Tuesday 31 May 2016

Tropical Heaven from The Body Shop | Pinita Colada

This new collection from The Body Shop is swimming in blogger hype, but I cannot help but join in. As soon as I sure the Pinita Colada collection I knew I'd love it - it's every scent I love in a beauty product all rolled into one. So when you pair my favourite scent with the famous formulations from The Body Shop, you have a collection that is too good to miss. Needless to say, after a quick sniff in store, I was walking away with some new products for my beauty stash.



I've banged on about my love of coconut a lot here on Hope, Freedom, Love so I will save you the story this time. However, I'm sure I don't need to point out that the coconut in the Pinita Colada Collection immediately caught my eye. The coconut has been mixed with pineapple, which gives it a fruity hit, delivering a fragrance that takes me straight to heaven. It's a scent combination that is so good that you'll want to eat it, but I'm sure it's safer to just make yourself a cocktail! 

The PiƱita Colada Collection has four different items, giving you four different ways to get your tropical hit. There's the Pinita Colada Shower Gel, the Pinita Colada Body Scrub (which actually has pieces of real coconut mixed in), the Pinita Colada Body Sorbet and the Pinita Colada Body Butter. I picked up the Shower Gel and Body Butter which are both famous formulations and do not disappoint. The Body Butter gives you 24-hours of hydration, so I imagine it's going to be amazing on holidays when you need to rehydrate from the sun. I'm a big fan of layering scents from The Body Shop, using the shower gel followed by the body butter ensures you'll be smelling tropical all day long!

Prices for the Pinita Colada range start at £5 and you can buy the range in store and online here.


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Monday 30 May 2016

The Importance of SPF & an SPF for your every need

Whilst I'm still no SPF expert, over the last year I've learnt a lot! I have to be honest and say that two years ago I was really quite naive, exposing my skin to so much damage. I was recently away on holiday in the UK, the temperature was 25 degrees and still nobody was covering their skin. I actually ended up in a heated debate with my sister, who told me she'd burn, then it would peel for a tan and no damage was done. It's funny how still in 2016, there are so many myths there are when it comes to sunscreen. So in today's blog post I'm sharing some answers to the most frequent SPF FAQ's and suggesting some of the best products on the market. SPF has come a long way, they are no longer greasy horrible creams and really there's no excuse not to wear it!

What is SPF?
SPF stands for 'sun protection factor' and is a measure of how effective a product is at protecting you from the sun. The rating of SPF can go from as little as 2 and go as high as 70 and it's important you wear the right level of protection. SPF is a calculation of how much time you can be in the sun before you burn. For example, if you burn after being in the sun for 5 minutes, SPF15 will give you 15 times the time before you burn; 75 minutes. The higher the SPF the higher the protection, personally I need to slather myself with factor 50. 

Why is SPF so important?
Wearing SPF is important all year round, the sad thing is that most people only take notice when they are going on holiday. What we're trying to do is stop the ultraviolet rays UVA and UVB from damaging our skin. UBV is the ray that is responsible for sunburn, whilst UBA is the ray that causes long-term damage. Long-term damage can include aging and skin cancer, which happens to be the second most common type of cancer for women in their twenties. UVA and UVB rays are present all year round and they are just as harmful in the winter as they are in the summer. You don't just have to be outside to get damaged skin, UV rays can come through windows and even through light clothing, so it pays to be protected. It's important to reapply your SPF every 2-4 hours to maintain full protection from the sun.

Will I still get a tan?
Absolutely! SPF is designed to stop your skin from burning and to stop the harmful rays penetrating your skin. No part of SPF formulation is designed to stop you getting a tan. If you're particularly worried you can buy suncreams that aim to help the natural tanning process. Nivea have a range called "Protect & Bronze" which does exactly that - it contains plant extract to encourage your own melanin production. If you've tried an SPF and you still don't get a tan, please don't stop putting it on! It's better to fake your tan than take the risk!



I have sensitive skin, SPF always gives me spots?!
Surprisingly, a lot of people do not realise that there are specific SPFs for your face and body. Obviously it's important to use the right formula in the right place, but sensitive skin is completely and utterly catered for in the SPF market. La Roche-Posay in particular are experts at creating SPF's for every type of skin - sensitive skin included. They have the 'Comfort' range for dry skin, the 'Ultra-Light' range for normal/combination skin and the 'Anti-Shine' range for oily skin. It's worth shopping around and finding the perfect SPF for you. 


When my skin is feeling dry one of my favourite products is La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5*, which is actually a soothing balm with a high UVA/UVB SPF50. It's designed to protect, defend and hydrate skin, with a lovely lightweight texture that fixes irritations with an innovative anti-itch formula. When my skin is more oily, or when I don't need a strong SPF I like to use the Day Solution Cream SPF15 from Green People*. 

