Tuesday 28 August 2012

Fringe Benefits

Hello Lovelies,

Today's post is a very picture heavy one. I just thought I'd give you a glimpse into my first ever Edinburgh Festival Fringe experience! I have wanted to visit Edinburgh during Fringe for a very very long time, so when the opportunity cropped up I jumped on it:) My boyfriends Dad was directing a play about Woodie Guthrie (which was amazing) so I got to go for free. I had a wonderful time, despite a few grumbles about not knowing what we should go and see, I am raring to go back next year :P
I hope you enjoy the pictures as they are all completely random and mostly taken along the Royal Mile.






















 Have any of you had the chance to visit Edinburgh recently?
Were there any good shows you saw?

Let me know in the comments below and have a lovely day:)
Much Love
Lou
xxx

Saturday 25 August 2012

The Phantom

Hello Lovelies,

Last Tuesday my mother and I decided to book an impromptu trip to the theatre (not the best idea when its a nearly sold out show). We did however, manage to get good seats to go and see The Phantom of the Opera at Leeds Grand Theatre. My god was it amazing! The actors were fantastic and the whole stage production was breathtaking. We have been seriously bitten by the theatre bug and are now considering going to see Oliver when that roles around :)



I managed to get my mum to snap some quick outfit pictures for me along with a couple of the theatre. I tried to dress up slightly as we also went for a meal before hand, yet I still wanted to be comfortable. Here is what I wore...





(I am aware of my slightly heavy lidded smile:P It was the flash!)

(Obligatory awkward next to the poster pose)


 






Wearing:
Dress - Henry Holland@Debenhams
Cardigan from West One
Boots from New Look
Bag from Next
Earrings from M&S

I put up with some seriously embarrassing standard Northerner comments to take the poster photo ;)

So there you have it. A rather awkward, not so professional outfit of the evening :)
Hope you like it!
Have you been to the theatre recently?
Much Love
Lou 
xxx

Friday 24 August 2012

Fragrance Friday #7

Hello Lovelies,

How are you all today? Good I hope :) I'm currently sat on my bed completely exhausted from a rather busy day volunteering. I also need to cram in some Uni work before I go to bedfordshire! I would much rather be doing something that being sat around all day though:) Without further ado, it's time for another Fragrance Friday post.

Today I will be reviewing...

Dreams Unlimited by The Body Shop


This perfume was actually part of a gift set for Christmas a few years back. Its a fairly different scent to what I would normally go for however I still use it when I fancy something really fresh and light to wear.

Packaging
I don't dislike the packaging although it isn't overly fancy. I personally like really girly detailed perfume bottles although some of you may really like the simplicity of this one. It is a lovely curvy bottle with a sturdy silver lid. Nothing to write home about, but lovely non the less.

Price
This is a bargain at £14 and its an Eau de Parfum! I simply cannot fault the price as, like most Eau de Parfums the scent stays on the skin for a long time. Total bargain!

Scent
I actually really enjoy this scent although it isn't like the sweet and fruity perfumes I normally go for. I would describe this as a very fresh citrusy scent with a hint of melon. It is described as a fresh, white scent on The Body Shop website which I would have to agree with. It also has Green Chilli in it which I think is pretty cool. This is definitely a day time Summer fragrance.

Final Thoughts
Overall I find this perfume a lovely fresh Summer fragrance when I fancy something a little different. The price is fantastic and it has a lot of staying power. Perfect for the beach and a lovely, fresh zingy scent :)


Do you have a favourite Summer fragrance?
Much Love
Lou
xx

Thursday 23 August 2012

New Skincare Additions

Hello Lovelies,

If you watched my skincare video (link) a couple of weeks ago, you will have seen all of the lovely products I use on a day to day basis. That video was actually filmed around a month ago so naturally, I have acquired some more things since then. :P These two products have also worked their way into my routine since I arrived home from my holidays, so I thought I would do a quick review to update you all :)

Sudocrem Skin Care Cream

This was actually sent to me when I returned home from holiday, although I actually discovered it while I was out there. I tried my hand at body-boarding in freezing cold French waters only wearing a swim suit. The rest of my family wearing wet suits! It was actually very fun, until I realised that it had rubbed my stomach and legs completely raw *Ouch*. The walk I did from the sea to my towel really was something to behold! 

