Summer Scent | Yves Rocher 'Moment De Bonheur'

Yves Rocher | Moment De Bonheur L'eau | £38.00* | Link

As soon as the warmer weather rolls around, I tend to ditch the heavier perfumes and opt for something lighter, brighter and altogether more summery.  My newest addition to my perfume collection is this little beauty from Yves Rocher - 'Moment de Bonheur L'eau' (definitely a tricky one to roll off the tongue if anyone asks what it is you're wearing...I'm sure my accent doesn't do it justice whatsoever). If you're a bit of a summer-y perfume collector like myself, then you'll know exactly what I mean when I say this one falls under the same umbrella as Mac's 'Turquatic' or DKNY's famous 'apple' perfumes - perfect sunshine-y scents.  Yves Rocher's offering is a gorgeous, light fragrance with slight woody undertones - it's one of those 'clean' fragrances that instantly make you feel refreshed and awake. It definitely has a hint of fruity-ness to it but it's very sophisticated and not overly sweet.  Personally, I've grown quite addicted to it and I find myself spraying it even if I'm staying home for the day simply because I love it so much.What I like about it is that it isn't too 'young' - sometimes, summer scents can be a little too sweet for me but this one suits my tastes perfectly well - it has a sort of botanical hint to it that makes it a little bit different from what you'd usually expect.

The bottle reflects the scent - very simple, understated and fresh.  It's a lovely size to pop into your handbag too and I've been carrying it around with me for the past couple of weeks. Like a lot of summer perfumes, this one doesn't stick around for too long so I do find I have to top-up quite a bit throughout the day - but even once the zingy top notes have worn off you're left with a subtle summery scent (admittedly, I'm a bit of a perfume over-applier anyway...I'd probably bathe in the stuff if I could...) I've already decided that it's going to be the perfume I'm taking on holiday with me this year - it's much more of a daytime fragrance but I personally quite like the idea of wearing it out in the evening - plus, when I come home, I know it's going to remind me of sunny days, beach walks and balmy, Mediterranean evenings - isn't it funny how certain scents take you back to memories in an instant?! I'd certainly class this as a Duty Free treat - it's well worth having a spritz if you spy it in the airport before you jet away.  Overall, I'd say this will be a fabulous contender if you're looking for this year's summer scent or a new perfume to pop into your suitcase. You can find Yves Rocher perfumes and other products on the website here.

What's your favourite summer perfume?

New Fragrance Favourite | Jimmy Choo Flash London Club Perfume

Jimmy Choo 'Flash London Club' Perfume | World Duty Free* | Jimmy Choo Site |

When it comes to fragrance, it's fair to say I have quite the collection. Call me a marketer's dream but I adore the designs of bottles and boxes and I easily fall for luxurious and quirky names. However, only a select few manage to make it to 'everyday scent' status.  Jimmy Choo's new offering - 'Flash' - has to be one of them.  I instantly fell head over heels in love with it.  Now, I know it's near on impossible to describe a perfume through words - so I shan't attempt to provide you with a load of poetic dribble.  The only way I can describe it is 'musky'. It contains hints of citrus, as well as having a certain 'woody' tone to it so it has that almost 'sweet yet sour, girly yet sophistated' sort of vibe going on. It's really pretty without being overpoweringly sweet and it has sort of crispness it.   If you ever bought the original Jimmy Choo fragrance, 'Flash' is much like it's muskier, less sweet cousin.  I have to say I think I prefer 'Flash' to the original - big claims there - but if you weren't much of a fan of the original, don't let it put you off giving this little beauty a sniff.  They're completely different. World Duty Free describe the scent as 'Fruity, Powdery, Sensual and Warm' - I definitely agree it has powdery hints to it - it's really sultry.