I don't want to cover myself in a horrible greasy cream?!
The good news is that you don't have to! SPF has come a long way and you can now pick up a whole range of formulas, in fact t
wo of my favourite SPFs are not creams at all! the Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist, which is an ultra-light mist which is completely dry to the touch. Another is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Oil; an oil formula which is lightweight and nourishing for all skincare types. You really don't have to wear a cream if it's not a texture you like. 

I want to wear makeup on holiday - surely SPF and makeup don't mix? 
Actually they do! The key here is to find an SPF that is made for your face - you should do this anyway as the skin on your face is different to your body. Many SPF's are made to wear under makeup, just give them ample time to soak in. You can also purchase lots of makeup products that have SPF built in, I have lots of favourites in this category! First of all we have the ILIA Radiant Beauty Balm*, an
 instant cream which offers a brighter and more radiant complexion. It's packed with subtle gold pearl pigments, which diffuse light and give you fresh, youthful appearance. Inside the balm there is a high-grade, non-SPF 20 sunscreen, which offers natural UVA and UVB protection. For something more heavy duty there is the SPF 50+ CC Creme from Eucerin*, which uses a fast-absorbing colour pigment that blends to a natural matte-looking finish, whilst shielding skin from harmful sun rays. La Roche-Posay also have the beautiful Anthelios XL Tinted BB Comfort Cream SPF50+.



Does my hair need protecting too? 
Absolutely! Many of us have experienced our hair getting lighter after a summer holiday, but the damage does not end there! Right now I'm obsessed with Ritual's Sun Protection Hair Spray*, which is a sun-protective hairspray with a fresh summer scent. It's made using Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, and White Tea, which all help protect the hair against the harmful effects of UV radiation. You spritz this in your hair before and after sun exposure, to achieve long-lasting shine and protection from hair discolouration! 

So there you have it, there is really no excuse for skipping your SPF! Please don't do it, it's really not worth the risk! 
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Friday 27 May 2016

This Missoni Fragrance Is As Good As It Looks

One of my favourite things to do is switch up my fragrance, a fragrance says so much about my mood and what I'm doing that day. I often pick out a special fragrance to wear or holiday, or for a special occasion, as I know that fragrance will bring me memories for years to come. I'm currently compiling a special list of my favourite summer scents, but in the meantime I wanted to chat about this beauty.



The 
Missoni Eau de Parfum* obviously looks exquisite from the outside, the pink, green, red and purple hues are blended together on the bottle to create a thing of beauty. It's a rounded bottle, finished with a golden scarf wearing the Missoni name. It's a bottle that really pulls at my heart strings and I love sitting it on my dressing table. The fragrance screams summer before you even lift the lid and give it a spritz. 

Luckily the fragrance inside is just as beautiful as it's exterior! It's not a perfume that is subtle and understated, it's definitely something that you know is there. Sometimes I can find floral scents too powerful and old-fashioned, but this is the perfect blend of floral and fruity notes, to create something that smells beautiful. The official top notes include; Lemon, Bergamot, Cedar, Pomme d’Amour and Pear, the heart notes turn the fragrance to it's floral side using; Mahonial, Petalia and Jasminum Sambac. Finally the base notes are Ambra, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, which gives it a sweet, woody finish.

The Missoni Eau de Parfum comes in three sizes; 30ml, 50ml and 100ml, prices start at £42 and you can buy it from Escentual.
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Thursday 26 May 2016

Thursday Tittle-Tattle #43

'Thursday Tittle Tattle', is a Hope, Freedom, Love blog series that has quickly become home to some of my popular posts. The series is dedicated to breaking news of the beauty world. From time-to-time, Thursday’s blog post will be dedicated to news featuring; beauty and lifestyle news, events, discounts, and even a bit of fashion news thrown in too! This is my favourite time of year in the beauty world, as the focus has moved to spring. This week we’re talking about summer collections, new baby skincare and exciting hair innovations. Keep reading for the latest beauty news that has caught my eye this week.



YSL Summer Collection

The fabulous YSL Summer Collection has been released and it has everything you need for a bronzed summer look! The collection features the stunning Sahariennes Bronzing Stones in three beautiful shades. It's a beautiful matte bronzer that instantly gives skin effortless, natural-looking radiance without the shine. There is also two beautiful new nail polishes; Savage Pink (like the marbled, granular flecks of pink in granite, a pale rose with a subtle shimmer) and Night Escape (a deep metallic blue).

