Liberty London Beauty Loyalty Card

While flicking through Harper's Bazaar's August issue I came across an exciting new loyalty card scheme.  Liberty in London have launched a new beauty loyalty card.  Receive £5 voucher every time you spend £150 - plus invitations to exclusive events, top insider tips and special treats and beauty gifts in-store.  For more information click here.

Liberty's beauty hall stocks brands such as - Le Labo, Byredo, Oskia, Frederic Malle, Serge Lutens and Miller Harris to name a few.

Harper's Bazaar has a great subscription offer currently running with a free Liberty Gift bag worth £137 - limited to first 150 orders.  It contains sample sized products from Decleor, Margaret Dabbs, ESPA and Dermalogica - although contents may vary.

Click here to sign up - 12 issues for £30 plus gift bag (first 150 subscribers)

Eyes and Cheeks

Another stash post!  These are my current eyes and cheeks products.  I seem to have an addiction to eyeliners!

Eyeliners:

Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner - a great dupe for YSL Waterproof Eyeliner.  I have several of these Avon eyeliners - Cobalt, Black x 2, Blackberry x 2.  Big Colour Eye Pencil in Green Mint - got this free from my rep.  YSL Waterproof Eyeliner - in shades Black and Amazon Green.  I've just finished my favourite in Simmering Burgundy.

Chanel Long Lasting Eyeliner in Jade - I've had this one a couple of years now,  gives a great bright pop of colour.  Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil  in grey - its got a really nice texture and staying power and also includes a smudger at the opposite end.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eyeliner in graphite - I've got two of these both nearly finished.  Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner - in black - this is my favourite gel eyeliner, a great price, product and fab for doing a dramatic eye.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil - in demolition - a brown shade.  Nice texture and colour, great staying power.  Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner  - from beauty boxes - in grey and plum - not really used these much to be honest.

Emma Kidd Make Up School Eyeliner - in black from Red magazine.  Stila Smudge Waterproof Eyeliner - in Moray a olive green and gold shade.  This was from Glossybox.  Really love this.  MAC Powerpoint Eyeliner in Tealo - a pretty green shade.  Waterproof and stays put.  

Eyeshadows:

I won the fab MUA Glitterball Palette a while back in a giveaway from Sam at Honey Go-Lightly - these were my first MUA eyeshadows.  Gorgeous shades and really long lasting and sparkly.  I also won a purple single eyeshadow.  The Art Net Sparkling Shine Eyes quad was from Maria in my Asian box.  I got the Rimmel London sun Safari Glam Eyes Quad in my surprise Easter Bunny Swap also from Maria.

Clinique Lid Smoothie Eye Colour - in Sassy fras and Ginger-ly - not really used these much yet.  bareMinerals Eyecolour in Vanilla Sugar and Renew - love these neutrals, so easy to apply.  Want to get some of their pressed powder eyeshadows - the colours look great.

NYX Ultra Pearl - Oro Pearl - super-shimmery - not used this yet.  Got it in my April Amitee box.  Wet n Wild Ultimate Minerals Eyes - I got this from Sarah in my Easter Bunny Swap.

Mascaras:

My ultimate mascara is YSL Luminous Mascara Shocking Volume - I'm currently using a mini in black - I'd definitely buy full size.  I also love Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara.

I got the 17 Va va Voom Volume Mascara in my Easter Swap box, Bellapierre Lash Building Mascara in April Joliebox, Soap & Glory thick & fast Supervolume as a magazine freebie.  The L'Oreal Voluminous I picked up after reading a review about it.  I have several Lancome mini mascaras - Hypnose Doll Eyes, Hypnose and Hypnose Drama.

Blushers:

I've only got three blushers at the moment - MUA blusher which I won in Sam's giveaway, Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in pale pink and a sample pot of Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric - a fabulous light cream blusher.  

I really want to get a non-shimmery bronzer - can anyone recommend one?  Do you use any of these products?

QVC Elemis Today's Special Value Set

A friend alerted me to the fabulous Elemis TSV which you can order in advance of its launch.  Click here.  Priced at £39.96 plus £5.95 P&P it includes  four full size items! Tempting...

Lush Rosie

I was expecting pay day to be today but it was yesterday so I bought myself  a Lush Rosie Gift Set.  I've been lusting after this little gift for a while now  (you'll know by now I love rose scented products).

Even though this was a gift to self I did appreciate the cute flowery wrapping paper and green raffia ribbon.  It costs £14.95 and contains:

45g Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - LOVE this, you can read my review here.