The bottle is stunning - a gorgeous, quirky and fun design inspired by disco balls and decor in London Clubs - it oozes glamour and gorgeous-ness.  I adore the purple colour, the delicate detailing on the sides of the cube and the 'dipped in glitter' effect.  Dip something in glitter, colour it a girly shade and give it an appealing lid and, well, I'm sold.  But it's not only the bottle design, the fragrance itself is simply stunning.  It also lasts ages.  Honestly, spray this in the morning and it will last all day long. It lingers. I've had so many people ask me what perfume I'm wearing - people at uni, my mother - even somebody in my bus queue the other day! One of my friends commented on how lovely it was - and said she had been catching whiffs of it all day.  Thumbs up, Jimmy Choo, thumbs up.  My mum has even lined it up as her next perfume purchase - everytime she's in town she gives it a quick spritz before coming home...

I kid you not, I've been wearing this non-stop since I received it.  And I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I do.  I liked the original, but I love this one and I will grab myself a new bottle in a heartbeat.   It's currently £35.50 in Boots for 40ml if you fancy using up your advantage card points (anyone else spend theirs on new perfume? I do! I save them until I have around £60 and then go CRAY!).  All Beauty also have it on their website for an amazing price of £27.95 for 40ml - well worth it!

Have you tried the Jimmy Choo 'Flash' perfume? What are your thoughts on the Original Jimmy Choo fragrance?

Zara Treats | Messenger Bag & Apple Juice Perfume

So, I hopped into Zara the other day, as you do, and came out with a couple of treats for myself.  I'd tell you it wasn't planned but that would be a complete lie - I'd been daydreaming about the pastel blue Messenger Bag ever since I saw it on the lovely Julie's blog a couple of weeks or so ago.  I have a bit of a thing for anything blue - I wear it on my nails all the time and my favourite blazer is a bright cobalt colour - just anything blue I'm instantly drawn to when it comes to beauty or fashion related stuff.  Therefore, I had to have this bag. Purchase fully justified.  It's quite small but it will fit in all the essentials for a shopping trip or evening out. If I'm ever feeling particularly ruthless with what clutter I'm taking with me I may get away with it for uni on the odd occasion.  Either way - I needed it in my life.  The colour is just stunning and it will add a lovely, subtle pop of colour to any plain outfit - I love the gold chain against the pale shade and its minimal appearance on the whole. Yes, I'm in love. It's love. I could sit and gaze at it's beautiful gold detailing all day *swoon*

I also picked up some Apple Juice. No, not of the beverage kind ;)..ffs. Zara have an array of perfumes and every time I walk on by I always catch a whiff of the gorgeous scents.  There has always been this particular fragrance that has caught my attention but I'd never been able to find out which one it is (spraying perfumes on every inch of your limbs results in a bit of a muddle). However - I finally cracked it and worked out which one it was! Apple Juice is the perfect fragrance for this time of year as it's light and fresh without being too soft. I wouldn't even say it smells incredibly like apples - just a nice, fruity scent with sweet top-notes that aren't so sweet they become sickly (there's a tiny hint of apple-y goodness in there).  If you've ever tried the DKNY 'apple' perfumes then you'll love this one! It's a great deal cheaper at just £9.99 and smells just like any high-end perfume would smell.  Even though it's a lighter scent I think I'll be wearing this well into the Autumn or maybe even all year round - its just my cup of tea for a lovely daytime scent. I highly recommend you give it a sniff if you're a fellow perfume-addict like me and like a clean, fresh scent now and again.   Zara, you have impressed me with your absolutely smashing perfume selection...

Apart from treating myself, I've been interning at a design agency the past couple of weeks.  It's safe to say I'm feeling slightly worn out tonight so I'm just spending my evening having a little browse on the t'interwebs. I'm currently bidding on a Topshop dress on eBay that I really want in my wardrobe... However, it seems someone else is also equally determined to get their grubby mitts on it... Grrr! Keep your fingers crossed for me ;)

Have ever tried Zara perfumes? What's your favourite one? I'm tempted to get another...