Rituals announce new Tiny Rituals line

The new Tiny Rituals products are specially formulated to safely and gently cleanse, protect and nourish even the most delicate of skins. The new collection uses Almond Oil and Rice Milk, which is both gentle and comforting. Better yet, every purchase from the Tiny Rituals Baby range, will support the Tiny Miracles Foundation. The collection includes the Baby Bath Oil (a soothing bath oil with its extra mild formulation), the Ultra Mild Baby Hair & Body Wash and the Mild & Caring Massage Oil (gentle baby massage oil specially developed for sensitive skin). The new range will lunch on June 13th and will make a perfect gift for yourself or a pregnant friend!

COLAB redesigned for the gym

Last week COLAB announced the launch of its Active Sheer + Invisible Dry Shampoo, which is an exciting innovation for those who work out a lot! It's been formulated for active lifestyles to refresh, protect and condition your hair, even after a workout. The dry shampoo even includes UV protection and pollution protection, which is very popular in the beauty world at the moment! The new COLAB Active Sheer + Invisible Dry Shampoo will be released on June 1st and it will be priced at £3.99. As usual, it will be available from Superdrug and feelunique.com.

Free goodies from mio when you spend £75

If you’re a mio fan, you’ll love the freebies that are available at the moment! Kick start your workout with high intensity skincare that works just as hard as you do! Get your free Gym Kit worth $29.50 when you spend $75 on mio, just enter GYMKIT at the checkout before May 31st.  Or you can get a selection of award-winning skincare, which gives protection against stretch marks throughout pregnancy. For this free gift you just have to enter MAMAKIT at the checkout before May 31st. Shop mio online here

Chantecaille release Mermaid Eye Color
Chantecaille are a French brand known for their unique products, created with high concentrations of natural botanicals! The new Mermaid Eye Colors look stunning and I'm a little bit obsessed! They are made with a crease-proof water resistant formula that can be worn wet or dry as an eye shadow or as an eyeliner. Chantecaille say they are creamy and long-wearing, paired with anti-aging silk tree extract that helps lift the upper eyelid.You can buy them from SpaceNK here



Free makeup gift from Rodial
Rodial are running a great exclusive online only gift this week! Grab a complimentary black smokey eye pen with any makeup purchase. All you have to do is enter the code SMOKEY at the checkout, before 31st May. Why not try the fabulous Rodial Contour Powder or the new Banana Powder. I’ve recently tried a blusher from Rodial (read my review here) and I was really impressed with the quality and performance, so I’m definitely adding some of these products to my wish list!

Pretty, Fun and Fearless Eye Palettes from CiatƩ London

The new CiatĆ© London Pretty, Fun and Fearless Eye Palettes are available now in three shade options. They have been specially formulated to deliver vivid colour, whilst blending effortlessly. They retail for £29 and they are available from ciatelondon.com. There are also adding six shades to the Pretty Stix collection, which are lipstick-balm hybrids, infused Brazilian murumuru butter and amino acid. The new Scrub Stixs offer a wax-free scrub, made of eco-friendly micro exfoliating particles, which gently buff away and flaking or roughness on the lips.

Kevyn Aucoin Neo Bronzer

The innovative three-in-one face palette is bloody beautiful and I love it! Kevyn Aucoin say that the palette has everything you need to achieve beautiful sun-kissed skin. It's a vibrant, luminous colour packed with light-diffusing pigments. There's a highlighter (to reflect light), blush (to liven the skin) and bronzer (to add warmth). You can use the pressed powders individually or blend them together! The palette retails for £46 and you can buy it here from SpaceNK.

Save 20% at Sally Express
To celebrate the long weekend, Sally Express are giving you a fantastic 20% off Bank Holiday discount across the whole site. Wherever you need some new haircare, or you’re looking for a full pamper session, they have everything you need! Just enter MAY20 at the checkout before 31st May, click here to shop. 
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Wednesday 25 May 2016

Eyeshadows With A Spring Twist | Clinique Lid Pop

If you're a seasoned reader of Hope, Freedom, Love - you'll know that I'm a true fan of the Clinique Cheek Pops. In fact, I actually gave Berry Pop my 'Blusher Of The Year' award last year, I would not be able to live without it! So when Clinique announced that they'd be releasing their 'Lid Pop' collection, I knew I had to try one. When I looked at the shade collection, I noticed that they all swatched really beautifully. I wanted to get something that was a nude or neutral shade, so in the end I picked up Grape Pop. 




The Clinique Lid Pop collection launched in February this year as part of their Spring offering. There are seven shades in total, which range for nudes to bright blues, there really is a wide variety. They are a powder formulation, which is very silky and creamy to the touch. Clinique say that they "deliver an instant pop of colour for a virtually powderless look" and I have to agree. The colour gives a transformation to your eyes and they apply more like cream colours than powders. 