Rose Queen Bath Ballistic, Amandopondo Bubble Bar - not tried this one before and my favourite Rose Jam Bubbleroon.

What treats are you going to buy this month?

Fior NC Beach Huts & Boats Tote

A friend Jayne has her own business, Fior NC and she makes gorgeous hand made bags, cushion covers, bunting, business card holders, hanging hearts, and homewares to name a few.  She also will do custom orders.

Natural fabrics are used as well as vintage fabric and embroidery.

My beach huts & boats tote is just gorgeous!  It measures 12" wide x 14" long - not including the handles.  It's lined with red material with a stripey inside pocket and its finished off with a vintage pearl button.  It cost £12.50 plus £1.10 P&P.  Now I just need some sunny weather to use it!


You can check out Jayne's facebook page here and her Folksy shop here.

The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who took part in the Literary Blog Hop and thanks to Judith for hosting it.  Here are the winners which were picked using random.org.

Susanna @ Susi Bookworm who won The Hairdresser of Harare

Darlene @ Darlene's Book Nook who won Me Before You

Alex @ I am a weapon of massive consumption who won Perfumes the A-Z guide

Congratulations!

June Wants

Here are my June wants - the Creme de La Mer and La Prairie ones are lottery win wishlist items!

Creme de La Mer The Body Refiner - I've read amazing reviews but at £80 for a body scrub it will be forever on my wishlist!

Creme de La Mer The Hydrating Facial - eek so pricey! Again, meant to be amazing (and one I'll never be able to afford or justify purchasing).

La Prairie Extrait of Skin Caviar Firming Complex - I bought this a few times a few years ago - it was around the £70 mark then and I winced at the price but an amazing product - so luxurious.  The body cream in this range is sheer luxe - I've tried a sample pot before.

Neil George Intense Repair Mask - have used a sample sachet of this and made my hair so smooth and static free.  Retails at £29. I'm planning on buying this once I've used a few products up.


Korres Mango Shower Gel - again read loads of amazing reviews and this one's affordable!

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What's on your wish list?

June Books

I've only managed three books this month.

Nothing But Trouble by Roberta Kray.  I lent this book before I'd taken a photo of it so excuse the blurry pic from Amazon.   

This story follows Jess Vaughan, a newspaper reporter and Harry Lind, ex-policeman turned private detective.  Fifteen years ago a young girl breaks into an empty house and is murdered.  The loner who lives there is charged with murder.

Jess feels something's not right about what happened and begins investigating further (with Harry's help).  Fast pacey story and great read.

My second two books are from the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E L James.  They follows the relationship between innocent Anastasia Steele and billionaire entreprenuer Christian Grey (who is rather sexy and gorgeous).  They embark on a BDSM relationship although in book two you learn more about the damaged man Christian is and their relationship develops into a more normal one.  I'm just about to start the third one - I am loving the trilogy.

Have you read any of these books?  What are your thoughts on the Fifty Shades trilogy as I know those who read it either love it or hate it?

June Empties

Here are my June empties:

Khiel's Hand Salve - got this in the Advent Calendar, smells of eucalyptus.  Enjoyed using it but unsure if I'd re-purchase though it worked really well.

Elemis Absolute Eye Serum - love this eye care product - have already bought another - it just works.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream - love this, have got a few of these from swaps and beauty boxes.  I reviewed the body cream here.

Kerastase Lait Vital 1 Conditioner - love Kerastase products so will probably buy this again as it lasts for ages.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation sample pot - a great foundation will probably buy again at some point.

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash - one of my favourites, I'm on my last one.. sob.  I'd buy again.

Tropic Skin Revive Firming Nourishing Cream - I got this in a swap.  Loved it.  Would probably purchase it again in winter time as its a fairly rich cream and too heavy for my skin now.

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser - mini sample - got a few uses of this.  Nice product but expensive to buy.

Bamford Geranium Bath Oil x 2 - One of my favourite bath oils - only got two left now so will probably buy full size at some point.

Garnier Fresh Essentials Eye Make Up Remover - a good budget buy - would re-purchase.

L'Occitane Desert Rose Ultra-Rich Body Cream sachet - really fab cream, very rich and smells good.  Have a full size tin of this still to use.  L'Occitane Desert Rose Hand Cream - loved this cream - it was a magazine freebie.  Have another of these to use.  L'Occitane Divine Cream mini pot - really loved using this.  Looking for it in swaps/on ebay at the moment.  I also used a 1ml sachet of this too.  L'Occitane Divine Eyes - 1ml sachet - lovely.  Would consider purchasing in the future.  L'Occitane Baume des Yeux Eye Balm - 1ml sachet - enjoyed using this, would perhaps purchase.

