S/S 17 TREND: PURPLE HAZE

As we begin to make the transition from the dark, cold Winter season into the warmer and brighter Spring/Summer seasons, I will be bringing you a mini series of this years S/S trends, and to kick start the mini series off, I will be showing you how to style one of my favourite colours; Purple! 

Traditionally the colour purple has always been seen as a colour that is for the Autumnal weather, with it being a deep, rich colour. However this year, purple is set to be a huge trend for the upcoming S/S seasons, and has been featured heavily on the catwalks during Fashion Weeks. A strong colour, and one that should be worn boldly..

I enlisted the help of photographer Matt McCormick, and we found a few hideaways in Leeds and I am beyond pleased with the results! What do you think to the images? Are you a fan of the 'Purple' trend? Will you be trying this trend out? Do let me know your thoughts, as I would love to hear from you all and any fashion tips that you may have, would be much appreciated!

*Tip - Wear purple with other bold, strong colours as it will create more of a striking look.

© Photography: Matt McCormick

ESTEE LAUDER; SYNCHRONIZED RECOVERY COMPLEX II

I have always found Estée Lauder to be the 'Crème de la crème' when it comes to their skincare, so you can only imagine how elated I was to have received a bundle of their products! The bundle I had received were all part of the 'Advanced Night Repair' range, which features many products which help to combat any wrinkles that you may have, and helps to keep your skin looking hydrated and radiant. Perhaps some of you may think it's a little premature for me to be thinking about wrinkles and anti-ageing, but I have always said that prevention is better than curing!

In this post I shall be reviewing the Synchronized Recovery Complex II, so be sure to check back in a few weeks for more reviews of the 'Advanced Night Repair' range!

The Synchronized Recovery Complex II is a serum, and is; 

  • Oil-free
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Ophthalmologist-tested
  • Won't clog up your pores
  • & is fragrance free!

I applied this after I had cleansed my skin at nighttime, and what I like about this, is how easy it is to apply! There is a pipette in which the serum comes in, and I applied a drop of the serum onto each fingertip on one hand, rubbed my fingertips together and then massaged the serum onto my face.

My skin has been rather dry lately, and I've been putting it down to the cold weather, and perhaps I haven't been moisturising enough as I should be.. But what I have found with this serum, is that is adds some moisture back into my skin, and helped to combat my dryness issues! My skin felt smoother afterwards, and appeared brighter and overall, a lot healthier! I also found that although the results weren't instant, if you stick to the routine and apply this nightly for a whole week, I noticed a difference after 8-9 nights of continuous usage.

You can purchase the Synchronized Recovery Complex II here, and don't forget to come back soon for more product reviews from the 'Advanced Night Repair range'!

Have you tried the Synchronized Recovery Complex II? If so, what do you think to it? Have you tried any of the products within the Advanced Night Repair? Which is your favourite? Let me know your comments down below, and don't forget to click that like button!

JO MALONE; TOBACCO & MANDARIN

Last year I had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of Jo Malone; 'The Bloomsbury Set' and learnt more about each fragrance within the collection. Coincidentally, I had received the bottle of my favourite fragrance out of the five, which was Tobacco & Mandarin! 

The Bloomsbury Set consists of;

  • Blue Hyacinth - Intoxicating bold blue hyacinth warmed by the Sun entwined with the vibrancy of garden Geraniums and woody Vetiver.
  • Garden Lilies - The scent of dawn at the lily pond captured with effervescent water lilies, dewy green sap and lush ylang ylang enhanced with white musk and a wisp of vanilla.
  • Whisky & Cedarwood - An enigmatic blend of fine whisky and opulent roses edged with spicy pimento, warm cedarwood and an intriguing accord of waxy wooden floors.
  • Tobacco & Mandarin - Vibrant mandarin and herbaceous sage, sweetened with the warm elegance of beeswax and sweet pipe tobacco.
  • Leather & Artemisia - The striking green facets of anise-tinged absinthe blend with aromatic artemisia, soft orriswood and the deep richness of leather enhanced by the amber woody notes of Cypriol.

