SUMMER FRAGRANCE - CLARINS EAU DES JARDINS

In my recent Selfridges Beauty Box, I found a product which I just fell in love with it's the Clarins Eau Des Jardins Smoothing Body Cream, it was definitely the stand out product for me! I had never really thought of trying a body cream from Clarins before as I just think of them as a skincare brand. But this is the great thing about beauty boxes, you find items you wouldn't normally buy yourself. I loved the body cream that much, that whilst I was in Duty free last month I spotted the matching Clarins Eau Des Jardins Fragrance in perfume form. I said to myself I didn't need another perfume but I couldn't resist this scent! The body lotion has as strong a scent as the fragrance and it lasts on my skin for hours which I love. It's great to use both products together to layer up the fragrance.
The scent is uplifting, fresh and just reminds me of Summer. The fragrance combines essential oils and plant extracts to create a fruity scent with notes of wild rose and comforting wood. It also contains etheric oils of grapefruit, lemon, bergamot, orange, citruses, black currant bud absolute, mint, bay leaf, along with dry oils of cedar, patchouli, vetiver and white musk. It's light on the skin but also moisturises, soothes and ensures skin is soft all day, it's suitable for all skin types. Clarins class their line of perfumes as treatment perfumes that not only leave you smelling lovely but soften and care for your skin at the same time and it's not greasy at all.
The scent is not overpowering and it instantly changes my mood from the first spray. I like to spray it straight after stepping out of the shower in the mornings. I feel Clarins fragrances are such value for money as I picked up this 100ml for £25.60 normally priced at £32.00. I really like the pebble shaped bottle, it's quite heavy so not ideal for travelling round, but I will be keeping this in my bathroom. It would even be nice to spray around the room before getting in the bath or shower, for a spa like feeling. This is definitely a Summer fragrance but I can see myself wearing it all year round. I used it everyday on holiday, great to use throughout the day or just for evening. There is also a shower gel in the line which I will have to try! I am intrigued to try out the other fragrances in the line now. 
The body cream feels silky, it's lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin. My body feels hydrated after using as well as scented. The indulgent cream is enriched with three organic buds to cocoon the skin with rich moisture. Beech Bud extract helps to improve skin hydration while Sorbier Bud extract boosts the skin's natural radiance. Blackcurrant Bud is known for its high antioxidant content and its soothing, comforting properties. The body cream is priced at £29.00 for 200ml, which is definitely a treat but I would repurchase and I know Clarins regularly do gift sets at discounted prices.

I'm so pleased I purchased the Selfridges Beauty Box as I wouldn't be without this scent now, for me there's nothing like it! Have you tried any of the Clarins fragrances?

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SELFRIDGES SUMMER BEAUTY BOX

There have been so many beauty boxes this month which have caught my eye that I don’t need to go beauty shopping for a very long time! I have brought Selfridges beauty boxes in the past, they normally put together 2 or 3 a year, but the most recent boxes haven’t made me want to buy them, until this one. This limited edition Summer Ready Beauty Box is exclusive to Selfridges and contains 13 beauty essentials including skincare and makeup products. I'm surprised this is still available online as I can imagine it being very popular!

The beauty box, came in a Selfridges presentation box and then all the product came inside a canvas make-up bag from Alphabet Bags. I couldn't believe the size of the bag and I love the summer quote on the side, ‘I've got 99 problems, but a beach ain't one’. I will be taking this on holiday next week with me for all my poolside essentials like sun cream and books.

The box includes the Starskin Instaglam Foam Peel Perfect and the Starskin After Party Brightening Face Mask which I have never tried before. Instaglam is a disposable, foaming, peeling puff that gets rid of dead skin cells to reveal radiant looking skin. After Party is a Coconut Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Brightening face mask that contains a powerful serum complex to leave skin luminous and brightened. The translucent, cooling sheet mask is packed full of Vitamin C and Herbal Medley which works to reduce visible dark spots and even skin tone, I'm very excited to use this one! Another skincare product included was the Rodial Dragons Blood Sculpting Gel. This is an anti-ageing formula which helps to volumise and defines facial contours. It reduces redness and is ideal for sensitive and stressed skin. There was also a product I have tried before, the Caudalie Grape Water which is designed to soothe and refresh the skin. It’s made from 100% natural organic grapes and is suitable for all skin types. This product is quickly absorbed and can be used multiple times per day, so great if you need to cool down in the heat.

Also inside were the Ribband Sorbet Hair Ties in gorgeous pastel colours. I have been after some of these for a while now, they come in a pack of four and I think they'd be great for tying my hair up on holiday by the pool. Another hair product in the beauty box was the Tangle Teezer in Original Blue. I have quite a few Tangle Teezers but I think they come in really handy and it’s great to have one in your handbag, one in your gym bag and one on your dressing table. It’s so easy to untangle your hair with these, I'll definitely be chucking this in my beach bag!

The next product I was excited about was the James Read Day Tan SPF15. This is a day cream that gives you colour as well as instant moisturisation. You can build up a subtle, sun kissed glow which can be used all year round as well as being protected from the sun at the same time. On the make-up side was the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner, this eyeliner creates bold lines and long-lasting colour. The tip is flexible enough to create winged flicks, it delivers a smudge-proof finish but is easy to blend before drying for smoky eyes. Most beauty boxes seem to contain a Nails Inc Gel Nail Vanish at the moment. I received the shade Chiltern Street which is a lovely milky pink. The formula applies nicely and leaves a high shine finish, as well as being long lasting on the nails.