Gielly Green Hand and Body Wash and Hand and Body Lotion - Loved these.  You can see my review here.

Sanctuary Hand Wash - nice hand wash and will probably pick this up again.

L'Oreal Everpure Shampoo and Conditioner sachet - really liked using these and would consider purchasing full size.

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner from Lush.  I bought this with Xmas voucher.  A beautiful rose scented product.  I'd probably re-purchase but it is quite pricey.  You can read my review here.

Vaseline Aloe Fresh deodorant - a staple and this one works for me.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Body Souffle Cream - love all Laura Mercier body lotions this is gorgeous, lightly scented with coconut and almond. Yum.

Iroisie Ultimate BB Cream sample sachet - this was from the latest Amarya box.  I struggled with this - didn't like the texture and I found it hard to spread on my skin.  So wouldn't purchase.

Japan Rose Bath salts - these were really nice - big pink salts which turned the bathwater pale pink.  Thanks Evelyn!

This Works Enjoy Multi-Tasking Lotion - I quite enjoyed using this lotion but wouldn't re-purchase as there are other lotions I prefer.

Pukka Radiance Serum 10ml and Pukka Deep Moisture Day Cream 10ml - I quite enjoyed using these products but I am unsure if I'd re-purchase.  The day cream was highly scented which put me off a bit.

YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil in simmering burgundy - absolutely love this although Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry is a good dupe.  Will probably buy again.

Antonia Burrell Natural Glow Cleansing Oil - I didn't like the scent of this, it was too overpowering and it made my skin feel dry after use so wouldn't re-purchase.  Luckily this was just a trial size which cost £2.95.

Prada Candy Body Lotion - got this in my Xmas box set.  Nice to use but would prefer to save up for another bottle of perfume rather than buy the body lotion.

Aveda Stress-Fix Soaking Salts - love these, make you feel totally relaxed and great after a hard day.  Will definitely buy these again though I wish they were a bit cheaper!

Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm Soothing Anti-Stress Moisturiser - nice product quite rich so I mainly used it at night.  Probably wouldn't purchase full size as its not really suited to my skin type.

Apivita Express Beauty Mask with grape - bought this from ebay.  Nice product.  See M&S now selling them online/instore so will probably pick this up again and I want to try the honey one.

RMK Cleansing Oil sachet - love this, got three uses from the sachet.  Will purchase this once I trawl through my numerous cleansers.

Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Lotion - lovely coconut scent.  Nice lotion to use but prefer the body oil in the range which came in Joliebox.

What have you been using up?

June Favourites

These are my June favourites:

I am still loving the Giorgio Armani Lipstick as featured in last month's favourites.  It's just such a wearable shade.

Clarins Eau Ressourcante Silky Smooth Body Cream - this is scented with sarsparilla, hibiscus, basil, iris and cedarwood.  It is said to helps promote wellbeing and relaxation.  A light textured cream which leaves your skin delicately scented.  Quite expensive at £28 for 200ml but tub will last ages.

A'kin 24hr Intensive Moisture Leave-in Conditioner - normal, dry and textured hair.  I picked this up at Naturisimo after reading Evelyn's review.  Made in Australia and it is free from sulphates, parabens, petrochemicals etc.  An absolute bargain at £8.40 delivered for 150ml.  Use on wet or dry hair - great for taming static/frizzy hair.

TAAJ Eau Micellaire de L'Himalaya Purifying & Revitalising Make Up Remover - got this in Joliebox.  Free from parabens and has a lemon scent.  Great at removing make up before cleansing.

Chanel Sycomore EDT - one of my favourite scents - you can read my review here.

What products have you been reaching for all month?

The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop - 23 - 27 June 2012 - now closed

The fifth Literary Giveaway Blog Hop is hosted by Judith at Leeswammes.  There are 64 bloggers taking part and you can check them out here.

Please pick one of the following books and tell me why you'd like to read it.  The winners will be picked using random.org and will be drawn on 28th June.  Please leave an email address so I can contact you.  Giveaway will close on 27th June at 10pm (UK time).

The giveaway is open internationally.  Good luck!

I have chosen to giveaway three books I have enjoyed reading:

The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu.  This book has been read once by me and is slightly dog-eared but in a clean condition and a great read.  You can read my review here.