April Favourites

It's the beginning of another month. Which can only mean one thing. Favourites time! I do hope you have all been enjoying the rare occurrence that has been this wonderfully sunshine-y bank holiday! For those of you who are blessed to live in sunnier climes (lucky devils, you), it is simply an unwritten rule that whenever the sun decides to show itself in the UK, everybody, everywhere across the whole country must adorn their summer wardrobes, dust down their flip-flops and herd to the nearest watering hole. And stay there. Even when the sunlight is fading for the day and a mere strip of light on the pavement is all that remains of the excitement of the past few hours, we stay there. Until every last ray that we can possibly squeeze from the day has disappeared.  And even then, by heck are we taking our sunglasses off!? I love it when the sun comes out - it's amazing how much happier it makes you feel and even the simplest things like going for a walk and queueing for a Mr Whippy feel like the most exciting thing you've done since forever.  The pubs are full of bare beer bellys and football shirts galore, and the air is filled with many a whiff of BBQ's from every single garden on the street.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a red-hot summer now (even if red-hot simply means that we remain in decent double figures for more than the one week of nice-ness we usually get..)  Anyway, typical British rambles aside...here are a selection of my monthly loves..

| Moroccan Oil Treatment |

After using my mother's sample size of the Moroccan Oil treatment, it's safe to say I'm hooked. So much so I now have a fuller version.  You may have seen my post a while back on my love for hair oils (here), and my love very much remains the same.  I can't say I can tell a huge difference between this and my Macadamia Oil, but the smell of the Moroccan Oil is just divine. Honestly. I urge you to sneak a little sniff of this beauty if ever you get the chance. It's just what dreams are made of.  Yes, it's pricey. But it's worth every penny and a bottle like this would last you an absolute age! It leaves your hair feeling incredibly soft and nourished and I will never ever wash my hair again without applying some form of oil to the ends. Honestly, trust me on this - never again will conditioner simply be enough.  I really want to try their shampoo and conditioner now - my mum uses them and loves them to bits so I'm definitely on the hunt for some to try for myself now!

| Mac Turquatic Perfume |

The sun came out. So it's only fair that this little beauty came out too. If you have never copped a sniff of this summer-staple, I urge you to do so right away. Seriously, go knock yourself out and drown yourself in it. It's beautiful. Now, I'm no good with describing scents whatsoever, but I shall try to nonetheless. Imagine sitting by a pool somewhere tropical, cocktail firmly in hand and the sound of the sea gracing your ears. It sounds obviously cheesy, I know, but conjure up an image of your ideal sunshine getaway and this perfume is exactly what it would smell like. Right down to the tropical fish swimming around your ankles.

| Benefit High Beam |

I wrote about this product briefly a while back when I reviewed Benefit's Coralista set (here) and I've always enjoyed using it.  Ever since I first sampled 'Sun Beam' a while back it's safe to say I've had great admiration for these highlighters. The past month, I've been using this over all of my powder highlighters (my Nars 'Albatross' has taken a firm backseat for now) and I just love the dewy glow it gives.  You don't need a lot at all, and just a few dots of it along your brow bone and your cheek bones blended into the skin with a small fluffy brush gives such a gorgeous bit of dimension to the face without being glittery.  I find it looks a lot more natural than my powder highlighters and it's perfect for the slightly warmer weather we are having - I love that it looks dewy and glowy without looking false. It looks like your own skin. No glitterball-face in sight!  I even pop a few dabs on my chest area if I'm going out - it's such a versatile product, and one that I guess I didn't realise just how good it was until just recently. I'll definitely be buying the full size bottle once this runs out - and I really want to try Moon Beam now.

| Nyx Cream Blush in 'Natural |

This blush is one of my spring/summer staples (I actually have two pots of it so I have back-up!) and I included it last year in my 'Top 5 Summer Blushes' (you can have a nosey at that here). I have another shade of theirs and absolutely adore the consistency.  I'm really not a fan of cream to powder blushes as I find them drying - so this one is perfect because its moisturising enough to feel silky smooth on your cheeks but not so heavy that it slides off. Nyx have got the creamy texture spot on the mark and I get a good few hours wear out of them before they fade.  They don't go patchy either.  I simply love the shade - it's a perfect pinky-nude shade, making in the perfect summer companion. 

