with a crunchy centre of roasted and caramelised hazelnuts from Piedmont
• Bergamot and lemon zest infusion
• 78% Grand cru dark chocolate from Venezuela
• Caramel and bitter chocolate ganache flavoured with vanilla from Tahiti
• Java coffee infusion
• Flakes of speculoos with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and a hint of ginger
• Passion fruit from Brazil

If you are a fan of macarons then you will love these. They are light and pack a punch when it comes to the flavour, in fact they taste just as you imagine them to from the descriptions given above. Like all good Macarons, they are chewy but so much that they stick to your teeth and they are the best I have ever tasted. Find them right here 

With a flagship store here on Marylebone High Street where you will find a bespoke chocolate counter, a macaroon carousel, a tasting area and a sweetie bar, I cannot wait to pop in the next time I am in the area, because having had a little taste of the brand, I now want to try more!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

L’Occitane Solidarity Balm 2017

For over 30 years now L'Occitane has been working with the women of Burkina Faso to produce the Shea Butter that is used within their award winning products. I posted about the Solidarity Balm last year (here) and again this year the balm is back with a violet scent which is just absolutely divine and is quite sweet. This tin of Solidarity Balm is dressed in patterns inspired by African wax fabrics to celebrate women in Burkina Faso. 

Again, L'Occitane will give 100%* of the profits from this balm to support women's leadership in developing countries. Partnering with UN women, the L'Occitane Foundation (read more here) broadens the scope of its involvement by supporting two thematic areas covered by the Fund for Gender Equality.

Since 2009 the Fund has supported 120 programmes in 80 different countries which in turn has touched the lives of 10 million direct beneficiaries, with a focus on the objective of achieving a more equal world, a 50-50 planet, where women and girls can freely exercise their leadership in all areas of public, economic and political life.

This balm which costs just £4 is quite a handy handbag essential. As a multi-use balm, it not only nourishes your lips but is also handy for elbows, cuticles and other bits of dry skin. The Shea butter melts when it comes into contact with your skin and leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth, nourished and moisturised. But skincare aside, this one tin is doing a lot of talking, supporting and empowering in parts of the world where independence isn't as free as it is here. Grab your tin now!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise
*Sales price in store minus taxes, transport and production costs.

Blank Canvas Brushes, Sponge and a Solid Cleanser

Blank Canvas is a brand that is one worth getting to know and one which I have featured a few times on this blog with this amazing palette.  As well as makeup there is also makeup tools and I have a few to share today.

Make-up brushes are items that we all will have within out stash, of all varieties, shapes, sizes and brands I am sure and there is possibly one thing that we all collectively hate having to do with those brushes - washing them! What if there was a product that could make tis boring but vital task less of a faff? Well there is and it comes in the form of a Solid Brush & Sponge Cleansing Soap.

We all know that taking care of our brushes is a vital task, not only does it help to keep maintain the quality but it also helps to avoid bacterial build-up which can harm you and your skin.  So this Brush & Sponge Cleansing Soap comes packaged in a tin and inside is some soap which you moisten with water. Once that has been done you rub the bristles over that now damp soap to create a lather and then rinse your brush under lukewarm water until it runs clear before laying it flat on a piece of cloth to dry.  Before cleaning any other brushes, wipe the soap of any suds and residue and repeat the same task until all of your brushes are clean and shiny.  Before putting that lid back on the soap, again wipe it free of any residue and suds and store it ready for next time.

The Blank Canvas Cosmetics Solid Brush & Sponge Cleansing Soap costs £12.87 (here) and it is worth every single penny. 

When it comes to makeup brushes and blenders, again I have quite a few different ones and the Blank Canvas Hero brushes have had a bit of a classy looking makeover and now come in various colours including the gorgeous Champagne Pink and Rose Gold. Now anything that is shiny and metallic is going to capture my attention and the F20 and F08 are simply stunning.

The F20 Multi-purpose Brush has the Champagne Pink metallic finish and ideal for creating light, medium and full coverage makeup. Perfect for foundation, cheek blush and even contouring and because it is made from short synthetic fibres it works really well with cream, powders or liquids and is ideal for buffing. Priced at £12.95 (here) if rose gold really isn't you, there is a choice of 7 other colours to choose from for your brush handle.

The F08 Rounded Dome Multi-purpose brush has a Champagne Pink finish and is ideal For the application of foundation, concealer, bronzer, blusher and can even be used for contouring because of Its soft dome shape. Again it can be used with cream, powder and liquid products and to use you simply buff the product onto the skin first and then blend using a stippling motion. I find this brush really easy to use and the handle is just the perfect size and is weighty enough to keep hold of. Again it is handmade from extra soft, high quality anti-bacterial, easy to clean synthetic fibres. Priced at £12.95 (here) you can choose from 5 different finishes.

Beauty Blenders for me right now are like a revelation, I just love them. The two I have from Blank Canvas are the Airbrush Blender Sponge ( Pink Teardrop Shape) and Airbrush Blender Sponge (Slim Pear Shape In Pink). 

Both of these beauty blenders are perfect for using with liquids and even cream products, but the star of the show for this blender is the pointed edge which is just perfect for blending hard to reach areas such as the sides of your nose and it is great for the application of concealer. Priced at £6.04 (here) they are not going to break the bank.

If you have yet to try any product from Blank Canvas the definitely look them up, there are so many amazing products and accessories that you need to add to your stash.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

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.

• 
  

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise