Creme De La Mer - Renewal Oil & Hand Treatment

Hi guys! I hope you are well and having a great week so far. Today I have some very exciting products to share with you. I was extremely fortunate enough to receive some Creme De La Mer products recently so I thought I would do a review of them. The two products I'll be showing are: The Renewal Oil (RRP £155 for 30ml, available online here) and The Hand Treatment (RRP £70 for 100ml, available online here). 

The Renewal Oil - You might be aware that I am a huge advocate of facial oils. I have been using them religiously and non stop over the course of 7 years and have seen even the darkest spots and acne scars disappear because of them. It was no surprise I would love this product which is multi-usage (I use this on my face, decolletage, cuticles, hair etc) that envelops skin into nourishment to enhance its natural glow. It softens emerging lines and helps combat skin dehydration for a beautiful glow. A little tip I learned with this product is that you have to "Shake it to wake it". 'It', referring to the miracle broth, which sits at the bottom of the bottle, and the oil on top, so shaking helps to homogenise the product. This oil is perfect for people who want instant hydration but don't like to feel and look too greasy as it is definitely a light-weight dry oil.

The Hand Treatment - I have been using this hand cream for months actually but only now have my own. Well over due as this is the best hand cream I've ever used. It is silky, soothing and nourishing, that creates an emollient barrier to lock moisture in. I do find this cream a little too heavy for day use but is absolutely perfect before bed for an overnight treatment. I have suffered from cracked knuckles for years from boxing and this is the only product that has actually softened them and made the appearance much more hydrated!

What products by Creme De La Mer have you tried? I can't wait to try more products from this gorgeous brand! Thanks so much for reading and have a great week ahead.

Double Triangle Nail Art

Hi guys! Today I have some simple nail art to share with you. I felt like doing something geometric for the weekend so I landed on this design! Super simple and easy but looks really cool too! I used 2 coats of Chanel - 623 Mirabella and then freehanded the triangles using Model Co - Oh My Goodness Greycious, followed by 1 coat of Glisten & Glow HK Topcoat. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the warmer weather (finally!).

 

MAC - Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour Swatches

Hi guys! It's been a while. I must find the motivation to blog more often but I'm just so tired when coming home from work. I have lots of new goodies to review for you though but today I am showing you the brand new Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours by MAC. There are tons of shades but I only have 2 (so far). The two colours I'll be showing you are Too Matte With Love; a beautiful bright raspberry and Rich & Restless; A midtone pinky salmon. The formula on these are really good. They're easy to apply, completely opaque (although some of the darker shades look like they need a bit of playing around with application) and dry to a  completely matte finish. In terms of longevity, they don't last as well as Velvetines (only matte liquid lipsticks I've tried so far). After about 4-5 hours they start feathering from the inner lip area. Overall this is a super exciting product from MAC and I'm glad they finally released their take on the liquid lipstick. They have some really exciting shades too so be sure to have a look online or at your nearest counter. MAC - Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours retail for £21.00 (available online here). 

Rich & Restless

Too Matte With Love

 

Spring Floral Mani (+ Tutorial)

Hi guys! I hope you are doing well. Today I want to share with you some really pretty nail art inspired by a tissue box I bought recently. I love when you can find inspiration even in the daftest home items! I decided to do a mini pictorial in case you'd like to recreate this design. I used 2 coats of Kester Black - Acid for the base colour, China Glaze - White on White for the rose base and Liquid Leather for the black fern design. I then used Kester Black - Forget Me Not and Prenup for the rose outlines. I hope you like this design and find some inspiration from it! Have a great week ahead.

MAC - Please Me Lipstick + Extended Play Lash Mascara Review

Hi lovely people! I have two new MAC products to share with you that I recently picked up! The first being the Extended Play Lash Mascara in the shade Endlessly Black (RRP £15.00) and a Limited Edition packaged lipstick called Please Me which is a stunning muted-rosy-tinted pink matte shade (RRP £15.50). There is nothing negative I can say about these two products. MAC is always reliable and their quality never falters. The lipstick is super creamy and pigmented and the mascara is my new favourite everyday mascara for subtle, groomed lashes. It is definitely buildable for a more dramatic look too! Here's a look at some photos.

Without/With Extended Play Lash Mascara

Jo Malone - Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

Hi guys! I hope you are all well. I can't wait for the weather to start warming up! This week has been absolutely beautiful here in London - blue skies 4 days in a row is rare! Today I want to share with you my current favourite (and potentially new all time favourite) fragrance by Jo Malone in the scent Wood Sage & Sea Salt (RRP £42 for 30ml, available online here). Thankfully I'm lucky enough to be able to get a few freebies at work every month and this was what I chose. This scent has top notes of Ambrette Seeds, Sea Salt and Sage. It doesn't sound like it would be fresh or floral-y, but it is honestly such a beautiful scent. Very mesmerising and romantic. I adore this brand, even down to the smallest details of the packaging, and the customer service you receive in their stores. I highly recommend you check them out if you haven't already!

China Glaze - House of Colour Spring Collection 2016

Hi guys! I hope you are having a great weekend. Today I have 2 colours from the new China Glaze House of Colour Spring Collection for 2016 to show you. I wasn't attracted to many colours from the collection so I just bought the two I really liked the look of. They are Come Rain or Shine; an azure blue with a beautiful pink shimmer in it and Moonlight the Night; a clear base glitter full of blue and purple translucent hexagonal glitters that are reflective and give off a gorgeous rainbow hue. Two seriously stunning colours with perfect formulas. I applied 2 coats of each followed by a fast drying top coat. Will you be picking up any colours from this new collection?

Image Courtesy of China Glaze

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine - Chai

Hi guys! I hope you have all been well! Are you looking forward to the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring? Someone told me that when Daffodils start blooming in London it's a sign that Spring is almost upon us - and I can't wait (and a pleasant surprise to see so many daffodils blooming all over London as they're my favourite flowers!). Today I have a simple swatch of a colour that caught my eye in Superdrug by Barry M called Chai; a beautiful mid toned grey with blue undertones. I applied 2 easy coats with a fast drying topcoat (HK Girl Glisten & Glow). A perfect match for today's dreary grey sky. What are you all up to this weekend?

Current Skincare Routine

Hello everyone! Today I have my current skincare routine to share with you. Since moving to London and experiencing the colder climate I've had to trial a few new products to find what works best for me. I'm happy to say I rarely get any blemishes (even around my period) and I do honestly think these products play an important role in that factor! I'll show you which products I use, and when I use them for maximum results. Let's jump right in.

Got a bit carried away on Photoshop. :)

Daily (AM): Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel (RRP £3.39 for 150ml)

This facial wash gel is very simple (as the brand name suggests). It's not outstanding, it doesn't do anything dramatically different for me to be obsessed with it, but it does the job.. and it also helps to wake me up in the morning. It's a cooling gel and makes my skin very soft afterwards, but I will be on the hunt for a new morning cleanser so this section may change soon. It's seriously affordable though and works perfectly after a sweaty gym session.

Daily (PM): Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (RRP £22 for 125ml)

This balm is incredible. I knew I would love it from the moment I saw it because I love anything to do with balms, oils, or in this case, a balm that turns into an oil! It is lightweight, fragrance-free and removes make-up and dirt very effectively. I use about a 50p size amount and warm it up in my fingers and massage it all over. It has become a holy grail, can't live without product for me and I love it!

Daily (AM & PM): Darphin Revitalizing Oil (RRP £25.00 for 50ml)

I have only recently been introduced to Darphin (since I started working for ELC) and I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to try it. I was lucky enough to receive a 2 hour Darphin facial the other week and it was blissful! Back on track though, this Revitalizing oil is so amazing. It is a multi-usage, dry oil that can be used on your face, hair, body and nails (suitable for all skin types). I use this product on my clients' nails daily, and I use it on my face morning and night as my moisturiser. I have been using facial oils for years and believe it is the key to dewy, soft, youthful skin and this revitalising oil is no exception. It smells wonderfully of Rosewood, Jasmine and Lavender.

Weekly: Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask (RRP £23 for 100ml) + Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask (RRP £23 for 100ml

I use these two masks together, using the two on different areas of my face that have different issues. I use the active charcoal mask on my chin and jawline (where I seem to break out occasionally and have congestion) and I use the Original Skin everywhere else (particularly focusing on my nose and cheeks). I ride to work everyday, and the pollution in the air is a lot more noticeable here in London, wreaking havoc on my skin! These two masks have helped a lot with decongestion and I particularly love the Original Skin Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay because it contains Jojoba beads which gives your skin a gentle exfoliation when you remove it! Overall, my skin appears brighter, cleaner and smoother than ever!