My Auntie gave me some Sudocrem* she had in her purse and my god did it help! It soothed it no end, and more importantly stopped it from scarring (my stomach was like sandpaper before using this *nice!*) Considering it had worked so well, I decided to try it for a couple of beauty related things. My Auntie had actually mentioned that Cheryl Cole uses this all over her face every night. Whether that is true or not I have no idea, (nor am i too bothered about Cheryl Cole, or 'Cheryl' as she now calls herself...) I first tried this on my cuticles and any hangnails I had. It wasn't particularly moisturising on my dry hands, but it cleared up all of the imperfections around my nails, leaving the skin in much better condition. I have also tried this for spots and it works a treat! You do have to remember to only use a small amount though as it is rather thick and takes a while to sink in. That being said, it will last for ages! Overall this is fantastic for protecting skin, so it can heal much more quickly. I know carry it everywhere :) 




Bioderma Crealine H2O

Yes, I jumped on the Bioderma bandwagon. I am however, incredibly pleased that I did. I picked this rather large 500ml bottle up when I was on holiday. It was also very cheap at only 11.99 euros which is around £9-10! Skincare is definitely cheaper in France :) 
The fact that this looks like water and has no fragrance, makes me very tempted to just throw it on a cotton pad and use loads of it. I have to rein myself in though, as if I want to repurchase it, its gonna cost a bomb. This is an absolute god send on my sensitive skin, its really refreshing and cooling yet removes makeup really well. Its also fantastic to hold over eyes to remove mascara whilst soothing the eye area. Apart from the fact this is not sold in the UK, I cannot fault it. A wonderful product that definitely lives up to the hype.


 (I like this photo because it looks like a glass of water :P)


Let me know any of your favourite skincare products in the comments below:)
Much Love
Lou
xx

*Pr Sample

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Starry Skies

Hello Lovelies,

Just a quick nail art post for you today. This was meant to be part of the 15 Days of Nails Challenge I attempted to pursue, under the Galaxy Nails day. Due to Holiday, Olympics and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, that plan went a little haywire! I really liked these nails though, so I thought I would show you anyway. :)



OPI Polish in Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous
Beauty Success Nail Polish in Blue Metal
Mavala Polish in Gold Glitter

It was really very easy to do, I just added a gradual layer of glitter getting less heavy handed with the brush as I reached the middle of the nail :) Hope you like them!

I recently added a new tab to my blog called 'Blogs Worth Reading'. I will be adding more and more of the lovely blogs I follow as time goes by. Go and have a look and I promise, you will discover some gems! :)
Much Love
Lou
x

Friday 17 August 2012

Fragrance Friday #6

Hello Lovelies!

I'm about to head into Leeds to go and see The Phantom of the Opera at the Grand Theatre eeepp! I'm so excited aha. Before I do though, I thought I'd post a Frangrance Friday for all you lovely folks out there :) I've been utterly busy recently as I have been to both the Olympics and Edinburgh Fringe since getting back from my holidays around 2 weeks ago. Mental! Anyhoo, I will be popping up some photos from those events soon. I also have lots of posts in the pipeline ready for when I go back to Uni!

This week I will be reviewing...

Per Una by Marks and Spencer


Now this can be described as nothing short of the perfume I have worn almost every day for the last 4 years! Crazy I know, but I am literally on my 3rd bottle of this. I love it so much I even have a little handbag size (picture shown:)

Packaging
The packaging for this isn't amazing although it is pretty cute. It is a simple cylindrical bottle with a lovely pink floral design (the floral design is a recent addition and is much nicer than the old bottles) It has a sturdy silver lid with the Per Una hearts embossed into the top. A very simple, practical and girly design.

Price
This is an absolute bargain at £15 for 50ml and around £3 for a handbag size. I have just checked the website and I think this particular version is discontinued:( although I imagine this may be the repackaged version for just £12.) I cannot fault the price as although it is only an Eau de Toilette, at this price you can afford to be spritz happy :)

Scent
This is a lovely sweet floral scent that is light enough to wear everyday yet still noticeable on the skin. It is described on the box as 'A sensuous feminine fragrance with fruity top notes of bergamont and orange with a hint of violet leaves. Centred around a floral heart of rose and jasmine, enriched by sweet caramel and warm rich woody base.' A long yet very accurate description.

Final Thoughts
This is the perfect everyday affordable scent. Feminine enough without being too much and also very affordable.

Do you have a perfume you have stuck with for years?
Much Love
Lou
xxx

Skincare Routine: Dry/Sensitive

Hello Lovelies,

I have a video for you today on my current skincare routine. I filmed this a while ago but never got around to editing it *oops!*
I have very dry, sensitive, eczema prone skin, yet I have large pores around my t-zone area (graphic but true.) Aside from this, I am very lucky as I rarely get spots, other than the occasional hormonal break out. I have really been focusing a lot more on my skin recently and trying to form more of a regimental routine that I am trying my best to stick to:P. Since filming this video I have added Bioderma Crealine H20 to my skincare, along with a few other things which I will post more on soon. All the information about where to get the products I mentioned is in the info bar on Youtube :)




Hope you enjoy the video.


I would also love it if you went and commented on my videos and subscribed to my channel :)
Much Love
Lou

xx

Thursday 16 August 2012

And the Winner is...

Hello Lovelies,

Today I'm going to announce the winner of my 100 followers giveaway. I was overwhelmed with the amount of entries I received especially on my little ol' blog. Thank you to every one that entered!

Image from We Heart It


Drum roll please!!.....