My second book is Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.  Oh how I loved this book!  My book of the year so far.  You can read my mini review here.  This is a brand new copy.

Finally, my third book for all you beauty lovers out there!  Perfumes: The A-Z Guide.  I have an earlier edition of this book and I've read it loads of times.  Super informative and interesting too.  This is a brand new copy.

Please pop along to the other blogs taking part - good luck again! 

Leeswammes Candle Beam Book Blog Musings of a Bookshop Girl Book Journey (US/CA) breieninpeking (Dutch readers) bibliosue heavenali I Read That Once… The Parrish Lantern The Bibliomouse Tell Me A Story Seaside Book Nook Rikki’s Teleidoscope Sam Still Reading Nishita’s Rants and Raves Readerbuzz 2,606 Books and Counting Laurie Here (US/CA) Literary Winner (US) Dolce Bellezza The House of the Seven Tails The Book Diva’s Reads (US) Colorimetry Roof Beam Reader Kate’s Library Minding Spot (US) Silver’s Reviews (US) Book’d Out Fingers & Prose (US) Chocolate and Croissants Scattered Figments Lucybird’s Book Blog The Book Club Blog Lizzy’s Literary Life The Book Stop

Reflections from the Hinterland (US) Lena Sledge’s Blog Read in a Single Sitting The Little Reader Library (UK) The Blue Bookcase (US) 1morechapter (US) The Reading and Life of a Bookworm Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea My Sweepstakes City (US) De Boekblogger (Europe, Dutch readers) Exurbanis Sweeping Me (US/CA) Living, Learning, and Loving Life (US) Beauty Balm Uniflame Creates Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book (US/CA) Curiosity Killed The Bookworm Nose in a book (Europe) Giraffe Days Page Plucker Based on a True Story Read, Write & Live Devin Berglund (N. America) Ephemeral Digest Under My Apple Tree (US) Annette Berglund (US) Book Nympho A Book Crazy, Jane Austen Lovin’ Gal (US) Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity

L'Occitane Sale

The L'Occitane Summer Sale is now on - with up to 60% off - instore and online.  I signed up a while back to the mailing list and get offers and deals sent by post.  The latest offer was 10% extra off on sales items.

Here's what I got:

Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream - Hibiscus Flower (I loved the hand cream in this scent).  It was reduced from £16 to £8.

I also picked up a Protecting Expert Care Collection which was reduced to £10.50 from £21.

It contains:

Shea Butter 10ml Hand Cream 

Shea Butter 10ml Foot Cream

Shea Butter Cleansing Milk 50ml

Shea Butter Milk Soap 100g

Shea Butter Ultra Rich Shower Cream 75ml

1ml sachet serum with Shea Butter

White cotton pouch

I got two free sachet samples - Angelica Exfoliating Scrub 5ml (love this) and a Concentrated Hair Mask for sensitive scalps 8ml.

Have you picked up anything in the L'Occitane sale?

The Body Shop - Pink Grapefruit & Vanilla Body Mists

I picked up two of the new body mists from The Body Shop recently.  I picked pink grapefruit and vanilla.  The pink grapefruit one is really refreshing and zesty. It's really cooling and refreshing on hot and clammy days.  My second one is vanilla, which is really sweet and smells of cake!  

An absolute bargain at £7 for 100ml - would make a great gift too as they are packaged in glass bottles.  Other scents are coconut, mango, Moringa, Satsuma, Shea and Strawberry.

I joined up to the Rewards Card at a one off payment of £5 - which gives you a free Earth Lovers shower gel - I chose the Cucumber & Mint scent - very refreshing and cooling and worth £5.  The card entitles you to 10% off purchases for a year, a £5 product on your birthday and other freebies and offers throughout the year.  I also got a voucher for a £10 off if you spend £25 before the end of July.

Have you tried the new body mists?  What's your favourite Body Shop product? - I'm always looking for new things to try.

Perfume Minis & Sample vials

I love trying out new perfumes so I love sample vials and perfume minis.  Above are my current ones.  I think they are a great way to find a perfume you love as there is normally enough in a vial find out if you love/hate a scent.

I currently carry around the following in my make-up bag:

A mini roll-on of Trish McEvoy Blackberry & Vanilla Musk - I love this sweet warm vanilla blackberry scent - a full size bottle is on my ever-expanding wish list.

I picked up a Chanel Beige EDT sample at Surrender to Chance - as this perfume retails at £100 for 75ml I wanted to try before considering buying.  Glad I did. A lovely scent but not a patch on my favourite Le Exclusifs Chanel Sycomore.

