Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar

With 2017 being the year of me saying "Treat Yo Self" I splashed out in October to get a Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar. At £175 it is one of the high-end options for an advent calendar, but with the value of the contents being over £500 it is a saving overall, especially with fifteen of the products being full-size. I love the design of the packaging with the drawing of a snowy Liberty and then the inside is Liberty print with metallic numbers for the days. I might even refill it next year with my own goodies! 



The calendar contains: 


Aveda Volumising Tonic, Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant, Hourglass Lip Stylo Influencer, Margaret Dabbs Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum and .


Espa Pink Hair & Scalp Mud, Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturiser, Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Rollerball, Skin Laundry Purifying Cream Cleanser, and Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Amethyst.



Liberty London Small Washbag in Strawberry Thief, NARS Orgasm Blush, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Eve Lom Cleanser and Blink Brow Oil.



QMS Activator Mini Travel Mask, Surratt Smokey Eye Baton in Enticelle, Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil, Davines Oi Shampoo and Dr Sebagh Serum Repair.



Byredo Hand Cream Bal D'Afrique, Trish McEvoy Liquid Lip Gloss in Power Red, Votary Cleansing Oil, Diptyque Pomander Candle and Le Labo The Noir Eau de Parfum.

There are some brands I haven't heard of before as well as some brands I know and love, so I'm excited to try them all out. The products I'm most looking forward to trying are the Hourglass Lip Stylo, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and Omorovicza Moor Cream Cleanser. If Lisa Potter-Dixon and Caroline Hirons think some of the products are amazing than I can't wait to try them! Let me know if you got one of these calendars or if you have tried any of these products out!

Sally's Origins Glow Gala!

Sally Morgan-Moore hosted a Glow Gala event for Bloggers as she is one of the Origin Glow Guides. The event was for her blogging pals and Smashbox showing us how to complete our look with their foundations and beautiful lipsticks. We were greeted with mince pies, prosecco and friendly faces.



I started off with a fabulous mini facial using; Dr. Andrew Weil Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Micellar Cleanser, Modern Friction cleanser, Drink Up 10 minute mask, Make a Difference+ Rejuvenating Lotion, Eye Doctor eye cream and the Ginzing Ultra-Hydrating Energy Boosting cream moisturiser. The thing I love about going to the Origins flagship store in Cambridge is that I can try out different products depending how my skin feels, giving me the chance to see what my routine can change with the changing weather.


I followed my facial with checking out Smashbox's makeup with the lovely Ricky. He used the Camera Ready BB Water SPF30 and finished it off with the Draw In. Decked Out. Be Legendary Lipstick Palette. We used a nude shade and the highlighted the centre with a bright orange which if you'd have seen it in the palette you would have thought it would be too bright but blended with a nude colour it made the perfect ombré lip.

Keep an eye out for any more events from Sally!

Sally's Instagram: @sallymorganmoore

https://www.instagram.com/sallymorganmoore/

Festive Blooms with Bloom and Wild

I'm a true believer that fresh flowers can make you feel cosy and house-proud, in fact I miss being home to admire them when I'm out of the house!  I recently became an ambassador for Bloom and Wild who are a fabulous team that create beautiful bouquets that are posted through your letterbox so there is no waiting around for a postman! They always pick seasonally and change up the designs - the bunch I picked up this month was the limited edition Festive Charm bouquet in collaboration with Nikki Tibbles; who is one of the most celebrated British florists, with a shop in Liberty and commissions by Chanel, Dior and Kensington Palace.

An eclectic offering bursting with colour and delicious fragrance, Festive Charm is a warming arrangement of 'All For Love' roses in pink and ombré together with delicate skimmia and golden eucalyptus for a little spritz of magic. The eucalyptus symbolises good fortune and health, making this the ideal gift during the festive season months.

I'm obsessed with how vivid the colour of the roses are in this bouquet which change over time contrasting with the golden eucalyptus and pine. The mix of wild flowers with bold roses just works to create a really extravagant look which is the thing I love about Bloom and Wild. Whats even better is that by using my link you can get 20% off your order! http://bit.ly/LucyRBloomandWild

Lush Christmas Sweater Bath Bomb

Its that time of year again when Lush brings out all the goodies for Christmas. The first one I was instantly attracted to was the Christmas Sweater Bath Bomb. Mainly this appealed to me due to the design of the two reindeers that just so happens to match my all time favourite Christmas jumper. 

