Jo Malone London "Highlands" Collection

Another year, another fabulous collection! You just know that with my Scottish blood there was no way I was going to miss this Highlands Collection!

Just like with the Wild Flowers & Weeds Collection from 2019, this collection beautified its glass bottles with flower motifs. But that’s not all! They also brought back Wild Achillea from that collection to go alongside the three new fragrances inspired by The Highlands; Highland Heather, Mallow On The Moor and Melancholy Thistle.

While I didn’t pick up Wild Achillea because it really did smell too much like weeds to me (but seems to be a fan favourite, if its out-of-stock status is anything to go by), I couldn’t leave any of the other three scents behind!!!

Luckily, this year I was in London for two days at the beginning of August so even though I did my dutiful visits to my local Belgian Jo Malone counter in INNO (with no luck), I was finally able to get my hands on the Highlands Collection in Selfridges! And thank goodness I checked there as I was seriously starting to despair after not finding it in Harrods, Covent Garden or St. Pancras Station. But that’s fair enough, since the UK has technically had the collection out since May/June.

Now I do warn you that Jo Malone has conflating information on their website about the exact notes, and their order, for each cologne in this collection. Even Fragrantica (my usual trustworthy source), wasn’t much help as they didn’t even try to list the notes.
So, I’ve done my best to combine the information from both the descriptions from the noses behind the creations as well as the actual listed notes on the official website. So hopefully I will have covered all the relevant notes even if their level of importance might be slightly off, so take this all with a grain of salt.

Jo Malone London Highland Heather Cologne

Upon first spray this is the most masculine scent of the bunch thanks to its vetiver opening note. However, as it develops (over a few minutes not hours), the lavender floral base really comes into its own and transforms the cologne to one with a slightly more feminine touch (I think Highland Heather wouldn’t have been amiss in the 2020 Lavenderland Collection). But even so, I would say this cologne very much caters to a unisex labelling even if, admittedly, the bottle itself is quite girly.

- TOP NOTES: Cypress and vetiver

- MIDDLE NOTE: Heather

- BASE NOTES: Amber and lavender

Jo Malone London Mallow On The Moor Cologne

Anyone for Parma Violets? If so, this is the perfect cologne for you! I love the quintessential British sweet even though my friends always equated them to eating soap, which fair enough…it’s an acquired taste ;)
Mallow On The Moor has that same exact powdery softness to its overall violet scent with the base note of roasted oak giving it a certain warmth as it develops.
Do be warned though, this one is strong! Less is more when applying this one ;)

- TOP NOTE: Violet Leaves

- MIDDLE NOTES: Mallow and orris root

- BASE NOTES: Heliotrope and roasted oak

Jo Malone London Melancholy Thistle Cologne

This one reminds me of the Roger & Gallet Sandalwood soap set. Think of a nice smelling masculine soap and you have this one nailed! Whereas Highland Heather has more of that “airy quality” that is a masculine aftershave, Melancholy Thistle has a powdery depth which makes it more akin to a soap. Either way, you will be smelling clean! I would also categorise this one as unisex even if it does lean on the more herbal/floral side thanks to its notes of thistle and English ivy.

- TOP NOTE: Thistle

- MIDDLE NOTE: English Ivy

- BASE NOTES: Broom absolute, coolwood and patchouli

As for longevity, all three colognes lasted upwards of 4-6 hours. And that was just on my skin, wear time was even longer on my clothes! This is way above average for colognes which belong on the weaker side of the perfume scale thanks to their low perfume oil to alcohol/water ratio, and hence usually only last up to 2 hours.
Talk about performance!!!

There you have it, my picks from Jo Malone London Highlands Collection.

Did you sniff or pick up any scents from this collection?

Have you ever visited The Highlands? It’s on my bucket list! Even though I spent 3 years at Edinburgh University and I’m half Scottish, I never actually managed to do it. I know…“Shame! Shame! Shame!”

What are you hoping Jo Malone’s next year’s limited edition theme is going to be?

P.S. The flowers in my photos are curtesy of the random roadside by my local Lidl (except for the blue thistles which are artificial and a lucky recent find). I’m sure all the cars that passed me by were wondering what on earth I was clipping the local wildflowers for. What can I say? Creative needs must!!!

xxxemma

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Jo Malone London "Wild Swimming" Collection

After the duds that were last year’s Jo Malone limited edition collections: the Brit Marmalade Collection for which I could not get past the ugly packaging (despite it containing one of my all-time favourite scents Blackberry & Bay) and the Blossom Collection which contained no scents that I found particularly appealing.

This year’s limited edition of Wild Swimming has come back stronger than ever!!! It also helps that the packaging has mint tinted glass and turquoise caps, which are my favourite colours!!!

Now that I know these limited editions are coming every year and Belgium has a track record for being very slow about getting them, I start checking from mid-June onwards (they release in the UK in April) to see if they have arrived yet at my local Jo Malone counter in the INNO Departement Store (on Rue Neuve). Pretty sure the saleswoman was getting tired of me coming in every two weeks to see if they were there yet but here we are!!! #noshame

The Wild Swimming Collection consist of four new fragrances: Aqua Lemon, Crystal Campion (also comes as a face mist), Forest Moss and Salty Amber. And it honours Wood Sage & Sea Salt from Jo Malone’s core line by offering it in both 30ml, 100ml bottles as well as in candle format in special, turquoise-toned limited edition packaging; simply gorgeous!!!

Now unlike 2020, when I was getting my Lavenderland duo set at a discount, I paid full price for Forest Moss and Salty Amber but that’s because I loved them both individually and as a combination. So technically I was getting three new scents for the price of two, which in my book is worth it!

Jo Malone London Forest Moss Cologne

Forest Moss is described on Fragrantica as a unisex woody aromatic fragrance. Can’t say that I agree, it has no “warmth” to it which is what I would normally associate with a woody fragrance. I would say it’s rather more on the refreshing side of things (thanks to the juniper) with a hint of feminine soapy floral (from the geranium) mixed in. Can’t say I detect any moss in it however and after taking these photos I’m pretty sure on what THAT is supposed to smell like ;)

Mostly I think it’s the geranium component (i.e. a lemony rose scent) that is the strongest with this cologne. Not a note which is usually part of my roster (think more sugary vanilla as my standard) but what can I say, it grew on me!

- TOP NOTE: Juniper

- MIDDLE NOTE: Geranium

- BASE NOTE: Moss

Jo Malone London Salty Amber Cologne

Salty Amber is described on Fragrantica as a unisex aromatic green fragrance. While I agree on the genderless aspect, I can’t say I know what this “green” element is supposed to be? Maybe green as in fresh? Certainly, this is the most aquatic fragrance I own. Usually, I stay well clear of aquatic marine scents as they put me off with their seaweed note. But Salty Amber with its strong overarching patchouli (a go-to note for me) merges its aquatic-ness with a soft powdery warmth, which is a unique medley that I’ve never come across before.

- TOP NOTE: Cardamon

- MIDDLE NOTES: Sea notes and myrtle

- BASE NOTES: Amber, seaweed and patchouli

The beauty of Jo Malone’s colognes, as they contain a minimal number of notes, is that they are perfect for mixing and matching without ever getting too overwhelming. So you too can become your very own “nose” without even taking a workshop for it!!! Forest Moss and Salty Amber when sprayed together smell like a fresh, slightly powdery patchouli with a hint of floral; quite exquisite!

There you have it, this year’s limited edition Wild Swimming Collection. What do you think?

Have you picked up any of the scents from this collection?

Also, have you ever been wild swimming? Can’t say that I have, sounds too cold for me…brrrrrr!!!

xxxemma

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Mango's The Craft Line - N°5 "The Creation"

Browsing the July sales, I came across what looked to be a new fragrance line from Mango; “The Craft Line” (created in 2021). I was immediately drawn to the sleek, modern and minimalist packaging of the stone-capped bottles and after a quick sniff of each, soon found my favourite to be N°5 “The Creation”.

Finally finding a N°5 I can get behind (sorry to any of my Chanel enthusiasts out there!), it is described on their website as a unisex fragrance (I would argue that it does lean a bit on the floral/feminine side though).

I quote: “A creation tells a story; beginning with an idea and growing into a final piece. An experience that comes to a whole and carries its own singularity. “The Creation” is a perfume that starts from spicy-fresh ginger and mandarin notes, growing into a heart filled with aromatic accords of cistus, anise and copaiba. The fragrance smoothly expands into sweet and mysterious nuances of benzoin and tobacco. An authentic journey to the East.”

Sadly, not to be found on the trusty Fragrantica website I did spot it (with its companions) on Parfumo.

- TOP NOTES: Ginger and mandarin orange

- MIDDLE NOTES: Aniseed, cistus and copaiba balsam

- BASE NOTES: Benzoin and tobacco

Personally, on first spray I don’t detect any ginger or mandarin but rather a warm vanilla with a citrusy undertone that makes it smell more like a modern soft floral. Hence why I disagree a tad on that “unisex” labelling.

It’s a very hard one to describe especially that “je ne sais quoi” factor, but I can say without a doubt that it has staying power despite being an eau de toilette and is in no way sickly, which I know a lot of my more “gourmand” vanilla-based fragrances can be.

Three sprays lasted on my jumper sleeve for a good two days and only wore down to its middle notes at about the 6-hour mark before reaching its base scent, which I would describe more as a soft patchouli than a benzoin/tobacco, by the morning of the next day. But that is on clothing, on my bare arm that transition was quicker and overall only lasted a day in comparison (reaching the base of soft warm patchouli at about the 9-hour mark).

There you have it, my perfect new summer fragrance! Granted, the more of the English garden picnic-kind, than the tropical coconut and beach-kind.
Plus, I can also see it pairing well with Jo Malone’s Blackberry & Bay come next spring, when all those crocuses and daffodils start peeping out from the ground after their winter slumber.

What about you guys? Any unexpected sale or new perfume finds?

