Thursday, October 31, 2013

Review // Philosophy Pumpkin Pie Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath


When my my mum delivered my box of Halloween decorations at the beginning of October I was overjoyed to discover a supersize bottle of Philosophy's Pumpkin Pie. When I first went to the US many years ago I went completely nuts for Philosophy's shower gel range and weighed my case down heavily with bottles of the stuff completely sucked in to their scents and seasonal ranges.

Both a negative and positive to these products is their longevity. I swear no matter how frequently I use the bottles do not go down. The only reason I appear to have used so much of this bottle is because I decanted some for my mum and a friend. They really do last forever (or it feels that way!).

Philosophy sells these bottles as shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath but I find they work best as a shower gel. I did use in as a bubble bath the other night and it works but there's not enough bubbles for me. As a shampoo it's basic and I use it if I'm having an evening bath and just want to freshen my hair up or I'm just spending the day at home, definitely not something I'd use on a daily basis. 

As a shower gel it's the best. Thick, creamy and smells amazing. This lends itself to a cinnamon scent but I can't help but just want to describe it as Autumnal and quite frankly perfect.

I haven't seen much about Philosophy products from beauty bloggers so I'd love to hear if there are any other fans out there. For now all that's left to do is wish you a Happy Halloween and ask what trick or treat plans you have.

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Heather Bullard's Pumpkin Cookies


I discovered Heather Bullard's Pumpkin Cookie recipe many years ago and have been making it ever since. It's one of those simple recipes using a few ingredients most of which you find in the store cupboard and perfect for using up all that pumpkin leftover from your carvings.

These delicious cookies are more of a soft cake texture I find and the perfect Autumnal treat. Maybe you could knock up a batch tonight to gift trick or treaters tomorrow? I know that work appreciated the batch I took into work yesterday.

Let me know if you give them a try.

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

In Flight Skincare Kit from Heaven Skincare




In the past I have always been lax with my skincare regime on flights but thanks to the Heaven Luxurious Flight Bag* there was no chance my skin would pay for my 10 hour flight to Vegas.

Unfortunately the clear bag which contained the kit didn't make the flight as my over zealous filling with some extra products broke the zip but luckily I was armed with Marks & Spencer Clear Cosmetic Bag Set to save the day.

The kit contains Hydo Cleansing Milk which seals the skin against moisture loss. I only had to use this sparingly as I was make up free on my outbound flight but it came in handy on the return when I was still sporting the days make up.

Throughout the flight and during my stay (using as a toner) I used the Peppermint Clarifying Lotion which prevents drying out of the skin and even better guards against coughs and colds in the atmosphere - I think this is the first long haul flight I have returned from without a cold.

I'm pretty diligent with hand cream and none more so than during a flight. My hands are the one area of my body I can immediately notice and feel when they are becoming dry and the Vanilla Pod Hand and Nail Cream was a staple during the flight and in my handbag during my time in Las Vegas. This is one product I will definitely be repurchasing, especially for winter. A thicker hand cream than I've used before yet not too greasy that it won't pass my 'can I pick up a mug without it slipping through my hands' test. I think it's very likely you'll be seeing this in my empties post this month as well as the Bee Venom Mask. Ideal for hydration I slavered this cream on happily during my flight every couple of hours to fight the drying effects of cabin air and it certainly did the trick and was used as my night cream.

Finally was Heaven Scent a spray to assist with the fear of flying due to is aphrodisiac properties release happy thoughts in the brain. I can't vouch for it's claims as I'm not a fearful flyer and it was the product I used least.

The Heaven Flight Kit is not cheap at £73 and I don't know if I would be so extravagant to repurchase it, but I'd certainly buy the clarifying lotion and hand cream again. The only negative with this kit was the poor quality cosmetic bag and whilst the glass bottles added to the luxurious nature of the kit I didn't think they were necessarily the best choice for travel. Luckily I didn't have any problems but they certainly weighed down my hand luggage.

I also added a few essentials of my own; Sure deodorant for obvious reasons, Hydraluron a must when you need to lock in moisture, Blistex Lip Brilliant* as I can bear dry lips and this adds a nice pink tint, Soap & Glory Hand Maid Hand Cleansing Gel and Blink Eye drops a must for a contact lense wearer

I have to say this is the first time I have returned from a trip without my skin showing the effects of travel and I will definitely make sure I take such care next time I'm lucky enough to fly abroad.

I'd love to hear your travel essentials or if you wouldn't dream of slathering on a face cream during a flight.

*PR sample

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Monday, October 28, 2013

Book Review | Killer Queens by Rebecca Chance


I brought Killer Queens by Rebecca Chance at the airport before my flight to Vegas yet didn't pick it up once which isn't surprising if you checked out my post on the inflight entertainment here along with all the sights of Las Vegas I'm yet to post about.

Last week was a bit of a struggle with jetlag so I only managed a few chapters of this book but I can tell its another one meant for me and can't wait to delve in properly this week. Already I'm picking out who the characters are (loosely) based on, yes there's the Princess Diana figure, a Prince Harry and Prince Charles. 