For me they are not as pigmented as I would like, you really have to build the colour up, so much so that I actually tend to use this on top of other shadows. I just don't have the time in the morning to layer this on for minutes. Nonetheless, this is a gorgeous product - it's rich and creamy and the colour is true to the one in the pan. They don't crease on my oily eyelids, but they do tend to fade rapidly after about 5 hours - so it's worth popping in your handbag if you're going for dinner after work!

I honestly think this is a lovely product, but it did not blow me away as much as I had hoped. As with most Clinique products they've been tested for all skin types, they are appropriate for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. The Clinique Lid Pops retail for £15 and you can pick them up from Feel Unique (here).
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Tuesday 24 May 2016

ESPA Enter The Micellar Market

I've made no secret of the fact that I'm a big fan of ESPA, if you missed my brand focus earlier this year, you should check it out here. I've tried lots of different products from ESPA, but one thing I'm yet to try is a cleanser. ESPA have recently announced that they are joining the battle in the micellar market, with their latest launch their Purifying Micellar Cleanser*.




I use another micellar water as part of routine every day, so I'm always interested to try the latest products in the micellar market. The ESPA Purifying Micellar Cleanser works exactly like the other products on the market. It's packed with plant actives and essential oils, creating a non-rinse cleanser. ESPA say the product will streamline your skincare routine, swiftly cleansing your makeup whilst leaving your skin feeling conditioned.

The formulation itself is 99% natural, using ingredients that leave your skin feeling fresh and clear. The micelles are blended with coconut and sugar-derived cleansers, which remove impurities and make-up without rubbing, which we all know is important to avoid. There is also Organic Rosewater, Witch Hazel and Chamomile Essential Oil, which are ingredients that naturally soothe skin, leaving it feeling calm.

To use the Purifying Micellar Cleanser you simply place a cotton pad over the clever pump, you press down on the pump to soak the cotton pad. I've found that I need two pumps to successfully remove my makeup. You just sweep the pad across your face and neck, to remove your makeup with ease. If I compare this formula to others on the market, it feels special. It does not feel just like water, in fact it feels thicker and you can definitely feel the addition of the essential oils in the formula. The Purifying Micellar Cleanser feels incredibly soft and gentle on the skin, it doesn't feel harsh at all.

The funny thing is, I was really happy with the other micellar cleanser I was using, but the Purifying Micellar Cleanser just upped the ante. Of course the Purifying Micellar Cleanser is from the premium market, priced at £24 it's 5 times the price of the alternatives I've been using. I do feel like this adds something new to the micellar market, if you've struggled with other products being too harsh, you might want to give this beauty a try! It will be released on Monday 30th May on the ESPA website.




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Monday 23 May 2016

Win A Pamper Day | 1000 Follower Giveaway

As you may know - Hope, Freedom, Love recently reached the 1000 follower milestone. It's a number I never imagined I would achieve and I'm eternally grateful for getting there. Later this year I will be blogging for five years and it really is my happy place on the internet! It's the best hobby any girl could wish for and I love that I can come here and write about eyeshadow palettes and pretty nail polish. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all my lovely readers for your loyalty, so I've collaborated with Buy A Gift to bring you something special. I spoke to the team at Buy A Gift about giving one lucky ready the chance to relax and they agreed to give away a Superior Pampering Day gift voucher, worth £198!




The voucher is valid for two people, which means you can pick someone special and enjoy a special day. You'll be able to pick from a range of venues in the UK, both in the city or the countryside. You'll also be able to enjoy a spa treatment of your choice, before enjoying a range of facilities at your chosen spa, many of which include swimming pools and steam rooms. Due to the nature of the giveaway, please only enter if you live in the UK, so that you'll be able to enjoy your prize ASAP!

I can only hope that all your love, support, loyalty and comments will continue! There is a lot of exciting stuff in store and my weekday beauty musings will keep on coming. Thanks for making Hope, Freedom, Love what it is! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS & CONDITIONS! The giveaway will be running until midnight on June 5th, and you can enter using the Rafflecopter widget above. To be eligible to win you must be following my blog via Bloglovin and you must follow BuyAGift on Twitter. The giveaway is limited to the UK on this occasion, due to shipping regulations and to allow you to enjoy the gift. The giveaway prize consists of Superior Pampering Day & Treatment For Two Voucher and it has been provided by the lovely team at Buyagift.
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Friday 20 May 2016

Baby Serozinc | Travel Friendly Skincare

Sound the alarm, baby Serozinc* is now available right here in the UK! Look at that teeny tiny bottle of Serozinc, isn't it cute?! I'm a sucker for mini toiletries, so when I saw the news that Serozinc was now available in miniature size, I knew I'd have to have a few in my stash.



