Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Karl Largerfeld K Klassic Shoulder Bag Review

Karl Lagerfeld K Klassic Shoulder Bag
Handbags are my 'thing'. I love them and every year I treat myself to a new one for my collection. I have been promising Candypop a peek at my handbag collection for some time so maybe you can call this the start of these posts as this is my most recent purchase. Well unless you count a Kate Spade clutch I brought in Dubai but I'll show you that another time. 

The biggest problem I had when deciding what bag to purchase for 2015 was that there wasn't really anything on my lust list, or what was there was beyond my budget or the very least one I could justify spending on a handbag. I was slightly tempted with a 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli but something about it wasn't just right. Now I appreciate this is totally #firstworldproblems but please bear with me. The 'problem' I had was that last year I brought a bag, a Prada bag no less, on complete impulse and have been in love with it ever since. I own a Chanel bag but still it is the Prada Bucket Bag which holds my heart and actually makes me feel like my handbag collection is complete.

I decided that nothing was going to compare to the love the Prada bag and I had but there must be something I could add to my collection. Then I came across Karl Lagerfeld. Now we all know Karl is the man behind Chanel these days so surely his bags would be a thing of beauty?

I had a look online and unfortunately the Karl Lagerfeld site isn't great so I headed to Very Exclusive and had a look there and it was the Nude K Klassic that caught my eye. Could this be Karl's homage to that classic Chanel bag? There are most certainly some similarities I'll come to shortly. 

The best thing about the bags from Karl Lagerfeld, much like Michael Kors is that the range is in the 'affordable' designer bracket. I appreciate everyones budgets and tastes are different but do remember I'm a hard working, single 36 year old woman and I speak as relevant to me. 

Before hitting the order button I took myself to Karl's shop on Regent which is fantastic and had a look around. They had the K Klassik bag in stock but only in black which was handy as I only wanted to be cheeky and feel it for myself before ordering from Very Exclusive and taking advantage of the interest free payment options. 

I pranced around the shop with the bag and I was definitely happy with this to be the next purchase and promptly when home and ordered online. I don't enjoy beauty shopping online, but clothes, bags and the like I love. I have to give hats off to Very Exclusive as part of the enjoyment, for me at least when buying a designer bag is the shopping experience and to receive a huge box with my initials, sorry Very Exclusives initials definitely ensured I received that same feeling. The box was opened to reveal masses of tissue paper and a Very Exclusive bag which inside contained my new handbag. Clearly no corners had been cut here. 

So onto the bag itself. I chose the K Klassic Shoulder bag in Nude. Most of my bags are what I would call the 'classic' designs and if possible in a bright colour such as my red Prada Saffiano tote. I didn't own anything in such a muted colour which I thought would compliment the large proportion of black clothing I wear and work well for all seasons and the style would easily transfer from day to night.

Some of my bags are not ideal for my boozy nights as they can be heavy (I actually got what I named Prada shoulder from carrying my tote when I first purchased it) and/or left on a side. A decent shoulder bag was lacking in my collection that was big enough to house some make up items, phone and such whilst being small enough to sit on the shoulder comfortable.

The black strap is long enough to wear cross body but I find the stiff structured nature of the bag makes this a little bulky and uncomfortable. Likewise the structured layout of the bag, which is reminiscent to me of the Chanel bags, can make packing it like a game of Tetris and requires some careful editing. 

To really make this the perfect day to night bag you can even remove the black strap and use the rose gold chain handle (hello again Chanel homage) and use as a more delicate evening clutch. 




The question remains, do I enjoy using this bag and what are my findings now it is in my possession? Well unfortunately it's a little bit disappointing. I certainly like the bag and do use it but I find it a little bit too fiddly compared to my other bags.

I love saffiano leather and as mentioned I have a Prada tote so am familiar with it but the K Klassic bag is very sturdy. Great on one hand as it's shape remains but very difficult to manaouvere. Want to talk on the phone whilst pulling out your Oyster card to get through barriers at the station, not the easiest of tasks. Carrying a drink to your seat whilst trying to return your purse inside in the bag, not so easy. I do blame this in part to my Prada bucket bag which is the right combination of throw it all in and/or rummage around without being too big to lose whats in there and as mentioned I reserve this for days when I know I'm heading from the office to the bar.

