PRIMARK - SELFRIDGES BIRMINGHAM

Primark has been a Mens concession in Selfridges, Birmingham since 2011. Recently, they have introduced a Womens section to the store. The collection includes an exclusive selection of the clothing that you can find in a standard high-street Primark. The range is still priced at the brand's signature great-value prices, offering customers a wide range of price points and bringing a bigger target consumer through the doors.

Womenswear Primark first unveiled their concession in the Manchester Trafford Centre Selfridges store. The concept shows that cheaper shopping can be sold in more up-market surroundings. I think it's a great idea, and shows that key pieces can be sold right next to branded names. It's such a nicer way to shop, you won't find the vast selection of a big Primark store, but they have picked the best of the bunch - so no need to raid through the rails to find the fashion pieces! What do you think of Selfridges move?

PINTEREST

I have really been enjoying using Pinterest lately. By using pinterest I can 'pin' images, videos and other objects on to various pinboards. The users can easily follow each other on the site and re-pin, like as well as comment on other pins. I find it really handy for inspiration, planning a project or wish lists, it's like having your own online mood boards. My favourite things to pin are either Hair & Beauty posts or Fashion related pins. It's great to see what other friends are posting about and keeping up to date with the latest trends and street style. It's also a great app to have on your Smartphone/Ipad so you can pin on-the-go! I have also been enjoying the crafty, DIY pinboards for inspiration as they really do motivate me to change or update decor or accessories that are looking a little tired around the house. Other categories include, cooking, photography, travel, technology and many more... There are so many ways you can use Pinterest, try it for yourself or find my boards here.

CITY CHIC GLOSSYBOX MARCH 2013

March's Glossybox was all about City Chic. The theme of 'city chic' is all about achieving a glossy & groomed look that city girls maintain from boardroom to barstool. The box also came with a little travelling book full of cute stickers, information about places to visit and room to take notes. This was a nice little extra to receive and something I found really interesting to read. On to the products I received in the box last month;

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush, Full-size 2.5g, £12.00 - Jelly Pong Pong are a brand I haven't really used before, but I was excited to see this product in the box last month. I really like the crayon applicators as they are so easy to use and apply. The colour wasn't something I would usually pick, but it's nice to have something different in my collection and have found myself reaching for it more often than I thought I would and the pigmentation is great! I'm not sure I would repurchase at £12.00 as you can get just as good lip crayons on the high-street from Revlon and Soap & Glory. But I would like to discover more from the brand.
Juicy Couture Couture La La Eau De Parfum Spray, Full-size 50ml, £47.00 - I'm not really a fan of the Juicy Couture line, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed wearing this perfume. It has a really nice sweet, floral scent that is very wearable for every-day use. The only downside I could find was it didn't last too long on the skin and I found myself topping it up through-out the day. But I have enjoyed using this feminine, flirty sample up!

Tresemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray, Full-size 500ml, £4.69 - I already use this hairspray, so it was great to receive a back up. I really like the texture of this product, it doesn't feel too heavy in my hair and it really does last! giving my hair control for most of the day. The scent is also pleasant, where as a lot of hairsprays can be very overpowering and feel crispy in the hair. It brushes out really easily and gives body and fullness where needed. I would carry on repurchasing this hairspray and I would really recommend a lot of other Tresemme styling products.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free, Full-size 50ml, £25.00 - This product really works wonders, it's a multitasking product which can be used to refresh jet-lagged skin, shape brows, revitalise shine, soothe dry hands and chapped lips or smooth cuticles and nails. Again, I already own this product, but it's been handy to have a small sized sample to take around with me. I mainly use this on the lips as it instantly softens them like no other product. A little goes a long way, so i'm still using the sample up - you really can't beat it!

Nails Inc Nail Polish in St.James, Full-size 10ml, £11.00 - I enjoy using Nails Inc polishes so it was great to see this miniature inside the box. It is not really a colour I wear on my finger nails a lot but it's great for toes. The formulation of these vanishes last ages without chipping and you don't need many coats to gain the desired look. This shade is a classic, pillar box red and adds a pop of colour to any outfit.
I like my reviews of Glossybox to be about what I thought of the products after using them for some time, instead of just showing you what I received each month. All in all I thought this was a great box, I received some products I already love and some new make-up ones that I've been trying out and also loving! The theme of the box was really up my street. I've just received April's box and can't wait to share that one, it's a good'un.

MISS GLOSSYBOX

I received an email from Glossybox this morning informing me of a new concept that Glossybox are introducing. Miss Glossybox is a new subscription service which will be launching in May following the success of the original beauty box. The box is aimed at young adults and teenagers broadening Glossybox's consumer. I think it's a great idea, as it gets younger people interested in beauty early and makes sure they take care of important things like skincare. The box looks really bright and fun and the product inside appear to be picked out for the younger skin type. The products are of a lower price point than those of the original box but they come in a reusable pouch which seems to be more appealing to the younger market. The subscription service is £7 (plus p&p) and comes out every two months. Subscription begins with the May box and is only available in the UK. Find more information here.

