Gift Edit: The Body Shop

The Body Shop have brought out a fantastic selection of Christmas gifts this year! From stocking fillers to luxurious sets all encased in adorable packaging there really is something for everyone! Plus with 40% OFF their entire website with the code SANTA for 10 days it's definitely worth a look!

Born Lippy Fruity Lip Balms (£10)

Apart from the amazing packaging this set is also great value as it contains five juicy, moisturising lip balms in a selection of flavours including strawberry, raspberry, satsuma, watermelon and passionberry.

 Body Butter Collection (£20)

This selection of scrumptious body butters features the nutty scents of shea and cocoa butter as well as delicious chocolate and coconut. Beautifully packaged in a reusable aluminium tin this makes a great present that doesn't even need wrapping.
 

Cranberry Joy Moisture Collection (£15)

This festive cranberry selection is not only great value, but smells absolutely delicious. The set contains Cranberry Joy Shower Gel, Body Butter, Soap and Scrub.

 Dazzling Rocks (£16) and Slanted Kabuki Brush (£16)

This limited edition tub of shimmering copper and gold beads gives an irresistible dazzle to cheeks, temples and décolletage. It's great to use as a bronzer to lift the skin and add some subtle glow.

The Slanted Kabuki is made with soft, fluffy synthetic hairs designed to sweep a fine, even dusting of powder onto face and body. Its unique slanted design makes sculpting, layering and contouring a cinch.
 
This Reindeer Washball is so completely adorable I am very tempted to order one for myself! At just £3 it makes the perfect, fun stocking filler.

Smoky Eye Palette in Smoky Moonstone (£14)

This gorgeous palette features four on-trend eyeshadows in cool shades of moonstone and espresso, a mini eyeshadow brush and mini eyeliner brush so you can touch up on the go. I love the colours in this palette as they would suit any skin tone and can be layered for a gorgeous smokey eye, or worn alone for a sweep of shimmering colour.

Coconut Butter Up Duo (£7)

This cute coconut body butter and lip butter duo comes packaged in an ornamental bauble, perfect for any tree or stocking.

I have also heard that The Body Shop will be the official headline sponsors of the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2013! The line up includes fantastic acts such as Kasabian, Russell Brand, Noell Gallagher, Rizzle Kicks and Labrinth. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Have you purchased any gifts from The Body Shop this Christmas? Do let me know your favourite! xxx

Christmas Gift List

This is the first in the series of my Christmas Gift Guide and I think it has a little something for everyone!

Christmas Gift List

Which item would be your perfect Christmas gift? xxx

The Joy Genie

Who has brought you the most joy this year? Now with The Body Shop you can also spread some joy this festive season. You can use The Joy Genie to nominate your favourite friends to win joyful treats, including a top weekly prize worth £100!

For every entry made The Body Shop will donate 50p to Kidscape. You can enter up to 5 friends. So what are you waiting for? Let's start sharing the joy!


Enter here: http://bit.ly/TheJoyGenie

Naked and Neutral

A fun and wearable smokey eye paired with peachy lips and cheeks that's super easy to create with minimal products!


Products mentioned in this video:
Dr Jart Regenerating BB*
Origins A Perfect World BB*
MAC MSF Natural in Medium
Earthnicity Minerals Coral blusher
Sleek Brow Kit
UDPP
Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colour BR306*
Urban Decay NAKED palette - Smog, Half Baked, Virgin, Sin.
Clarins 3 Dot Liner*
Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara*
The Body Shop Colouglide Shine Lip Colour 01 cheeky coral*
Jo Malone Rosewater and Vanilla perfume

Products marked with * were sent to me for review consideration.

Thanks so much for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video! xxx

The Body Shop Scents of the World Perfume Oils

I have been a fan of The Body Shop's fragrances since my pre-teen years and am amazed that every year they bring out new scents that never fail to capture my attention. This season they have launched Scents of the World - their first fragrance collection containing 100% organic essence and globally sourced natural extracts.

I was sent a set of perfume oils to sample, which are all alcohol free. I love the dinky size of these as they are super easy to throw into a handbag and apply on to pulse points throughout the day to freshen up.

The fragrance selection includes:

•  Indian Night Jasmine -  This seductive, feminine blend of floral and oriental accords was inspired by a moonlit night in a Mughal garden.
• Japanese Cherry Blossom - This romantic, captivating blend of floral and hinoki wood accords was inspired by a spring day in Kyoto.
• Atlas Mountain Rose - This bright, dewy blend of floral accords was inspired by dawn in a field of blossoming roses.
• Amazon Wild Lily- This crisp, luminous blend of floral and aquatic accords is inspired by the rain-kissed cool of the jungle.
• Madagascan Vanilla - This warm, sensual blend of floral and oriental accords was inspired by the tropical island.