| Loreal Super Liner Perfect Slim Liquid Liner |

OOf. What a mouthful! I'm a big fan of liquid liner. And a big fan of Loreal's.  I usually use their ever-famous Super Liner Carbon Gloss, but on a recent makeup spree I decided to throw this one in the basket instead.  I wasn't instantly fussed but now I find I'm reaching for it quite a bit and I really quite like it! It's different to the Carbon Gloss due to the slightly thinner, and less flexible tip that makes it more of a felt-tip styled liner.  It's slightly less glossy and looks a little more matte in finish. What I love is the the fact that you're able to vary the weight of line effortlessly, and cat-flicks on the outer corners of your eyes are much easier to achieve. I really like it. Stays put all day, a doddle to apply and a offers a little more precision than other liquid liners I've tried.

| Mac Lipstick in 'Freckletone' | 

I've just realised I have no photograph of the lipstick in the bullet, but I've actually taken photos for a compilation of my nude lipstick collection to be posted soon so it will be included there.  This lipstick deserves a lot more recognition. If you're a fan of Shy Girl - then you will love this. It's a beautiful glossy mid-peach/nude shade that looks very flattering on both pale and darker skins. It's also rumoured to be a favourite of Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. Who can argue with that!? It's a lustre finish so wear time can be a little disappointing, however I can overlook this. It's such a gorgeous, glossy shade and one that I've been wearing almost every day since I bought it.

Also, before I tottle off to paint some more pictures for my children's book (the end is in sight!) I thought I'd be a little bit cheeky and mention the Cosmo Blog Awards. If you're a regular reader or somebody that enjoys reading my blog, it would mean one heck of a lot if you hopped over and voted for me here (it only takes a second or too..I promise)! My category is 'Best Established Beauty Blog'. I shall give you the biggest virtual hug ever if you decide to drop little old me a mention :)

What have you been loving in April? Anything here take your fancy!?

March Favourites

Where has this month gone? In fact, where is this year going?! Nothing highlights how fast the years begin to go by when you're getting old like a good ol' monthly favourites post. Last week saw the clocks go forward ready for Spring. I must admit, getting an extra hour of daylight each day is a blogger's dream - no longer have I got to get up at the crack of dawn to photograph products like a mad woman! I missed the boat for my monthly favourites last month, so I relished picking out some of my favourites from the past few weeks for March's offering (explains why I have 10 - a little more than usual..apologies!). Here's my mini-reviews and thoughts for you to dip into this month..

Ecotools Bamboo Kabuki Brush | £9.99 | 

I've been wanting a brush for a while that I can apply bronzer to my face with, but one that offers a sheer, even coverage. This one is perfect. I'd never tried Ecotools before but I really like them (I've also picked up an eye brush recently) - the bristles are so soft and smooth and the chunky handle is really good for grip. Also fairly lightweight and small in size, this brush has been my perfect bronzing companion.

Mac 'Plink' Lipstick (lustre) | £14.50

Another Mac lipstick. I swear I adopt a new favourite Mac lipstick every month! A while back I did a collection post on my Mac lippies - but I'm going to have to redo it in Summer as the selection I have seems to have bred slightly... This colour is beautiful for everyday. It's a lovely seashell pink with a little bit of shimmer to it.  It shows up on the lips even though it's a lustre finish, and is a perfect 'your lips but better' colour that brightens the complexion and looks lovely with a natural blush and neutral eyes. I love it.

YSL Rouge Volupte 'Nude Beige (#1)' | £24.50

I bought this a while back whilst on holiday but it's a lipstick I always go back to. I really love the formulation - although it's very soft and can be quite slippery to apply, the colour pay-off is second to none and the colour is really natural and pretty. It's a lovely nude shade with hints of warm, light pink. Very flattering on my paler skin throughout these colder months.

HD Brows Palette in 'Bombshell' | Bought in a blog sale 

I've wanted a HD Brows palette for ages. When I saw this one in a blog sale recently I snapped it up! I had my eyes on the dark version but threw caution to the wind and went for it anyway. I'm so glad I did, as the colours are spot on for me. The powders are wonderful - really silky and smooth and apply really evenly, and the little brush and mirror that come with the palette is really handy. They also last amazingly well and the dark shade, 'Carbon' works very well as an eyeshadow. I might do a more in-depth post for this palette soon which I why I've skipped on the swatches.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Polish in 'Blueberry' | £3.99 

I did a post on these beauties a while back including swatches (you can find that here). I love them even more than the regular Barry M polishes and dashed out to grab more or less the whole spectrum of colours. They apply really nicely (2 coats and you're done) and dry very glossy.  Blue is my favourite colour to wear on my nails so I've been getting a lot of use out of this one (Greenberry is also a current fave!)