Miller Harris Citron Citron EDP which I received from What's in my handbag on Friday - citrus with woods and moss - I'm enjoying using it (and the body lotion is gorgeous).

Several sample vials from Jo Malone - White Jasmine & Mint, Grapefruit and Wild Bluebell - I adore Jo Malone but rarely buy it for myself - a real treat to receive as a gift.

I love Tuberose scents such as Robert Piguet Fracas - which I know is a marmite scent! and Le Labo Tubereuse 40.  I've not had a bottle for ages of  Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia but love this too.

I discovered I loved Prada Candy via a sample vial received in my November Feel Unique Box.

I also currently have minis and samples of - Visa, Calypso, Kim Kardashian, Flowerbomb, Lolita Lempicka, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.1, Paestum Rose, Armani Code, Jo Wood, Serge Lutens, Memo Lalibela, Tata Harper, Annick Goutal Rose, Orla Kiely and a few decants.

What perfumes have you discovered and come to love from first trying it as a sample?

Asian Beauty Box

I was excited when Dorothy from Dorothy's Little Wonderland announced on Beauty Box Swaps she was taking orders for a June Asian box.

I received a fantastic box from Maria previously (see below).  You can see my post here.  It cost £10 including postage but Maria brought these back personally from holiday.

My box, sent in a jiffy bag from Dorothy cost initially £12.95 including P&P.  We were then asked to pay an additional £3.50 for custom charges.  Here's what I got:

Seafood noodles (it's a beauty box!)  I'd have preferred another sheet mask.

Isqueen Blemish Balm Cream 8g - looking forward to trying this out although it has leaked all over the packaging and some of the other products.  

Shiseido Hand Cream 40g - seems a nice product from a well known brand and I love hand creams.

C&M Anti-Blemish 3 in 1 Deep Purifying Cleansing Gel 70ml - I got a different variety of this cleanser in my box from Maria.  I can always use a cleanser although I'm wondering if this might be a bit harsh for my skin.

1 x sheet mask Rose in Heaven - love sheet masks so keen to try.


I don't think that the "box" is great value for money especially when you see how much I received in my box from Maria (top photo) but I will use everything apart from the noodles.  Did you order one?  What are your thoughts?


p.s. Nardine from Live...Laugh...Love is making me a surprise box for £13.30 including P&P - can't wait! 

Blog Love

Here are 5 new-ish blogs I'm enjoying reading, check them out!

Hayley @ Coco Harlowe

Olivia @ Olivia's Beauty Land

Cooper @ Cooper's Beauty

Claire Louise @ Claire Louise (formerly XxDollyBlossom)

Laura @ Lauras Little Secrets

Veggie Growing - Update 3

Seems like ages since I did a veggie growing update!


My veggies are starting to appear!  I'll definitely get potatoes (and some strawberries) anyhow.  I grew most things from seed (most of the other plot owners used seedlings - that is why their veggies are so far on compared to mine).  The veggies (hopefully!) covered in straw below are courgettes.  I've eaten some delicious salad leaves so far (just ignore the weeds - I'm trying to keep on top of them!) x

Giveaway Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway.  The winners (chosen using random.org) are:-

Lola @ LolaStar Hearts

Ali @ Joie de Vivre

Congratulations!

Please check back on Saturday as I'll be taking part in the Literary Blog Hop - I'm giving away 3 books - one will be beauty related. x

Stylist Magazine - issue 130

The latest issue of Stylist Magazine had a couple of articles which caught my eye.

The first one was on skincare - The Ultimate Skincare Routine - cleanser - you should be using a 50p piece amount, toner - 20p piece, serum 5p piece, eye cream - a grain of rice size for each eye (I definitely use way too much!) and a 20p piece size for moisturiser.  You can read the article here.

Another snippet which caught my eye was that Marks & Spencer are currently opening beauty halls in their stores with the finest of skincare, make up, hair and body care brands.  These include Apivita (I really want to try the face masks) and Dr Renauld.  Leighton Denny and Lyn Harris (of Miller Harris) have created own brand products for M&S.

Really excited can't wait for one of my local stores to open.  Currently open at Sheffield, Crystal Peaks and Westfield.  There will be 22 Beauty Halls nationwide by September.

You can read Stylist online, subscribe or pick it up locally every Wednesday in London, Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham.  Also from French Connection and Airport Lounges.  (I've never seen this anywhere locally and I subscribed for 20 issues - only got 2 left - going to catch up with it in future online).

Do you pick up the magazine?