The fragrance oils retail at £7 each for 15ml and work perfectly when layered with the other products in the collection of the same scent - eau de toilette, body mist, shower gel and body lotion. You can check out the whole Scents of the World collection here.

Glowing Summer Skin Tips

Even though the weather has been trying to hide it from us it is in fact Summer. With bikinis and short shorts in mind I have put together a list of my favourite products to get your skin Summer ready - healthy, beautiful, smooth and glowing!

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! It's time to slather on the creams and make sure your skin is well hydrated, plump and smooth. Recently I have been indulging in Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter* (£36 here).

With shea butter, beta carotene and jojoba oil this wonderfully luxurious moisturiser works wonders for sprucing up pasty legs that have been hidden under opaque tights for months. It is rich enough to hydrate deep down, yet light enough to sink in quickly, not leaving behind any greasy residue. Creme de Corps is a cult product and I think this whipped version is a fabulous addition to the range.

Exfoliate! Other than a good old fashioned pair of exfoliating gloves (I have these babies in pink £2.66) my all time favourite scrub is Soap and Glory's Breakfast Scrub (£9.50 here). This oat, shea butter and sugar body smoother has a rough texture that works hard to remove dead skin cells and reveal the fresh, glowing skin underneath. It also smells absolutely delicious!!

Hair Removal. Now this is the part I am definitely not a fan of. Other than trying out the TRIA permanent hair removal laser system (video review coming soon) I have recently been relying on shaving. Since I have extremely sensitive skin I have had plenty of bad experiences with shaving in the past. Luckily, I was recently set the new Venus ProSkin* to trial and it has worked perfectly - no lumps, bumps or razor burn. The Venus ProSkin is designed to help protect delicate skin with its MoistureRich shave gel bars, which contain  a triple blend of body butters for a comfortable shave. The ProSkin sensitive has 5 blades for a close shave that puts less pressure on the skin, hence less irritation

Cleanse. As well as traditional shaving creams, such as the Satin Care pictured above I have also found that my favourite shower oil can be used during shaving. I was hesitant to try it at first, but it really does make your razor glide like a dream. So for a gentle and moisturising shower I highly recommend the amazing L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (£16.50 here).

Glow - Just because the weather isn't co-operating doesn't mean we don't want our skin to have some colour. I have recently been trying out the Sienna X professional tanning range and I absolutely love it. My favourite product is the Gradual Glowing Self Tan* (£15.95 here). This tan infused moisturiser smells absolutely delicious and is super easy to apply - no tanning mitt needed. On day one it gives you just a little hint of colour, day two adds a little more glow and day three will leave you with a gorgeous, natural looking deep tan. I usually apply it before bed on two consecutive evenings and reapply every other day to maintain the colour.

The Sienna X range also features a polishing body scrub and body wash to prepare the skin, a darker glowing self tan, instant bronzing gel and express tanning mist to add colour and even a post tan radiance body balm and shimmer spray to make your skin glow! All the products smell amazing and give great results at an affordable price.

Cool. If you are feeling the heat and the last thing you want to do is slather yourself in oily moisturiser why not try a lighter option? The new Body Purees* (from £4.50 here) from The Body Shop are the perfect choice if you want to hydrate and refresh your skin. The lightweight texture cools and soothes parched skin while leaving behind a clean, invigorating scent. TBS also currently have 25% off online purchases with the code NEW25.

Travel. If you are off to seek some foreign Sun or prefer a 'staycation' to take advantage of all the excitement that is going on in England this Summer don't forget to pack some treats for your skin. I love the idea of this Montagne Jeunesse Travel Pamper Pack. This set contains 6 individually packaged treatments for skin, hair, body, feet and face for just £5 (here).

I hope that's all bases covered! Do tell me if I left anything out!

What products do you trust to prep your skin and make sure it stays beautiful and glowing throughout the Summer months? xxx

*PR Sample

FOTD: Lily Cole Shimmer Cubes

Getting ready in the mornings is always a pretty haphazard affair, but I love trying new products and aim to incorporate them into my morning routine. I spent last week playing around with The Body Shop's cruelty free collection by the gorgeous Lily Cole.