Here's what the synopsis says:

Every little girl grows up dreaming of marrying a prince - but what if the fairy tale turns into a right royal nightmare? Scheming kings, killer queens, evil princes, far-from innocent princesses, secret weddings, runaway brides, illicit affairs, death plots and lashings of steamy sex - it's just another day in the lives of the world's most powerful families. Find out what REALLY goes on behind closed palace doors…

Does this sound like one for you?

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Week 44 // What I'm Reading: Killer Queens


I brought Killer Queens by Rebecca Chance at the airport before my flight to Vegas yet didn't pick it up once which isn't surprising if you checked out my post on the inflight entertainment here along with all the sights of Las Vegas I'm yet to post about.

Last week was a bit of a struggle with jetlag so I only managed a few chapters of this book but I can tell its another one meant for me and can't wait to delve in properly this week. Already I'm picking out who the characters are (loosely) based on, yes there's the Princess Diana figure, a Prince Harry and Prince Charles. 

Here's what the synopsis says:

Every little girl grows up dreaming of marrying a prince - but what if the fairy tale turns into a right royal nightmare? Scheming kings, killer queens, evil princes, far-from innocent princesses, secret weddings, runaway brides, illicit affairs, death plots and lashings of steamy sex - it's just another day in the lives of the world's most powerful families. Find out what REALLY goes on behind closed palace doors…

Does this sound like one for you?

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Friday, October 25, 2013

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub Review

Lush Lip Scrub | Popcorn
Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub was the first product I purchased from Lush many months ago after seeing it appear in numerous Tumblr and Instagram posts and now it's a staple I couldn't do without.

I wear a lot of red lipstick which is not complimented by dry and flaking lips and no matter how much lipbalm I applied it wasn't until I started using the Lip Scrub that my lips were flake free.

Of course it helps that this scrub comes in such great edible flavours. This smells like popcorn and has a caramel type of taste - it's sweet and good either way. It's a little messy to use so I reserve this for evening use unless I have a particular night out when I want to great the perfect surface for my lips.

It's quick and simple to use, pop some on your lips, give a little rub and then lick or wipe off. Some people apply a balm first but I use my after.

For Christmas they have released a cola flavoured Santa's Lip Scrub which is top of my wish list and I can't wait to try - what about you, are you a fan of this product or do you have an alternative you use that I should hear about.

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

In Flight Entertainment // Movies


Before any flight as soon as the month of travel arrives I'm on the airlines website to see what the current months movies are and start planning my time onboard. My flight experiences vary depending on general mood, who I'm travelling with, seat etc (for example during last years flight to Florida I spent an hour staring at the back of my nephew's head as he sat on my lap watching a film!).

Despite little sleep, an early start and the knowledge that when I arrived in Las Vegas it would be very late UK time I didn't manage to sleep much on the plane only gaining a few hours but this did mean I was able to work my way through 3 films all of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

World War Z was the film I started with. I wasn't sure what to expect and when the action started during the first few minutes I was impressed and then slightly concerned when zombies appeared but it managed to retain credibility and not turn into some farcical horror movie. I recommended it to my mum but she wasn't impressed so let me know if you've seen it and what you thought.

White House Down was only ever going to impress when Channing Tatum was running around in nothing but a white vest but again this was another film I enjoyed. It reminded me of the original Die Hard style films, action with humour and yes far fetched on occasion, the type of film my dad would roll his eyes at but just the sort of film to lose yourself in.

Hangover 3 didn't receive the best reviews and admittedly I wasn't as impressed with the second film but when you're on a flight to Vegas you have to watch the film featuring Caesars Palace the hotel you're staying in. Was it great, not really but worth killing a couple of hours during the final restless leg of my flight.

On the return flight I chose to watch The Way Way Back. This was a film that I'd seen a trailer of some weeks before and as a fan of Alison Janney wanted to watch and wasn't disappointed. Not my usual film but one of those wildcard films you watch just because and end up enjoying.

As I was on a night flight and in a seat which enabled me to put my feet up I was able to sleep much of the way home. I did put on The Intern with Vince Vaughan & Owen Wilson in the final hours but unfortunately didn't get to see the end. The film was ok so I'll wait for it to appear on Sky to catch the end rather than rush out to rent or buy a copy.

Have you seen any of the films, let me know what you thought of them and I promise I will be back to normal blogging next week once I can get some photos taken over the weekend of all my goodies.

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Las Vegas Empties


In the past I have always loved that trip to Boots pre holiday when you stock up on all the essentials you'll need for holidays but it does often mean I leave behind half full products to avoid excess baggage charges as the space in my case has been taken over with duty free and other shopping purchases.

This time with only 4 nights and a flat filled to the brim with fabulous products mum and I had a chat and I was left to take along products that we could share to ensure maximum usage. I also decided to take along one or two products that were at the end of bottles so I could use up whilst away and those are what are photographed above.

Batiste Dark & Deep Brown has become somewhat of a staple for me lately. This was the can lived in my draw at work and used to give my hair a little life before a night out but was nearing the end so thought it'd be perfect for the trip. I can never tell how my hair will react on holiday due to using a different hairdryer, water etc and thought this would come in handy in case I was left with lacklustre hair. Mum also became a fan whilst we were away so it was very easy to use this up and leave behind.

