When Italians make coffee

Many years ago I went on my first trip to New York, my first trip in fact to America. Among the things I wanted to do such as climb to the top of the Empire State Building and shop in Bloomingdales was drink coffee 'like an American'. I blame Ally McBeal.

I'm sure that sounds strange to those of you used to having a choice of coffee shops on every corner, but without making myself sound too old 'in my day' this was not the case. In fact it was more greasy spoon cafes serving a cup of instant if you were lucky. And once again this is not the instant we're used to today, or in fact the one I am sharing with you today from Lavazza*.

There was one problem to my 'coffee drinking plan'. I didn't actually like coffee, but I persevered and perhaps the offering from Dunkin' Donut's wasn't the best starting point but now many years and coffee's later I have something of handle on what makes a good or bad cup of coffee.

I've dabbled with coffee machines which serve a purpose for lattes and the like but whether it's for calorie counting reasons or not I often prefer a simple white coffee or Americano as it's more commonly known. I had got into a very lazy and inelegant habit of purchasing a cup of Nescafe Instant from the station of a morning (likely started after a particularly late night and accompanying hangover). At a cost of £1.30 per day it was starting to add up especially for a cheap cup of instant. I took myself to Primark, purchased a couple of their travel coffee mugs and started making my coffee at home.

Luckily for me Lavazza decided to send me to ensure I didn't slip into bad coffee habits and sent me their Lavazza Prontissimo! range, a premium instant coffee 'with an authentic Italian taste'. Lavazza Prontissimo! Medio* and Intenso* instant coffees are made using 100% Columbian Arabica beans, containing 'micro-granules' that ensure you drink a rich and full bodied cup of coffee in a matter of minutes.

I've found that in the morning I prefer the dark roast blend of Intenso which is well balance with notes of caramel which is perhaps why I favour it as I do love caramel in my coffee. The sweeter Medio has a low acidity and I find I prefer that particularly after a meal or perhaps with a chocolate treat later in the day.

Who needs fancy coffee shops or machines when you can have a good cup of coffee first thing in the morning in an instant care of the Italians.

*this post contains press samples

F.O.Y Fountain of Youth Skincare Review

There's been a lot of skincare testing going on for me lately and one of those brands is F.O.Y or Fountain of Youth. To make it clear from the onset this is a high end brand, or at least an expensive one and more suited to those with mature skins. Gulp - is that me now?

You also won't find F.O.Y in your local department store as it's currently only available from these London stockists but if today's post wets your appetite they will be found online very soon.

Who are F.O.Y? Originally the products found in the range were developed to provide post-operative treatment for patients undergoing surgery and non-invasive, aesthetic procedures. They were developed to provide patients with a range that allowed them to prolong the results of the aforementioned treatments at home.

Once F.O.Y realised that positive feedback from their clients including skin that felt renewed, smooth, supple and radiant they decided to allow those who were not seeking treatments to benefit from the products available.

My first thoughts when I saw the products was that it all seemed very minimalist in terms of packaging (if I was to compare to a more well known brand I'd think Clinque) and for a mature skincare range it was kept very simple.

Diving straight into the product as micellar waters go F.O.Y Cleansing Micellar Water* this a pricey one at £28.50. The claims listed are 'purifying and deep cleansing', 'moisturising and soothes the skin' and 'acts as a revitalising tonic'.  Unlike micellar waters I've used in the past this has a gel texture which I enjoyed but I still can't get away from wanting to do a 'proper' cleansing routine. Of course if you've undergone surgery you may not want, nor be able to get to the bathroom and complete such a routine so this might be wear it steps up. Likewise if you are going to rely solely on a micellar water is it worth spending the extra few pounds? I'll leave you to decide.

Containing Panthenol which is renowned for it's moisturising capabilities, increasing hydration, improving elasticity as well as chamomile, ginseng and marigold extras to sooth and calm skin. Finally there is rose water to soothe any irritated skin which would make it useful for anyone who suffered sunburn over the weekend.

You will have spotted F.O.Y Revitalsing Eye Gel* in my April Favourites which speaks for itself. A revitalising gel to target wrinkles around the eye which claims to firm and tighten the skin. I always wonder how explicitly I can say a product worked in preventing wrinkles without knowing how many 'you were due' but what I can say without contest is that I have found no creasing in my concealer since I've been using this product which speaks for itself.