It's also not forgiving in size. There is no manipulating the shape of this bag to get my Canon EOS M and it's hefty lense inside and if a book is on the thicker side that's not getting anywhere near it. And make up bags, forget about it. Make up is thrown strategically by size and shape to fit alongside phones and keys.

I've also had some problems with the strap unclipping. Again I noticed this at first and may have been my heavy handedness and I also find the button clasp requires diligent attention to close securely.

All this said I'm probably expecting too much from the K Klassic as I'm trying to make it work outside of it's intention. This is a structured handbag which on a weekend or for days when I know I'm heading out after work it's ideal and ultimately looks great. And you can happily ignore everything I've said and take my mum's word on it as she loves it, so much so she went out and purchased one for herself in powder blue.

Prior to this purchase I was thinking idealistically of having one in all the range of colours. I'm less inclined to do this now but I am happy to have a Karl Lagerfeld bag sitting in my collection.

Are you a designer handbag lover like me and have you ever been tempted by Karl Lagerfeld?


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Friday, July 24, 2015

Ham Holy Burger | London

Ham Holy Burger
Whilst shopping for some last minute bits for Ibiza I found myself in John Lewis. Despite the heat of Oxford Street and a desire for a nice salad I was confronted by some delicious looking images of burgers. Willpower at zero and frustration at being unable to find what I wanted (a laptop bag, honestly why are they so expensive and targeted for men?) I decided to try out Holy Ham Burger.




With only a few tables occupied it was easy to get a seat and peruse the menu. It was great to see a menu with different and imaginative burger offerings beyond cheese and bacon. That said I went for the simple signature Holyburger and a side of fries.





Now I must tell you I love burgers. And I don't just mean 'gourmet burgers', I even love those dirty ones you get from vans at local fairs and there's nothing that makes me happier on my way home from a night out than a bacon double cheeseburger from Burger King. When my my burger arrived from Ham Holy Burger for the first time ever I was disappointed with the arrival of a burger. What was put before me was a sad and grey looking burger, served in the overdone wooden boards. I love my burgers cooked medium but this just felt undercooked. Literally like it had been thrown in a fry pan for a few minutes. There was no browning of the meat, nor smokey grill taste. It was all in all pretty tasteless and felt like eating raw meat. The bun whilst not stale felt like it was moments away from being so and the fries were nothing special and overly salted. Please let us salt our own fries to personal taste.

Holy Ham Burgers has many similar reviews to my own on Tripadvisor and the like and its a shame as I think this is a great concept for John Lewis. Who doesn't like a burger yet I've made better burgers with produce from Waitrose at home. The restaurant itself had such a nicely designed industrial loft style space and a mixture of booths and tables to sit at but the food just fell flat.

The cost of my burger, fries and sparkling water was £16 so this wasn't a cheap meal by any means for a shopping pit stop. I'd rather walk five minutes down the road to Patty & Bun and recommend you do the same.


Have you had any disappointing dining experiences recently?


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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Products I used up | Ibiza Edition


When I travel that means you get a bonus empties post of all the things I managed to use whilst on holiday. Here's what found it's way into the bins of Ibiza 

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash
I'm a little annoyed as I have a full size of this body wash and intended to return home with this mini size empty and ready to refill for future trips but unfortunately in my haste of packing it was thrown into the bin. Moving past my frustrations this is a delicious body wash to use and kind to all due to the naturally active ingredients - its even suitable for your babies. Definitely one to try if you have skin that is a little sensitive as it doesn't contain any 'nasties'.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor
My favourite razors are the Gilette Venus & Olay type which are perfect for leg shaving, especially when doing it almost daily like I have to whilst on holiday. I could probably get a little more than a week out of one head but for ease and packing purposes it worked out for me to take one of the individually packaged heads for the week. You can read my full Gillette Venue & Olay review here.

ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser
I received this mini cleanser with my Tatler subscription and thought it perfect to take along as my morning cleanse whilst on holiday. I enjoyed using this although it does contain microbeads which I know can be a bone of contention for some. It lasted almost to the full 7 days I was away.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Body Buttercream
Body Scrub's and Body Buttercreams from Soap and Glory are favourites of mine and these picks were from the Sugar Crush Gift Set I'd received for Christmas and saved for this trip. The zesty scent was perfect for my beachy conditions and I enjoy using a body scrub on holiday to help keep the tan in tip top condition. The body butter creams are perfect to double up as foot creams too.

Riemann P20 Once a Day SPF30*
Ben & I actually purchased P20 at the airport before heading to Dubai and it worked well against their heat. Unfortunately we couldn't get the spray option and relied on the cream so I was pleased when I was sent the spray option. I travelled to Ibiza alone and the only thing I had any concerns with were how I would get sun protection on my back. This P20 spray was perfect as I was able to angle and spray and know that I was protected without having to approach a stranger and ask 'could you rub this in'. I used this particularly on the days I was going to visit my parents on another part of the island and knew we would be walking around the resort  rather than sitting round the pool all day when reapplication was possible.

The Wet Brush, Classic
I am not onto my third Wet Brush, this one being my second. After trips to Dubai and Ibiza as well as some random overnight stays it's safe to say it doesn't travel well. I love this brush but unfortunately when shoved into bags the bristles are not sturdy enough to stand up to conditions and I did notice that it wasn't performing as well towards the end of my trip so it was time to say goodbye.

And of course a trusty Toothbrush found it's way into the bin with a new one waiting at home for my return.



The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
My reading habits have remained slack of late and I'm sure reading isn't the top of everyones Ibiza packing list but for me, travelling alone I wanted to ensure I had something to get my teeth into, especially as I had a two hour train journey before I even got to board a plane. I had read about Girl on the Train being the new Gone Girl (although I haven't read that either) so I thought I'd give it a try. Usually I wouldn't dream of taking a hardback on holiday with me but because I was so intrigued to read the story I purchased a copy. I enjoyed reading this and found it perfect for holidaying because of the way it was designed with easy breaks so you could pick up and put down as necessary. I'm not sure I think it's deserved the amazing reviews as it's not amazing, just good. It felt almost simplistic and I pretty much guessed who the 'guilty one' was early on. Is it worth a read, yes but is it as 'thrilling' as reviews make it? Not in my opinion.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash
I was able to get about four washes out of this body wash and like the other Sugar Crush products enjoyed doing so. More of a cream than a gel it made for quite a luxurious experience. I'd definitely purchase this in full size.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask*
Hydraluron sheek masks are my travel must have. I also use one after a flight, even if Ibiza's was a mere two hours. In this instance I used in the middle of my trip after daily exposure to the sun, the air-conditioning of my room and dehydration from heat and one or two drinks. I've said before I'm not a big fan of the serum but these masks work far better for a heavy duty hit when needed.

Tweezerman Pointed Tweezers
I much prefer using pointed tweezers than slanted, I find they are easier to use and more effective. Unfortunately these had suffered some damage so were not meeting at the ends any more. I had since replaced and threw these into my travel bags to use as necessary whilst away.

Diptyque Eau Moheli EDT
As you will see in the photo I had an accident and smashed the bottle of Diptyque's Eau Moheli somewhere in the middle of my trip. Yes there was almost tears. I have had this scent for almost two years, only bringing it out in the Summer and I really enjoy using it. For a floral scent it's surprising as usually I'm not a fan but ylang ylang and spices make for something more pleasing. I'm definitely keen to repurchase this fragrance, and in full size as I do miss it.

OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
Purchased for Dubai and still lasting for Ibiza I was able to use up the remaining bottle of the OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner. I've mentioned OGX quite a few times now since my introduction and will definitely buy full size and try other types from the range.

What products do you find you use up on holiday?

