February 2014 Empties

My pile of empties for February is very skincare heavy with some new and old favourites so let's dive in so I can get this pile of bottles thrown away.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic link
Unless we're talking exfoliating toners not too other's are seen frequently popping up in blog posts so I tend to always gravitate to what I know and that's Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - especially now it's available in Boots. I've spoke about this toner before so you'll know it's a favourite and will obviously repurchase (in fact I already have) but if you have other recommendations do leave them in the comments.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion link
This is a slight empty 'cheat' as I found this bottle when I was moving furniture from my bedroom but I fear it could've been hiding for some time. I haven't repurchased this recently as I find it's more suitable in the Summer when I'm suffering from hayfever eyes but there have been one or two mornings lately when I wished for this to give myself a jolt in the morning.

Clarins Gentle Eye Make-up Remover link
This was a 'meh' product for me. It did what it said on the tin but I didn't find for it's price tag it was any better than L'Oreal's offering. In fact I often found that when I used this I had that glassy film over my contact lenses which no one likes. This year I'll save myself a few pennies and stick with the drugstore versions.

Vichy Idealia Life Serum* link
I was given this serum to try following a launch event I attended last year and was gutted when the final drops disappeared from the gorgeous pink packaging. This serum has a lovely light gel like texture which instantly boosted my skin that it was a go to in the mornings. Practically marketed just for me as someone who gets little sleep, drinks, smokes and does everything bad for you this luxe bottle helped me from looking like I had only managed a few hours sleep on many occasions. This is must repurchase from me although it will have to be with some advantage card points as I'm on a major spending ban right now.

Sure Maximum Protection link
A product you're probably sick of me talking about having reviewed it here and repurchased it here so I think we'll leave it as I'm a fan and this is my go to deodorant.

Givenchy Very Irresistible link
I can't even begin to describe fragrances beyond I did/didn't like it and it's either floral or strong. I've just hopped online to have a look at some better descriptions of it's scent (aromatic floral) and I'm not surprised I like it, I definitely think this could be one for my Duty Free shopping list. This handy sample size was thrown in my make up bag and came in very handy on a couple of occasions when I forgot to put perfume on before leaving the house.

The Comforter Bubble Bar link & Fizzbanger Bath Ballistic link
Two Lush products bit the dust this month, The Comforter which I've already talked about here and the Fizzbanger Bath Ballistic. The Fizzbanger was purchase purely for amusement and it did just that. I'm not sure I'd repurchase again but it was fun to enjoy the product whizzing around the bath and spilling out it's turquoise blue lava.

So that's the lot for February, I'm on a bit of a spending ban now as I said in preparation for my holiday in just forty-something days so hopefully I'll be able to make use of the products I already have at home and start shopping my stash,

*PR Sample

Top Three Foot Creams for Spring

2013 was the year I made hand cream a part of my everyday routine.
2014 will be the year the same is said for foot cream.

Whilst I love a pedicure and always ensure there's a splash of red across my toes due to the mutterings of some guy friends many years ago where they judged women who didn't take care of their feet I'm somewhat lax in applying foot creams.

There's no reason for its exclusion from my beauty regimes other than laziness and it's time to take care of my feet after their ability to keep me in heels on a daily basis. I now have three foot creams floating around the house, all different textures depending on my needs.

Elemis 'treat your feet' Foot Cream 
This is what I'd call the 'traditional' type of foot cream and was a gift from mum when I told her about my 2014 foot resolutions. Out of the three products I'm going to talk about today this is the pampering one, the one that sits alongside my hand cream in my lounge ready to pop on when the mood takes me as I'm sitting watching the latest episode of The Khardashians. My feet are left moisturised thanks to shea butter ingredients and a beautiful scent of eucalyptus and lemon oils perfect for this time of year.