The scent of this bath bomb is super cosy and gives a Hygge vibes. It contains Sicilian lemon oil which is good for uplifting and cleansing, mustard and ginger powders which has a stimulating and astringent effect that will ease muscles and warm you up, Coriander seed oil  gives a deodorising and stimulating effect while clove bud oils are a spicy, warming and stimulating herb and can boost circulation.



Its a slow fizzer so perfect for those cosy bath times with lit candles or a warm drink. I can't really describe what scent it is other than feels very festive and warming. It also made a very pretty red and orange bath that gets you in the festive spirit.



What is your favourite Christmas Lush product? Let me know in the comments what I should try next! xox

My Beauty Christmas Wish List

Following on from last weeks blog post I thought I would do another post on my top beauty picks that are on my Christmas wish list. I think that Christmas beauty gifts can sometimes be the best valued way to buy new bits to try, so when I receive beauty sets I am a very happy bunny.



The first thing that caught my eye was this Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic 'The Wild One' Eyeshadow Palette Set (£79.99). The week before I had my makeup done at the Marc Jacobs counter in John Lewis Cambridge thanks to Influenster and I fell in love with their eyeshadows. I have never had my eyeshadow stay as long without a single crease as I did with these in combination with the Marc Jacobs Under(Cover) Perfecting Coconut Eye Primer. I think the colours are really fun in this palette and good for this party season.

  

The second thing I picked up Marc Jacobs 'Cats Meow' Mini Le Marc Lip Crème Collection (£37). I thought this was a really cute set of mini lipsticks that comes with a sparkly leopard print bag with a big tassel, which you could use as a makeup bag or even as a party clutch bag. It has a good selection of shades from nudes to reds, and they're perfectly handbag sized for everyday or party.



The third thing I picked up was the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette, Smokey Eye (£49), which is currently a John Lewis exclusive. You can also get some of the Charlotte Tilbury products personalised in store at John Lewis, which adds that personal touch as a Christmas gift. This is good for people who need to get ready on the go or like to have a minimal makeup collection this palette is perfect; having 3 eyeshadows, bronzer, 2 blushers and the Gold Bar highlighter all in one is a dream. 

The fourth thing I chose was the Bobbi Brown Luxe Classics Mini Lip Makeup Gift Set (£99), exclusive to John Lewis. I was really drawn in by how beautifully it was packaged and would look so pretty under the tree. The shades in the set are Bellini, Uber Beige, Bond, Bahama Brown, Uber Rose, Tahiti Pink, Flame, Plum Brandy, Red Velvet and Imperial Red. They are described as mini lipsticks but I think they would still last a good length of time. Again good shade ranges of nudes, pinks and reds so a lippy for every occasion!



I realise this post is very lip product heavy but I had to include this Fresh 'Pretty In Pink' Lip Trio Gift Set (£24) from Fresh Beauty because it my all time favourite lip products for everyday; especially having SPF 15. These are the most pigmented lip products I've tried as a buttery balmy textured product as well as the most comfortable to wear. If you haven't tried out the brand they've got some beautiful gift sets which are great to either try out the lip sugars or their skincare.



Finally the last beauty set I picked is from Philosophy and its their Philosophy Pure Grace Body And Fragrance Gift Set they bring out in the winter which is exclusive to John Lewis. I found out about this product because we had the body lotion in our staff locker room and I have become obsessed with its scent. The scent is really clean and fresh, the fragrance lasts ages on your skin compared to other fragrances body lotions I have tried. This could be a very unisex fragrance as its isn't too floral or sweet, described as A clean 'just showered' scent with bergamot, water lily, and lavender surrounded by a hint of jasmine and sensual musk. Really big sizes of products for a gift set so worth the money!

My Christmas Wish List

It’s that time of year again when people start asking what you want for Christmas, so I thought I would compile some of the gifts that I would like to find under the tree this year.



The first thing that I picked out was this little guy called Moz, you may have seen him in the John Lewis Christmas advert this year with his friend Joe. This loveable monster is so soft and a hit for both children and kids by heart. I opted for the Moz slippers to keep me warm on the colder days at home. While we’re on the subject of Moz I also picked up an edible Moz made by the lovely people at Magic Candy Factory who used a 3D printer to print me a picture of him made of blackcurrant gummy sweet. They have so many flavours to choose from and you can have your selfie transformed into gummy sweets and made into a card or into a baubles. With purchases of any of the Moz merchandise John Lewis also donates 10% to charity. The Moz mug is also a sweet way to bring him into your life.


The next thing I added to my wish list is the Winter Spice Gel Candle. The scent of this candle is perfect for the festive season and comes in all sorts of sizes and varieties from tea lights to large gel candles, I personally like the gel candles because they look more expensive but are reasonably priced for the amount of burn time. Perfect for stocking fillers or secret Santa gifts.

