I knew Zara had forayed into the perfume world, but Mango was a new one to me. Any other stores you guys know about?


xxxemma

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Charlotte Tilbury Jewelgasm

The moment I first saw this beauty in Allana Davison’s Vlogmas, I just knew I had to get it!!!
Jewelgasm is one of the two releases from Charlotte Tilbury’s Glowgasm Lips Collection. Both are pH changing lipsticks, however Glittergasm (which I didn’t pick up) is transparent with glitter particles in the bullet and didn’t quite catch my fancy as much as the crimson jelly-like Jewelgasm did.

Now you might be wondering, why in these mask-wearing times would I bother buying a €28 lipstick which nobody is actually going to see? Well, what can I say? It’s so pretty (heart-eyes emoji) and a nice little pick-me-up in my makeup routine which I’LL KNOW, is there!

Plus, since Brexit I wanted to find out how easy it was to order directly from Charlotte Tilbury’s website (as I had never done so before). And I can happily inform that in that regard I have zero complaints! Shipping for Europe wasn’t stupidly expensive, it didn’t involve weird post purchase VAT calculations (as tax was already included in the €28 price tag) and it arrived at my doorstep quickly and efficiently!

Now let’s move onto the actual lipstick, shall we?

As I’ve mentioned, she’s a beauty! But other than packaging, she is very much your average “pH changing lipstick”. All of them tend to change to that distinctive “bright pink” on me anyway. Compared to my much cheaper pH changing lipstick from BarryM, the Colour Changing Lip Paint in Genie, I can’t say I notice much difference in the final colour payoff.

To note, I don’t actually own or have tried the original colour changing lipstick (that started this whole craze) from Lipstick Queen in Frog Prince, as I’ve been perfectly happy with my BarryM dupe.

Now for application, do be warned, all colour changing lipsticks are stainers!!! So, if you smudge out your lipstick lines with your finger to get a more blurred effect, said finger will also be stained bright pink for the rest of the day (no matter how many times you wipe it off or wash your hands). And this Charlotte Tilbury one is no different (learnt that the hard way!).

But when it comes to lips this is a nice feature as once the hydrating properties of the lipstick have worn off the stain remains and leaves behind that beautiful wash of colour no matter what.
It’s a give and take I’m afraid.

So, is it worth it?

For me yes! I love the wear time, although the colour does tend to cling to any dry patches but I’m generally ok in that regard thanks to my daily use of the Nuxe Rêve de Miel.

The only qualm I have with this particular lipstick is the flavour; it has a tart/tangy cranberry-ness to it which is not as delicious as say a nice neutral vanilla or no flavouring at all, but I can move past it. However, if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, this might be your deciding factor.

Have you forayed into the lipstick department despite these mask-wearing days?

Or are you just wearing lip balm and calling it a day? If so, what’s been your favourite lip balm?

P.S. I’m wearing Essie’s Ruffle Your Petals on my nails (from the Midsummer 2020 Collection)

xxxemma

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The Body Shop's Juicy Pear Boxset

So, the January sales are here and guess what I found in a Brussels’ The Body Shop?! That’s right, another boxset of Juicy Pear!!! This limited edition scent came out for Christmas 2019 and avid readers will know how much I loved this scent the first time around, so seeing this scent again and in an even bigger boxset, and on sale to boot, I was sold!!!

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Shower Gel

I’m glad to have this shower gel back in my life and in a 250ml bottle this time! Again, it’s a hard scent to describe but it’s a very fresh fragrance, not citrusy per say, but rather in a freshly cut pear kind of way with some extra added sweetness, like a sweet peach tea but with pears. I don’t see this as an overbearing Christmas scent (with all the warm spices) but rather a perfect fragrance to carry you through spring and even summer.

Plus, since this shower gel is of the see-through variety as opposed to the creamier opaque ones The Body Shop also do (depending on the scent), it’s less moisturising than the latter and hence I like to reserve these more “gel-like” shower gels for the warmer months when my skin isn’t begging for every scrap of moisture it can get. It’s okay, at least I don’t turn into a full blown lizard like my brother who keeps forgetting to moisturise until the situation is dire and his skin thanks him by turning bright red in irritation…you need to moisturise regularly to stop that Mushu situation from happening to you too (still bummed he wasn’t featured in the live-action remake of Mulan…if they can have an eagle/woman creature they can have a sarcastic dragon as the cute animal sidekick too!). Anyway, the scent of this shower gel lingers on the skin for a good 4 hours after use, without cheating and applying anything on top that is, but by all means bathe yourself in all the extra goodies like the body yogurt and the fragrance mist, I know I will!!!

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Hand Cream

Again, I’m much more of a fan of The Body Shop’s Body Butters as hand creams as I feel like they moisturise my skin for a lot longer than their actual hand creams. But that’s just personal preference, I’m still planning on using this hand cream up as nothing goes to waste here.

Although, I must say I did notice a weird side effect of this hand cream regarding my nail polish, because of its quick dry formula which is ideal and perfect for any on-the-go hand creams (I personally only use mine as the last step before bed, not during the day). Basically, it also mattified my freshly applied glossy nail polish. I’ve noticed this can often happen with sunscreen and nail polish but it’s the first time I’ve had this happen with hand cream. However, after further testing it only happened if I applied my nail polish less than three hours before using the hand cream, and on every other night I hadn’t freshly applied polish it didn’t mattify it at all (unlike sunscreen which can do this no matter how long you’ve had your manicure on for).

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Fragrance Mist

This fragrance mist is I think my favourite out of this boxset, although I’m not quite sure if it’s meant to be a used as room spray or as a perfume (I just do both #hakunamatata) it’s divine either way!!!

I would say it’s got quite a weak lasting power; about 2 hours on bare skin but I can stretch it to about 4 by spraying it on my clothing too. But I don’t mind, it’s such a mood booster anytime I spray it that spraying it multiple times a day is fun. Plus, since none of us are really going anywhere the massive size of the bottle (100ml) is not really a problem since it doesn’t have to fit in my handbag anyway (although an easy solution for that would be a travolo).

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Body Yogurt

Last but not least, is this body yogurt. I know what you’re thinking, first body sorbets now yogurts, why are they trying to make us want to eat the stuff?! I don’t know what happened to their sorbet line (can’t find any anymore on their website) but this “yogurt” formula is pretty much the same fresher and lighter consistency as those were but in a tub. Much lighter and more gel-like than their body butters (even the lighter ones), this formula is again perfect for the warmer months when you need moisturising but don’t want to be a sticky mess. Fast absorbing too, I’m keeping this preciously for those said months.

There you have it another all-star boxset from The Body Shop and I got it for a bargain #winner

What limited edition scent do you wish they would make into a boxset? I know Piñita Colada would be a welcome treat!

Any good sale finds on your end, or did you stay reasonable?

xxxemma

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Bath & Body Jasmine, Bergamot & Sandalwood Set

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!! This was one of my Xmas pressies that I got early so that I could photograph it for you guys. Now I couldn’t find a brand name for this set that came from the Action store other than Bath & Body (not to be confused with Bath & Body Works). But it looked beautiful and since I tend to like scents with sandalwood, I may or may not have heavily hinted to Santa about this one.

First The Body Shop’s Winter Jasmine, now this? Clearly jasmine is having a bit of a moment this winter!

To me, all these products smell a bit like a cuberdon (a delicious Belgian candy). Sugary sweet but with a hint of the floral jasmine, it smells like a real treat!

Bath & Body Jasmine, Bergamot & Sandalwood: Showergel

First up is the shower gel, not as hydrating as a creamy shower gel would be (i.e. the ones that are opaque and more milky in colour) but it has a great lather and its lovely scent lingered on my skin for at least 4 hours post wash.

Bath & Body Jasmine, Bergamot & Sandalwood: Bubble Bath

My favourite item of the set, this bubble bath gives plenty of bubbles and with its more milky consistency it leaves your bath water feeling very moisturising. Plus, it’s easy to control the amount that comes out of the bottle and therefore you can get the perfect quantity every time. For example, out of this 90ml bottle I was able to get 4 baths (you could just do 3 and have extra bubbles, but that’s to each their own).

Plus, once I’d run out of shower gel and used this bubble bath separately the scent still lingered on my skin for a good couple of hours which is a pleasant bonus.

Bath & Body Jasmine, Bergamot & Sandalwood: Body Lotion

This body lotion is my second favourite of the lot, I do love a good moisturiser! This one is a great light body moisturiser, ideal for more on-the-go kind of days when fast absorbtion is necessary. Hence perfect for those in between leg shaving days when you still want a bit of moisturisation (especially in the winter months), but don’t need the heavy duty stuff like The Body Shop’s body butters.

Plus, its gorgeous scent lasted on my skin for 4 hours and more; in a faint pleasant way not an “I’ve just bathed in a tub full of perfume” kind of way. I could still smell it faintly on my arms the next morning, great way to start the day!

Bath & Body Jasmine, Bergamot & Sandalwood: Soap

These soaps were a bit of a fail, as I’ve seen this type of idea before where the soap is in the shape of a flower and you remove a petal each time you want to wash your hands. However, when I did, not only did the soap barely lather, and sort of crumpled into pieces which then stuck to my hands like superglued melted wax, but it also dyed my hands slightly red. I’m pretty sure these roses are meant to be soap and not just decorative…but I do have my blonde moments, so who knows?

Needless to say, they have been repurposed as nicely scented decorative pieces as I don’t want to end up dyeing myself nor the sides of my bath red.

So, there you have it, a cute but unbranded bath and body set. Plus, the packaging that makes it look like a little boutique is also the loveliest finishing touch.

Have you picked up any bath and body care sets this Christmas? I know Boots often do some in their 3 for 2 gifting range. I remember getting a gingerbread-themed one back when I was at uni, it was lovely; I smelt like a biscuit all day!!!

Hope you have a great Christmas this year despite everything, and fingers crossed by next Christmas things will be back to normal again.

xxxemma

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The Body Shop's Festive Scents 2020

IT’S HERE!!! ‘Tis the season! The Body Shop’s Festive Scents of 2020 have arrived!

Okay, okay I’m going to tone down the excitement, but it’s become a tradition at this point that I review these limited-edition goodies every year and I’m sticking to it (I know reaaaally suffering for my art here). For the first time ever, I actually really liked all three scents (no duds this year!) and so picked up this awesome mini body butter set which included all three; Warm Vanilla, Festive Berry and Winter Jasmine.

