Review: Acqua Di Parma Colonia Powder Soap

I spotted Acqua di Parma's powder soap in YOU Magazine and it piqued my interest. I've had a shaker in my stash for a while now (70g - £28, although I had a 15% off code when I purchased it).

It's presented in a vintage style metal container with a shaker top which "evokes talcum powder jars of the past". The silky powder creates a luxurious foam with a delicious scent. It really is in the "treatme" category or would make a gorgeous gift.

To use: dampen hands before shaking out some of the soap powder, massage your hands together for light and fragrant bubbles. 

Hands are left feeling clean, soft and scented with the unmistakable Colonia scent (lemon, sweet orange, Calabrian bergamot, lavender, Bulgarian rose, verbena, rosemary, vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli). It really is a delight. Pick yours up HERE.

Shopping my Stash #60

My last shopping my stash post was way back in November. Here's what I've been reaching for lately.

Blue Labelle Rose & Jasmine Body Oil 50ml - this delicately scented body oil is now a limited edition - get it while you can! I've been enjoying using it but I think I slightly prefer the Ylang Ylang & Frankincense version which also featured in my Top Ten of 2014 - see my review here. 

Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile EDP 50ml - I first tried this scent while shopping in London and loved it. I received it from my mum and dad for Christmas. It is light, fresh, rosey and super feminine. It contains Centifolia roses which are hand picked at dawn during 40 days in May-June.

GlamGlow Powermud Dual Cleanse Treatment 15g - I first read about this product on Jane's blog and knew I wanted to try it at some point.  It is a mud to oil deep cleansing treatment. Apply to skin, leave on for 10 minutes before massaging it into the skin when it will emulsify before removing with warm damp muslin cloth.  My skin is left super soft, radiant and feeling really clean. You can also apply it overnight or in-flight for deeply hydrated skin. Love!

By Terry Baume de Rose 3g - I received this from Nardine in my fab Rose Hamper. It's a product I've wanted to try for ages too! Great for dry lips, cuticles, flyaways and dry skin it has a light rose scent and it soothes and heals the skin.

John Masters Organics Rosemary & Peppermint Detangler 60ml - I'm a huge fan of the Citrus & Neroli version so was looking forward to trying this one. It has a really refreshing scent and it lightly conditions the hair.  Either leave in or rinse out. Another keeper which came in this special set.

What products have you been using lately?

Seven Scents for Summer

These are the scents I'm enjoying at the moment -

Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Perfume Gel - simply loving this light fruity floral.  See my review here. 

Kiehl's Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit Aromatic Blend - a lovely fresh and light scent.  See my review here.

Kai Perfume Oil Roll on - simply adore this Gardenia, Jasmine, Tuberose, Lily and Cucumber scent.  It is said that this smells different on everyone.  Just wish is was a bit cheaper as it costs £40 for 3.6ml.

Diptyque Philosykos Perfume Oil Roll on - the scent that reminds me of hot summer days.  Love this fig scent.  You can read more about it here.

Clarins Eau de Jardins - a light and fruity scent - see my mini review here.

Acqua di Parma Acqua Nobile Gelsomino EDT Roll on - a simply gorgeous light Jasmine scent.  See my review here.

Balm Balm Mandarin EDP single note - a gorgeous fresh and fruity scent.

Do you wear any of these scents? What's your favourite Summer scent?

Shopping My Stash #17

Here's what I've been reaching for this week -

The Little Skincare Shop English Rose Floral Water (£8.15 for 60ml) - this is from a lovely new company selling floral waters. The rose one is produced from the steam distillation of hand picked fresh rose petals - it smells divine!  Other scents include lavender, orange, tea tree and chamomile - you can also buy as a mixed pair.  Use to refresh the skin after cleansing.  It only arrived on Monday but already it's become a much loved item in my skincare routine.

Botanicals Hand & Nail Serum 10g - simply love this deeply moisturising fennel scented oil.  See my review here.

Stila One Step Skin Tone Correcting Brightening Serum 30ml - received this in the Selfridges box last summer.  My favourite primer at the moment.

Herbfarmacy Lip Conditioner with Marshmallow & Vanilla - received this in I think an Amarya box.  I have in my back up the one I won in Ana's Giveaway.

MUA Eyeshadow Palette in Heaven & Earth - simply great shades with good pigmentation.

Stila Lip Glaze in Hibiscus - love this shimmery shade.

Lancome mini Juicy Tube - love these for glossy shine.

Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile EDP roll on - with notes of bergamot, mandarin, magnolia, lemon, neroli, freesia, lily of the valley, musk, patchouli essence and vanilla - a really lovely floral.

Have you used any of these products?

April Favourites

These are the products I've been loving this month -

Pure Fiji Exotic Bath & Body Oil in Coconut - simply adore this oil.  It has a light coconut scent and it reminds me of summer. Leaves the skin moisturised and lightly perfumed.  This is my third bottle I think.

Cowshed Gorgeous Cow Blissful Perfume Oil - I only got this last week as a late birthday pressie from Jo and Emma - you can see my post about it here. Already it is a firm favourite - a simply gorgeous scent.

Chanel Le Volume Mini Mascara in Black - subscribers to Red magazine received it this month.  I simply love it - makes my lashes super huge.