As I mentioned in my favourites post it will be perfect for itchy eyes due to Echinacea extract and I plan to move this into my fridge for some added cooling benefits.

I wasn't particularly enamored by the F.O.Y Moisturising Day Cream* on first sight but I've almost used it all up so clearly it's doing something right. The F.O.Y range is unscented as you'd expect and I think I can often be lead to favour pretty packaging or scents but it was good to use a product where I was able to put those judgements aside.

Interestingly this is a product that feels both thick yet lightweight at the same time. I hope that will make some sense. By this I mean it feels heavy on application and it is good to allow the advised 1 - 2 mins to allow the cream to absorb in as I find even the smallest bit appears evident at first on the skin. After those couple of minutes it sinks into skin and its left feeling plump and hydrated without weighing down. Even when the weather has racked up the temperature and London Underground commuting makes things humid I haven't found make up sliding off my face and the odd dry patch I experience here and there has been none-existent which I put down to the inclusion of jojoba which balances oil production.

Finally is the product I've reached for least out of the four the F.O.Y Rejuvenating Night Cream*. This is not specifically down to the product more my lax attention to a night time regime and this sitting in a different draw, unlike others which sit in my bedside. I like night creams to have a scent and this doesn't so it may appeal to others but for me it was something I missed.

Again this is a personal taste issue rather than fault to the product itself because when I have used it's worked a treat. There's a whole host of ingredients which have benefits to the skin from fighting signs of ageing to stimulating collagen synthesis.

Keep your eyes peeled for when F.O.Y is released online, if you have the budget it's worth exploring.

*this post contains press samples

April 2016 | Beauty Favourites

It's a very make up heavy favourites post today as I  reverted to something of a lazy make up routine the past month and all these items tick the box for that. First up I'll start with some products you may recognise from my Superdrug Haul.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer is making waves in the beauty community and I jumped straight on that bandwagon and can say that for me the hype is deserved. I've never been one to just conceal and go but on weekends when I'm even less inclined to wear make up but want to make something of an event I've been sweeping this on, adding some Chanel Les Beiges Powder and I'm good to go. It doesn't crease under the eyes, far outweighing others I've tried and lasts all day. Another plus is it looks far more higher end and is less messy than other offerings in my collection.

The Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipstick in Devotion has been a big hit, as has the formula of this product. I did return to Superdrug to look at other shades but none sparked any excitement as Devotion did so I left empty handed and stuck with this favourite. A subtle shade of pink but not too subtle that it looks like I haven't bothered at all it goes with almost every outfit. The slightly chalky feeling texture goes on like silk and dries down without drying lips out so I'm crying for lip balm later. I can reapply throughout the day without fear of cracked lips although this is certainly a longer lasting product compared to others. It's definitely worth checking out if there's a shade that you like.

Next is L'Oreal's Brow Artist Plumper which has quickly replaced my former love of the Maybelline BrowDrama. With a much more sensible, smaller brush this is far easier to brush my brows out and fill in any gaps very quickly. It dries quickly and is far hardier against my annoying habit of stroking my eyebrows and definitely requires more effort to displace and ruin my efforts.

Carrying on my lazy make up theme I've been reaching for the Seventeen Mono Eyeshadow in Rose Quartz on a daily basis with my Zoeva 227 Definer Brush* for a quick eye make up look. Again I've never been a one lid colour and go kind of girl, even with my simple eye make up routines I'd always add something into the crease, outer corners and some sort of liner, until now. The Zoeva 227 is a worthy contender for Mac's famous 217 of which I have many but it's the 227 I've reached for. Blending out Rose Quartz on my lids and some mascara I'm happy enough with my make up to be seen in the office. The Mono Eyeshadows are compact, pigmented and last a day in the office which often is all I'm looking for.

As I continue my make up declutter I've pulled out Covergirl Blush in Pretty Peach that has been sitting in the draw for ages following a US Beauty Haul.  Hailed as a dupe for Mac Melba Blush it's become a firm favourite if not for the cheap and unpleasant packaging. I've been reaching for this a lot as the sun shines and it gives a nice soft glow.

Painting my nails is a chore I don't enjoy and I'm always torn between painting with normal polish multiple times or wearing gels and having the chore of removing to reapply. First world problems of course but I've settled on painting for nails as it feels like an easier process at times. Another Covergirl product and this is the red polish they brought out in their Star Wars range. It's your standard shade of red but applies nicely, if the brush is a little small for my liking. I get a good few days out of this before any wear starts to show.