*PR Sample

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Products I used up in Ibiza


When I travel that means you get a bonus empties post of all the things I managed to use whilst on holiday. Here's what found it's way into the bins of Ibiza 

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash
I'm a little annoyed as I have a full size of this body wash and intended to return home with this mini size empty and ready to refill for future trips but unfortunately in my haste of packing it was thrown into the bin. Moving past my frustrations this is a delicious body wash to use and kind to all due to the naturally active ingredients - its even suitable for your babies. Definitely one to try if you have skin that is a little sensitive as it doesn't contain any 'nasties'.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor
My favourite razors are the Gilette Venus & Olay type which are perfect for leg shaving, especially when doing it almost daily like I have to whilst on holiday. I could probably get a little more than a week out of one head but for ease and packing purposes it worked out for me to take one of the individually packaged heads for the week. You can read my full Gillette Venue & Olay review here.

ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser
I received this mini cleanser with my Tatler subscription and thought it perfect to take along as my morning cleanse whilst on holiday. I enjoyed using this although it does contain microbeads which I know can be a bone of contention for some. It lasted almost to the full 7 days I was away.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Body Buttercream
Body Scrub's and Body Buttercreams from Soap and Glory are favourites of mine and these picks were from the Sugar Crush Gift Set I'd received for Christmas and saved for this trip. The zesty scent was perfect for my beachy conditions and I enjoy using a body scrub on holiday to help keep the tan in tip top condition. The body butter creams are perfect to double up as foot creams too.

Riemann P20 Once a Day SPF30*
Ben & I actually purchased P20 at the airport before heading to Dubai and it worked well against their heat. Unfortunately we couldn't get the spray option and relied on the cream so I was pleased when I was sent the spray option. I travelled to Ibiza alone and the only thing I had any concerns with were how I would get sun protection on my back. This P20 spray was perfect as I was able to angle and spray and know that I was protected without having to approach a stranger and ask 'could you rub this in'. I used this particularly on the days I was going to visit my parents on another part of the island and knew we would be walking around the resort  rather than sitting round the pool all day when reapplication was possible.

The Wet Brush, Classic
I am not onto my third Wet Brush, this one being my second. After trips to Dubai and Ibiza as well as some random overnight stays it's safe to say it doesn't travel well. I love this brush but unfortunately when shoved into bags the bristles are not sturdy enough to stand up to conditions and I did notice that it wasn't performing as well towards the end of my trip so it was time to say goodbye.

And of course a trusty Toothbrush found it's way into the bin with a new one waiting at home for my return.



The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
My reading habits have remained slack of late and I'm sure reading isn't the top of everyones Ibiza packing list but for me, travelling alone I wanted to ensure I had something to get my teeth into, especially as I had a two hour train journey before I even got to board a plane. I had read about Girl on the Train being the new Gone Girl (although I haven't read that either) so I thought I'd give it a try. Usually I wouldn't dream of taking a hardback on holiday with me but because I was so intrigued to read the story I purchased a copy. I enjoyed reading this and found it perfect for holidaying because of the way it was designed with easy breaks so you could pick up and put down as necessary. I'm not sure I think it's deserved the amazing reviews as it's not amazing, just good. It felt almost simplistic and I pretty much guessed who the 'guilty one' was early on. Is it worth a read, yes but is it as 'thrilling' as reviews make it? Not in my opinion.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash
I was able to get about four washes out of this body wash and like the other Sugar Crush products enjoyed doing so. More of a cream than a gel it made for quite a luxurious experience. I'd definitely purchase this in full size.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask*
Hydraluron sheek masks are my travel must have. I also use one after a flight, even if Ibiza's was a mere two hours. In this instance I used in the middle of my trip after daily exposure to the sun, the air-conditioning of my room and dehydration from heat and one or two drinks. I've said before I'm not a big fan of the serum but these masks work far better for a heavy duty hit when needed.

Tweezerman Pointed Tweezers
I much prefer using pointed tweezers than slanted, I find they are easier to use and more effective. Unfortunately these had suffered some damage so were not meeting at the ends any more. I had since replaced and threw these into my travel bags to use as necessary whilst away.

Diptyque Eau Moheli EDT
As you will see in the photo I had an accident and smashed the bottle of Diptyque's Eau Moheli somewhere in the middle of my trip. Yes there was almost tears. I have had this scent for almost two years, only bringing it out in the Summer and I really enjoy using it. For a floral scent it's surprising as usually I'm not a fan but ylang ylang and spices make for something more pleasing. I'm definitely keen to repurchase this fragrance, and in full size as I do miss it.

OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
Purchased for Dubai and still lasting for Ibiza I was able to use up the remaining bottle of the OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner. I've mentioned OGX quite a few times now since my introduction and will definitely buy full size and try other types from the range.

What products do you find you use up on holiday?

*PR Sample

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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Essence Haul

essence make up
Playa den Bossa in Ibiza is not known as a shopping destination but I managed to track down an Essence concession in the local pharmacy on the strip. Whilst we can get Essence in the UK I've yet to visit a Wilko store and have a hands on look at the range. This was the perfect opportunity to treat myself to one or two items to try and so far I haven't been disappointed.

After tweeting for some advice the overwhelming response was their mascaras so I picked up two to try. The first i love extreme crazy volume mascara is amazing. The first day I tried it I couldn't believe how long and thick it made my lashes. I have never seen anything like it. I feel like I'm wearing false eyelashes and I'm in danger of them hitting my eyebrows as I flutter!

To give a well rounded opinion as mentioned this is a thick formula and as such it's better served when you wipe off any excess onto a tissue as things can get messy but otherwise this mascara after only a few uses is well on it's way to becoming a favourite.

With so many mascaras on offer from Essence I couldn't resist picking up a second, get BIG! lashes triple black mascara. I'd call this the younger sister of the previously mention 'i love extreme' as whilst it gives long lashes once again it's more of a softer look. This is a great day mascara for those that want to have length to their lashes but aren't interested in anything too heavy. That said I do prefer the other out of the two.

I'd had my eye on the blush up! powder blush in Heatwave for some time if only for aesthetic reasons as I just loved the colour. With one solitary compact sitting on the shelf it was meant to be. Aside from my having some difficult with opening the palette which has resulted in my nail scratching across the surface and ruining it's pristine condition this is a fantastic blush which is comparable to Tarte. Heavily pigmented this gives a a perfect flush of colour to cheeks. Matte it may be but I find it doesn't appear flat and more importantly it stays in place all day. I adopt the approach of swirling my brush amongst the palette to get the desired effect that works for me but if you're more attentive than I you might want to target the specific colours on each side. I'm definitely keen to try more blushes from Essence. 

My final pick was i love stage - eyeshadow base. Usually I use Mac's Painterly Paint Pot as a base or if I'm looking for real longevity Urban Decay's Primer Potion so I was keen to see how a cheaper product would fair. The eyeshadow base from Essence is extremely creamy and feels like concealer compared to my other options, especially as Painterly is now at the dryer end of it's life. It can feel a little greasy on the eyes but for someone with oily eyelids and at this time of year it's working well to keep eyeshadow in place. It's definitely not going to replace my other options but it's a good option to choose when looking to save a few pennies.

Having tried these four products with success I'll definitely be making sure I seek out a Wilko store to see what else is on offer. Have you tried Essence before?

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Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Sephora Z Palette & Mac Eyeshadow Collection

Sephora Z Palette

Way before I knew beauty blogging was 'a thing' I loved Mac eyeshadows. Above are some of my first Mac eyeshadow purchases and yes I was pretty bold - no neutrals here. I used to purchase them as singles until deciding to depot them and store in large Mac compacts.

When I was heading to Dubai I wanted to take some of these bolder colours away to play with but the Mac palettes aren't the most travel friendly and larger than I would like. Then I remembered the Sephora Z palette I had purchased and was sitting unused in a drawer.

I have the smaller sized palette which in comparable Mac terms would house four eyeshadows but the trusty Z palette holds nine which is pretty amazing in my mind. I have often found that I always seem to want just one more shadow to play with when using my Mac palette and the Z palette clearly knows this.

Z palettes are slim, magnetic palettes which allow you to put any combination of products, be they blushes or eyeshadows as you chose. I'm now very tempted to start depotting all my eyeshadows and blushes and putting them in Z palettes.

If you're interested to know how I initially depotted my Mac eyeshadows it was pretty easy but must be done with care. You can see plenty of YouTube tutorials online but in short you heat up the item you want to depot (I used hair straighteners) to loosen the glue and using a pin or similar ease the shadow out of it's holder. Be very careful at this stage as the metal of the product will be hot!