Lotil Footcream*
Thanks to the familiar marzipan scent of Lotil cream (read my review here) their foot cream offering has helped with daily application. This whooping 114ml tub sits in my bedside drawer and is popped on when I climb into bed. I've become quite taken with a soothing foot massage at the end of a hard day. Thicker than the Elemis cream but yet light weight enough that it massages into the hard skinned areas nicely my feet feel soft and pleasantly scented.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic
The final product on my list is by Palmer's and this is my heavy duty offering containing natural emollients such as cocoa and mango butters to help even the roughest skin. We've all had those major shopping sessions which we return to and our feet have paid the price. Rest assured slather this, this is the tricky bit because the only texture I can liken it too is a very thick petroleum jelly type substance, so slather that all over you feet and then pop on some cotton socks and let it work it's 'foot magic' overnight. I adore the scent of peppermint and in the morning your feet won't even show the signs of a major hiking session.

So they are my current three picks to get my feet tip top for Summer. Don't forget to leave your recommendations and any tips you have for keeping the spring in your step.

*this post contains press samples

Florence and Mary | A New Look

It's not just my bedroom that has been having a redesign, my blog has too thanks to the wonderful Serena at Pretty Wild Things.

I appreciate that many blogs are leaning towards a similar layout these days but the simple layouts were the ones I would enjoy visiting myself and it felt right that as I streamlined my home my blog followed suit.

Yellow is a colour I've been admiring lately so I asked Serena if she could find a balance between clean and simple with an injection of yellow to stop it appearing too bland and I think she got it spot on.

I was said to see my Florence and Mary characters disappearing but it was one of those situations were I felt I was trying to fit them where they didn't blog.

You'll also have noticed some nice handy tabs at the top of the page. I've been blogging for many many years and this blog is primarily for me and is a hobby but I'm lucky enough to work with various brands and PRs on occasion so it was necessary to put in place the necessary disclaimers in place. Rest assured  all opinions on this here space of the internet are honest and true and I will happily let you know when something has been gifted to me or a post is sponsored.

In the past I would always refer to my blog as one of the Lifestyle variety purely due to it containing any ramblings I decided to publish to the outside world. Of course it will not have escaped anyone's notice that I'm sharing an awful lot of beauty babble these days which may or not appeal to all readers and likewise for the latest restaurant outing or book review so you can direct yourself to the Beauty or Lifestyle sections if you're more specific in your tastes.

If you're in need a blog makeover do pop over and see Serena, she charges a very fair price, understands to what her clients want and didn't moan once about any of my tweaks or changes.

Collection 2014 Spring Releases

Last week I was lucky to pop along for breakfast with the Collection team to find out about the upcoming Spring releases. Apart from jumping on the Collection Concealer bandwagon last year - happily so may I add - I have never dabbled with any other products on offer. With this in mind on Sunday instead of my usual no make up face I gave my Collection goodies a whirl.

The first thing that struck me about Collection's Lasting Perfection Foundation* was it's sophisticated  glass bottle and dare I say similarity to the Make Up Forever range - its definitely stepping away from it's cheap drugstore associations and successfully so. The next thumbs up has to be it comes with both a lid and pump - Nars take note. Moving aside from aesthetics Collection claim to provide 'flawless coverage with skin-lock technology' to make it feel weightless. I will definitely agree with flawless and likened it to the coverage provided by Make Up Forever's HD Foundation, if only this came without SPF I would definitely reach for this for those big nights out. When I sent a snap to my friend she commented how natural it looked and I definitely agree that whilst it says it mattifies I still found that a healthy glow was present.

Of course the usual drugstore foundation issue remains and that's only 6 shades available so colour matching may be a problem for many but if you can find a match and for £5.99 I'd definitely recommend giving this a try.

Brows are definitely having a moment in beauty right now with every brand bringing out their offerings and I'm pretty impressed with this compact Eyebrow Kit* from Collection. Three powders, double ended brush and clear brow mascara all for £3.99, this is the winner for me. I have a dreadful eyebrow stroking habit and a cyst which leaves a gap that leads most people to assume I had an eyebrow piercing at one time or another and being such a dark brunette with pale skin it can be difficult to fill in my brows yet avoid anything too harsh. This selection of powders allowed me to draw the shape I needed and fill in sufficiently without moving between too many products. 

You can grab yourself one of these Eyebrow Kits from Boots on 9th April or Superdrug from 16th April.

