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

*Giveaway* In Love with Fashion

You may have noticed my recent love affair with Love's gorgeous floaty dresses so I am really excited to announce that I will be giving away your choice of dress from their website to one lucky reader!!

 Left: Rainbow stripe flower print asymmetrical shirt dress (£40 here)

Right: Aubergine asymmetrical maxi dress (£48 here).

All you have to do to enter the competition is:

• Have a UK address
• 'Like' Love on Facebook here
• Follow this blog
• Leave a comment with your choice of dress and e-mail address.

The competition begins now and ends at midnight on Tuesday the 12th of June.

I am also currently lusting after...

 Dusky Jersey cut out dress (£34 here)

Aqua chiffon cross back dress (£36 here)

Petrol long sleeve wrap dress (£32 here)

Good luck my lovelies!! Remember you can pick any dress from their website in your choice of size so get browsing! xxx

Summer Essential: Micro Pedi

After months of hiding my feet beneath opaque black tights I was a little apprehensive at donning my flip flops! As I had no time to book a pedicure I decided to got it alone with the Micro Pedi. This is a nifty little tool that essentially works just like a sander. The roller spins 360 degrees, 30 times per second buffing away dry skin from the soles and heels.

The Micro Pedi comes with two rollers (coarse and extra course) and needs two AA batteries to start buzzing. Although it does make a little bit of a worrying sound it is perfectly safe to use. If you push too hard on any area of the skin the roller slows down, or even stops, to make sure that you don't over exfoliate any areas. 

I am not a fan of feet... and I am ashamed to admit that because of my incredibly high arches and the fact that my size 5 feet have to support a 5"10 inch frame with a fondness of heels I usually get very dry and unsightly skin on my heels and the soles of my feet. This tool really is incredible at removing any scabby areas in minutes with minimal effort and no pain. There is no scraping, grating or buffing. All you have to do is hold the roller on the area for a few seconds to reveal the smooth skin underneath.

I think this tool is an absolute summer essential as it works so much better than any other gadgets I have used and will save me a lot of money on pedicures. The Micro Pedi is available from Boots for £39.99 here.

Have you tried the Micro Pedi? What did you think of it? xxx

OOTD: Crochet

This weekend was absolutely beautiful, so the bf and I took full advantage of the stunning weather - walks around the park, frozen yoghurt, seafood and crepes in the sunshine. We couldn't ask for anything more!

Dress: Topshop (£40 here), Belt: Reiss, Bag: Mulberry, Flip Flops: Ted Baker (£35 here), Sunglasses: Fiorelli (similar £15 here).

I bought this dress a few months ago, but this weekend was the first time I have had a chance to show it off. It's such an easy shirt dress to wear and perfect for the hot weather with it's deep cut out back and floaty skirt. Though the top is pretty much see through I decided to pair it with a coral strapless bra to add a bit of colour contrast to the mint belt and handbag.

Do you have any new purchases hiding in your wardrobe waiting for the sun? What pieces will you be investing in this season? I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and are surviving this incredible heat wave! xxx

Babyliss Boutique

A hair dryer is hardly the most exciting gadget and definitely comes at the bottom of my hair tools arsenal. I am not a blow dry maestro, usually preferring my Babyliss Big Hair to do all the hard work, so my hair dryer is rarely used for more than blasting my hair dry.

Well that has all changed since I was given the new Babyliss Boutique Italian hair dryer to try! As Will.i.am would say this hair dryer is the bomb.com. It is the most powerful tool I have used, definitely rivaling that of salons. I used to absolutely loathe drying my hair - it's long and there is quite a lot of it (not complaining), so drying it was always a lengthy and pretty boring chore. This hair dryer has actually cut my drying time in half and I couldn't be more grateful.

The Babyliss Boutique dryer has 3 heat and 2 speed settings, ionic technology for smoothness and shine and a super slim concentrator nozzle, which really helps to dry, smooth and control the hair. Over the last few weeks I have noticed that my hair not only dries quicker with this hair dryer, but even during rough drying it is smoother and it stays fuller for longer without going flat or frizzy.

bou

I never thought that I would wax lyrical about a hair dryer, but I highly recommend the new Babyliss Boutique AC Dryer 2400W! Currently it is only stocked in Argos, retailing at £74.99 here.