The Sephora Z Palette even comes with what looks like a cuticle pusher to help you and magnetic strips for adhering the products to the palette, although at the time I used magnetic strip I brought from a local craft shop.

What I particularly like about the Z palette in comparison to the Mac versions is that you can easily remove eyeshadows at any time. With the Mac palettes because they fall into their individual slots, removing them is difficult and I've damaged colours along the way just trying to move about.

For those interested the colours in the palette are; Swimming, Wondergrass, Chrome Yellow, Orange, Creme De Violet, Parfait Amour, Freshwater, Bang on Blue and Jewel Blue. Some I think may have been discontinued but I know quite a few are still available.

Have you used a Z palette before?


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Monday, July 20, 2015

Summer Holiday Essentials


Two holidays and sunshine in the UK here's the line up of must have items you need whilst enjoying or suffering (for us underground commuters) warm weather.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser*
Having made an appearance in my June Favourites post it's no surprises I'm highlighting this as a Summer must have. In fairness whilst I'm a big fan of the Caudalie tinted moisturiser and it is my current favourite it's symbolic of all lighter bases. Other favourites of mine include the Erborian BB Creme and Manuka Doctors ApiRefine CC Cream. No one wants to feel suffocated by their base at this time of year or certainly not on holiday and these lighter choices are the way to go.

Benefit The Porefessional
A primer is a must have whilst the sweat is on and if you're not against those with a silicone feel Benefit's Porefessional is the way to go. I have used other primers in the past but this remains my favourite and will be repurchased. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it makes pores disappear, as we all know that's not really possibly but I do find it gives me a smooth base to being applying my make up.

Percy & Reed Eau My Goodness Shine & Fragrance Spray*
This is a complete vanity product which I'm sure some will look at and ask themselves, Fragrance for the hair? Is this a step to far. I'm not going to disagree but I have to say I really enjoyed using this on my holidays particularly during the day. This would be when I'd pull hair up on to my head without washing and sitting round the pool I wouldn't be using perfume so a spray of Eau My Goodness would help me feel like I wasn't a completely mess.

Scissors
Random it may be but scissors are an absolutely necessity for me, and I don't mean fiddly little nail scissors either. From cutting tags off clothes to getting into difficult packaging a 'proper' pair of scissors always accompany me on holiday and this pair sits in my dressing table to be used as needed.

John Frieda Beach Blonde Range
Firstly I'm not blonde so anyone put off of using this range for that reason, cast your doubts aside. I'd seen the Beach Blonde range popping up on blogs of late and was intrigued how the Beach Blonde Sea Waves Salt Spray would fair against my favourite Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray. I have to say it's a pretty good and more affordable competitor - and the smell is holiday in a bottle. For coconut lovers this is one for you. I'm really into letting my hair dry naturally at the moment and a few sprays of this and I'm left with gently tousled hair that's office as well as beach ready.

I'm less enamoured with the Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo and Beach Blonde Smooth Seas Detangling Conditioner although that isn't to say they're not good products. I rarely get excited about a shampoo and conditioner unless they leave with me with big bouncy hair and the these two products are designed to cleanse your hair and as such this can often leave things a little flat and therefore a frown on my face. This aside I realise the importance of using these two products when hair is piled with products, exposed to the sun and pool water and for that purpose they leave hair clean and in a far better condition.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
I was pleased to receive a small travel sized edition of this setting spray many moons ago and was pleased to give it a try. Whilst I used to use for nights I rarely picked up on a daily basis so I never quite got to grips with it's worth. It really stood the test of time in Dubai when I experienced heat like no other. I couldn't believe how well using this setting spray kept things in place (with of course my primer and trusty Chanel Les Beiges powder). As such I repurchased prior to heading off to Ibiza and am using daily for work and finding my make up is staying in place far longer than it ever had. This is very much becoming a daily essential.

What products must you have to hand throughout the Summer?