I also picked up the matching soaps in warm vanilla and festive berry, but since my local branch of The Body Shop had already run out of the winter jasmine soap (I’m guessing customers favourite this year) and I spotted a different festive set that featured both a body butter and bath lily I improvised with what I already had for my photos reusing my (slightly different) green bath lily from The Body Shop’s Festive Scents of 2018.

WARM VANILLA

The Body Shop Warm Vanilla: Body Butter

Starting off strong with this warm vanilla scent, I’d say it’s just as sweet as their vanilla marshmallow of 2018 i.e., not sickly sweet but more of a vanilla-based perfumy scent (but again I’m a sweet tooth so my tolerance for sugary sweet might be slightly higher than your average person…what can I say; my pancreas hates me!).

All three body butters have the slightly harder consistency of the two kinds The Body Shop makes (the other being a softer lighter creamier texture), which is perfect since that’s the one I prefer to use during the harsher winter months. If I’m just using these mini body butters as my hand cream, then I can easily get 3-4 weeks’ worth of daily use. However, if I’m also using it as my leg moisturiser then I think I would only get 3-4 leg shaving days’ worth. It’s the perfect quantity as a sampler or for travelling (when that’s a thing again).

The Body Shop Warm Vanilla: Soap

I usually prefer The Body Shop’s clearer soaps like the strawberry one (e.g. the ones you would use for a soap brow) and while I’m not a complete convert to the creamier opaque ones (can’t replace my first love I’m afraid), the more moisturising lather is definitely appreciated this time of year especially with all the handwashing from the current “pandora”.

The soap in question has a much fainter smell than that of the body butter so if you’re put off by the strength of the latter you can always just use the former and have that little festive boost anytime you wash your hands…the vaccine can’t come soon enough!

FESTIVE BERRY

The Body Shop Festive Berry: Body Butter

It’s usually the berry festive scents from The Body Shop that end up being a dud for me every year as they always seem to have an artificial or chemically after smell. But this year they’ve nailed that freshness of a berry and perfectly blended it with sweetness. It’s basically a raspberry version of The Juicy Pear limited edition scent from 2019’s festive scents…yum!!!

The Body Shop Festive Berry: Soap

Just as delicious as its body butter counterpart but with a fainter scent, this soap is another must have. I literally have zero complaints other than…why does it have to be limited edition?! sniff

WINTER JASMINE

The Body Shop Winter Jasmine: Body Butter

The most unisex scent out of the trio which is surprising since from the floral name that would be the last thing you would presume but it has got an evergreen undercurrent which I think is what balances it out nicely and gives it that unisex quality. It’s the hardest one to describe, you really just have to smell it for yourself.

The Body Shop: Bath Lily

As I mentioned earlier I cheated for this one, I spotted a duo set with just the body butter and a bath lily and just recreated that duo for the photos. The bath lily was a slighter darker green and matched the packaging of the body butter better but #hakunamatata you get the idea. Plus, since I don’t actually use bath lilies as my exfoliators (my brother does, so he gets them), it would have been a bit of a waste of money for me.

But as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, all their bath lilies are made from 100% recycled materials, so you don’t have to feel guilty for the planet if you are someone who uses them. I mean The Body Shop is a real leader when it comes to their ethics as a company, and I for one, welcome the overall shift in the cosmetics and skincare industry towards recyclable packaging as a result of global awareness-raising efforts.

There you have it my pick of this year’s festive scented sets. I think if I was to pick a favourite it would be the festive berry, just because I’ve never really liked their limited edition berry scents in the past and therefore it feels more unique this time around. Don’t get me wrong, anything with vanilla is always going to be a staple in my book and winter jasmine has a je ne sais quoi element to it that also singles it out, but my winner has to be festive berry.

Have you had the opportunity to smell these? Which one is you favourite?

We’re lucky here in Belgium that shops selling personal hygiene products (like The Body Shop and Di) get to stay open (with carefully regulated mask measures, hand sanitising and limited number of clients per store, of course). So, I got to sniff these through my mask before purchase. But I know the UK hasn’t been that lucky.

xxxemma

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The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! AND DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS EVERYBODY!!!

For the last couple of years The Body Shop have come out with a Vanilla Pumpkin range come September/October. It has now become tradition that I pick up a couple of tubs of their body butter in that scent since it’s obviously the only time I can get them.

Mine do have last year’s Día de los Muertos design (which is prettier than this year’s packaging to be honest) since I picked mine up in The Body Shop Outlet in Roermond last July.

Clearly, Disney’s Coco has had a big influence on bringing awareness to this Mexican holiday (after the fiasco of trying to trademark it, that is) because it has already trickled down to the Halloween decor here in Belgium.

Now, I can try to recreate my very own skeleton Mariachi band to serenade me! My Dad also surprised me today with a big statue of two salsa dancers, what more could a girl need?!

Anyway, getting side-tracked, back to the actual product!

As I’ve explained before The Body Shop seems to have two different consistencies when it comes to their body butters; the harder and thicker ones like their vitamin E or strawberry ones and their softer and creamier/spreadable ones like their mango or almond milk & honey ones. This vanilla pumpkin one is of the softer and creamier variety, which makes it perfect for the transitional season that is autumn as it’s not too heavy and rich.

There you have it the perfect product to have at hand this Halloween/Día de los Muertos!

If you haven’t already definitely watched Coco, it will give you a nice break from all the jump scare movies I’m sure you’ve been binging. Plus, the animation is just stunning and as a Pixar movie it’s bound to make you cry.

If you’re interested; my glittery spiders came from Stonemanor which is a store that goes all-out come Halloween (which is a rarity in Europe certainly in Belgium), see here. The ornaments/rest of the decor are from Delhaize over the years (they have a small section of Halloween decor every year).

Have a Happy Halloween and don’t overdo it on the candy…I kid, EAT ALL THE CANDY!!!

xxxemma

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Jo Malone London "Lavenderland" Collection

Okay, it’s official now… with these two additions to my perfume collection I have a pretty decent Jo Malone collection to my name! Blackberry & Bay was my introduction to the brand, Orange Bitters was my first Limited Edition one and Myrrh & Tonka my first foray into their Cologne Intense range.

This Lavenderland Collection came as a total surprise to me! I had seen their Wild Flowers & Weeds Collection (Limited Edition 2019) online but as I never saw them in person I wasn’t able to sniff them and didn’t want to do a blind buy. So imagine my surprise when I came across this Lavenderland Limited Edition, from only February 2020, already in the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Roermond during our visit in July.

The Collection is comprised of four new fragrances celebrating English Lavender; Silver Birch & Lavender, Wisteria & Lavender, Lavender & Coriander and finally Lavender & Musk which only comes as a pillow mist (a new product from Jo Malone) or diffuser.

As someone with really sensitive skin prone to breakouts there is no way I’m going to take the risk of spraying anything on my pillow as it’s going to be in direct contact with my face and that’s just a disaster waiting to happen… But if you have skin genetics on your side, by all means fall asleep amongst a field of lavender, it sounds dreamy!

I personally only picked up Silver Birch & Lavender and Lavender & Coriander as I found the Wisteria & Lavender a tad too floral and powdery for my liking.

Jo Malone London Silver Birch & Lavender Cologne

I love the simplicity of Jo Malone fragrances as they always have a minimal number of notes and hence don’t evolve much on the skin. Essentially “what you see is what you get” i.e. your first spray is pretty much the same aroma as the one before it wears off.

According to Fragrantica, Silver Birch & Lavender is a woody aromatic fragrance for both women and men. I would say that’s pretty accurate except for the lavender part, which is missing.
The lavender note, even though it’s a middle note, is quite distinctive upon first spray! I would personally describe this one as a woody lavender. It does indeed have quite a masculine tinge to it which I can only characterise as say…a manly lavender soap.

- TOP NOTE: Grapefruit

- MIDDLE NOTE: Lavender

- BASE NOTES: Silver birch and roasted oak

Jo Malone London Lavender & Coriander Cologne

Lavender & Coriander is described as an aromatic spicy fragrance by Fragrantica, again for both women and men. However, I’m going to have to disagree on both fronts with that description as I find it to be more of a sweet lavender (thanks to the vanillary-ness of the tonka bean) and hence much more feminine than its Silver Birch & Lavender counterpart.
The coriander is hard to distinguish on its own, I think along with the sage, it just provides an overall herby freshness to the lavender.
If I was to recommend just one from this collection, this would be it! Lavender & Coriander has both that classic quality that you automatically associate with any lavender perfume but with a modern twist thanks to that overall freshness.

- TOP NOTE: Sage

- MIDDLE NOTES: Lavender and coriander

- BASE NOTE: Tonka bean

As for longevity, as both perfumes are technically colognes, they are only one degree stronger on the perfume scale than an eau fraiche. As “Colognes” have a concentration of 2% to 4% perfume oil to water/alcohol content in a bottle with “Parfums” being that of 20% to 30%, they usually have less staying power than a said proper perfume.

However, even though a cologne’s longevity is approximated to 2 hours, with these two I easily get 4 to 6 hours - especially when you do the trick of spraying on clothes as well as skin as perfumes lasts longer sprayed on fabrics. I would compare these limited editions’ lasting power to that of Jo Malone’s core line colognes as opposed to the Christmas limited edition Orange Bitters which does stand by that 2-hour reputation.

There you have it, what do you think? Are you a fan of English Lavender?

Did you spot this collection in February on release date or only come across it during the summer months like me?

Also, is it just me or does the fact that the coloured base of the Silver Birch & Lavender bottle not match that of the cap bother anyone else? In all the promo photos I’ve seen since, they clearly have the matching caps on the Wisteria & Lavender bottles instead. As a perfectionist (who is finicky with my colours), I notice these things…just me?

xxxemma

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KIKO "Unexpected Paradise" Collection

As soon as the announcement of the KIKO Unexpected Paradise collection landed in my inbox on the 5th of June I knew I had to go in store and immediately check it out!

Unfortunately, because there were no testers out because of Covid precautions, I had to take a gamble and only pick up the two products from this collection that caught my eye; The KIKO Transforming Lip Top Coat and a Waterproof Eye Marker.

