Patisserie De Bain Body Mists

Body Mists seem to be the in thing right now with different brands bringing them back to life, re-inventing them or introducing them to their range. For me, I am transported back to my Teens when Impulse 02 was the fragrance to be associated with. Since then, I haven't given them another thought until this cute bundle from Patisserie De Bain landed on my doorstep.

If you have never come across the brand before, then I do think you need too because the creators behind Patisserie De Bain have somehow managed to bottle up these nostalgic scents, which transport you back to your childhood.

For the Body Mist range, there are four incredible scents to choose from and each and every one of them smells exactly as the name suggests:

Sweet as Cherry Pie is just stunning. It smell reminds me of fresh ripe cherries that have just been cooked in a pie and this is my favourite scent of the four because it is the one which smells the freshest.

Sugared Violet this one for me definitely is a reminder of my childhood and back to a time when a 10p mix meant you got 10 1p sweets in a white paper bag and those sweets came from jars and in this case, it is the Purple Violet sweets which came wrapped in a small packet.

Strawberry Cupcake takes on the scent of the very British tradition of Strawberries and Cream and true to form, it does remind me of strawberries and cream, which as you read this, I might well be enjoying as I am at Wimbledon!

Cranberries and Cream is the sweetest scent of the four mists and like other products that have the same scent, it is again much sweeter than I had anticipated and the fruity scent you associate with Cranberries is most definitely present with the cream part being much more dominant than it is in Sweet as Cherry Pie.

Each mist comes in a 150ml bottle and is priced around £6.99 and you can grab them and other products from the range in Superdrug and they are so cute, they make an amazing gift or treat!

*this post contains PR samples and affiliate links unless indicated otherwise

Summer Romance: Tips

In this article want to talk about summer flings and romances. According to the international sociological surveys, almost half of adults have flirted or had more intimate contacts during their summer vacations. Only one-third of them cherish the hope of bumping into their true love at some beach bar. Others think of a summer romance as a great way to spend time with pleasure. What should you do to get the most out of your summer affair? There are certain rules to keep in mind.

Image Credit - Goodreads

1. Be different but be yourself

Your vacation is a perfect occasion to finally let your hair down and do the things you like. If you are fond of museums and theatres, there is no point in suffering in the company of the man who calls it boring. And vice versa. On the other hand, it’s not necessary to run to an extreme. Revealing outfit, such as minis, and bright makeup is possible but optional. If you don’t feel comfortable, it will be difficult for you to enjoy anything including flirting. So, don’t try to impress, but be yourself.

2. Leave your worries at home

It’s unreasonable to go on a vacation and hope to meet a prince charming if you are depressed and have a baggage of negative thoughts. You should be psychologically ready even for such casual affair. You should decide what will be better for you. Perhaps, you just need to rest and recreate and focus on yourself. 

3. Seduce and allow yourself to be seduced

There are many restrictions and conventions in our everyday life. A lack of time often prevents us from listening to our desires and trying to fulfill them. Take advantage of freedom your vacation gives you. Don’t be afraid of meeting men and taking the initiative if you feel like it.

4. Don’t be too picky

Of course, you have a set of requirements for your long-term partner. But the advantage of a summer romance is that you can have it even with anyone you feel attracted to without thinking about any perspectives. If you used to date serious and successful men, you can meet a local guy who can offer you nothing but his charisma and home-made wine.

5. Focus on the present

If you meet a guy, don’t picture your future with him immediately and don’t use him to recover from a bad previous relationship. The beauty of a summer romance lies in that you can live in the now without looking back or ahead. It’s easy not to think where it may lead you. Just liberate yourself from expectations and obsessions.

6. Fulfil your fantasy or dream

A summer romance is not a regular affair. It’s a kind of improved reality otherwise it wouldn’t be considered as a special type of relations. That is why it should be a different experience that you’ll remember or be proud of. Focus on your desires and dreams. Maybe, you want to have a romantic date night with a sea captain on a yacht. 

7. Let it develop gradually

Even though it’s a short romance, it should go through all stages of a regular romance. The first stage is flirting. The second step is a kiss inspired by a beautiful landscape. The first physical contact (touching) will happen when he’ll apply sunscreen on your back. The main question whether to have or not to go further should be left for you to answer. Remember that spontaneity is the main rule of a summer romance. Relax and go with the current.

8. Part easily

You should realise that your summer romance has its time limits. You’ll miss that adventure but you need to understand that you will miss not your admirer but the way you felt during your romance. So, keep those memories and draw conclusions but wave goodbye with ease.

Thanks to BridesBay for providing this article.

Roccabox July Edition - The Sunday Girl

My July Roccabox has arrived and this month the collaboration is with Adrienne, whom many of you will know as The Sunday Girl. Adrienne was one of the first handful of bloggers whose blogs I read religiously for all the latest information and now here we are with this collaboration.

If you have never come across Roccabox before, it is a Beauty Box which comes together by collaborating with bloggers who then create a box of products which they love. For me, in a world saturated with Beauty boxes, Roccabox it makes it a little bit different to any other beauty box I have subscribed too and it is an intriguing concept that has introduced me to some amazing products, brands and some new bloggers!

This month Adrienne (The Sunday Girl) has come up with a box which features six products and all of which she personally rates. Starting with Soap and Glory Mini Rushower Dry Shampoo (50ml). I am quite pleased to see this as I've been wanting to give it a try. Described as having Friction-activated TOUCH-RELEASE™ technology which gives your hair a gorgeous burst of mandarin rose and bergamot and in true Soap and Glory style, it smells just incredible. RRP £2.50 here.