To be honest I wouldn't have thought to take along sun protection to somewhere like Vegas in the past as it wasn't for me a 'sunbathing holiday'. These days reading so much about the importance of protecting your skin there was little way I cold avoid taking an SPF along with me - and let me tell you Vegas was HOT! I was lucky enough to receive Reimann P20 Once a Day Sun Protection* before I left for my trip and with the knowledge I only had to apply once a day made it's use even easier. P20 previously was only available in factor 20 but they have since expanded the range and I took along factor 15 for myself, mum and aunt to use. Containing both protection from UVA and UVB and popping on after my shower in the morning I was able to forget about any need to reapply. My time in Vegas was only spent outside sporadically so I can't comment in detail about it's protection qualities but I do know that the weather I experienced would have easily lead to burnt shoulders etc in the past as you don't realise how hot it can be and there was no danger of that with P20 protecting me.

I had been using Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Body Moisturiser prior to departure and as it was such a small tube it was perfect for travelling with particularly as for dry skin which would be likely in such an air conditioned environment. I have some dry patches on my legs from where I cross them, was shaving legs daily and needed to protect some psoriasis patches on my elbows which need attention and this cream was a pleasure to use. It soaked into the skin without leaving a greasy residue and moisturised the dry areas sufficiently.

You all know I'm a big fan of L'Occitane's hand and foot creams and after all that walking around casino's up and down the strip I knew feet were going to need some attention (I even treated myself to a foot massage at the airport before my flight home). Nothing but good things to say about this cream. Wearing flat shoes for the majority of the trip and covering more square foot than I care to remember my feet didn't suffer badly from hard skin on my return which can make returning to heels at work painful.

And finally my toothbrush. I know a lot of people take a new toothbrush on holiday with them but I prefer to buy a new one for my return home and take the one I'm currently using and leave behind - what about you? New toothbrush or take the old one?

So there you have a bonus empties post for you this month.

*PR Sample

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Leaving Las Vegas


I have arrived home to a cold and wet England after a fabulous trip to Las Vegas and feel like there is so much to catch up on.

My blog has been sadly neglected this month but the break has been good for me and once again I am enthusiastic to get back into my little space on the internet. I did a lot of shopping whilst I was away so plenty to show you and I'll share some posts on my travel experience which should hopefully help anyone else planning their own holidays.

For now it's back to work having hopefully fought off the jetlag which I never seem able to beat when hitting the West Coast and getting back into the swing of things although I have plenty to look forward to this week, namely a trip to see Mickey Flannigan and a MAC make up lesson.

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Monday, October 7, 2013

Book Review | Wicked Wives by Anna Lou Weatherly


It's been a difficult few weeks trying to find a book that I actually want to bother reading on top of a stressful few weeks at work but finally Wicked Wives from Anna Lou Weatherley (available here) has come to the rescue. 

Wicked Wives is exactly the type of book I love to read; rich women, secrets to hide and reminiscent of Jackie Collins. Casino owner and serial gambler Tom Black has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake and when he disappears suspicion points to three women from his past. The story centres around socialite Eleanor, gold digger Loretta and heartbroken Victoria, not necessarily the most likeable characters but ones you want to read more about. 

Anna Lou Weatherley uses each chapter to tell part of each persons story which is a style I really like when reading a book. Firstly it's great for reading when commuting because you can always finish a chapter before jumping off the train and secondly you want to keep reading to find out what happens next in each characters story.

If I was in any doubt to my enjoyment of this book I was actually supposed to return to the library on Saturday and naughtily have kept hold of it till I'm finished and whilst being unwell in bed over the weekend I've reach for this to escape with limited concentration for the tv.

I'm off on holiday next week and will be using my iPad instead of carrying a book so I need to make the major decision of what to download and read - send me your recommendations.

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Week 41 // What I'm Reading: Wicked Wives


It's been a difficult few weeks trying to find a book that I actually want to bother reading on top of a stressful few weeks at work but finally Wicked Wives from Anna Lou Weatherley (available here) has come to the rescue. 

Wicked Wives is exactly the type of book I love to read; rich women, secrets to hide and reminiscent of Jackie Collins. Casino owner and serial gambler Tom Black has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake and when he disappears suspicion points to three women from his past. The story centres around socialite Eleanor, gold digger Loretta and heartbroken Victoria, not necessarily the most likeable characters but ones you want to read more about. 

Anna Lou Weatherley uses each chapter to tell part of each persons story which is a style I really like when reading a book. Firstly it's great for reading when commuting because you can always finish a chapter before jumping off the train and secondly you want to keep reading to find out what happens next in each characters story.

If I was in any doubt to my enjoyment of this book I was actually supposed to return to the library on Saturday and naughtily have kept hold of it till I'm finished and whilst being unwell in bed over the weekend I've reach for this to escape with limited concentration for the tv.

I'm off on holiday next week and will be using my iPad instead of carrying a book so I need to make the major decision of what to download and read - send me your recommendations.

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