KIKO Transforming Lip Top Coat

I would describe this KIKO Unexpected Paradise Transforming Lip Top Coat as essentially a gloss. It has no base colour (contrary to what the bottle might make you think) and therefore applies rather sheer with sparse flecks of copper glitter throughout.

Had I been able to swatch this in store at the time, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. But as the formula is nowhere near as sticky as normal glosses I’ve come across, I know I’m going to use it whenever I want to transform a matte lip to a glossy one (aptly named product after all).

KIKO Transforming Lip Top Coat over Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 09 Watermelon Slice

As mentioned above I used the KIKO Transforming Lip Top Coat to transform the matte finish of my favourite liquid lipstick formula from Sephora…any guesses? Yes, the Sephora Cream Lip Stains of course!

Personally, as I associate a tropical makeup look with a more bold lip I had to go with the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 09 Watermelon Slice. It’s a vibrant orangey/coral red which works just as beautifully matte as glossy.

KIKO Waterproof Eye Marker - 01 Eyes Talk

For my eyes I first did a thick winged cat eye using the KIKO Unexpected Paradise Waterproof Eye Marker in 01 Eyes Talk. Then, to not lose any lash definition I went in and did a very thin and close to the lashline line using my Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Black (quick tip: always start with the lighter coloured eyeliner to not stain its applicator and avoid smudging the darker coloured eyeliner in the process). After which I applied my mascara as per usual.

However, my mascara routine has changed-up a bit since I’m now loving layering two different mascaras (at first it was to use one up quicker, but I actually ended up really liking the combo). First, I apply the Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara in Brown which gives me loads of volume but which has an awfully thick brush which is impossible to get close to the root of the lashes. I just end up poking myself in the eye and getting mascara all over my contacts when I try, no bueno! So, to not waste product (because we can’t return makeup here in Europe) I first tried swapping out the brush, but nothing fitted. Then I decide to just apply a rough first layer of the dramatic mascara (appropriate name lol) whilst being careful not to get the brush of doom too close to my eye. Then before that first layer is dry, I immediately go in and apply a second coat of mascara using my trusted Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara in Brown which has a much easier and thinner brush to manipulate and with which I can easily get to the root of my lashes and with the standard zig-zag motion properly separate them out.

Anyway, mascara trials and tribulations aside, I actually was much more impressed with the colour payoff of this aqua-coloured felt tip marker from KIKO than with their previous one from their Tropic Heat Collection a couple of years ago. That one barely left an impression on the eye whatsoever, as seen in the first of my looks in my Spring Makeup Shakeup post.

Essie Meet Me At Sunset

On my nails I just had to go with Essie’s Meet Me At Sunset. It’s a gorgeous orangey red that went perfectly with my lip combo.

The tropical looking leaf print top with the fun strappy back was from Apricot and while they no longer have the top they do still have a jumpsuit with the same print here.

My two-tiered gold monstera leaf earrings were from Veritas I think but Amazon have similar earrings here and here.

There you have it my “tropical look” inspired by the KIKO Unexpected Paradise collection. I think we can all agree, probably to closest I’m going to get to a summer holiday this year, ah well at least we’re getting glorious sunshine here in Belgium. :)

Did you pick up anything from this latest release from KIKO?

Any other makeup releases you have your eye on?

What are you most likely to switch up in your makeup routine for a new season? For me, it always ends up being my eyes and lips!

xxxemma

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Fragonard Perfume Set

Although I chose to do the perfume workshop at Grasse with Galimard, as you’ll know from my previous blog post here, that doesn’t mean I have anything against The House of Fragonard. On the contrary, my Dad found this beautiful introductory mini perfume set of the House at the Action store here in Belgium upon our return from our French holiday.

First, let’s talk about the intricate floral design of the box. Reminiscent of the Rococo era for which Jean-Honoré Fragonard was most well-known (the artist who inspired Eugène Fuchs, the founder). I’m sure you all know his most famous painting The Swing, it made a sneaky appearance in what I would now call a Disney classic (cough…giant money maker…cough), “Frozen”. I was lucky enough to see this painting in person at The Wallace Collection in London, and was surprised by how small it was (“Frozen” clearly having played with the dimensions “a tad”). Having studied Art History and being forced to memorise hundreds of dimensions for exams I can tell you that the scales of paintings only ever clicked when seen in person or in virtual museum tours. But anyway, back to the actual perfume set;

Fragonard - Fragonard (Parfum)

Starting with the namesake of the Fragonard Perfume House, to me it smells like a powdery/soapy orange not as light as the fresher scent of Jo Malone’s Orange Bitters but just as fruity. This is described as having white floral accords with the following notes:

- TOP NOTES: Bergamot, mandarin, petitgrain and galbanum

- MIDDLE NOTES: Hyacinth, lily, honeysuckle and jasmine

- BASE NOTES: Woods, amber, musk

Fragonard - Belle de Nuit (Parfum)

For me this perfume smells like a fresh rose but according to Fragrantica is described as a powdery floral with the main accords of rose. Fragonard’s website labels the notes as follows:

- TOP NOTES: Mirabilis, ylang ylang and gardenia

- MIDDLE NOTES: Violet, geranium and rose

- BASE NOTES: Plum, woods and musk

Fragonard - Soleil (Eau de Parfum)

This smells like a floral orange mixed in with suntan lotion to me, the definition of a warm summer’s day which is a perfect match to its sunny name. Soleil has the following notes:

- TOP NOTES: Jasmine, freesia and orange blossom

- MIDDLE NOTES: Rose, lily and wisteria

- BASE NOTES: Amber, sandalwood and musk

Fragonard - Grain de Soleil ( Eau de Parfum)

Grain de Soleil was bound to be my favourite of the set since it’s the only one that leaked all over the place and of which I have very little left. Despite the tinge of acidic black olives I get from sniffing from the bottle (which I think might be residual perfume gone bad in the lid), on my skin it is a very pleasant sweet patchouli vanilla with the following notes:

- TOP NOTES: Jasmine, heliotrope and orange blossom

- MIDDLE NOTES: Rose, iris and cinnamon

- BASE NOTES: Incense, patchouli and vanilla

Fragonard - Diamant (Parfum)

To me this perfume has a bit of a liquorice tone to it which must be the plum that I’m detecting as it’s described on Fragonard’s website as a sweet-oriental with the following notes:

- TOP NOTES: Mandarin, orange and pepper

- MIDDLE NOTES: Jasmine, plum and rose

- BASE NOTES: Vanilla, patchouli, musk and caramel

There you have it a gorgeous introductory set, which would make for a perfect gift no matter the occasion.

Which perfume sounded like the one you would prefer?

If you were to create a perfume collection which artist or painting would you choose as inspiration?

Have you come across any other great perfume sets as of late?

xxxemma

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"Make Your Own Perfume" with Galimard

Last September we had a family holiday in the South of France, and on that trip, we booked a “make your own perfume” workshop with Galimard in Grasse.

The choice for our perfume workshop was between the Galimard perfume house and the Fragonard one (love their perfumes too). But I went with the Galimard workshop in the end, to know why you have to read my Galimard Perfume Workshop post. Plus, it has the whole detailed account of the experience in and of itself.

Before we had the workshop though, as we were early, we managed to squeeze in a free tour of the Galimard Perfume Factory & Museum held in a separate building (close-by). Again, I have a whole separate and more detailed blog post about that here.

While I loved the scent I had created by the middle notes stage of the process (we started our composition with the base layer upwards), I had a lot of difficulty finding my top notes (not enough fruity/sugary options for my liking) but we got there in the end. My final notes were:

- TOP NOTES: Pineapple, white peach, lychee, green tea and English tea

- MIDDLE NOTES: Cocktail, fruity complex, tobacco note, tiare and pomegranate flower

- BASE NOTES: Vanilla, amber, praline note and iris

Once finished, we got to name our perfume; I just went with Emma (let’s pretend it’s an ode to Jane Austen as opposed to the complete lack of creativity on my part…shhhh), pick our bottle shapes, nozzle colour (silver or gold) and lid. I picked the pretty combination you see in the photos.

Then your bottle gets labelled and numbered and officially entered into the Galimard database to be able to be recreated upon request with worldwide delivery. So you too could have your very own “Emma” with the number 142819…I won’t tell.

For my makeup in this post (I tried to match the bottle label) I’m wearing on my eyes: the purple eyeshadow from the I Heart Revolution Unicorns Heart Eyeshadow Palette, Nyx Vivid Brights in 09 Vivid Blossom on upper and lower lash line darkening the top lashline further with Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Purple (discontinued). For mascara I’m wearing YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils in Purple (again discontinued). On my cheeks I’m wearing Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore with Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Pansy Pop to make my cheeks slightly more purple to match the eyes. On the lips is N°7 Precision Lips Pencil in Nude and M&S satin lipstick in Chiffon (they seem to have stopped making M&S Collection makeup altogether unfortunately). On the nails I’m wearing Essie’s Virgin Snow from their Winter Collection 2015.

This perfume has got to be the longest wearing perfume in my collection hands down (and I have a hefty one). One application is enough to last you 8 hours easy (especially when sprayed on clothing), not a weakling by any stretch of the imagination!

Have you ever done a perfume workshop?

What perfume has your favourite bottle design? I think Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire has to be mine ;)

Ever matched your makeup or outfit to a perfume bottle? Surprisingly, I’m doing it more and more often for my perfume posts. ;)

xxxemma

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My Skincare Tools & Extras

Before reading this post I would recommend you check out My Skincare Routine first as it mentions all my Holy Grail face products. If you already have a list of products you’re not likely to ever stray from, then by all means skip it, and just read this one which includes all my tips and tricks of what I essentially classify as my skincare “extras”.

Depotting / Travel Jars

My first rule of skincare is depot EVERYTHING!!!! When you think you’ve finished a product, before throwing the packaging away, cut it open (when you can), you’ll soon find there is weeks’ worth of product left over. I shudder to think the amount of product I’ve wasted over the years when I wasn’t doing this, don’t make the same mistake! We might not be in La Mer territory (there is only so much I’ll spend on a single product) but skincare can quickly build up and become quite expensive (especially when you have about 100 steps in your routine like I do), waste not, want not.