Two products that have already hit the shelves of your local drugstores are the Smokey Eye Palettes* and Collection Volumising Mascara*. As well as traditional Smokey or Nude you can find trend colours Purple and Blue if you're a little braver. This is the perfect palette you're new to make up as it has instructions on the back telling which helpfully numbered shade to apply where. The only ticking off I have for Collection is 'please remove the sponge tipped applicators'. I think we all know by now how useless they are and I'm sure using them has spoilt many peoples experiences and this palette could've been made even more compact by removing it. 

The shadows themselves have a satisfacotry pigment too them and the middle no 1 shade reminds me of a pinker Naked Lunch from Mac. I'd most likely use these as an everyday look and welcome the darker colours to smoke things up for impromptu nights outs. I'd love to see a similar palette to this that mixes up the colours so I had more look choices as there won't be much variety from this colourway way.

In the photo below you'll be able to see Collection's Volumising Mascara in action on the right eye. I think we'll all agree that ten times more volume as they claim is somewhat exaggerated but they nicely separate and coat each lash with no fall out which is what I need when wearing a mascara all day.

additional products worn; Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Collection Bronze Gold Matte*, Revlon Matt Balm in Elusive and Benefit Hervana Blush

I'd love to know if you're a Collection make up fan or like me have never explored the brand and are keen to do so now - what would be your pick from the new lines?

Jo Malone London

Once again I must apologise for my absence in these here parts which I still blame on my bedroom redecoration, again why does everything take longer than you think? As I spent the weekend building more furniture I missed my usual blog scheduling day. The good news is I'm back today, there's a weeks worth of posts scheduled and as you will see there's a new look for Florence and Mary (more about that later in the week).

This time last week my poor hands were suffering from the weekends overuse of a phillips screwdriver so I took myself off to Jo Malone for a luxurious hand and arm massage in their City branch. I love this store and the ladies that work there are fabulous and really know their stuff. They'd booked me in on the day the new London Rain collection was released so I could sample the new scents (unfortunately the one I liked I felt was too masculine) and even shared some news on upcoming releases which look pretty amazing so keep your eyes open for those.

I told a two male friends, separately, about the hand and arm massage and both expressed the same opinion 'what's the point in that' well clearly they don't know Jo Malone very well. The massage is a free service they offer and you're seated in one of their lounge areas and they layer various lotions, gels and creams so you can try many products and see for yourself which scents work with one another.

One of the favourite products used was the Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub link but I just don't think I would ever bring myself to spend £68 on a body scrub. Whilst I can see this 600g tub lasting all year why they don't offer a more purse friendly 300g size at least is beyond me.

As I was indecisive about what scents I liked most and needed some time to think about it the kind staff piled samples of creams and scents in a bag for me to try at home so I'm looking forward to having a go at fragrance layering myself and seeing what works.

Don't forget to share your Jo Malone stories in the comments; would you pay £68 for a body scrub and what's your favourite scent?

The Bedroom Redesign | Work in Progress

This is just a quick post to say blogging this week may be a little sporadic as real life gets in the way. It's nearing midnight as I draft this post and I'm still in the midst of clearing away the debris of a weekend building furniture for my bedroom.

Of course as always things take twice as long as you expect. I've been hindered by the need of a drill for my dressing table mirror and a faulty piece in my third chest of drawers so tomorrow will be spent on the phone to IKEA to sort that out. 

I still need to find a bed, order a console table and another bedside unit and my kitchen looks like a bomb site as I've slacked on washing up duties.

Whilst I can proudly announce I managed to put together a lot of the furniture myself I also have to say thank you to Ben who assisted with the wardrobe and the second set of drawers as my enthusiasm was wanning.

For now I need to return my flat into some sort of order so that I can get myself to work in a presentable state tomorrow, the washing up can wait for another night.

I hope you've had a far more relaxing weekend than me!

London Burger War // Shake Shack Vs Five Guys

Five Guys, 1-3 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LH 

Last Summer following on from Patty Bun (read about my visit here) and Meat Liquor burger invasion came two all the way from the US. Yes Shake Shack and Five Guys arrived in London, Covent Garden to be exact, mere minutes away from each other and I felt it was my duty to sample them both, for important blog purposes obviously.

First up was Five Guys, hailed as President Obama's favourite burger spot and famed for their fries cooked in pure peanut oil (boxes of which decorate the branch). I can't speak for the lines of an evening but I was lucky to be passing at approximately 430pm one week day afternoon and joined a short queue to receive my brown bag of goodness.