In case you've been living under a rock, Serozinc is a toning mist that you spray onto your skin after cleansing. Many bloggers (including myself) give this beauty 'cult' status, for a long time it was impossible to get hold of, but luckily Escentual stock it here in the UK. Serozinc is a very simple formula, made with just three ingredients; La Roche-Posay’s ultra-soothing thermal spring water, healing zinc sulphate and astringent sodium chloride. These three ingredients are put together, to create a solution which target blemishes and oiliness. I use Serozinc every morning and evening after cleansing, I literally can't be without it! When I cut it from my routine, I notice a real difference. When I do use it, it helps my skin stay oil free all day long, which is a big ask when you have greasy skin. It also does a great job at keeping breakouts at bay and minimising the appearance of pores.

I travel a lot and as I'm a bit of a makeup and skincare fanatic, my travel toiletries can quickly get a bit out of hand. So I try to keep my travel bottles as small as possible, just so I can save weight in my suitcase and give me more room in my bag for shopping! Until now Serozinc was one of those items that I had to travel with in it's full sized form. The full sized bottle takes up a lot of room, so you have no idea how happy I am to have this new 50ml size!

Serozinc is currently exclusive to Escentual (one of my favourite beauty sites), the full size (150ml) retails for £8.50 and the mini (50ml) retails for £4.50, you can buy them both here.
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Thursday 19 May 2016

Thursday Tittle-Tattle #42

'Thursday Tittle Tattle', is a Hope, Freedom, Love blog series that has quickly become home to some of my popular posts. The series is dedicated to breaking news of the beauty world. From time-to-time, Thursday’s blog post will be dedicated to news featuring; beauty and lifestyle news, events, discounts, and even a bit of fashion news thrown in too! This is my favourite time of year in the beauty world, as the focus has moved to spring. This week we’re talking about face wipes, new makeup summer essentials and new skincare. Keep reading for the latest beauty news that has caught my eye this week.




New face wipes from Clinique
The beauty world has gone a bit crazy for face wipes! Clinique has recently announced the launch of their Take The Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes. They are designed for both face and eyes, removing “make-up, smudges, dirt and grime, including waterproof and long-wearing make-up”. The wipes are oversized and are soaked in micellar liquid, they are available now, priced at £16.

More products from Rosie for Autograph
You may remember that I’m a huge fan of the makeup collection from Rosie For Autograph! The line for M&S just keeps getting bigger and they have recently announced two new products. The Summer Rose EDP is the third perfume from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She says it’s inspired by her love for Thailand, the notes include; Phuang Malai, blackcurrant, pear, rose centifolia, jasmine sambac, jasmine grandiflorum, lily of the valley, sandalwood, moss and musk. It is available now priced at £14 (30ml) and £28 (75ml). The Shimmer Body Oil retails for £15 and it is a lightweight shimmering body oil. M&S say that it illuminates the skin and leaves a subtle golden glow. Check out the full line from Rosie here.

bareMinerals announce SKINSORIALS 
The new SKINSORIALS skincare collection from bareMinerals will be available from June. The new products have been created with a herb from Okinawa, which specialises in growing and thriving in the island's harsh climate. This means the herb is packed full of nutrients, giving it a higher mineral and vitamin content than spinach and kale. The skincare range has three lines; Purify (which includes four cleansers priced between £17 and £22), Empower (which includes the hero product from the range -  Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion) and Moisturise (which includes four products that promote skin health and hydration). 

Nip & Fab Bee Sting Fix Toning pads
Nip & Fab's range of cleansing pads are practically famous and they've just added the 'Bee Sting Fix Toning pads' to the lineup. The new Bee Sting Fix Toning Pads are infused with witch hazel and propolis, which work to heal the skin, tighten pores and deep cleanse the complexion. The key ingredient is bee venom, which works to plump the skin whilst filling out the appearance of any fine lines and wrinkles. They retail for £12.95 here.