My personal favourite depotting/travel jars (that have never leaked on me) are the 15ml and 30ml ones from KIKO.

Silk Pillowcases & Eye Masks

Second rule of skincare is, don’t let your pillowcase absorb it all off your face! I’m a convert to the silk pillowcase and yes while more expensive than a basic cotton one it will save you money in the long run by not absorbing all your expensive creams you’ve painstakingly put on. Plus, it won’t tug your skin and be an extra cause of wrinkles to worry about.

If you also wear an eye mask at night like me (I can only sleep in total darkness), try and find one made of silk too, for the same reasons.

Dermaplaning

A fancy way of women admitting to shaving one’s face. I only started doing this because of my blog, I got tired of having to edit out my peach fuzz in every close-up photo of my face. And a good camera WILL pick up every single detail; the good, the bad and the ugly. Ever looked in a x10 magnifying mirror? Yap, it’s like that, flattering for no one!

And don’t believe the rumours out there that your hair will grow back darker and thicker, it’s literally impossible and just a myth. If you do have very dark hair on your face it’s likely a hormone imbalance and a doctor can better advise you on that.

I either like to use one of these “eyebrow shapers” (from this pack here or here). While they aren’t sharp enough to do proper dermaplaning (which includes skin exfoliation as well as hair removal), which I’d say can only be done by a trained professional, they will remove your peach fuzz and are practically impossible to cut yourself with. Or you can use your leg razor if you have one (you might be a waxer). My preferred one is a two-bladed razor from Gillette (yes it’s technically a man’s one but a razor is a razor, don’t fall for the pink tax!). Now do be careful if you decide to use a normal razor, you can cut yourself and accidentally take out some of your hairline very easily because they are so slippery (I speak from experience…sniff). I found that I only need to “dermaplane” cough…shave my face…cough only once a week or every two weeks depending on what photos I need to get done. But do what works for you, if you need to do it at all that is.

Facial Exfoliators

The Daily Concepts Facial Mini Scrubber and the Boots Exfoliating Face Sponge were both already mentioned in my skincare routine; currently using the former but much prefer the latter (just haven’t been able to find it in Boots stores during my last UK visits). Along with the Silicone Cleansing Pad, I thought they needed a second mention since they can technically be categorised as “tools”. I do exfoliate daily with both the sponge or scrubber and then the silicone cleansing pad with the Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash.

You might not need to exfoliate daily depending on your skin type and proneness to spots, but I would recommend exfoliating at least once a week with either a pad, scrubber or sponge (all have varying levels of roughness and hence exfoliating ability). I don’t use any type of chemical exfoliators as I’m scared of burning my skin or cleansing brushes as those are too harsh (I know they had a bit of a moment in the skincare world). This is just the way I prefer to remove my dead skin cells and leave my skin feeling baby-smooth.

Blackhead Remover / Pore Vacuum

I mentioned in my skincare routine that my dermatologist gave me free samples of the Avène Cleanance Comedomed Anti-blemishes Concentrate cream which has made a bit of a difference. However, the biggest difference I’ve noticed with my blackheads is thanks to this Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum. As the name would suggest it’s a hoover…for your face.

I use mine every 4-5 days after I’ve washed my hair and my facial pores are as dilated as possible. I’ve only ever used the power at level 1 and 2 (you never need to go up to 5 unless you want to give your face suction marks/bruising) and always only on my T-zone area, focusing mainly on my nose (i.e. the problem area).

You may have a bit of user error if you are not careful enough and don’t start on the gentlest of settings. I did have to cover a massive bruise after my second use because the suction nozzle slipped to my temple and I didn’t release the skin quickly enough (all it takes is 1 second), but you get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Extractions

Again, just a fancy way of saying an unmentionable; spot squeezing (skip this section if you are eating or easily grossed out…it’s not going to be pretty!).

As someone who struggled with acne since the age of 12, advising me with “don’t squeeze your spots” (usually from someone with poreless skin) is not helpful! We all know you’re going to do it anyway, the best advice I got and can give, is how to do it in the most hygienic way possible.

First, you need short nails: the tips of long nails, with their inherently smaller surface area are not as effective as using your finger pads (only possible with no nails), which focus the squeezing pressure on a larger surface area. Obviously, also freshly wash your hands (using a nail brush to get any remaining dirt from under your short nails too).

Second, the piercing tool: I have what is meant as a metal tooth pick but you can use this ingrown hair remover tool too. Disinfect this tool with rubbing alcohol.

Next, cover your indexes with tissues as shown in the pictures. Yes, your hands are clean but it’s again about distributing squeezing pressure and staying as hygienic as possible, plus it will catch/absorb the pus/sebum better.

Finally, go for it. Pierce the spot; either a whitehead or blackhead DO NOT TOUCH spots without a head (i.e. sebaceous cysts as they are too deep under the skin and don’t burst, you’ll just aggravate the area by poking it). The piercing of the spot is to help guide the pus/sebum out that specific way (you don’t want to squeeze a spot and still have the pus stuck under a layer of skin, which can happen and will cause a flare-up). With your tissue covered indexes squeeze till all the pus is out and you are left with clear or bloody liquid. Use fresh tissues for every different spot.

Rinse/wash that area and then apply an antiseptic cream only to the freshly extracted spot. I use Savlon but I found it can cause spots on my face too, so I really just use a touch of it, it’s not a face moisturiser! The antiseptic cream will help you heal and stop scarring.

This extraction technique, antiseptic cream and general face skincare routine are the only reasons I don’t have more facial scarring from my years of acne. My back on the other hand (yes I also had back acne) on which I could not perform extractions (because I’m not a contortionist) is very scarred in comparison to my face (you can see in the body exfoliator photos that my back has a lot of white marks; that’s scarring).

Medication

Because of my acne I first went on Minocycline (taking this antibiotic for a year destroyed my gut health and left me with permanent IBS), do not recommend! Then low dose Accutane (20mg) for another year, the latter needing regular blood tests and birth control as prerequisites during the treatment (in Europe anyway).

Upon reflection my acne was never as bad as to require Accutane but having tried every topical cream out there, as a teen, it was my last resort. Spots and skin texture did come back two weeks after I had finished my year’s dosage (although in a decreased capacity), but I decided to go from there with just skincare and diet at that point. Cutting out gluten and milk have been a big help (both digestively and skin-wise) but I haven’t quit lactose completely since I still love my milk chocolate (I mean I was LilacChocolate for a reason guys!) but I’ve had no issues because of it.

Which bring me to my next skin medication; Aciclovir. Ahhh the herpes simplex virus, what a pain in the butt! Yap, I’m laying it all out there for you guys (you never know if/when this information could help someone). I’ve had “cold sore” flare-ups also known as face herpes around my mouth and nose area ever since I was a toddler (there is photographic evidence of this), as you contract this virus for life guys…yap fun!

No one else in my family ever got cold sores and since I always ever got them after eating things with uncooked flour (found on the bases of pizzas and on artisanal bread etc.), I associated these sores with an allergy (plus antihistamine took the itchiness away). As flour seemed to be my trigger and with my digestive issues with gluten we briefly thought it could be Dermatitis Herpetiformis (a skin manifestation of coeliac disease but not caused by the herpes simplex virus). But as I was tested late last year, I know for sure that I have the herpes simplex virus (yes it took about 25 years of on and off flare-ups to first figure out what these sores were and then get a flare-up timed right to be swabbed and tested by a very overbooked dermatologist).

As mentioned, you contract this virus for life as it plays hide and seek with your immune system, you can’t actually kill it, but you can manage it with Aciclovir. Right now, I’m starting a 6-month course of 800mg a day (with the goal of reducing the number of flare-ups once the treatment is over).

EDIT: 6 months later and you’ve guessed it, literally two weeks after coming off this treatment (what is with my body?) and my skin has had a flare-up freak out. We’re talking sores on either side of my mouth and my nose in three days (who knew compulsory mask wearing would be this handy?!). Guess I’ll be going back on Aciclovir for another 6 months, to be continued…

Bodywash / Soap

Onto more fun topics, bodywash. I personally mostly love the Palmolive brand when it comes to bodywash (with a few exceptions from The Body Shop). My favourite all-year-round scents are the Camellia Oil & Almond from their Naturals line and a recent new discovery their Sun-Kissed Day which is sadly a limited edition. For winter, I’m a big fan of their Gourmet line with Vanilla Pleasure and Chocolate Passion being my favourite (you could have guessed that last one).

All these bodywashes have never given me spots (which I’m prone to especially on my back and décolleté area if I’m not careful), while still being very hydrating and smelling delicious!

My favourite soap bar (which is my preference when it comes to handwashing) is again from Palmolive and is their Naturals Delicate Care with Almond Milk. Super hydrating on the hands especially when washing your hands straight after the harsh washing up liquid used for doing the dishes (I still use body butters on my hands at night though, see below).

Body Exfoliator / Nail Brush

If you’ve been a long-time follower of my blog then you’ll know I’m not really a big fan of loofahs (shower lilies), but instead I use my nail brush to scrub/exfoliate the top part of my back and shoulders as well as my legs (helps to prevent ingrown hairs there). I also use a longer handled brush for the rest of my back when I wash my hair to remove the conditioner that runs down it, which if left, would give me spots.

Body Moisturisers

You’ll know my love for The Body Shop body butters from this post here and here and why I also use them as my hand cream every night (they work wonders and leave my hands hydrated for longer than their actual hand creams).

The Body Shop body butters come in two different consistencies depending on their scent, the harder and thicker one like their Vitamin E or their softer creamier version like their Fuji Green Tea. The latter is a wonderfully fresh scent and is one I go to in the summer when I’m craving a lighter scent than the richer and warmer limited-edition winter ones.

If their softer and creamier body butters are still too heavy for that particular time of year (because of sweltering weather), then I’ll use their even lighter gel-lotions or yogurt formulas to moisturise my legs after shaving.

Sunscreen

Finally, last but not least is my last skincare extra; sunscreen. Very important especially if you spend a lot of time outside or live in sunnier climates. Yes The Straw Hat will help protect your face in the summer but not so practical any other time of year and for the rest of your body either.