 

I absolutely love TBS's shimmer cubes as they always have a great selection of colours and are versatile as they can be used wet or dry. For this look I concentrated the bronze pink on the lid with a little of the dark burgundy on the outer corner and the light pink as a highlighter on the inner corners.

Sometimes you have to be careful with red based shades as they can make you look tired, but the shimmer in this pink really lifts it. I think it also makes my eyes look greener and somehow darker!

What do you guys think of Shimmer Cubes? Will you be picking up the latest installment from the Lily Cole cruelty free collection (£16 here)? xxx

Beautifying Oils from The Body Shop

Multi-purpose products are essential for Summer travels and a beauty oil is perhaps the best investment you can make. They can relieve dry skin and restore softness and shine to hair. They can make your whole body look lean, glossy and amazing while moisturising, nourishing and protecting. They can be used as a restorative conditioner or serum. They can be used in the bath or shower...

 

I am so excited to see that The Body Shop have now brought out their own range of 11 delicately scented/ flavoured Beautifying oils, and at just £6.75 for 100ml they are a great price for such a versatile product.

These oils contain up to 99.6% natural ingredients and are made with a lightweight blend of nut oils including Community Fair Trade marula oil, sweet almond oil and kukui nut oil giving instant hydration and a shimmering finish. The dry oil formula absorbs quickly without feeling greasy so it can be used alone or layered with your moisturiser. I like to double up on the same scent (the Moringa is shown above) by using the oil alongside the Body Butter (especially on legs) to make the fragrance last and ensure my skin is well hydrated.

Are you a fan of beauty oils? Have you tried any of The Body Shop's Beautifying oils? What are your favourite fragrances? xxx

Lily Cole Cruelty Free Collection for The Body Shop

The Body Shop's latest collaboration with Lily Cole has evolved into a limited edition cruelty free make up range celebrating their against animal testing ethos. The range is full of bright, springtime colours that make a statement, while being vegetarian and 100% cruelty free!

The collection includes a fantastic mix of face and skin products, as well as a mini brush set for cheeks, eyes and lips in a mirrored wallet.

Lily's favourite products are also my top pick from this collection. These cute little domes can be applied directly onto the skin to give an effortless subtle tint or flush to lips and cheeks.

Crazy for Coral is perfect to use on tanned skin, while Pinch Me Pink is flattering on any complexion. The colour is very subtle and easily blendable, perfect for on the go application over/ under makeup or on its own.

These Mini Hi-shine glosses are super sparkly and easy to throw in a bag. The colours are fairly sheer, so they can easily be used on their own or add a wet look to any bright lipstick.

The liquid liner in this collection is a rich violet with a hint of gold shimmer. As far as liquids go  this one is pretty simple to use as its felt tip applicator makes it easy to create a solid line. The purple is not as deep as others I have tried, but it's definitely a fun alternative to black, which is flattering on any eye colour.

I have always loved TBS's shimmer cubes and this combination of colours is absolutely gorgeous. 

I especially love pairing the deep, warm purple with the shimmery copper for an intense, yet radiant eye look.

The Pearl Radiance Primer in this collection is a great base to create a glowing complexion. Since this product has quite a bit of shimmer it does need to be used sparingly, especially on oily skin. Just one pump distributes the perfect amount of light-diffusing pearls!

Have you tried The Body Shop's strictly limited edition cruelty free makeup collection? What are your favourite products from the range? xxx

Go Cruelty Free with The Body Shop

Today a global pledge to ban animal testing for cosmetics will be launched at over 300 The Body Shop stores in the UK, and will roll out over the coming weeks at The Body Shop stores in 65 countries across the world! It is the largest and most ambitious campaign ever to seek a global ban on the use of animals to test cosmetics. The Body Shop customers in countries including the USA, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Mexico and Saudi Arabia will have the opportunity to sign a pledge in-store. 

Paul McGreevy, International Values and R&D Director of The Body Shop, said “The Body Shop believes passionately that no animal should be harmed due to the demands of governments and regulators around the world. We have a long commitment to this cause, and unfortunately many people believe this issue is resolved and it is not. We are very proud to support Cruelty Free International’s campaign to achieve a worldwide ban on animal testing and encourage everyone to sign their pledge in our stores!”

The Cruelty Free International pledge is currently available in all The Body Shop stores in the UK, and online at www.CrueltyFreeInternational.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CrueltyFreeIntl

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrueltyFreeInternational
For a full list of cruelty-free cosmetics please visit: http://www.gocrueltyfree.org/

Red Hot Love

I purchased this dress from Love a few weeks ago and despite the rain I knew I had to wear it for Saturday night cocktails. This dress is definitely all party in the front and business in the back ;). I paired it with a kimono-esque black wrap around belt to cinch in the waist, black tights and some leopard print booties.