ARTIST ANDREW SALGADO COLLABORATION WITH HARVEY NICHOLS

Images: harveynichols, smudgetikka, harveynichols, facebook

Andrew Salgado was commissioned by Harvey Nichols to create 6 large scale paintings to be exhibited in the store-front windows of their Sloane Street location in Knightsbridge. Each window sets the scene of an artist's studio. Giant portraits cover the back wall and artists props such as easels, oil paint tubes and tins of paint help compete the art studio effect, with mannequins showcasing S/S13 fashions. Each window shows a different subject matter, mirroring the diversity of Harvey Nichols customers who step through the doors each day. I love his work and how distinctive his technique is, it would be great to see more store windows mixing different creative ways with fashion. Find out more by watching the video below.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING - PRODUCT PLACEMENT

As part of my University creative work, I have been looking at Visual Merchandising and how certain stores put different products in the window to entice customers through the doors. By placing products that work well together be it through colour, style or theme, customers can piece together a story and decide which products they can see fitting into their lifestyle. For the business this means they can maximise sales by a way of attracting custom and promoting their shop through product placement. In the above pictures, I have placed garments with cosmetics and accessories, as well as including prints and colour ways. These are all products that are sold in Harvey Nichols stores and I feel all three looks would work well together for Spring/Summer store windows. As I want the windows to be based on beauty, key cosmetics and accessories would be placed in the front of the window. This would create a focal point for the customer and the mannequins and clothing would be an extra accessory to display a story.

HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM - VISUAL MERCHANDISING

I recently took photos of the Knightsbridge store's Visual Merchandising, so I thought I would compare those with the windows of the Birmingham store in The Mailbox. The Birmingham store doesn't have the space that the flagship store has, but the Visual Merchandising is just as effective on a smaller scale. The windows were beauty based promoting Space.NK.apothecary. Placing head mannequins with Percy & Reed Hair products and a Salon window with cosmetics and retro props. The other side showed a 'Harvey's Hot Dogs' van with a sign for New Street. The windows were really bright and fun and I believe they were produced to entice the younger consumer through the doors. At the moment, Harvey Nichols are also giving away a limited edition gift with purchase. Spend £110 on fragrance, skincare, beauty or cosmetics and receive over £130 worth of treats from some of the most prestigious brands on offer in HN. Find out more here. What do you think of the Store windows? 

SBC - SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION COLLAGEN HAND LOTION

Simply Beautiful Collection (SBC) is a beauty brand that offers spa-quality skincare and make-up to deliver expert results at home. Their products are known for being enriched with plant extracts and blended with sensual fragrances to deliver effective results. SBC caters for every skin type and has a solution for every skincare issue. Simply Beautiful Collection has expanded to include prescriptive gels, exfoliators, cleansers, bathing essentials, body butters, serums and masks to create a dynamic range that delivers pure, natural vitality to the skin. SBC started as a salon brand but now is available to everyone from online stores such as; QVC, Cult Beauty and their own website sbcgels.co.uk. 

SBC Collagen Hand Lotion £14.52* moisturises, softens and replenishes skin with conditioning collagen extracts which are instantly absorbed. I had never tried any products from the range before, but was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the lotion. The lotion comes in a 500ml bottle which is great value for money and the handy pump means its easy to use and produces just enough for one use. The product claims to boost hydration and address the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also protects hands with the rich infusion of essential restorative and purifying care. I really love the fragrance it reminds me of pink grapefruit and the consistency is not greasy at all, so it melts in your hands leaving them soft for a while after use.

I left the bottle in my bathroom to use after washing my hands and it seems my sister has been enjoying using the lotion just as much as me. It would be great if they did a smaller size for on the go! I have been checking out the QVC website to see what other products they offer in the range and the bath products have caught my eye.

Have you tried any products from SBC before? 

*PR Sample

BALANCE ME DAILY ESSENTIALS PURE SKIN FACE WASH

Balance Me is a beauty brand that provides natural, high-performance skincare products that are made here in the UK. All their products are paraben and sulphate free, proving great for the skin. I came across the brand through Glossybox and a magazine freebie. The only product I had used in the past was the Wonder Eye Cream, which I really enjoyed - read my review in a recent empties here. 

The Pure Skin Face Wash £16.00* is a skin-balancing cleanser which can be used to cleanse the face of make-up and daily grime which leaves you with a balanced, clean complexion without stripping away your skin's natural moisture levels. The product is formulated with anti-oxidant rich moringa and rice bran oils to brighten and polish the skin. This face wash is mostly suitable for normal to combination skin types and is also 98.8% natural, so you know you are putting something good on your skin.

I have really enjoyed using this cleanser and it has fast become one of my go-to cleansers to reach for. This product is very versatile and I have been using it in many different ways; in the shower, with a muslin cloth and even with my clarisonic. I really like the gel consistency which is so easy to massage into damp skin. The product is so gentle on the skin and foams up to the right amount with my clarisonic, but it's also nice on its own for a quick freshen up. It takes my make-up off in a matter of moments, even mascara without any irritation to the eye-area which I was most impressed about. I love the simple packaging and the affordable price point and I would definitely repurchase this product when I run out. I'm not the biggest fan of the scent as I feel it is quite strong but this factor doesn't really matter when your skin is left feeling soft and fresh and when you know there is no petroleum, mineral oils, silicones, dea, pegs, propylene glycol, artificial fragrances or colours inside the product.

This month is Natural Skincare Amnesty month at Balance Me. By simply placing an order of £25 or more on the Balance Me website you can choose three miniatures to try out as well, which is a great way of trying other products from the brand and seeing what works for you. I am currently intrigued by the Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm which I have heard great things about, so that might have to be added to the wish list... I have also seen that Balance Me are featured in this month's Glossybox, I hope to receive a sample in mine. Have you tried any products from the Balance Me range? What are your recommendations?

*PR Sample