Finally I'm throwing a skincare item in which has become a big hit as we hit hayfever season. I've recently been testing some products from F.O.Y and the stand out for me at the moment is the Revitalising Eye Gel*. This is very much a gel and I think I need to start keeping in the fridge for some extra cooling properties to soothe my itchy eyes. The packging is rather luxe for an eye cream and whilst it's not the ideal travel companion it's nice sitting atop my dressing table.

What have you been loving this month?

*this post contains press samples

Top Tanning Tips

As the sun is starting to show it's face I'm having to start showing some skin and this year I need to up my tanning regime but it does scare me a little. How do you prep the skin? What do you do to keep the tan looking even or long lasting? Hopefully if you're in the same boat as me today's post should help a little.

24 hours before tanning your skin it's time to exfoliate so your skin is prepped and leaves a smooth surface for your tanning product. My current body scrub is the Seascape Sea Salt Body Scrub* and my word this smells amazing. It's not the most practical of products in a heavy glass jar but it does make for a little bit of luxury which I am enjoying. Containing pure sea salt to nourish your skin, unclog pores and help remove dead skin cells it's a thick scrub which isn't abrasive to skin whilst still carrying out the task in hand. I like that it's thick enough to scoop up and massage into skin without lumps dropping into the bath or shower and being wasted.

The next step is one I always think I shouldn't do and probably where I'm going wrong. Leading up to and on the day you apply your tan use a body lotion to ensure your skin is soft and supple ready to absorb your tanning products. Don't forget to keep yourself hydrated by drinking 2 litres of water. Before tanning I make sure to pay attention to dry areas like elbows, knees and heels applying LDN:SKINS Moisturising Lotion* which is another product that smells amazing with a zesty scent.

Now it's the scary part, applying your chosen self tan. I have been using LDN:SKINS Tone 2 Self Tan Lotion* which comes in handy pump, a mitt for application and does not leave an unpleasant fake tan smell. It's important to take your time applying self-tan and find a routine that works for you to avoid streaks. The general rule is working upwards from your feet to ensure no crease marks appear on arms or stomach. If you become a real pro with your tanning you can even apply more coverage and contour specific areas but I think that's a stretch too far for me at this stage!

Of course if you're still not confident to go straight in with a self-tanner then you can always try mixing with your regular moisturiser (as long as it's oil-free) that leaves a lighter finish.

Finally it's aftercare. Your tan is on, it's developed and look like you've been on holiday in the sun for a week (not dodging hail stones as I was only last week) so what's next? Admittedly I usually tan for a party or specific event so I don't give aftercare another thought but if you've put in all that effort and can extend your tans life why wouldn't you? Tanworx Tan Maintainer* is formulated with carrot oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil to moisturise your skin and help you maintain your sunkissed glow whilst also aiding it to fade evenly.

I hope those tanning tips will be useful, if you have any others do let me know. My next one to try is the paint roller trick for my back.

*this post contains press samples

Naturtint Permanent Hair Colours

Last month I spent four hours sitting in the hairdressers drinking numerous cups of coffee as I had my hair coloured. If you have a little less time on your hands then you might prefer to check out Naturtint*.

Admittedly this recent hairdressers visit was for a more 'dramatic' hair colour change but prior to this I would often throw on a box of Naturtint to cover my greys. It was a rather frustrating task as it wasn't a case of having a head of grey hair but more those I had would show against my darker hair colour. For that reason I wanted to ensure that I was using the gentlest hair colour available of which Naturtint was.

Naturtint comes in the familar boxed packaging and is free from ammonia, parabins, SLS, silicones and the like yet enriched with natural and organic plant and seed oils to gently care for your hair and scalp.  Inside your box you'll find your chosen colour, colour developer, shampoo and condition and the newest addition, a Leave In Anti-Ageing CC cream which has seven benefits including strengthening, enhancing shine and nourishing. If you have dry or weak hair lacking gloss and shine often a symptom of ageing hair.

Naturtint is available in 30 shades from Ebony Black to Light Dawn Blonde (note you should only ever try to dye hair two shades lighter/darker with at home treatments) and is available at Holland & Barrett, selected Waitrose stores and independent health food shops.

Now it's time to 'fess up - are you colouring your hair to cover up the grey!

*this post contains press samples