The notes featured within Tobacco & Mandarin are; Tobacco, Mandarin, Beeswax and Sage.

What drew me to the Tobacco & Mandarin out of the five, was just how strong, yet sweet the fragrance was! Masculine, yet with a slightly softer touch to it. The first spray is sweet and fruity, with the Mandarin note blending beautifully with the earthy Sage note. Soon after, the fragrance takes a different turn, and becomes more smokey and muskier. In terms of the sillage of Tobacco & Mandarin, this fragrance definitely packs a punch, so only minimal sprays are needed! Tobacco & Mandarin lasted for up to 6-7 hours upon my skin, which I was thoroughly impressed with, and I have often been told that the fragrance can be smelt long after I have left the room... 

The Bloomsbury Set is now available both online, and in your local Jo Malone boutique stores! Each of the fragrance within the collection is available in 30ml and can be purchased here. 

Have you smelt any of the fragrances within The Bloomsbury Set? Do you have a favourite? If so, which one? Have you smelt Tobacco & Mandarin? Are you a fan? Let me know your comments down below, as I would love to hear your thoughts! (P.S. I am secretly hoping that Jo Malone will bring out a 50ml/100ml bottle of these fragrances!)

CLINIQUE FOR MEN - MAXIMUM HYDRATOR

Occasionally, whenever I have exfoliated my face, I have often found that afterwards my skin tends to feel slightly dry and appears to be flakey at times. So when it's come to finding the right moisturiser to combat my problems for after exfoliation, none of them have quite been as effective as the Clinique For Men; Maximum Hydrator!

I apply the Maximum Hydrator once I have cleansed and exfoliated my face, and I have found that it absorbed really well into my skins pores and left my skin feeling rehydrated!

My skin felt smoother to touch, and the texture of Maximum Hydrator was non-greasy ensuring that the cream was able to work to its full advantage. My face appeared radiant, and had a healthy glow to it, which let's face it, we all want right!?

The Maximum Hydrator has been a great introduction to the Clinique brand, and I have been lucky enough to have been sent a few more products from Clinique For Men, and I am currently in the midst of trying them all out, so be sure to check back soon for more reviews!

You can purchase the Maximum Hydrator here.

Have you tried any products by Clinique For Men before? If so, which did you try? Do you have a favourite product by Clinique? Do let me know your thoughts down below, as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

JO MALONE; DARK AMBER & GINGER LILY

Captivating, alluring and down-right beautiful.

Dark Amber & Ginger Lily is part of the Jo Malone; Cologne Intense range, which is now available in the new, smaller size of 50ml, alongside the other fragrances within the Cologne Intense range such as; Velvet Rose & Oud, Incense & Cedrat, Oud & Bergamot, Orris & Sandalwood, Tuberose Angelica and Myrrh & Tonka.

Dark Amber & Ginger Lily is possibly the most luxurious fragrance out of the Jo Malone collection I have tried so far! 

  • Top Notes: Black Cardamom, Ginger, Pink Pepper
  • Middle Notes: Jasmine, Orchid, Water Lily, Rose
  • Base Notes: Leather, Sandalwood, Kyara Incense, Patchouli, Black Amber

The opening of Dark Amber & Ginger Lily begins with a spicy and a fresh feel to the fragrance, with the Ginger and Pink Pepper notes leaping onto my skin. Shortly afterwards, those two notes become less prominent, and the fragrance takes a calmer, more softer approach upon my skin. Dark Amber & Ginger Lily then becomes more floral with the floral accords coming into play, which then creates an exotic, oriental take on what is a well balanced fragrance!

As the dry-down takes place, I find that the fragrance is incredibly rich and if I were to compare it to something, it would have to be silk. Just imagine the softest piece of silk, feeling incredibly luxurious against your skin. That's how I would describe this fragrance! In terms of sillage, I would say that this is moderate, strong enough to gain many compliments, yet subtle and soft enough not to feel too overpowering. The longevity of Dark Amber & Ginger Lily lasted between 4-5 hours upon my skin.