Burts Bees Cleansing Oil comes next and this is a product I already know and love. Formulated with a unique blend of natural moisturisers, including Coconut and Argan Oils they not only gently remove dirt, grime and makeup, it also helps to keep your skin soft, clean, and beautifully nourished without leaving an oily residue.

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum also makes an appearance and again it is a product that I have used in the past and one I like. Described as being a powerful serum that treats stubborn skin complaints. On the skin, this serum not only cools and soothes but it works to fight blemishes without drying out your skin. Formulated with a blend of Roman chamomile, anti-bacterial may chang, calming lavender and eucalyptus all of which provide stressed skin with comfortable, non-greasy relief.

Ellis Faas is a brand I know very little about, so this Concealer, which is described as being a cult product that the celebrities didn't want us to know about. I have shades S202 which is described as being Fair and whilst I think it is slightly too dark for my skin tone it does offer a really high coverage which helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes, pigmentation spots and dark circles and in order for me to get the best out of it, I do mix it with my moisturising cream.Texture wise it is really creamy and soft and is infused with a unique blend of Karité Oil and Rice Wax as well as Vitamins C & E which hydrate the skin and protect against free radical damage. Impressively there are 8 different shades to choose from and a brief explanation as to which skin type they are for. At £22 it isn't the most expensive concealer that I have tried, but it works as well as those I have.

Finally, there are these two little sample pots from Evolve Organic Beauty and MOA. I am familiar with MOA as a brand and the product The Green Balm which is described as having miraculous healing powers to soothe, nourish and renew dry, itchy skin conditions, bumps, bites and grazes and it is said to work wonders as an aftershave balm and facial cleanser. With a pot this small you aren't really going to get much use from it, but already being well acquainted with it, I have used it as on my lips and around my nose when I've had a cold and I give Rudolph a run for his money.  

Evolve isn't a brand I have come across and this product is a Radiant Glow Face Mask which uses raw cacao and coconut. Described as follows "an organic chocolate face mask with a vanilla fragrance this rich mask blended with raw cacao powder and clay revitalises and purifies, whilst coconut granules buff the skin to silky perfection. Organic Baobab seed oil smoothes and nourishes. Natural sugar extracts turn the exfoliating mask into a creamy milk on contact with water that rinses off easily, leaving skin smooth, moisturised and calm". I love the sound of this mask and again given the size of the pot, I am only likely to get just the one use out of it, so for me to be able to judge whether or not I need a bigger pot, it is going to have to wow me - so watch this space.

So this month brings an intriguing box of products that I have either used, want to try or have never come across. You can subscribe to Roccabox for just £10 per month (plus £3.95 p&p) and can cancel it at any time. For more information and to sign up, everything you need to know is here.

The post contains PR samples/affiliate links unless indicated otherwise

NEW Rimmel #Insta Makeup Collection : Review & Swatches

Rimmel Have done some amazing things recently it and if you are a regular reader of my blog you will have seen the Brow Boutique and the Super Gel Beach Ready Nail Polish Collection. Today I am sharing the love with the extended #Insta Makeup Collection which features some new selfie-ready items.

The first item I was drawn to is the #Insta Conceal & Correct. Now I am a user of Colour-correcting products and have a good selection of products in my stash, but none of them are on an easy to carry palette like this. This little trio palette has three colour correction shades.

A trio palette that contains the 3 ultimate shades for colour correction on the skin and if you use colour correcting shade then you will know that Peach is for dark circles, Green is for redness and blemishes and Violet is used on those dull and sallow tones. I use this palette after primer but before foundation and if im not wearing foundation then it works just as well with tinted moisturiser.

Staying with the trio palettes for the #Insta Conceal & Contour which is available in three shades - Light, Medium or dark. The three cream shades are then one highlighter, one concealer and one contour shade. 

I wasn't expecting to find the textures of these shades as nice as they are, but they do apply really nicely, for me the only downside is that the highlighter on the lightest palette, the one which suits my skintone the most, isn't as glowy as I am used to, infact it is more like a concealer, which is how I use it.

I love a good setting spray or a powder, im not fussy as to which it is as long as ive got one and it does the job. So #Insta Fix & Go 2 in 1 Primer and Setting Spray is essentially described within its name and does exactly what it is called. 

This is an oil-free formula that can be sprayed on underneath or over makeup to perfect and set, which is quite clever. If used prior to makeup application, the solution works to prime your complexion and if it is used to set makeup, it is a transparent spray which doesn't effect your makeup.  I haven't found this drying on the skin and my preferred method of use is after makeup as I think it has better staying power.

The product most people on my timelines seem to be talking about, myself included, is the #Insta Fix & Matte. This product is essentially a lightweight, pressed, translucent powder and it can be used to set foundation as a finishing step and for quick touch ups during the day. 

This isn't a powder which leaves my skin looking clogged and nor does it leave any white colour on the face, infact it actually contains a Doesn’t leave my skin feeling micro-fine pigment which gives a barely there finish.

The final items within the #Insta Makeup Collection are the Duo Contour Sticks and again these come in three shades - Light, dark and medium but until the palettes, I actually have used all three of these, mainly because I prefer the highlighter on both the dark and medium sticks. 

The sticks use a double-ended format and have the highlighter on one end and the contour on the other and for someone like me who has taken a while to grasp the whole contour concept, these sticks have helped me no end.

I have absolutely loved using these products, they work so well as a collection and are much better than I had originally given them credit for. If you want to get your hands on them, then they are currently on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots (here) and are so purse friendly they won't annoy your bank manager.

*this post contains PR samples/affiliate links unless indicated otherwise