The menu is simple, pick a burger (or hot dog) and then add your toppings, onions, mushrooms, sauces you name it there's a sufficient list to personalise your burger to your liking. Important thing of note, their regular offering contains two burger patty's so if you prefer a small meal pick the 'little' option. 

Once you've ordered your meal you watch as the Five Guys team create your delicious feast. Your burger is wrapped in silver foil and your fries are shovelled into a polystyrene cup, this is rustic goodness at it's best. You're handed a brown bag filled with you feast and an empty cup to fill with the drink of your choosing from one of their super drinks machines. Ive only ever used a similar drinks machine in America and the options are vast - I want for Cherry 7 Up Zero if you're interested.

As far as I'm concerned this was on par with a meal you'd be served in a restaurant and admittedly it's more expensive than your average McDonalds or Burger King but deservedly so and worth every penny. 

Even better I've just checked online and a store is coming to Bluewater in Spring which is just down the road from me - I see many a late night drive in my future.

Shake Shack Covent Garden, 24 Market Building, The Piazza, London, WC2E 8RD

My trip to Shake Shack wasn't as quick as Five Guys and I visited one evening after work and queued for AGES. Ok I'm exaggerating slightly but it was a good 20 mins for ultimately a takeaway burger. The queue did give me a chance to peruse the menu and know exactly what I would order when I got the the counter.

I went for the Smoke Shack which is a cheeseburger topped with bacon, peppers and 'shack sauce'. On this occasion I was feeling saintly and opted for the saintly single burger and less saintly fries with cheese sauce. You're handed a buzzer which flashes and vibrates when your burger is ready and you collect from the counter and are handed your meal on a tray - clearly Shake Shack are going for the more sophisticated option.

I'll be straight with you now, Five Guys is my clear out winner of this burger battle. The Shake Shack offering just didn't meet up. The fries were bland, the cheese sauce was not for me and the burger just didn't satisfy like Five Guys did. I think you can see from the two photos that the Shake Shack meal looks like the more plastic offering. This really did taste like fast food and for a sizeable price. I actually walked away quite disappointed and wished I'd just gone for my usual Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

It wasn't all bad, their signature 'concrete' frozen custard desserts. I forget which I chose now, I think the Union Shack and that I do recommend.

So there you have my opinions of Covent Gardens burger bars, what about you, do you have a favourite?

Bourjois Bronzing Primer Review

Bourjois Bronzing Primer link

I've had Bourjois Bronzing Primer sitting in my make up draws for months, originally purchased as a practice run for it's bigger sister the Chanel de Soleil but it scared me to death - it was so orange and a mousse and quite frankly I didn't know what to do with it.

Now I have started using it I don't know why I held off so long as it's been part of my routine daily the past couple of weeks. We all know the spiel, apply instead of or under your base for all over warmth, it can be used as a contour, as a bronzer on the usual sun catching spots.

After watching a Lisa Eldridge tutorial where she applied Chanel de Soleil I used that technique and picked up my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and went to work. My go to method of application (a la Ms Eldridge) is pressing the stippling brush into the pot, tapping the product off in the lid and then blending as contour before applying my foundation and so far so good. Nothing to be afraid of it you use a light touch.

I imagine this will be fantastic to mix with foundation when you have a tan and need to darken the colour of your usual shade or if you're having a good skin day and just want to add a bit of colour to your skin.

I can't say definitively if it's my foundation, the Bourjois Bronzing Primer or a combination of both but I have noticed a longevity of my base this week especially as I'm not using another primer.

The only downside I can see anyone would have once they have got past the fear is the scent which reminds me of a chocolate orange liquor (I don't know what it says about me that when products have a strong scent they remind me of various alcoholic beverages!) but this doesn't transfer when applied to the skin but may be different for others.

The moral of this story is when you buy a piece of make up, don't be scared, play around - what's the worst that can happen and in my case I have plenty of make up removers to sample.

I'd love to know how you find the Bourjois Bronzing Primer and whether you've compared it to the Chanel de Soleil although based on how much I've used from this little pot I can see it lasting for ages.