For my face sunscreen I have to be careful to choose a formula that won’t break me out and doesn’t look too greasy either. My perfect one, that I’ve loved for years and get in factor 50 is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid but I have tried and liked the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Cream one too. Don’t forget your lips! I did for years, but now I’m vigilant and also use the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Lip Balm.

For my body I usually only wear sunscreen when I’m tanning in a bikini on holiday (usually only two weeks of the year, if that), and I religiously use the Garnier Ambre Solaire range either in factor 20 or 30. And since the sunscreen usually comes in a special deal with after-sun I also pick up the Garnier Ambre Solaire After-Sun. The after-sun helps me any time I get a little too red, but I love to use it as a light moisturiser on my legs after washing off my sunscreen (only when on holiday and tanning otherwise I stick to The Body Shop moisturisers as mentioned above).

Sidenote: I usually tan and never burn but when I was on Accutane I did easily burn (you’ll know best how your skin reacts and what best factor to use to protect yourself).

There you have it, my list of skincare tools & extras, it might be a lot to some people but I’m barely scratching the surface of a true skincare addict. I don’t use face masks as I don’t see the point of 15-30 minute treatments here and there and prefer more long-lasting products which are less wasteful and a better investment in the long run. Nor do I own a jade roller or use light treatments of LED face masks or microcurrent tools so count yourselves lucky…this post could have been even longer! ;)

What is your favourite skincare tool or extra?

Do you use any of the last tools mentioned? Have you noticed a big difference with any?

If money wasn’t a factor, what product or tool would you love to buy and try?

xxxemma

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My Skincare Routine

New year, new you, let’s talk about skincare. I’ve personally had a skincare routine since the age of 12 (with many changes over the years) thanks to acne. I’ve gone through the good and the bad and come out on the other side. Here are the products that have stood the test of time for me (some I’ve used for over 15 years), the mistakes I’ve made and the tips and tricks I’ve learnt along the way.

Disclaimer: I am wearing makeup; mascara, under eye concealer, spot concealer and powder as well as brow product (otherwise I’d have no brows and I’m not about that life), but I’m not wearing foundation and have done zero touch-ups on my skin using Photoshop (which I usually do). So, enjoy all the pores as well as the glasses marks on the bridge of my nose!

Makeup Removers

Most of my skincare is done in the evening a few hours before bed (I used to also have a morning routine when my acne and oil production was at its worst but that meant I was exfoliating twice a day which I would not recommend and know better now).

As soon as I get home from a day of wearing makeup (I give my skin makeup free days as much as possible). The first thing I do (after having changed out of jeans and put joggers/loungewear on) is, if I’m wearing a bold lip, remove that first with a baby wipe. My N°7 Radiant Results Revitalising Cleansing Wipes are reserved for the rest of my face as they are a lot more expensive/precious to come by living in Belgium. But if the lip product is too stubborn or is only oil soluble then I use the Lancôme Bi-Facil Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover with a cotton pad (so I’m essentially not smearing red lipstick all over my face trying to remove my makeup).

For the rest of my face I use 2 to 3 N°7 Radiant Results Revitalising Cleansing Wipes. I know wipes are a controversial topic as they are not good for the environment and some people wipe off their makeup and call it a day. I have yet to find an alternative for wipes (I’ve tried a few cleansing balms/oils but they have either caused spots or I’m not comfortable scrubbing them around/in my eyes to remove mascara as I’m also a contacts wearer) and regarding the latter this is just the first step in my skincare routine (I do double cleanse).

* I quick tip when buying these wipes is to always pick the packets furthest away from the display lights otherwise, you’ll find your wipes smell of fungus because the heat of the display lights is interacting with the product inside and making them expire/go bad much quicker. Also, after each use I turn over the packet of wipes so that the liquid doesn’t just build up at the bottom of the packet leaving you with dried out wipes at the top, this way each wipe is nice and moist every time.

Facial Wash and Scrubs (Foreo Dupe)

By the time I’m washing my face some time has elapsed since using the N°7 wipes; as that is the first thing I do when I get home (so that I’m not wearing makeup in the evening) but it’s still too early to do the rest of my cleansing routine. As an evening bather the rest of my routine is usually combined with my bath (not a shower person). However, if I’ve bathed in the morning, I don’t do my skincare routine then I leave it till the evening and just wash my face and do my routine then.

I used to start off with the Neutrogena Spot Stress Control Daily Scrub but have stopped using that product because it contains microbeads (see… I do care for the environment where I can). Until the EU law banning microplastics comes into effect and forces Neutrogena to change their formula I’m sticking with my physical sponge scrubs (with Brexit who knows how far this is going to be put on the backburner regarding that judicial mess).

Physical sponge scrub-wise I love the Boots Exfoliating Face Sponge but since I have not been able to find it on my two most recent UK visits in any Boots, I picked up the Daily Concepts Facial Mini Scrubber instead. Granted, it is a lot less harsh on my skin (which can only be a good thing), it’s rather bulky and clumsy to use (I’ve concentrated on using just the four corners at the minute). Anyway with either scrub I use the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash now re-labelled as the Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Facial Wash.

Next, I go over my face again (this might technically be a triple cleanse), with the Neutrogena face wash and my Foreo dupe which is simply a silicone cleansing pad (Boots had their own branded one but since they’re now selling Foreo they seem to have disappeared). Don’t worry Amazon do them in any colour, I would highly recommend this pad over the Foreo as it is much more flexible around the nose area, you can vary the pressure to your liking and don’t have to worry about batteries or charging, plus it’s 1% of the Foreo cost! What’s not to like?!

Toner / Micellar Water

Once I’ve dabbed my face dry with a towel, I apply the Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Cleansing Toner (ignore the cleanser bit in the name, you don’t rinse toner off). On nights when I wash my hair, I get to the face drying stage, then go in and blow-dry my hair and apply hairspray. To remove all traces of hairspray that inevitably lands on my face (which causes spots if left) I go in with a cotton pad and micellar water (my preference is the Bioderma Hydrabio H2O Micellar Water) then rinse that off (as micellar water is technically soapy water) and only then do I go in and apply toner.

Serums

Next step is the application of my two serums. First, I use 2 pumps of the Avène Radiance Serum all over my face (avoiding the eye area) which is a new addition to my routine but I’ve seen it help with my skin texture so I’ve kept it in (although the pharmacy I buy it from often has trouble sourcing it). Then I use a double pea-sized amount of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Blemish Treatment (not the tinted version) again all over the face except the eye area. This is technically a moisturiser, but I use it as a serum since it doesn’t provide me with enough moisture long-term but does minimise my skin texture well (i.e. stopping your forehead from looking like sandpaper).

Hyaluronic Acid

While I still have a bit of those two products left on my hands I add a few drops of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and spread it down my neck and décolleté area. You’ll know from my Winter Saviours post that I’ve struggled in the past to moisturise this area (The Body Shop Body Butters give me spots), and while the hyaluronic acid was a bust for my face (it gave me spots because I was over saturating my skin with moisturisers by using it there) on my neck and décolleté area as the only product applied it’s awesome and no spots!!!

Next I wash my hands from those products to start off fresh and to avoid spreading any acne treatment anywhere near my eyes.

Eye Gel

As I’m prone to milia but still want an eye moisturiser I found that any type of cream is a no-go here, instead I use a gel. So for each eye area I use half a grain of rice-sized amount of the Boots Cucumber Eye Gel.

Moisturisers

Next comes the actual face moisturisation. Having gone through the very drying process of Accutane in my early 20s, my skin is no longer oily but rather combination. And no one cream can both mattify my T-zone and provide enough moisture to my cheeks…so I just use two different moisturisers in those areas (might seem excessive but works). On my cheeks I use the La Roche-Posay Effaclar H and on my T-zone I use the Avène Cleanance MAT Mattifying Emulsion (I’ve used this one since I was maybe 14 or 15 it’s been with me for the long haul that’s for sure! 28 now sniff).

Blemish Treatment

When I complained about my blackheads to my dermatologist she gave me a few free samples of the Avène Cleanance Comedomed Anti-blemishes Concentrate which I also only put on my T-zone concentrating mostly on the nose (i.e. my blackhead prone area).

Benzoyl Peroxide

Now if I’m having a particularly angry spot, then I put a tiny and I do mean tiny amount of prescribed Epiduo Gel on it, but I can only do this two nights in a row - anymore and this stuff burns my skin.

* Be careful benzoyl peroxide acts as a bleach! It will bleach your pillowcases, but to avoid the unwanted polka dot effect either have white pillowcases or always use the same damaged one whenever you have it on.

Lip Balm

Again, you’ll know from my Winter Saviours post that I love the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm (the one in the pot not stick format as that one isn’t as moisturising). It might be pricey at £11 per pot but one will last you a year easily, even with daily use. I put it on every night where it acts as an overnight rich lip balm/mask and again a bit in the morning, while I put on the rest of my makeup, before wiping of any excess and applying more often than not a liquid lipstick. I do this year-round and have not had cracked lips in years now, my lips are legitimately always in pristine condition (another product that has stood the test of time, 5 years strong now).

Brow / Lash Growth Serum

Finally, the last step of my nighttime skincare routine (I hear your sigh of relief) is applying the N°7 Lash Impact Lash Serum to my brows (obviously when I’m barefaced and haven’t got them drawn on). I have tried this product on my upper lash lines (not waterlines), but I’d wake up with puffy and irritated eyes, no bueno, so stopped applying it there. I have noticed my brow hairs grow quicker with this product, but until I stop the nervous/perfectionist habit of plucking them into oblivion, there’s not much else I can expect from this product. But brow lamination sounds like it might be the solution for me since I only ever pluck the hairs that aren’t growing in the right direction (granted which is most of them at the moment).

As this blog post is long enough as it is, I will have a second one coming soon with all My Skincare Tools & Extras that aren’t necessarily things I do daily but more like weekly…stay tuned

P.S. on my nails is 3 coats of Essie All Daisy Long

What are, if any, the skincare products that have stood the test of time for you?

Do you have both a daytime and nighttime routine? How do they vary?