The third thing I put on my wish list was one that I usually wouldn't go for but I thought even for the novelty factor it was worth showing off. Unicorn Tears Gin Liquor has to be one of the most random of the good gift things I have seen but it is so majestic to just look at and I'm sure just as good to drink! I would imagine this would look beautiful on a bar cart or perfect for any gin loving secret Santa gifts.




If you have been reading my blog for a while you may see that I'm a bit obsessed with Estella Bartlett jewellery so when I saw they had brought out this little snowflake necklace I had to put it on here. I think the necklaces and bracelets are very well priced and well packaged so perfect for gifting.



This year John Lewis has also got pop-up stores of The Handmade Christmas Co making personalised items from baubles to wrapping paper making Christmas have that personal touch. This is also perfect for those people who have names that aren't always available on ornaments usually. The pop-ups are only in a few branches; Cambridge and Oxford Street being some of them.



John Lewis Cambridge have also had the new addition of stocking Kate Spade Handbags and Purses. My personal favourite is the Kate Spade New York Cameron Street Purse in Rose Gold mainly due to the colour but it also has a lot of good card spaces which is key for the amount of loyalty cards I own. It is more on the high end price range but good if you were looking for an extravagant gift or new to Kate Spade as a brand.

Check out my blog next week to see my Beauty Christmas Wish List! What’s on your Christmas list?

Bramley Bath and Body Products

I had first tried Bramley products when I stayed at the Brighton Artist Residence, and I don't think I've ever been so impressed with hotel toiletries. A while after I stayed I came across them on Instagram and when I saw I could buy them just had to place an order.



Bramley Products do not contain harmful or unethical ingredients such as petrochemicals, sulphates, artificial colours, artificial fragrances, parabens, microbeads, silicones, propylene glycol or phthalates.They produce their products in small batches so that there is little wastage and freshness and quality are optimised. All the essential oils used are fair trade, wild crafted, grown sustainably and sourced carefully with integrity. The base ingredients are naturally derived from raw items such as sugar and coconut and the wax comes from soya. They are a British company and the Bramley range is manufactured in the British countryside, which was the source of the inspiration behind the brand.

I ordered the Mini Starter Set which contains 5 x 50mls: Shampoo with Lemon, Mandarin and Rosemary; Conditioner with Lemon, Mandarin and Rosemary; Body Wash with Grapefruit, Lavender and Sweet Orange; Bubble Bath with Geranium, Lavender and Sweet Orange and Body Lotion with Juniper, Sweet Orange and Bergamont. This is a really good set for trying out the brand if you haven't encountered them before and they're a good size for travelling. The products have a floral and fresh smell with a hint of fruity notes from the high amount of essential oils in the them.

Bramley recently launched Baths Salts with Lavender Flowers, Geranium and Spearmint which I'm very curious about trying as I'm more of a bath person than a shower person so I think it would be the perfect wind-down product after coming in from a busy day. They also do Bath/Shower/Body Oils which I think make shower or bath time feel more luxurious, as well as being nice on your skin. The oils come in a Soothing blend of Chamomile, Lavender and Geranium and an Uplifting Blend of  Lemongrass, Spearmint and Coriander.

What are your go to bath and shower essentials? Let me know if you have also tried any of these products out.

Tanya Burr Selfie Story Collection

If you've been reading my blog for a while you may have noticed I'm quite a fan of Tanya Burr Cosmetics. So when I saw she was releasing a new collection of products she hasn't done before I had to place an order. I ordered the Tanya Burr Selfie Story Sculpt Eyebrow Pencil in Medium and the Tanya Burr Selfie Story Lash Mascara.



I had been on a look out for some more budget makeup and at £7.99 for the mascara and £6.49, I think they're very budget friendly. After receiving the products I have actually been using them most days because they're so easy to wear and put on quickly to get ready for work. The mascara wand is flexible plastic so it's good for wiggling in between your lashes and with it being layered, it does well at catching the smaller lashes without being clumpy. I didn't find it transferred or smudged over the day but did remove easily at the end of the day.



I get my eyebrows waxed and tinted fairly regularly so they don't need lots of work done to them - I just like to fill them in a touch or use a fibre gel. I found the colour of the pencil was perfect for me it's the perfect medium brow shade and I feel like this will possibly be the most popular shade. It glides on super easily and blends out nicely with the spoolie brush on the other end. If I want a bolder brow look I will top this off with my Glossier Boy Brow just to add some volume.