Cocktails A Saint Tropez from Laura Mercier
The 2016 summer make-up collection from Laura Mercier is called Cocktails A Saint Tropez collection. My favourite item from the range is the Colour Dots Lip & Cheek Sheers (I can never resist a product in stick form)! They are limited edition and they boast a special gel formula, which you can use on either your lips or cheeks, they come in three lovely shades. The range also includes the Bronzed Butter face & Body Veil in Gold Lust, the Baked Blush IlluminĆ© in RosĆ© which is a blend of shimmering blush and illuminating tones, plus Matte Radiance Baked Powder

Illume Sheer Color Trio from Hourglass
The Illume Sheer Color Trio from Hourglass is a gorgeous compact which has me swooning. It is a multi-tasking palette gives you all the essentials to define, brighten and highlight your face. It’s designed to give you a soft, natural finish to the skin, with a weightless cream formula, which is blendable and natural. The neutral bronzer creates a natural tan, the sheer rose blush gives soft and universally flattering colour to the cheeks and the champagne highlighter creates a luminous glow. The colours are even designed to be blended together to create custom shades. You can buy it now from Space NK

New lipsticks from Soap & Glory 
The brand new SEXY MOTHER PUCKER lipsticks have been released in 24 vibrantly scrumptious shades. They come in three different and three feather-light finishes; matte, satin and shine. They are designed to be creamy and conditioning with hydra-boosting MOISTURE-WRAP technology. The new lipsticks will retail for £9.

Bobbi Brown Beach Nudes Collection
The Beach Nudes Collection from Bobbi Brown has been announced and its blooming gorgeous! My favourite part from the collection is the three new eye palettes, named the Sunkissed Eye Palette (£36). They are packaged in STUNNING rose gold packaging and house four eyeshadows across warm bronze, gold, pink and nude hues. There is also a new Eye Opening Mascara, designed to magnify each lash, a Bronzing Powder, a Bronzer Brush and three new limited edition shades of the Sheer Lip Color. 
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Wednesday 18 May 2016

Desert Moon Highlighter | KIKO Wanderlust Collection

When I saw the Wanderlust collection from KIKO drop into my inbox I was instantly in love. The new collection is limited-edition for summer, inspired by the passion for travel. There is a HUGE range of products including a foundation, a DD cream, eyeshadow, volume-boosting mascara. There are a range of shiny, bold lipsticks, blushers, bronzers, a highlighter, a Wanderlust clutch and two fragrances. I placed an order straight away and the Desert Moon Highlighter is now part of my makeup stash. 







I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but some of the KIKO packaging is just beautifully. When the Desert Moon Highlighter arrived at my door, I could not help but stare at it. KIKO MILANO selected designer Ross Lovegrove to create the packaging collection. He explored the brand in great depth to create something that suited KIKO’s DNA. He says it’s a combination of elegance, sensuality, femininity, breeziness and usefulness. He says that the curvy lines are inspired by the female body and the three-dimensional design helps to reflect light from the pattern. The highlighter comes packaged in an elegant tub, finished with a coral-tinged gold lid. The pattern on the lid is designed to give you a more comfortable grip, making it easier to open and close the product. When you open the lid there is a protective cushion, which is designed to protect the product.

The highlighter itself is a collection of little pearls, which are very lightly scented. The highlighter is not the intense pigmented highlighters that we are used to seeing recently. Instead it creates a very natural radiant look, which is perfect to apply to all the normal areas of your face. It’s a very fine consistency, which just adds a fresh sheen to the skin. This is the first loose highlighter I’ve tried and whilst it’s a little less convenient, I cannot get over the true beauty of the product. You can pick up the Desert Moon Highlighter online, or in stores for £19.90.




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Tuesday 17 May 2016

My Little Dolce Vita Box | Beauty Box

For a long time I've been speaking about my love for 'My Little Box', which really added a new dimension to the beauty box market. My Little Box are cute, sophisticated and I honestly feel like a lot of thought and effort goes into every box. However, I am starting to feel like the novelty has worn off a little for me! I don't feel like anything has changed with the quality of the box, but I just feel that I'm becoming a little bit immune to it. Nevertheless, I've not yet convinced myself to unsubscribe, so I'm here to talk about the My Little Dolce Vita Box



The My Little Dolce Vita Box is all about Italian summertime, delivering a little bit of Italian joy right to your front door. Every month the team at My Little Box create a special art print, this month it reads "Everything sounds better in Italian", finished in mint green with some ice cream, some shoes and a coffee. I never really know what to do with these special prints, I've taken some to work and put them on my wall and some our at home waiting to be utilised. As always there is a mixture of both beauty and lifestyle items, this month we have a pretty headscarve, which is finished with all different shades of blue and green. We also have the cutest ring, which is finished with gold and a cute leaf detailing. I actually love that the ring comes in a little box, which I'll definitely use for storing some of my other jewellery. 