Let me know if you've tried any of these products in the comments below! Thanks so much for reading and have a great evening!

Tom Ford - Neroli Portofino EDP

Hi guys! I hope you are having a great weekend so far! Following on from my previous Tom Ford post (I just acquired a few sneaky Tom Ford bits . . thanks work!) I have an Eau De Parfum fragrance by Tom Ford to share with you called Neroli Portofino (50ml, RRP£145.00). It's a beautiful fragrance, not too powerful, but strong enough to get lots of compliments. Plus, the bottle is absolutely incredible. Here are the notes, as found on the John Lewis website:

Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Winter Yellow Mandarin, Sicilian Lemo

Heart Notes: Tunisian Neroli, Orange Flower, Lavender 

Base Notes: Amber, Rosemary

Tom Ford - Black Out (LE) Nail Varnish

Good morning everyone! I hope you are all doing well. We are midway through Winter (yay!). It has been very cold here in London these past couple of days! Today I want to share with you a gorgeous nail polish by Tom Ford called Black Out (Limited Edition); a black base with the finest silvery/grey shimmer to it. It is simply stunning. I used 2 coats, followed by a fast drying topcoat. Tom Ford polishes have surprised me. They are really fast drying, super shiny and have amazing longevity! Their only downfall is that lighter shades (particularly the nudes) don't self level, and need almost 3-4 coats for full opacity without streaks. Other than that, I'm in love! This Tom Ford nail polish retails for £30 from House of Fraser. Here are some swatches!

Estee Lauder - Nouveau Riche Nail Polish

Hello everyone - Happy New Year! I hope 2015 was a great one and that 2016 is even better! I have a very quick post to share with you. This colour below is called Nouveau Riche by Estee Lauder and is a gorgeous bronze-gold glass fleck (RRP £15.00 for 9ml). The formula is incredible and lasts really well on me! I need to try more colours, they're just so good!

 

Shellac Nail Art

Hi everyone! I hope you are well. Can you believe it's already the 13th of December!? December always comes and goes so quickly. Christmas will be over in a blink of an eye and the new year will be within us sooner than we'd thought! Today I have some shellac nail art to show you. I used, of course, true Shellac by CND and my designs were all done freehand by myself. This is the first time I've done nail art using Shellac and I really love the random mish-mash of designs. Let's see how long I can wear these for (I reckon i'll only last about a week). Let me know if you've tried doing shellac nail art? It is very easy to do - easier than using regular polish I find!

Camille Walala x Gorman Inspired Nail Art

Hi guys! I hope you are having a great weekend. Today I want to share with you some nail art I did last weekend inspired by an Australian illustrator who collaborated with Gorman clothing. I initially saw this print on the pencil skirt. You should definitely check the collection out - it's amazing! I used all Kester Black colours and free handed it all. I hope you like them as much as I loved doing them!

 

First Christmas Nails Of The Year!

Hi guys! How are you going? Can you believe it's already December (Well almost). I've already put my Christmas tree up (I am usually one to wait until December 1st, but for some reason, living here in the UK, everyone is so much more excited about Christmas, very early into the ber months ...So I gave in lol). My snow-flocked tree is from Marks & Spencer and it's super small and very cute. 

My nails matched my tree perfectly with the bauble colours. I'm wearing 2 coats of Max Factor - Burgundy Crush (my absolute favourite winter-y red shade ever) and 1 coat of Mavala - Magic Circus; a glitter mix of red, green, silver and gold glitters, followed by 1 coat of Glisten & Glow topcoat. I love this combination - it's so Christmas-y!

October Favourites

Hi everyone! How are you on this dreary Saturday? I've had a busy week working, and finishing up at work to start my new job on Monday! Exciting times ahead. Today I want to share with you a few favourites of mine that I gathered in my first month living here in London. So let's jump right in!

Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo (RRP £2.79 from Boots) - This shampoo was bought on a whim because my old shampoo was making my hair greasy with residue and flat looking. Oh boy did I choose a winner. This smells SO good! It is literally like lathering liquid chocolate into your hair - with a hint of coconut. If there's one shampoo you try next - make it this one! Besides the irresistable smell, it cleans my hair really well and makes it look so shiny and gives it lots of volume too. Win!