Are you as excited as I am for Caroline Hirons’ first ever book “Skincare”?! I know I am since the announcement inspired me to do these posts! :)

xxxemma

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Jo Malone London's Orange Bitters

Last year, I was able to get my hands on this Jo Malone limited-edition scent in Orange Bitters. After one spray and sniff, I was sold! Luckily for me, it’s back again this year (and has supposedly done so for several years now), so I can finally give you my thoughts on it, even if I’m majorly late jumping on this festive bandwagon.

According to the Jo Malone website this cologne’s notes are very simple but I’ve added in brackets the extra detailed description that features on Fragrantica:

- TOP NOTES: Sweet orange (citruses, orange and mandarin orange)

- MIDDLE NOTES: Bitter orange (bitter orange and dried plum)

- BASE NOTES: Sandalwood (sandalwood and amber)

A lot of the feedback given about this cologne on Fragrantica is that it doesn’t last long, and I must agree. But then again, it is a cologne which on the perfume chart is weaker in fragrance oils than an eau de toilette and just a bit stronger than an eau fraîche.

My experience with it is that the orange smell is at its strongest on first spray, but this is not a cologne that permeates the air (opening a real orange would have a bigger impact!). After 2 hours I can still detect a faint citrusy tinge if I look for it and I’m sniffing very close to where I sprayed it (no further than 2 inches away). At the 4-hour mark I can only detect the deeper, warmer sandalwood.

Plus, my trick of spraying my perfumes on my clothing to extend its life doesn’t really work with this one unfortunately. But I really don’t mind this more muted version of an orange scent, especially since lots of festive scents get blasted our way this time of year, whether we like them or not, and it can all get a bit much. If you’ve ever opened an orange or mandarin with your fingers, you know how long that smell lingers, no matter how many times you wash your hands, and that’s not always a pleasant feeling.

But with Orange Bitters you get the best of both worlds; you get the bright burst of the orangey goodness that deepens to a discreet warm sandalwood. It reminds me a lot of the warmth of the orangey indulgence that is a crêpe Suzette. Delicious!

If you were hoping for a mega rich long-lasting festive scent, Orange Bitters isn’t for you. But if you were looking for a short but sweet indulgence to give you a pep in your step in the mornings, this is it! Plus, if you were to pick up the 30ml version, it’s the perfect size to fit in your handbag and top-up on the go.

Do you have any favourite festive scents this time of year?

Have you come across any festive limited-edition perfumes that you really would love to see make a comeback?

What’s your favourite crêpe dessert? I’m partial to Nutella, but even though I don’t like the taste of alcohol, crêpe Suzette is something else…yum!

xxxemma

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The Body Shop's Juicy Pear

About this time last year, I did a blog post about two of The Body Shop’s Festive Scents and here we are again with this year’s new favourite; Juicy Pear!

I picked up this adorable Juicy Pear Delights gift set for €10 in our Brussels store back in November…before ultimately stocking up on a few of the full size products during our yearly shopping trip to Bluewater later that month (for 30% off at the Ashford Designer Outlet in Kent).

This scent is very fresh but not in a sharp citrusy way but rather in a freshly cut fruity pear way (trust me there is a difference). You’d be forgiven for associating the idea of a pear aroma (especially during Christmastime) with that of the poached pear in wine dessert (which side note…yum!). But although it does have a slight sweet edge to it, it’s not at all in the cinnamon-y spicy kind of way. It’s a very hard scent to describe so go sniff it out for yourselves, it’s divine!

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Body Butter

It’s no secret that the body butters are my favourite products from The Body Shop, and I use them religiously on my legs after shaving and as a general hand moisturiser before bed (I find that the body butters keep my hands moisturised for longer during the following day than their hand creams). I’ve also noticed, over the years, that there seems to be two different consistencies regarding their body butters, depending on the scent.

One is harder and thicker to get out of the tub like this juicy pear one, the banana or strawberry one and the other is much softer and creamier/spreadable like the mango or the almond milk & honey one. Both have their separate benefits; the heavier one is richer and more moisturising for the skin whereas the spreadable creamier one is faster absorbing. I have nothing against either, although I do tend to like the heavier ones in the winter and the lighter ones in the summer (for an even lighter moisturiser I would highly recommend their body sorbets especially if you live in a hotter climate).

As the juicy pear one is of the heavier/richer variety it takes a bit of time to get fully absorbed (so don’t be surprised if a few white streaks are left over immediately after application). I wouldn’t recommend applying this one right before you intend on putting on your daytime clothes though (the skinny jeans struggle will be real!), but rather before bed with pyjamas that are of a much looser fit.

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Shower Gel

Like the body butters, the shower gels come too in two consistencies; the heavier opaque ones or the see-through gel ones. Again, this time of year I do tend to prefer the creamier opaque ones as I find them more moisturising on the skin than the gel ones. But I love this scent enough to make the exception. After towelling myself dry this scent lingered on my skin for at least 4 hours (I tested this out of course where I hadn’t already applied body butter for further fruity emphasis).

The Body Shop Juicy Pear: Bath/Shower Lily In Cream

If you read last year’s post then you’ll know I don’t use shower lilies (never liked them), so this addition is always a bit of a dud for me when it comes to the gift sets, but my brother likes them so they never go to waste. Plus, after reading the product description more thoroughly this time around, I realised they are also made from recycled materials. I honestly would recommend The Body Shop on their ethics alone, but you get the added benefit of outstanding products too.

There you have it, one awesome gift set that you could treat either yourself with or offer someone else (hello secret Santa budgets under a tenner).

Now I know what you’re thinking, if you’ve ever read any of my perfume/scent related blog posts…“Did you not pick up the Warm Vanilla Delights set?” No, but I did pick up a couple of the full-sized body butters, but I must admit this year the juicy pear scent had the vanilla one beat (I know…gasp!).

Have you tried any of The Body Shop’s three festive scents this year? Which one out of the juicy pear, rich plum and warm vanilla was your favourite?

What has been the best secret Santa gift you’ve ever received or given? I helped my brother choose a couple of adorable Christmas mugs for his one this year (the Santa and snowman were well received).

xxxemma

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Clarins Lip Kit

I’ve heard so many good things about Clarins’ Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil that when I spotted them in a mini lip kit set last Christmas, I just knew I had to pick them up to finally test them out for myself.

I feel like Anna from The Anna Edit was a big contributor to the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector hype, we’re talking 7-8 years ago (not kidding! Here are some of her posts dating from 2011, 2013 and 2016); it has to be good, right?!

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil - 02 Raspberry

Now that it’s summer and I’m looking for a glossy finish on my lips (as opposed to the mattes I wear the rest of the year), these are perfect!

Starting with the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in 02 Raspberry, this range is completely colourless (despite what the colourful bottles may make you believe), so it just comes down to flavour. Although raspberry is delicious (we all tend to eat our lipglosses, don’t deny it!), if I were to pick one out for myself it would have to be the 04 Candy.

Anna also had a post about these Comfort Oils. This raspberry one is super glossy, delicious and although leaves your lips nice and hydrated after it’s worn off (lasting power 1-2 hours), it’s sticky! Now it’s not by far the stickiest lipgloss I’ve ever worn (mostly during my teenage years), but I did have multiple hair-stick-to-lips situations with this one, so be warned.

Yap it’s official, I understand the hype!

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - 01 Rose Shimmer

Just as Anna said, this Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer really feels like a balm consistency on the lips. And although it has a slight tackiness to it in order to stay on the lips, it’s nowhere near the hair-in-gloss kind of sticky (no said incident and lasted 2 hours on the lips). As a side note; the only glossy lip products that I ever found with zero stickiness to them were the KIKO Shine Lust Lip Tints, which sadly were discontinued. Seriously why do the Makeup Gods do this to us?!

This lip perfector gives a sheer wash of baby pink colour and contrary to what the “shimmer” in the name might suggest, there are no glitter particles.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - 06 Rosewood Shimmer

Again, this Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 06 Rosewood Shimmer has the exact same balm-like formula as the one above, but with a sheer wash of brown. I thought these lip perfectors would be a bit more pigmented honestly but they’re really not, meaning that if you own one in a particular tone, I feel like you own them all.

Clarins’ Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector VS Revlon’s Kiss Plumping Lip Crème

Because the packaging looked so similar I thought the Revlon’s Kiss Plumping Lip Crème in 540 Velvet Mink would be a dupe for the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors…lol. Just goes to show how misleading packaging can be.

The plumping lip crème in no way feels like a rich balm, but it does have a glossy finish that I would say is a tad less sticky than the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors (yes, it’s possible!).

More pigmented than the latter, the plumping lip crème does apply a bit patchy though (easily remedied by spreading the colour with your finger or by rubbing your lips together).

They’re not kidding about the plumping property either; it has the horrible burning/tingly sensation which is common with these plumping types of products. Personally, I don’t notice a difference in the size of my lips, just the discomfort of wearing the product (the sensation does wear off after 30 minutes though). Would not recommend, unless you don’t mind that burning/tingly sensation.

Clarins Joli Rouge Velvet - 742 Joli Rouge

While all the other products in the lip kit were in generous quantities despite being minis (that comfort oil is going to last ages), the lipstick was a bit of a let-down. Literally the amount you see in the photos is it, the bullet doesn’t twist up any more than that! I feel that once you’ve applied this lipstick of couple of time and the pointed end has worn down, it’s going to be a difficult lipstick to apply straight from the bullet. I see a lip brush being needed in its future.

Despite this, Joli Rouge Velvet in 742 Joli Rouge (the namesake), is a really gorgeous red. It’s not quite as matte as I would expect a velvet finish to be, it transfers quite a lot though. So I would personally stick to my favourite transfer proof red lipstick the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red or the slightly more pink toned 03 Strawberry Kissed (swatches in my Sephora Cream Lip Stain post).

There you have it, my thoughts on the Clarins Instant Light Comfort Oil and Natural Lip Perfectors. Never too late to jump on the bandwagon, right?!

Have you tried either of these super-hyped products? What are your thoughts?

Do you have a tried and tested drugstore dupe for the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors?