Every month My Little Beauty create their own their own beauty item to share inside the box. This month we have a moisturiser which is created specifically for your legs, they say it has a gel formulation which adds illumination to your pins. These types of products are great for summer, as they are designed to give you a healthy glow, so that you can wear dresses and shorts with confidence. The
 Baija Body Oil is next in the box, which is a brand I've never used or heard of. It's designed with notes of Jasmine and Green Tea, making it a lovely floral scent. I was happy to see a perfume rollerball in the box, it's 8.5ml and it's the Courrenges La Fille De L’Air Perfume. I absolutely adore the box it comes in and it's actually a really nice scent, finished with notes of bergamot, neroli, orange blossom, musk and ozone.

My Little Box is a subscription service costing £11 a month, plus £3.95 P&P. It's my favourite subscription box of all time and I highly recommend grabbing a subscription! Check out the website here.







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Monday 16 May 2016

The Ocean Mist Haircare Range from SACHAJUAN

There is no denying that most shampoo and conditioner combinations don’t look that pretty, but there’s something about this duo that make my heard melt. The Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo and Conditioner is created by Stockholm’s most-celebrated salon – SACHAJUAN. The Scandinavian hair care range is designed for those who suffer for limp, lifeless hair and who need a bit of volume.




SACHAJUAN created the shampoo and conditioner, following the award-winning success of their Ocean Mist. The new care products are designed to be both strengthening and volumising. Adding texture to your hair to give it a real beachy feel. The products are created by using natural vegetable proteins, which give the hair structure. The formula is designed to penetrate the hair shaft, which helps improve the strength of each individual hair strand. This gives the hair a bounce and stops the hair strands from breaking. The shampoo and conditioner also use SACHAJUAN’s Ocean Silk Technology, which uses natural algae’s for a better shine and surface feel.

What I love about this range is that some volumising products can leave my hair looking greasy, but this duo is really clarifying on my hair. So it has the extra oomph, without the greasy, gritty feeling. I actually took this on holiday with me last week and it kept my hair in really good condition. We were in and out of the pool, so it protected the hair from the chlorine and also stopped products building up on my hair! You can pick up the Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo and Conditioner from Cult Beauty, priced at £19 and £20 respectively. 
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Friday 13 May 2016

The Polish Collection Inspired By The Street | Morgan Taylor

Morgan Taylor Launched in the UK in February 2013, exclusively to distributors Louella Belle. Morgan Taylor are blessed with creators who have a 25-year history in the nail industry. Founded by Danny Haile and David Daniel, the brand is named after their daughters. The core collection actually consists of over 145 colours and five different nail treatments. The latest collection from the brand is an array of bright shades, aptly named the Street Beat 2016 Collection*.



The collection is inspired by the street, taking motivation from the bright sun and colours. The colours are certainly bold and eye-catching, featuring a range of bright colours for the summer season. There’s every colour you could possibly need, from ‘Cou-tour The Streets’ which is a sweet creamy lilac, right up to ‘Tag, You’re It’ which is a bright fuschia – so bright that it reminds me of the pink highlighters. There is also ‘B-Girl Style’ which is a pink pearl, a hot coral which is named ‘Hip Hot Coral’, ‘Street Cred-ible’ which is an orange hue and ‘Give Me A Break-dance’ which is an incredible teal shade.

CEO and Founder of Morgan Taylor, Danny Haile says “We were inspired by the artistic expression of street art and hip hop for this collection”. They range is designed to inspire your energetic side, giving you to really express your style on your nails. I love adding a pop of colour to my nails, I think it adds a different dimension to my monochrome work wardrobe! The six street art nail polishes will be available from Sally’s stores or online this month, they are priced at £10.99 each.


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Thursday 12 May 2016

Thursday Tittle-Tattle #41

'Thursday Tittle Tattle', is a Hope, Freedom, Love blog series that has quickly become home to some of my popular posts. The series is dedicated to breaking news of the beauty world. From time-to-time, Thursday’s blog post will be dedicated to news featuring; beauty and lifestyle news, events, discounts, and even a bit of fashion news thrown in too! This is my favourite time of year in the beauty world, as the focus has moved to spring. This week we’re talking about new highlighters, new palettes and handy tools with make our life’s easier. Keep reading for the latest beauty news that has caught my eye this week.



The Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette from Stila
I’m obsessed with the new Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palettes from Stila. The palettes are a collection of chic eye and cheek palettes with shades curated by pro makeup artists to complement your skintone. The easy-to-use palettes are filled with neutral, one-swipe eye and cheek colours. They house five eye shadows and two blushes in matte, shimmer, and pearl finishes. They’re customizable to create the look or looks you want. They are available from Cult Beauty for £28 each. There is also a brand new Correct & Conceal palette which comes in a beautiful marbled palette. The palette has everything you need to help neutralize imperfections and brighten dull skin tones. There are five sheer to medium cream colour correctors and two tinted setting powders. This palette is also available from Cult Beauty for £32. The products have shot to the top of my wish list, I need to try them!