And the winner is...



Congratulations! An email is on its way to you as we speak:)

She also has a great blog so make sure you go and have a gander at that.

If you didn't win this time, keep your eyes peeled as I'm sure there will be more giveaways to come. 

Much Love
Lou
x

Friday 3 August 2012

Fragrance Friday #5

Hello Lovelies,

This week I will be reviewing...

Lovely Prism by Givency

(Sorry for the rubbish photo!)

I bought this years ago and have a little bit of a love hate relationship with it. I think the scent is nice but it might be a little old for me so I dont wear it all that often. It was also a gift from my late Grandmother when I was very young, so it holds sentimetal value.

Packaging
I actually really love the packaging for this. Im not so keen on the reflective box, but the bottle itself is lovely. I really like the subtle geometrical shape that ties in nicely with the givenchy logo. It feels very sturdy and it looks really nice on display.

Price
As I've had this for literally years and years (I think it was my first perfume) I have no idea of the price. Although it is an Eau de Toilette so I don't imagine it was hugely expensive.

Scent
There is nothing special about this scent to me. It is a lot more floral than I normally like which I think adds to the fact I think it is slightly old for me. I do like it although I would describe it as an expensive soap smell. So very fresh and clean, but not something I would normally choose in a perfume. That is personal opinion though, some of you may find this your perfect scent.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a nice perfume with lovely packaging, although nothing special. It is slightly too floral for my taste but if thats what you normally look for in a perfume you would probably enjoy this :)

Much Love
Lou
xxx

15 Days of Nails Challenge #3 Chic



Hello Lovelies,

Its time for day 3 of The 15 Days of Nails Challenge. I'm also going to be posting the latest Fragrance Friday instalment later on, so look out for that!

Today's theme is 'Chic' and this is my take on it...





When I think of chic nails I think of one simple, classic colour. Often quite a dark colour, but nothing too harsh. One of my go to nail polishes for this look is Ciate's Wait Until Dark. It is a beautiful deep pearlescent purple, it is nice and dark, without being too Gothic or OTT.


This is quite a simple look today, but I love it non the less.
Link me to your posts below.
Much Love
Lou
xx





Wednesday 1 August 2012

15 Days of Nails Challenge #2 Pattern

Hello Lovelies,

Today is the second day in the 15 Days of Nails Challenge and the theme is 'Pattern'.
I wanted to do something pretty but abstract at the same time. This is why I came up with this blossom design...




Now I am aware that this style of look has been done a lot before, but I thought I would try my own take on it and am rather pleased with how it turned out. Its nice and girly, but not in a sickly sweet kind of way (not that there is anything wrong with that :P)

You may recognise some of these colours from recent posts. The reason for this is I am still on holiday and have a limited amount of nail polishes to work with! Lets see if I can pull this challenge off for the next 3 days shall we without my stock:) 

As per usual I started off with two coats of OPI Nail Envy Original. For the base I used Sweet as Sugar by Rimmel, I then used my Loreal Super Liner to Draw the stems in. For the Flowers I used a mixture of Ciate's Jelly Bean and Mistress and OPI Sweet Heart along with the end of a kirby grip (as a dotting tool.) I then finished off with a coat of Seche Vite. 

So that's it folks!
I hope you are having a lovely day and make sure you check out Fee's post along with the others taking part here.
Much Love
Lou
x

P.S Today is the last day of my Giveaway. You can enter here if you haven't already done so! Good Luck :)

15 Days of Nails Challenge (via MakeupSavvy)

Hello Lovelies,

I have decided to take part (or at least try to) in Fee's over at Makeup Savvy, '15 Days of Nails Challenge'. It is essentially where you post a different nail look every day for 15 days. Each day has a theme (list below.) Feel free to take part in this challenge, (although credit Fee for the idea) and if you do, let me know as I would love to see your looks. 

List of Themes
1.Brights
2.Pattern
3.Chic
4.*Galaxy**
5.Nude
6.#Glitter#
7.Neon
8.Leopard Print
9.Red
10.Gradient
11.Metallic
12.Stripes |||
13.*Film Inspired*
14.Dots...
15.Anything!

Today's theme is 'Brights' and this is my spin on it... 




I was trying to work out how to incorporate a bright nail polish, without being boring, but also without going a bit OTT. 

I eventually decided to go for this gorgeous bright pink from Ciate called Jelly Bean then paint the cute bows on my ring finger, inspired by the gorgeous bottles. 

To draw on the bows I used my Loreal liquid liner, then added a small dot of Sweet as Sugar nail polish (post on that here) to add definition. I finished off with a layer of Seche Vite.

I love this look as it is nice and bright with a cute little twist (or bow!) 

Link me to your posts and go and check out Fee's take on brights here.
Hope you are having a lovely day :)
Much Love
Lou
xx


P.S I you haven't entered my giveaway you can do do here. Only 2 days left! :)