Asymmetrical Maxi Dress - Love (£48 here), Belt - H&M, Boots - River Island.

Unfortunately the bf's photo taking skills have not improved. He has managed to shrink me from 5"10 to about 5"2 in all these photos and let's just say that the walking shots have ended up on the cutting room floor. Despite failing to capture any decent images, you can see that the flow of this dress is absolutely gorgeous. It really does move beautifully when you walk. Though you do have to be quite careful when sudden gusts of wind are around as the front is very short. To preserve my modesty I used a few small pins to secure the skirt in place. You could easily add a few stitches to hold the fabric together, or even add a small weight at the bottom of the skirt (apparently this is what the Queen has in all her clothes) to prevent it from flying up.

Having less than 10 minutes to freshen up my makeup I decided to add lashes (from Velour here) and a dark red lip to take my look from plain to dramatic. I used a combo of a few different reds - Burgundy NYX pencil, MAC's Russian Red lipstick and The Bodyshop's Love Gloss for Lips, which meant I didn't have to touch up through the night and the strong colour lasted through a number of cocktails!

What are your go-to looks on a Saturday night? What do you think of asymmetric dresses? Have you ever purchased anything from In Love with Fashion? From the 4th of May they are having a special sale if you guys are interested in checking them out... 

On the 6th of May you can also use code BANKHOLIDAYTREAT25 at checkout on orders over £40 to get 25% off your order :). Happy shopping! xxx

The Body Shop Body Butters

My favourite The Body Shop Body Butters have been given a fresh new lease of life to look as delicious as their contents in sleeker, 100% recyclable packaging.

With 13 amazing flavours now making up the range we really are spoiled for choice! All of the butters smell good enough to eat and really work hard to nourish and hydrate the skin leaving it soft and smooth.

My favourites are the Cocoa Butter, Mango and Chocomania (currently half price for £6.25 here). Yummy! You can find these on sale in your local The Body Shop and online here from £5 a pop.

Have you tried TBS's Body Butters? What are your favourite flavours? xxx

MATH Collective

If you follow me on twitter you would have probably seen my very sulky tweets while being stuck at home with the flu this weekend. I was so gutted to be missing out on everything going on at LFW! Though at least I was able to live vicariously through everyone's posts while shivering under a blanket on the sofa lol. Luckily all was not lost as the lovely people from The Body Shop managed to organise a couple of tickets for me to attend the Math Collective show on Tuesday night once I felt better. Since The Body Shop were the official makeup sponsors of VFS I was able to get a fantastic look backstage beforehand too!

Inkeeping with the majority of the looks this season the makeup was kept really fresh, young and dewy. The look was inspired by long walks in the woods with clear skin, flushed cheeks and a beautiful, healthy glow.

 The products used to create this look were: 

-Vitamin E cream, £10 (on sale for £4.50)
-Moisture foundation, £13
-Radiant highlighter all over, £11
- Bake-to-Last Blush in Petal, £12
-Brows brushed up with Brow & Lash Gel, £10
-Light application of Define & Lengthen Mascara, £10
-Matte & Shimmer cheek colour, lightest one on eyelid.
- Highlight with Baked-to-Last Eye in Moonstone on brow bone and top of cheeks, £10
- Lips stained with Lip & Cheek Stain, £5
- Finished with a spritz of Vitamin E Mist, £7

The MATH collective is designed by the lovely Shahzad Mohayudin, who has also recently created a fashion line for ASOS. Shahzad comes from a graphic design background and this was definitely evident in the cut and colour placement of the pieces, with blocks of reds mixed with neutrals and inventive, angular skirt hems. Inspired by his hometown of London Shahzad's urban ready-to-wear collection featured an innovative mix fabrics and textures.

The Math Collection was incredibly innovative, yet absolutely wearable. I especially loved the pencil skirts and tweed-esque jackets! The makeup and hair accentuated the clothes beautifully and really helped to set the tone for the whole show. I had such a wonderful time and am so happy that I was able to attend and sample at least a little bit of LFW this season!

For more information about VFS and some behind the scenes footage, ‘get-the-look’ features and an interview with Lan Nguyen outlining what make-up trends are set to be big for AW12 please check out the video below.

 

What do you guys think of the fresh makeup on the catwalks this season? Do you like the pieces featured in the MATH Collective show? Do you have any favourites? xxx