The new primer from BareMinerals
BareMinerals say that the Blemish Remedy Mattifying Prep Gel is a lightweight gel glides on effortlessly and immediately dries down to an invisible matte finish. It sounds like the perfect way to prep skin for makeup during these warmer months. The primer is formulated with Aspen Bark, Tea Tree Oil and a Peptide Complex to help promote clearer, healthier-looking skin. I love the packaging too, it looks so sleek and pretty. The Blemish Remedy Mattifying Prep Gel retails for £22 here.

The GENIUS Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Mat
As soon as I saw this new Brush Cleaning Mat from Sigma, I added it to my wish list! I was so impressed with the Real Techniques Cleaning Palette, but I hated that I still needed to hold it. The Brush Cleaning Mat from Sigma has suction cups to adhere to the bottom of your sink (or any smooth surface). Which makes it quick and convenient, with seven different patented textures that help your cleansing product dissolve every speck of makeup! It retails for £20 and it’s available from Cult Beauty here.

The eyeliner tool from Beauty Blender
I personally don’t use liquid eyeliner, but I suspect that lots of eyeliner fans will be excited about the Beauty Blender Liner.Designer. Put simply, it’s a silicone guide with three edges or various shapes to guide your liner application and ensure it’s always pristine. It has one straight and two rounded edges to create the ultimate (identical!) ‘wings’. It retails for £14 and it’s available from Cult Beauty here

Top up on your rose skincare with one get one free from KORRES
From 11th-31st May, you can buy one and get one free across KORRES iconic Wild Rose skincare collection! The offer is available at M&S and it even includes the newly launched Wild Rose Advanced Brightening & Nourishing Face Oil! You can also stock up on the 24-Hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream, the Brightening & Nourishing Face Oil, the Advanced Repair Sleeping Facial, the Brightening & Line-Smoothing Serum, the Colour Correcting Cream and the Eye Cream! Shop now at M&S. 

Collection Define & Perfect Eyebrow Powder
The new Define & Perfect Eyebrow Powder from Collection is a loose powder formulation, containing fibre particles to add volume to the brows with a natural finish. It’s a fine-tipped sponge applicator allows for a precise application. It’s available in three shades (blonde, brunette and dark brunette) and it retails for £4.19 here.

Beyond Baked Highlighters from Illamasqua
The new highlighters have been a huge hit on the bloggersphere already! They are a baked highlighting powder, which subtly adds a warm hue to your complexion for a natural, radiant glow. You can choose to use the powder all over for an illuminating finish or simply highlight certain points. Illamasqua say that the lightweight texture glides onto skin effortlessly, creating a healthy, flawless skin finish. You can shop the powders here for £32 here. 
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Wednesday 11 May 2016

Almond Cherry by KORRES | The New Scent

Remember that time I fell in love with the Pear & Bergamont scent by KORRES? (No? You can catch up here) Well I'm back with another scent which launches today and has been taking center stage in my shower this month! The brand new body care collection by KORRES, captures everything I love about spring. It's been inspired by those beautiful blossoming cherry trees and the pretty scents that bring long summer days to life. The scent (obviously) brings together fresh cherries and almonds, all in one beautiful scent. I want to describe it as the healthy cherry bakewell, as it has that delicious scent, without it being too sweet or sugary.



The range has two items, the first we have the Almond Cherry Shower Gel. This has the same beautiful formulation of all the others I've tried. It's rich and creamy, but it still lathers up beautifully in the shower. It leaves your skin feeling hydrated and full of moisture, which feels like it lasts forever. The KORRES shower gels are formulated with wheat proteins, which create a protective film on the skin. It is also rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, which moisturises the skin and enhances the skin’s immune system. The Almond Cherry Shower Gel retails for £8 and you can get it from Marks & Spencer

The next product is the Almond Cherry Body Milk, which is a moisturising body milk, enriched with vitamins and essential skin energy boosting agents. The ingredients include; Almond oil, active Aloe, provitamin B5 and Shea butter provides long-lasting hydration while enhancing skin suppleness. It's been Dermatologically Tested and it soaks into the skin beautifully. The Almond Cherry Body Milk retails for £10 and you can get it from Marks & Spencer

I've just got back from using this duo on holiday and I loved layering the scents. It just meant that the scent lasted all day and the products protected my skin from becoming dehydrated after spending too much time in the swimming pool. I'm rapidly falling in love with KORRES, I highly recommend checking out the brand and the products they have to offer!
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