Acqua di Parma Nobile Gelsomino EDT roll on - a gorgeous light jasmine scent.  I reviewed it here - just perfect for Sping/Summer.

Balance Me Skin Bright Hydrating Face Mist 60ml* - simply loving this hydrating mist scented with pineapple and rose floral waters and with hyaluronic acid and neroli.  Can be used to tone, refresh skin and fix make up.  Full review to follow.

Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder in shade 30 Naturel - as well as loving the luxe packaging of Chanel this power is great for setting foundation and keeping shine at bay.

Have you used any of these products?  

*sent for review

Acqua di Parma Acqua Nobile Gelsomino EDT Roll on 7.5ml

Harper's Bazaar magazine usually have good offers for subscribers.  This month I got my hands on a free 7.5ml EDT roll on of Acqua di Parma's Gelsomino fragrance.  This is a jasmine based scent and is simply gorgeous - just perfect for Spring and Summer.  A light and fresh floral fragrance.

With notes of Jasmine, Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Pink Pepper, Neroli, Petigrain and a hint of Musk.  The perfume was inspired by a garden filled with morning dew.

The other two scents in the range are Acqua Nobile Magnolia which takes its inspiration from the smell of magnolia flowers at daybreak.  It contains White Flowers, Bergamot, Mandarin, Cedar, Lemon, Neroli, Musk, Patchouli and Vanilla. Acqua Nobile Iris (I've got a mini roll on of this) contains Iris, Violet, Neroli, Orange Blossom, Musk and Vanilla and was inspired by the air in a sun drenched garden.

125ml retails at £85

Have you used this scent or any of the others in the range?

Spending Ban - Update 10

Again I've had two splurges this week.  I signed up to a new green beauty box SoukSouk which costs £12.00 plus £2.95 P&P.  You can also subscribe for 6 months (£60 plus P&P) or a year (£120 plus P&P).  The April box looks fantastic and a bonus is I'll use everything the box contains.

On Friday after reading Ana's review a 10ml bottle of Botanicals Anti-Ageing Hand & Nail Serum slipped into my basket.  I also picked up a "free" duo of mini samples of Rose & Camellia Cleansing Melt (5g) and Mint & Tea Tree Foot Balm (5g). (you can also pick these freebies up separately paying £1.95 postage).

Onto my wants:

Willow Organic Relaxation Box - £25 - Jasmine & Geranium Bath Oil, candle and natural soap.  I've used these products once before (I received this beautiful set as a birthday gift) and loved them.  Great for pampering and smells gorgeous.

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By Terry Cellularose Brightening Serum £75 - adds luminosity to the skin, brightens, adds radiance and evens out skintone.  It sounds totally luxurious!

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Serena Linley Iris & Jasmine Bath Essence 15ml - £15 - you know I adore bath oils so this sounds just gorgeous.  See the website here.

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Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder £36 - needing a new powder and love Chanel's luxe packaging and make up. I think I'll buy this with my birthday money.

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Giorgio Armani Rose D'Arabie EDP 100ml - £190 - with notes of rose, saffron, patchouli, woods and amber.  Fancied this scent for a while now but just too expensive.  Nice to dream though!

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Acqua di Parma Iris Noble Perfumed Soaps 3 x 100g £40 - I am a sucker for beautifully perfumed soaps and these sound pure luxury.  I've tried the perfume and its gorgeous.

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Stila Colour Balm Lipstick £16 - Amelia &  Ruby Shades. Fully pigmented shades with a nourishing balm texture.

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How is your spending ban going?  Have you used any of these products?

Perfume Samples

I'm going to do a perfume sample challenge, a bit like the one I'm doing for sachets and trial sizes in skincare and bodycare.  You can read my latest one here.

I've picked out a selection of samples to use over the coming few weeks (or until they are finished) and then I'll let you know my thoughts on them and whether I'd buy them full size before trying out more of my stash!

To start me off I've picked:-

Acqua di Parma Iris Noble Sublime EDP 5ml roll on - this featured in my September Favourites.

Bond No 9 Central Park West EDP 1.7ml - I got this from What's in my Handbag recently and also love it!

Tom Ford Black Orchid EDP 1.5ml

Oh Lola! Marc Jacobs EDP 1.5ml

Lolita Lempicka L'Eau en Blanc EDP 0.8ml

Have you used any of these scents before?

September Favourites

Here are my September favourites - 

Stila One Step Skin Tone Brightening Serum 30ml - I received this in the Selfridges Beauty Box.  I love this primer - I find my make up lasts longer when I use it and it brightens up my skin.  A really fab product.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Shade 4.5 - I always come back to this foundation.  I like how it makes my skin look flawless (or near to!).

Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath - a pot of absolute gorgeous-ness! I picked this up with the body cream in the spring sale at Harvey Nichols at a bargain price of £15 for both.  Comes with a honey dipper for swirling the bath creme into the bath water.  I highly recommend it - smells amazing and creates lots of lovely bubbles.

Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile Sublime EDP Roll On 5ml - this is a new launch and you can pick the full size up at Escentual.com.  It's gorgeous - with notes of mandarin, neroli, iris, jasmine, rose and orange flower essence.  I'm loving wearing it.

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara in Black - my favourite mascara of the moment.

Angela Langford Perfect Pores Serum and Balanced & Beautiful Facial Oil - you can see my review here.

What are your favourites this month?