Hugo Boss 'Orange' Perfume | £32 (30ml)

One of my lovely colleagues at work bought me this a couple of years ago for Christmas. It's not a fragrance I'd have chosen for myself but when I got a whiff of it I fell in love. I've since bought 2 more bottles and am currently spritzing my way down this one! I'm not one for describing scents, but it smells really fruity - but not in the way you'd expect - very luxurious and a little spicy. I currently have my eye on the summer version,  'Orange Sunset' - definitely one to whack on the summer wish-list!

St Tropez Everyday Moisturiser for Face in 'Medium Dark' 

I'm very loyal to my St Tropez. I love their tanning mousse and very rarely cheat on it with other fake tans. This one I've recently started using again. It's a summer staple for me and I apply it when I want a bit of colour in my face! It's quite thick, so some of you may be put off by this, and it also smells a little more 'tan-like' than the mousse. But it does the job and I never look orange from using this - my skin always looks really smooth and even.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream (mini)

I got this as a sample ages ago. I've been using this the past few weeks and typically, I've fallen in love with it. I reckon the full-size is about £20 - so it isn't in the bargain bin of all the eye creams available on the market, but it's one that really does what it says on the tin. It's really smooth and has a gel-like consistency that applies like a dream and doesn't leave a sticky residue like a lot of eye creams I've tried. It feels really refreshing and de-puffs your eyeballs in an instant. Result.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Shade 2 - 'Peach' | £6.49

I was so intrigued by the formula of these blushes and when I found out they had a peach shade, I was sold.  It's not exactly mousse-like (definitely not the same as the Dream Matte Mousse formula - if you're wondering!), but it's very smooth and creamy, and really light and silky to the touch. Unlike any other cream blushes I own consistency wise, this one has become a current favourite and It's so easy to apply either with your fingers or with a stippling blush. It looks natural, and feels so light on the skin. It also blends incredibly well. A winner in my books! I wish they'd bring out a couple more shades!

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 'Soft Beige' | £6.99

I won't say too much about this, as I'm planning a full review soon. But my goodness, is this a good drugstore foundation.  As much as I love my YSL Touche Eclat (review here), I wanted an alternative for days when I wasn't going to be out long or just needed a quick fix. I've been wearing this for a good month now and have to say I really, really like it.  It's knocked 'Wake Me Up' out of the water for me and I much prefer the consistency of this one. It's less dewy, and gives a semi-matte/satin finish on the skin.  It can show up dry patches but I haven't really had many problems with this, and I currently have dry skin! A really good all-rounder that is worth a try if you're in the market for a good, medium coverage and lasting foundation that doesn't look overly dewy or overly matte.

What have you been loving this month? Anything here that tickles your fancy?

 ♥

Mac Haul | Lipsticks, Eye Kohl & 'Turquatic'

Oh deary me. Look what happened. Beth walks into Mac and yet again comes away with more than one 'little treat'. Ok, so I didn't buy all of this stuff in one go - that would be rather extravagant of me to say the least, but I have indulged in a bit of cosmetic related retail therapy just recently. I decided to grab a few more lipsticks - Mac are without a doubt my favourite brand to go for if I wish to treat myself to a new lippie or two... I just can't resist them and there's something rather fulfilling about building up my collection and seeing them all in my lipstick drawer stacked neatly next to one another.. (just me, no?) Anyway, I thought it was about time I shared my purchases with you all...

Mac Red | Satin | I actually went in with the intention of buying Russian Red - but I much preferred this shade as it's ever so slightly brighter.  I also don't find Satin as drying as the matte finishes.

Creme d' Nude | Cremesheen | I've been after a pale nude for a while now and it was a toss up between this one and Myth. Myth was just a little bit too much for me so I settled on this one - much more wearable for me and a shade that is a must-have in my collection. Perfect for pairing with smokey eyes or 'understated' days.