Product Fail | imPRESS Nails

imPRESS nails link

Last year I had my acrylic nails removed and whilst I'm quite happy with their appearance on a daily basis sometimes there are events, such as Ben's party I talked about in this post which require a more perfect look.

I'd heard imPRESS nails being talked about and loved the fact that didn't require glue so were less likely to damage my own nail. I'm still scarred by the false nail experiences of my younger years when one false (pun intended) move saw your natural nail being ripped off in a painful manner.

My first experience with imPRESS was in the Summer when I opted for the french manicured version. I was impressed with the speed in which they could be applied although once you've applied on one hand and then try to apply on the other it's a little difficult to get the sticky back off them without risking popping the nail off.

Once these babies are on they feel secure so be careful if you apply one wonky as it'll be difficult to straighten it up as I found out. Unfortunately a few hours later I was left trying to apply a couple with eyelash glue as they didn't last the night.

As I said I wanted to try 'prefect' nails for Ben's party so I decided to give imPRESS nails another try and unfortunately I was in the same situation. I'd say they lasted a little longer than before but still by the evening I was without 2 and actually ended up taking the rest off as it was preferable to be without unpainted nails than 2 rogue obviously not red ones.

So it would seem sadly that imPRESS nails are not for me as I cannot rely on them to last the evening, particularly when it's not like I'm doing anything particularly rigorous apart from eating dinner which could be wear the problem lies in that the grease loosens the glue.

I'd love to know if you've had better experiences with imPRESS or can recommend alternatives.

The Scent of a Man

Radox Muscle Therapy Bath Soak* link
Bath & Body Works Mahogany Teakwood link

If you're a single girl like myself and with Valentine's Day on the horizon you may have to find alternatives to snuggling up with a man on February 14th and this little bath and candle duo may just have you fooled into thinking there's a man in the house.

I'd previously passed a bottle of Radox Muscle Therapy Bath Soak over to my brother as a reward for running a marathon but he isn't getting his hands on this bottle. I'm absolutely smitten with the scent of this bath soak which I can only describe as smelling manly. I love when a man walks past me in the street and you get a whiff of their aftershave and this bottle of reviving bath soak seems to have that literally bottled. It's also quite fun climbing into the reddish pink bath full of bubbles and then allowing the sage and sea minerals warm my muscles - just thing after a commute home without a seat.

I don't think I'm alone in wishing Bath & Body Works would reach British shores (along with Sephora and Lorac Pro Palettes please) and their candles are much hyped across YouTube. I'd heard a lot of talk about Mahogany Teakwood smelling like Fierce from Abercrombie and Fitch and went to Las Vegas last year issued with instructions to bring one back for my Fierce wearing brother and couldn't help popping one into the basket for me too. My only regret is that I purchased such a small size.

So there might not be a man in my life, but it certainly smells like it!

Repurchased | January 2014

Sure Maximum Protection link
Batiste Dry Shampoo link

As well as all the new purchases I made in January which you'll see popping up on the blog in the form of reviews I thought it was worth adding a 'repurchased' series. I love doing my 'empties' posts and this way you'll see what items I've used up and remained faithful too - I'm not always very brand loyal!

January's repurchases are items I've talked about on the blog before, such as Sure Maximum Protection which I reviewed here. My first introduction was via a PR Sample but proof that my review was true and fair is evident that I parted with my own pennies for the next bottle. I actually had other deodorants in my stash that I wanted to use up but after a few days of substandard deodorising it was time to rush out and welcome Sure back into my life.

Batiste Dry Shampoo was mentioned in my desk to disco hair heroes post which you can read here. This was to replace my empty the 'at home' can (another is still going strong in my desk draw). This time round I've been using a bit more frequently, spraying in hair when I've finished my blog dry to give a little more volume at the beginning of the day rather than just at the end of a long day.

Nothing groundbreaking, nothing that exciting and more of the essentials but we all need them in our life.

What have you repurchased this month?

The Comforter Bubble Bar from Lush

The Comforter Bar £4.50 from Lush link

To say I'm pleased to see the behind of January would be an understatement but having The Comforter Bar in my possession for bath time did help see me through the miserable month.

I'm still dabbling with various products from Lush and actually picked this up when I'd popped in to check out the Valentine's range which didn't appeal half as much as this gorgeous blackcurrant scented lump.