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Saturday, July 18, 2015

Bratz Are Back

#bratzareback
Last week I was invited down to The Sanderson Hotel to see the relaunch of the Bratz dolls which hit Argos website to buy this morning. The original line up of Cloe, Yarmin, Jade and Sasha have been joined by a new friend Raya as well as embracing the digital age with lots of online content such as an app and a series of websiodes on their YouTube Channel.

With the new range of dolls and playsets Bratz wanted to ensure that all girls would find a doll they can relate to and empower them to create their own Bratz world whether through the online content or the range of fashion accessories available to them.  


Starting £14.99 is the core collection of dolls 'Hello My Name Is'. Each dolls comes with an outfit to compliment their personality - all Bratz are different in their own way - and a number of accessories so that just one doll gives your child everything they need. I know my niece would have hours of fun with them. 





For older Bratz fans there is the #SelfieSnaps collection priced at £16.99 which includes items such as a phone cases and selfie sticks or if you're more of a fitness fan and prefer a more natural look on your Bratz doll then maybe the Fierce Fitness range is for you. You have Yasmin the yoga fan including her own yoga mat or maybe hiking with Cloe is your preference in her camo cargo trousers. 



At £24.99 you have the Study Abroad range, join Sasha in the UK with her tartan outfit and plate of fried eggs or maybe you'd prefer to visit Mexico with Raya and a suitcase I'm rather jealous of. 

Whilst you may not be ready for Winter the Bratz girls are ready with the SnowKissed range at £32.99 including sledges, ski's and snowboards. 



Finally there is the more expensive, larger gifts sets which would make the perfect Christmas presents. My favourite was the Sleepover Spa and Hair Studio - even the sink will really work! You can also find a remote control car or Photo Booth for your Bratz friends. 

Its a fantastic range and the new addition of online content means that it encourages children to embrace their creativity without ignoring the fact that we live in a world where children enjoy playing with iPads and watching YouTube videos. With dolls that can be enjoyed by young and older siblings alike it's fun for everyone. 



I know what my niece will be getting for Christmas, it might just make up for her disappointment that I didn't take her along to the launch! For now the full range is available at Argos but from 31st August you can find it in all your usual retailers. Can you see yourself being a Bratz fan?


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Friday, July 17, 2015

Nailbox Subscription Service

Nailbox Subscription Service*
If beauty boxes have never made you want to sign up to the subscription service because you're more of a nail lover than nailbox* might be just the thing for you. Launched in April and following the usual format  of these services, every month you will receive a box of five nail items delivered directly to your chosen location. These five items will be comprised of three or four nail polishes and one or two nail tools or treatments from as little as £13.50 per month (depending on your subscription choice). 

Each box is a surprise and will contain on trend colours. You will never receive the same products twice so there should be something new for your to try each month. Also unlike other subscription services your items arrive in regular cardboard boxes to ensure that the money you pay is put towards products rather than packaging.

I received the June nailbox which contained three nail polishes from Essie, Tanya Burr and Nails Inc. Also included was blogger favourite Seche Vite Top Coat and Elegant Touch Cuticle Nippers. The value of this box is approx £45 so you're certainly getting value for money. So you might have a pair of cuticle nippers at home but I'm pleased I've received a second set as I can pop a pair into my make up bag in the office, something I've been meaning to do for some time. 

If were to express concern it might be that for example April's box contained a nail file and I'm loyal to my Leighton Denny crystal file so this might remain unused. That said the April nailbox contained four nail polishes so still proved value for money - and who doesn't need a spare nail file?

Back to the contents of this months nailbox  and I'm very keen to try the nail polish from Tanya Burr as this will be my first opportunity too try something from the range and whilst I've not been overawed by Seche Vite in the past I will be more than happy to give it another chance. Sometimes the beauty of these services is your pushed out of your comfort zone to try something new or give a product another chance. The orange might not necessarily be a colour I would choose for myself but I can't deny it's perfect for the time of year.

Unfortunately this is a UK only service but if you're keen to sign up I think it's well worth it. July's nailbox has the theme 'Tropical Treats' so I can't wait to see what is delivered to my door.

Furthermore if you are a subscriber to nailbox you are entitled 15% off every order at nailpolish.co.uk   

*PR Sample 


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