Half n Half | Amplified | I've wanted a muted brown toned nude for a while now. I actually bought Velvet Teddy a while back but it's just far too dark for me at the moment (you can view it in my Mac Lipstick Collection post here)- Half n Half is just that touch lighter and looks much more 'me'.

Up The Amp | Amplified | Definitely an impulse buy! I've wanted it for ages as I don't have many purple shades. This one is perfect as it's vibrant but isn't too dark for my skin tone - it's quite a quirky, fun shade!

Chatterbox | Amplified | I've wanted this for donkeys! This lipstick was made for me - from the vibrant pink tone even down to the name (if I was a Mr Men character I would most definitely be Little Miss Chatterbox...) I actually picked this up in a blog sale and I was so chuffed to bits to get my hands on it!

Mac Eye Kohl in 'Smolder' | I've never actually tried any of Mac's pencil liners! Shocking I know but I just think a smokey black liner is a staple item in any make-up bag and this one is renowned for it's staying power.

Mac Perfume in 'Turquatic' | Me and my perfumes.. honestly. I think I have some sort of strange obsession with buying scents! This one is gorgeous and it's the definition of a summer perfume! I cannot wait to spritz this as soon as the sunshine comes out!

...woops. What can I say.. these pesky little items just took a leap into my hands, dragged me to the till and forced me to pay for them.. I think I shall have to be doing an updated Mac Lipstick Collection post pretty soonish at this rate! Eek! Next on my wish list is 'Morange', 'Milan Mode' and 'Blankety'... and I wouldn't say no to 'Fanfare' either.. Goodness me there's no hope for my bank account is there?

What's on your Mac wishlist right now?

Christmas Goodies

| Items featured in photographs above |

Mac Blush in 'Blushbaby' / Topshop Nail Varnish in 'Rising Star' / Ciate Nail Varnish in 'Cupcake Queen' / Chanel Rouge Coco in 'Rose Comete' / Nail Art Selection Wheel / Nars Highlighting Powder in 'Albatross' / Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish set / Mac Brush Cleanser / The Body Shop 'Indian Night Jasmine' Fragrance Mist / Diesel 'Loverdose' perfume / Hugo Boss 'Orange' perfume / Urban Decay eyeshadow in 'Naked' / Paperchase Novelty bird stickers / Ted Baker iPhone Case / Ted Baker Shopper Bag / Sony Nex5R Compact System camera /

Everyone on my reading list seems to be doing Christmas hauls just recently, and like the nosey little elf I am, I decided to do one too. I also thought it would be nice to give you all a little taster of what to expect in the near future on my blog! Of course, being a beauty blogger means that loved ones know that any form of beauty related items are a winner for me, hence the copious amount of beauty related goods!  As soon as a birthday or Christmas comes around then friends and family can rest assured I have a whole word document saved to my computer's desktop full of beauty products I would like to try - I'm sure most of you are the exact same with this. My wishlist is endless and I'm constantly adding new things to it!

I've been wanting to try Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser for absolutely ages now, and my mum got my the set complete with muslin cloth so I can give it a whirl. She uses it and swears by it so I'm sure I'm going to love it too, along with the endless list of bloggers who also adore and cherish its very existence! The Urban Decay eyeshadow is a replacement for one of my much loved Naked palette shades which I've just ran out of (the shade is called 'Naked' and i use it for blending and everyday use and even to fill in my brows at times - I've written a post on the palette here). Of course, if in doubt, any items that are bird related go down a storm with me, and my mum wrapped up the novelty stickers in my stocking for me. They're definitely going to be popping up on all my sketchbooks and files at uni! And of course, my most prized possession right now is my new camera! I'd been saving for a while to buy myself a new one for blogging and general use, and the 'rents very kindly said they would help towards the rest of it as they've realised how much work I actually put into this little space on the interwebs. I'm so chuffed to bits with it! It has taken a bit of getting used to but I'm so excited to finally have a 'posh' camera. And who knows, maybe it means I might even delve into the scary, terrifying world that is YouTube in 2013... watch this space!

Have you done a Christmas Haul post? If so, let me know! I'll hop on over!

 ♥