With the Cologne Intense Range now coming in the new 50ml sized bottles, I have to point out how cute the bottle looks right!? Ideal for slipping into your bag for your travels, and perfect for blending with other Jo Malone fragrances. A little tip? Try blending the Dark Amber & Ginger Lily with the Myrrh & Tonka fragrance.. You can thank me later. You can purchase Dark Amber & Ginger Lily here!

Don't forget to check out my other blog reviews on the other Jo Malone fragrances such as Myrrh & Tonka and Black Cedarwood & Juniper! Also, ahead of next months release of 'The Bloomsbury Set', be sure to keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming blog review on my favourite fragrance out of that set.. Tobacco & Mandarin! Trust me, it's incredible.

Have you smelt Dark Amber & Ginger Lily before? What are your thoughts? Have you got any Jo Malone favourites? If so, which are they? Are there any Jo Malone fragrances you think I need to try out? Do let me know, as I would love to hear your thoughts down below in the comment box! Also, don't forget to click that 'like' button!

KIEHL'S - PURE VITALITY SKIN RENEWING CREAM

I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I am now a Store Representative for the Kiehl's - Kings Street Boutique in Manchester! The Kings Street Boutique Store Opening was my first ever event that I had attended for my blog, so to come full circle a year later and be one of their Store Representatives, is a great feeling!

As part of their team, I had been invited along to attend the launch of their latest product; Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream. We had been given a brief outline as to what the product was all about, what it does for your skin, and the benefits of introducing the Pure Vitality cream into your skincare regime! After having learnt more information about the cream, we then all had a skincare consultation, to determine what our skin type was, and to work out what products could help aid us with any issues or problems that we had been having. 

My skincare consultation came back as normal-dry, which having had a skincare consultation with Kiehl's before, this was a disappointing result for me as both previous skincare results came back as my skin being classed as normal! However, I am just putting this result down to the cold weather outside, and a nudge for me to moisturise a tad more! I had then been given some samples to try out to reduce the dryness and get some moisture back into my skin.

I received the; 

  • Calendula Wash
  • Calendula Toner
  • Powerful-Strength-Line-Reducing-Concentrate
  • Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

We all also received a goody box at the end of the event in which we received;

  • 2x Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream
  • Ultra Facial Cream
  • Ultra Facial Cleanser
  • Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I had a great time at the launch, and I would like to thank the Manchester Kings Street team for inviting me along, and for letting me be a part of their Store Representative team!

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PURE VITALITY SKIN RENEWING CREAM

From attending the launch of the Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream, I have been trying this out every day up until now, 5 days in total to allow my skin to get used to the cream, and to give a fair and honest review.

The Pure Vitality Cream uses two ingredients which have never been used before in any other product formulations. It contains - Manuka Honey and Korean Red Ginseng Root. One of the best factors of using this cream is that it is 99.6% naturally derived ensuring that the ingredients used within the cream are as natural as you're going to get!

I applied the Pure Vitality Cream both morning and night, after my skin has been cleansed. I then evenly massaged the cream onto my face, and I immediately saw results!

My skin looked radiant and felt smoother to touch! Like most Kiehl's products, you only need a small, pea sized amount, and I found that I was still able to get full coverage only using 4/5 dabs of the cream. 

The texture of Pure Vitality is slightly 'gloopier' and thicker than what I am used to applying onto my face, but that would be down to the Mankua Honey ingredient featured within this.

                                                                                        Having said that, my skin absorbed the cream perfectly to the point where it felt very light on my face, to the point where I could no longer feel it! I also enjoyed the slightly earthy, yet creamy scent to the cream, and found it to be rather soothing. You can purchase the Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream here and don't forget to check out my other reviews of Kiehl's products such as the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Facial Fuel and many more here!

Have you tried the Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream before? What do you think to it? Have you tried any of the Kiehl's products before? If so, which one? Leave me a comment down below as I would love to hear from you guys, and don't forget to hit that like button!