Have you ever found a zero-stick gloss? Drop the names please! I have to find a replacement for those KIKO Shine Lust Lip Tints. ;)

What’s your go-to red lipstick?

xxxemma

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Zoella's Fruits Collection

Guys it’s finally happened…Zoella Beauty has arrived in Di!!!! YAY!!! I thought for sure I would miss out on this Zoella Beauty Fruits Collection since by the time October/November rolled around for our annual Bluewater shopping trip this 15th of March launch would long be gone.

It’s not all good news sadly, this collection is confirmed to be the last of Zoella Beauty. I know, all good things must come to an end but I’m sure we’re going to see bigger and better things from Zoe. I’ll still be supporting her on her next adventure that’s for sure. If the quality of Zoella Beauty is anything to go by that is (we can all put the calendar fiasco behind us).

Before we get into it, I know what you’re thinking, where did those amazing fruit cups come from? The peach one was from Hema (similar here), the watermelon one came from Casa (still available here), and finally the pineapple one was also from Casa (no longer available) however Maison Du Monde have a near identical one here (and a fun coconut one that I have my eye on here).

Zoella Fruit Medley: Body Mist

Now back to what you actually came for, I only picked up the Zoella Fruit Medley Body Mist because I have way too many other shower/bath products to go through at the moment (technically I also have too many perfumes but pOtato potAto didn’t say my logic made sense).

According to Fragrantica the notes are as follows; watermelon, peach, blackberry, raspberry and strawberry but they don’t seem to have ranked them (top notes, middle notes and base notes). Probably because this body mist isn’t very strong and doesn’t last all that long (I would class it as an eau fraîche as when I sprayed it on my skin I got 2 hours of wear time max and on my clothes maybe 3-4 hours). It doesn’t seem to follow the typical perfume breakdown pattern as first spray and 2 hours later have the exact same smell just more faded (i.e. a base note doesn’t suddenly come in and pull more strawberry for example).

I would still highly recommend it though as it’s very fresh and uplifting, you just might have to top up a few times a day, but I would say it’s definitely worth it and I can see it becoming my year’s go-to summer fragrance.

The gorgeous cherry earrings are the latest addition to my funky earrings collection. I picked them up on my recent family holiday to Italy and they are from Bijou Brigitte (still available here). The almost neon flash of turquoise on my eyes is Nyx Vivid Brights Crème Colour in 02 Aqua Sapphire applied as eyeliner, on my lips is N°7 Precision Lips Pencil in Nude and on my nails is Rimmel London 60 Second Super Shine in 452 Chin up, Buttercup. All in all, a very colourful post in perfect time for summer!

There you have it a short but sweet blog post ;)

Did you pick anything up from the Zoella Fruits Collection?

What’s your go-to summer fragrance of choice? Do you have a new one every year or rotate an old favourite?

What’s the funkiest pair of earrings you own?

xxxemma

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Lolita Lempicka's So Sweet

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!! Hope you’re all having a chocolate-filled day!
If not, that’s okay, I’ve got a new perfume that I think would make an awesome gift (because if you can’t give a gift to yourself today of all days, when can you?).

The So Sweet perfume from Lolita Lempicka is exactly that; sweet!

- TOP NOTES: Cherry, mandarin and raspberry leaf

- MIDDLE NOTES: Iris, rose and angelica

- BASE NOTES: Whipped musk, amber wood and creamy cashmere

On me, this perfume isn’t too long lasting. About the standard 4 hours which I seem to get with eau de parfum.

The packaging although adorable in its apple-shape-ness feels a bit flimsy; the spray comes out of the thin stem. There is no bottle cap (which I don’t personally mind) and the perfume does tend to drip on your fingers when you spray, but all can be forgiven when you look that cute!

Although someone did point out on the Fragrantica website that it feels like the stem/spray could break at any point. I have yet to experience this, and as long as you press vertically downwards (as opposed to at an angle), I think you should be fine.

As a happy fluke I paired this perfume with a cherry printed shirt I got from eBay (before I realised one of its top notes was cherry). I thought the colours/pattern would go well with the bottle and Valentine’s theme, and although originally from Asda George (they have a strawberry patterned blouse here), I found a similar pattern in dress form on Asos here.

(Yes, I removed the plastic before eating that delicious lolly! I didn’t want a sticky mess while taking photos, but it makes zero sense looking at that now…oops!)

The heart-shaped bag is from Radley about two years ago. Collectif also have a heart-shaped crossbody bag here, although a bit different. But a quick search on eBay for a heart-shaped bag turned up a ton, so might want to try there too!

The shoes that seem to be my go-to for blog posts featuring red heels (Valentine’s Day Outfits and Fcuk’s Friction For Her posts), were from Marks and Spencer. They have a similar pair again here, or if you’re looking for cheaper, New Look have some here.

The earrings were from New Look last year, but Asos have some gold ones here and here, silver ones here and smaller but still fun red ones here.

Finally for my lips and nails, I went with my favourite pink toned red combo; Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain in 03 Strawberry Kissed and Essie’s Watermelon (part of their permanent range). Ahhhh when looking for that last link I saw that Essie have a limited edition Valentine’s Day range! Why have I only heard of this now?! Going to be on the lookout for that one, fingers crossed it comes to Belgium!

There you have it, a quick Valentine’s Day post for you guys to enjoy, whether loved up or #singlepringles. And remember, all that discounted heart-shaped chocolate is just one day away…YUM!

Bought any new perfumes recently?! Would love to know what’s making up your collections this year.

Favourite Valentine’s Day movies…go! Mine has to be the classic Valentine’s Day (I think we’ve all wished to receive a giant teddy bear like Taylor Swift), although I haven’t watched Leap Year in ages, so might make it a point to watch that tonight. But Every Day was a fantastic recent one I saw, which I highly recommend! What can I say, romantic movies are my favourite genre, this was always going to be hard for me to pick! ;)

xxxemma

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The Body Shop's Festive Scents 2018

It’s nearly Christmas folks!!! One day and counting! So, I thought I would share with you my two new favourite shower/bath product scents that I’ve been using as of late; Peppermint Candy Cane and Vanilla Marshmallow. Both sets came from The Body Shop in the Ashford Designer Outlet (in Kent, UK) back in November for a mere £16.50 each, so I was very pleased that I was able to find this year’s Christmassy scents at such a bargain price (wasn’t a fan of the Berry Bon Bon scent so didn’t pick that one up).

PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE

One of my favourite things to add onto my Christmas tree every year are the candy canes, as it allows for sneaky sweet treat every once in a while, throughout December (the plastic ones don’t taste as good unfortunately! :P). So, I thought this would be by far my favourite scent of the two sets I picked up, but surprisingly vanilla marshmallow (see below) had it beat! The scent is softly minty and not as sugary as I would have expected, but it smells delicious, nonetheless.

The Body Shop Peppermint Candy Cane: Hand Cream

The scent of The Body Shop’s hand creams always seems to be a stronger than their body butters, and this one was no exception. Borderline on the sickly side, I tested it out and felt that my hands ended up drier earlier in the day than had I used my normal body butter (always from The Body Shop but scents vary). Just as quick disclaimer; I do tend to do two washing up loads a day with very drying dish soap (because I can’t be bothered to wear gloves) , so this might have contributed to the dryness I felt (although when I use body butter the night before, I don’t encounter this problem the next day, so who’s to say).

The Body Shop Peppermint Candy Cane: Body Butter

My favourite of the set (I mean it’s a body butter so who’s surprised?), the scent was fainter and a lot less sickly than the hand cream. Like the shower gel (see below) it has a faint cooling sensation after application (because of the mint). Which although not unpleasant, might not be the best if you’re trying to stay warm and cosy after a bath during the winter.

The Body Shop Peppermint Candy Cane: Shower Gel

Not as creamy and moisturising as the vanilla marshmallow shower gel, I still very much enjoyed this one. Not too strong, it adds from the mint a cooling sensation after use. Refreshing yes, but not so great again if you’re trying to stay warm after a nice hot bath in the evening (maybe better used at the start of one’s day).

The Body Shop Bath Lily In Green

This bath lily isn’t scented (unfortunately), and since I don’t use bath lilies, I can’t attest to its effectiveness. But it’s from The Body Shop after all, so it feels and looks to be of good quality.

VANILLA MARSHMALLOW

When I first read vanilla marshmallow, I really was expecting something super sugary and sickly, but this one surprised me. It smells like a delicious vanilla-y perfume. If you’ve ready my blog for a while then you’ll know I have a particular affection for anything that is vanilla based, so I wasn’t at all surprised when I found a perfume in my collection that smelled incredibly similar to vanilla marshmallow; Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck Enchanted.

The Body Shop Vanilla Marshmallow: Hand Cream

I found this hand cream to be more moisturising than the peppermint candy cane hand cream (my hands felt moisturised until the next evening application). Hence this one moisturised just as well as any normal body butter for me. Again, the hand cream’s scent is much stronger than its body butter counterpart and it feel weird going to bed feeling like you’ve just doused yourself is perfume, but not unpleasant or in any way sickly.

The Body Shop Vanilla Marshmallow: Body Butter

My favourite of the set. What can I say, I love their body butters and this was my favourite scent so win, win. Creamy and nourishing this body butter is perfect for the legs after a shave and you’ll never suffer from winter scaly legs ever again with this one.

The Body Shop Vanilla Marshmallow: Shower Gel

This was really pleasant to use in the bath and shower. It’s so creamy and really feels like you’re just using a fancy perfume all over your body, plus the scent lingers quite a bit after you’ve towelled off which is always a bonus.

The Body Shop Bath Lily In Beige

Again, don’t use bath lilies but looks good either way and I’m sure my brother who does love them for exfoliating will appreciate the slightly more masculine colour (unlike my bright purple one he’s had to use in the past :P).

There you have it my two new favourite additions to The Body Shop range, which sadly as with any holiday scents are limited edition, so go, go, get them while you still can!

Have you found any holiday scents that you can live without right now?

I know Bath & Body Works comes out with a ton of holiday scents this time of year, but sadly we don’t have that shop here so I can never buy or smell them nor their candles. :(

Although imagine if Yankee Candle started doing shower gels, wouldn’t that be awesome!

xxxemma

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