Chocolate Afternoon Tea at The Tamburlaine Cambridge

After attending the launch for The Tamburlaine back in April it has been on my radar as somewhere in Cambridge I would take any excuse to visit, so when I saw they had a Chocolate Afternoon Tea for National Chocolate week I knew I had to book.



The Afternoon Tea is set in the Garden Room with ornate Victorian wallpaper and gorgeous silk velvet sofas creating the perfect setting for an afternoon tea. I just want to live in this hotel because the décor is so beautiful and their use of velvet and marble furnishings, as well as lush green foliage and detailed wallpapers, create a blogger/instagrammers paradise.



We started with cucumber, ham, egg and smoked salmon sandwiches. Then, as well as the traditional fruit scones with clotted cream and jam, the scones had a chocolaty twist with a home made chocolate spread to use on them. Next came the mass of chocolate goodness; pistachio and chocolate macaroons, chocolate orange tart, white and dark chocolate truffles, meringue nests topped with a chocolate hazelnut and chocolate brownies topped with ganache. Chocolate heaven!



Finally, after almost lapsing into a chocolate food coma, we were treated to glass of hot chocolate which after so much chocolate I was unsure I could manage but it was the best hot chocolate I have had in a long time! I think I would definitely go back even just to have a hot chocolate! It's always a hard goodbye leaving The Tamburlaine because I just want to move in there!

Glossier Comes To The UK!👋🙂

You may have noticed a massive craze over Glossier launching in the UK last week unless you have been living under a rock. I had heard about the brand from bloggers such as I Covet Thee and HelloOctober a few months ago, so as a brand they were on my radar. When I saw that they now ship in the UK from a UK warehouse (so you can avoid the long shipping wait and extra charges, which is brilliant), I just had to place an order.



I found it hard to decide what to pick up but I went for the Phase 2 set, which saved me £8 rather than buying them separately; this set included the Boy Brow in Brown, Stretch Concealer in Light and Generation G in Crush. I also picked up Perfecting Skin Tint in the Light shade. With my order I also received some cool stickers including a scratch-and-sniff sticker of their new fragrance launching soon, as well as the classic pink pouch with my products, a sample of the new perfume and a sample of the Milky Jelly Cleanser.



So far I have tried out all but the perfume and I must say I am seriously impressed. I've used the Stretch Concealer the most out of my purchases; as someone who doesn't wear foundation on a daily basis, this has worked so well at covering areas that I feel need a little help and also under my eyes. I can get a really nice natural base just by applying a small amount of the concealer and setting it with a touch of translucent powder. I also think my Boy Brow is a serious rival for my Gimme Brow by Benefit. Both products are really comfortable to wear and this doesn't feel heavy which I really like. The Perfecting Skin Tint was also such a nice way to do a quick base. It is really dewy and just a very sheer coverage to even out your skin, for me it took down the slight redness I have in my cheeks which was great. I wore all three of the products out to an afternoon tea at The Tamburlaine and it took me very little time to get ready because of the ease of blending with these products. I also used my sample of the milky jelly cleanser and it reminds me of Fresh Soy Cleanser in the fragrance but it does a really good job of cleansing your skin without it feeling dry or tight afterwards.



I bought my products through a rep link which meant that I got 20% off my order and they had an offer too on so my shipping was free. You can also use my link to get 10% off: https://t.co/XiNjW12zkI

*Using my link you get 10% off and I get credit to spend on Glossier so the more you shop the more I can shop! ;)

Tanya Burr Chasing the Sun Collection

Tanya Burr has just launched her new collection of beauty goodies and I just had to get my hands on them to try them out! The new collection consists of two contour sticks, three illuminating powders and 3 scented lip balms.



I picked up the Contour Stick in Light* and the Illuminating Powder in Champagne Sorbet*. I was really excited for this launch because she hasn't done products like this before and I just had to try them out.



The contour stick is a really good colour for fair skin because its not orangey or too dark. If you are wanting a much stronger contour I would go for the darker shade or the two because its a more natural bronze. Its really creamy and super blendable without moving the rest of your base. Its very good quality for the price of only £6.99.



The illuminating powder I picked up was Champagne Sorbet which was a hard choice because the other two were just as stunning. The texture is super soft and blends really nicely. This would work really nicely to highlight your inner corner of your eyes as well. Its a very glowing highlighter, a nice balance between skimmer and natural glow. Again its super pigmented so you don't have to keep dipping back into the pan for more. Certainly the best powder highlighter I've tried for its price at £7.49.

The full collection is available now from both Superdrug and FeelUnique. *Affiliate Links