Have you tried any tools from the Babyliss Boutique range? Do you have a favourite hair dryer? How long do you spend drying your hair? xxx

OOTD: Galaxy

Wrap dresses are so comfortable and flattering, but I somehow always overlook them when I am shopping as they can appear a little lackluster on the hanger. However, when I spotted this Forever Unique number on the ASOS website I was so enchanted by the galaxy print I ordered it straight away!

 Dress: Forever Unique (On sale from £110 to £65 here).

Apologies for the rubbish photos! We were heading out and the hotel only had horrid fluorescent lights. You can get a better idea of the colour below...

What do you guys think of wrap dresses? Are you a fan of the Forever Unique brand?

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

*Winners* John Frieda Salon Blends Giveaway

Thank you so much to all my lovely readers for entering my latest John Frieda Giveaway. The five lucky winners are:

• Dark Caramel Blonde - Chrissie Miss.Chris@aol.co.uk
• Dark Cool Pearl Blonde - MindyandRoo mindyandroo@googlemail.com
• Light Bronze Brown - Azra Ionlyponder@hotmail.com
• Light Amber Brown - Annabel - babybel_90@hotmail.com
• Lightest Cool Almond Brown - xoannie xoannie09@gmail.com

Congratulations my lovelies! Please e-mail me your details so I can arrange for your prizes to be sent to you ASAP.

The next competition is coming up in just a few days so if you didn't win this time you don't have long to wait till the next one... ;) 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/

MUA Peach Shimmer

Beauty on a budget has never been easier with MUA's fantastic range of products. I am currently obsessed with the MUA Out There plumping lipgloss in Peach Shimmer, which retails at just £2 here.

Peach Shimmer is a gorgeous bright pink with a subtle gold irridescence that makes it appear warmer. This lip gloss is pigmented and glossy without being sticky. The plumping component does mean your lips will experience the usual 'burn' associated with plumping products, but luckily it is not as strong as others on the market.

Have you tried any MUA lip glosses? Which are your favourite shades? Are you a fan of plumping lip products? xxx

FOTD: 10 Mins Going Out Makeup

When in a rush I usually go for fail safe combo of bright lips and neutral eyes. This whole look took about 10 minutes, which I think is pretty speedy... though I have no doubt the bf would disagree ;).

With my amazing new Boudoir lashes (review coming soon) all I had to do was add a flick of L'Oreal carbon gloss eyeliner and a tiny amount of MAC's Phloof in the inner corners to open up my eyes.

I then used a small amount of MUA's Hot Lips lip balm on my cheeks (multi tasking) and mixed a red Eyeko lipstick with MAC's cool toned gladiola to create a statement. I find that mixing colours and layering up different textures of lip products ensures that your colour stays put all night!

What are you fail safe makeup choices? What products do you rely on to get ready in a hurry? xxx

OOTD: Symmetric Florals

Zara is pretty amazing this season. I have practically banned myself from going in as I always leave with something. I just can't help myself! Sometimes I can be indecisive, but having eyed this dress (£49.99 here) on the rail on three separate visits I decided that it had to be mine.

Although I absolutely love the pattern and the bright colours of this dress, the cut is not super flattering if you are a little bit top heavy. The deep cut outs can really broaden the shoulders, so you have to be careful with your proportions.

I decided to play up the green accents in the dress, while working the pastels trend with a pair of pistachio heels from Roberto Cavalli (purchased in the US for a ridiculously discounted price).

Please excuse my pale post winter legs!

I have been on the search for the perfect Summer leather jacket for months and this buttery soft All Saints Carmine waterfall jacket (£350 here) is just perfect. With fabric inserts in the sleeves, a fitted cut and unique button detailing there is nothing I don't like about this jacket... except perhaps the price!

Have you picked up any cute pieces in Zara recently? xxx

Work It Out: Belgravia

My new favourite online dress retailer is The Pretty Dress Company. Their dresses are exquistitely feminine and classic making them the perfect choice for flattering work attire, as well as classy evening wear. My most recent purchase is the Belgravia dress in Navy (£89 here).

The stretchy material is super comfortable and I absolutely adore the peplum detailing, fishtail hem and the over exaggerated bow on the back. One thing I would say is a necessity when wearing this dress though is killer heels! I usually pair mine with either nude or navy.

Have you ever purchased anything from The Pretty Dress Company? What are your favourite styles? I can't decide on my next order as I am in love with the all!!! xxx