Simply Kind To Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion (RRP £3.29 from Boots) - This is obviously not a brand new product to the market, it's been available for as long as I can remember but I was just never drawn to try it. I'm really glad I did. I was in desperate need of a gentle skin cleanser because I was getting some sort of skin allergy/rash on my chin area (just below my lip) and it was so raw and red and looked a bit suspicious (lol) but it was because I was using a very abrasive facial scrub daily. Yep, i'm one of those people who feel like their face isn't cleaned unless i'm scratching it off. This cleanser alleviated my allergy within a week and my skin has been so soft and flawless since using it! The only negative is the bottle design. I have to shake the bottle so much to get product out when i'm more than halfway down. Boo!

Mavala Active Hand Gel (RRP £16.85 online here) - A gel hand cream that refreshes and moisturises. I was skeptical on this product because i'm so used to using creamy hand creams, but as this is a gel it dries super quick - which I love (and I know my mum would love too). At first it's really wet and slimy, like a gel, but after a few minutes it will completely dry and leave a slight stickiness to your hands but after about 5 minutes that sticky residue also disappears! Try using it before bed - I guarantee your hands will feel like a baby's bottom.

Mavala Mavapen Nutritive Oil For Cuticles (RRP £10.40 online here ) - A cuticle oil pen - every nail lover should have one (or two) in every bag they use! I'd rather have one in every bag I use so I don't have to remember to put it in (and risk forgetting it). This is like a felt-tip pen and doesn't over disperse product - making it very cost-effective by lasting longer! It gives great hydration to my cuticles too.

Mavala Mava-White Optical Nail Whitener (RRP £11 online here) - My favourite product from the lot, a nail whitener. It dramatically transforms your nails into a beautiful, natural, healthy looking nail! I'm assuming 90% of my readers will have slightly yellow/stained nails from all the nail polish they use - and i'm no exception either! Look how amazing the results are. It dries to a natural semi-matte finish and dries really fast. Perfect when you're too lazy to paint your nails with colour but want them to look presentable and polished. 

There you have it guys! My monthly favourites! I am loving trying out all the new products here in the UK. Are there any products in particular you think I should try out? Let me know! Have a great weekend!

Mandara Spa Collection

Hi guys! Today I have some bath and body products to share with you from a brand that's new to me called Mandara Spa, inspired by the spa rituals of Bali, Hawaii, Thailand and the Maldives. I have 3 products from the Bali Santi collection, and two creams from their body butter line. I'm in love with the vibrant packaging and the scent in all these products are amazing. It's a fragrant mix of coconut, sweet almond and spice (a bit like cinnamon and sandalwood combined). Mandara Spa is available online here. Let's take a look at the products shall we?!

How cute are my Moroccan inspired candle holders from Tiger!

On the far left we have the Bali Santi Blooming Bath & Shower Oil (RRP £7) - this product is my favourite from the group as I adore oils to cleanse and clean with. It is super nourishing and makes your skin feel incredibly soft afterwards.

Bali Santi Nurturing Body Milk (RRP £5) - This lightweight, but deep moisturising body milk is super creamy and absorbs into the skin very quickly. It does leave a slight stickiness to the skin, but makes you smell divine.

Bali Santi Smoothing Body Polish (RRP £8) - This body polish is almost like a thick moisturiser/yoghurt but with very gentle micro beads to softly and effectively remove dead skin cells. I use this almost daily on my chest, shoulders, outer thighs and butt! Your skin will feel so smooth!

Foot Butter (RRP £4.50) - The skin on my feet are the driest areas on my body so I was in definite need of some TLC there. I've been using this religiously for the past week before bed each night, applying socks afterwards to hold the moisture in and the appearance has dramatically improved! I also really love the smell, kind of like the ocean with citrus and coconut! It is super light weight and absorbs really quickly.

Hand Butter (RRP £4.50) - This hand butter is amazing. It is so rich and thick and is enriched with shea butter so it smells incredible. Not much else I can say on this product, other than it does the job of moisturising and hydrating my hands very well.

I can't wait to get through these products - my body will be loving me (as well as my boyfriend) because it makes me feel so soft and smell magnificent! Have you tried any products from this brand? I'd love to know! Thanks a lot for reading and i'll see you all next time!