Lush say this will last 2 baths, I managed to eek it out for three and I could probably have got another out of it but I decided that last nights bath needed extra bubbles. A major plus for me with this bubble bar is the lingering scent. Even hours after the bath has been emptied the smell of blackcurrants is still present which I really enjoy.

The Comforter has a strange texture in that it is soft when crumbled and will need washing from your hands as it can get a little sticky but that's easily solved but running your hands in the bath water to make sure no product is wasted. As one would expect your bath turns into a purpley pink heaven without leaving behind any staining or residue.

I definitely give The Comforter a thumbs up although the only downside I find to Lush products is how and where to store them. This sat on my bathroom shelf in it's packaging which I'm fearful of getting wet and/or mixing with other scented products - if you're a Lush fan let me know how you store yours.

The Bedroom Redesign | In with the new

As I discussed in last Sunday's post here I am in the midst of redecorating my bedroom and have sold the contents of my bedroom, yes I'm currently sleeping on a mattress with a box as a bedside table.

I will try and take some before and after photos for future posts but prior to the furniture going off to new homes I'd had a shuffle around so that I could 'practice' certain items in place when putting my wish list together (I know I'm strange).

My new shopping list is very IKEA heavy and there are a few blogger cliches that appear which is all very against what I would usually chose but I've decided to work within a budget, what will work best for the space and satisfy my impatience at wanting everything done as soon as possible yet simply and neatly organised.

Unfortunately the bed featured isn't going to work. I popped into a Next home store yesterday and it's actually cream, not white as shown so the search for an alternative is on. The Malm Dressing Table will be accompanied by a glam hollywood mirror that I managed to find online and I cannot wait as it's something I've dreamt about for years.

You've read about my love of Victoria Secrets and do you know what else I love about their stores (apart from all the pink) it's the draws they have with underwear stored away - that's where the Alex draw unit comes in. I'll actually have space for three all lined up like my very own store, I can't wait to line draws with black velvet for my jewellery.

I don't really have much use for a landline at home any more, it is essentially there to run my internet connection but sometimes there's a freephone number to be dialled and what better to do that on than a pretty pink 'princess phone'?

One thing I'm not looking forward to is putting all the furniture together, anyone want to lend me a hand?

Beauty Wish List February 2014

Valentines Day and Spring/Summer 2014 beauty releases are coming thick which is all a little much for the obsessed such as myself and my bank manager is on red alert. Here's my list of what I'd like to get my hands on.

1. Chanel Cream Blush in Chamade link

I love my cream blush from Chanel in Affinite so surely it's only right I add a new one to my collection? I'm so drawn to the rich red shade Chamade and was concerned it could lead to aunt Sally cheeks but a test in store proved that this fear was unfounded. No reason to resist surely?

2. NARS NARSissit Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette link

I'm kicking myself that I decided to be sensible and wait the couple of days till I was paid to purchase this fantastic palette online because of course it sold out. The good news is it's released into stores today and as mum and I heading into London for some shopping I have a feeling my mission may be to track this down.

3. Lulu Guinness Kiss it Better Purse with Clinque Chubby Stick link
I love Lulu Guinness and have been toying with adding one of the signature clutch bags to my collection and the collaboration with Clinque in aid of Great Ormond Street maybe be a slightly cheaper way to add something to my collection - with a Chubby Stick thrown in too.

5. Illamasqua Nail Polish - Throb link
I need another red nail polish in my stash like I need a hole in the head but Throb part of the I'm The One Collection has caught my eye. They have a fab collection including a red lipstick, gloss and liner as well as the nail colour that I'm itching to get my hands on.

6. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush link
Another exciting release from Hourglass which is as amazing as the Ambient Lighting Powder collection will no doubt be a sell out. I have the lighting palette which I held off using for too long but the minute I did I was addicted so I must get my hands on the blush - but which one?

7. Bobbi Brown Uber Pink Collection Lip Colour - Neon Pink link
Neon Pink Lipsticks are everywhere at the moment and Bobbi Brown's version caught my eye when browsing Selfridges new in section. Bright pinks and reds are my quick fix to take a simple black work dress from day to night so I will be giving this a swatch later today.

So there's some products I have my eyes on right now, what about you?