Something for the lips was the Illamasqua Lipstick in the shade Luster which a gorgeous candy pink. I have a couple of Illamasqua lip colours now from beauty boxes. These lipsticks are highly pigmented, long-lasting, moisturising on the lips and leaves a satin finish. There was also a mini Nars Lipgloss in the box in the shade Orgasm. This is so cute and a great handbag size. This lipgloss is really wearable and can be worn alone or look great over any lip product.

During the summer months, it can be a task to keep your makeup in place all day, that’s where the Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray comes in. I have been wanting to try this for a while now, since loving the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray. The stand out product for me in this box was the Clarins Eau des Jardins Smoothing Body Cream. When I first applied this I fell in love with the scent, it’s beautiful!

The content of this box has the combined value of £176, so for the retail price of £40.00 I think this is a great deal! It's a little pricer than other beauty boxes but the Alphabet Bag is worth £20.00 on its own. I know I will get great use from all the products inside, I wish Selfridges did more regular boxes.

Have you been tempted by the Selfridges Beauty Box?

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NARS CHRISTOPHER KANE OUTER LIMITS EYESHADOW

Nars have just released a new collection in collaboration with Christopher Kane for Summer 2015. In the collection are four lip glosses, one single eye shadow, one eyeshadow duo, a bronzer and a multiple. All of the products are so colourful and bright and are inspired by the nature of neon. I have so many eyeshadow palettes including a couple of Nars ones but have never been drawn into buying a single pan eyeshadow on its own. Nars eye shadows have never disappointed me and I have always been pleased with the results and the sleek packaging meaning they're ideal for travel.

The limited edition shade is called Outer Limits and is a gorgeous rose gold shimmer. It’s a lovely iridescent peachy tone with hot pink flecks of glitter. In my opinion, it’s the star of the collection and when I saw it was coming soon I knew I had to buy one for myself. You can apply one layer for a sheer wash of colour or build it up for a more intense look. The Nars eye shadows are buttery and glide straight onto the skin. It’s long wearing, grease-resistant and can be applied dry or with a dampened brush for a more dramatic effect. I think it works best by using your finger to pat on the colour, I do like to use an eyeshadow primer before applying though. The glitter is chunky and causes a little bit of fall out but not enough to put me off using it. I also like to wear this in the corner of my eyes or lining underneath my eyes to highlight. As this shade is semi-translucent I'm most likely to wear this on top of another similar shade. I don't have anything like it in my collection, it’s so unique and pretty! I think this would look perfect on a night out or a special occasion with just black eyeliner on the lids.

Outer Limits is priced at £18.00, I purchased my eye shadow from Selfridges as it's currently out of stock on the Nars website. I was also tempted by the really wearable lip glosses in the collection. I also love the promotional images that stand alongside the collection. I went to the Birmingham Bullring at the weekend, they were applying the range in the shopping centre and it seemed to be really popular, if you're tempted I'd be quick!

Have you checked out the Christopher Kane collaboration with Nars?

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CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAKEUP - CHEEK TO CHIC BLUSHER & BAR OF GOLD HIGHLIGHTER

I have wanted to try Charlotte Tilbury make up for a while now, she launched her collection into Selfridges last year. I bought these items from the online store as I don’t live near a Selfridges store. I could have brought everything from her collection but I decided to plump for two items; The Bar of Gold Highlighter which I believe is limited edition and one of the Cheek to Chic – Swish & Pop Blusher in the shade Love Glow, which I have been lusting over for ages.

The light reflecting highlighter creates sculpted cheekbones and glowing skin. I like to brush this on to cheekbones, temples, nose, cupid’s bow and decolletage. It’s the perfect gold shimmer and comes in such cute packaging. It’s not the same stunning, luxury packaging that most of the collection comes in. The highlighter is priced at £30.00 for 5.5g of product, you would expect for the price of the product it would come in a sturdier casing, but this is the only downfall to the product. I love my skin to look dewy and this is the ideal product to make it happen. Charlotte shows you in the video (below) to concentrate on the C-shape that hugs the eye area, right up to the temples. She also gives the great tip of putting the highlighter in the corner of your eyes, which I will be trying. This would be great to use on a holiday as you can use this on the body too. The website says it's the last chance to buy this product, which is a shame, but get it when you can!

The blusher is fool proof, Charlotte has made it easier to apply colour in the right places by producing a product which has one coral shade round the side and a more prominent pink shade in the middle. You use it by putting the lighter colour on your upper cheeks and then the pop of colour on the apples of the cheeks. I love the packaging of the blushers, a cute little compact with a mirror and you seem to get a generous amount of product. This blusher is priced at £30.00 for 8g of product. The shade is a lovely, pink coral, which creates a gorgeous sheen on the cheeks. In the video (below), the blusher really gives life to the models cheeks and I'm really impressed with the pigmentation and lux finish.

The products in the collection aren't cheap, but you’re paying for a make-up artists collection, so I feel the quality and brains behind each product justify the price tag. If I continue to enjoy these products I will be excited to try more from the range. I have my eye on the beach sticks and the wonderglow beauty balm.

Have you tried anything from the Charlotte Tilbury collection?

LAURA MERCIER CUSTOM ARTIST PORTFOLIO - PETITE

I first set my eyes on this Beauty Portfolio whilst shopping in Selfridges' beauty hall. The sales assistant was totally selling it, but I knew I couldn't part with that much money there and then on essentially a make-up bag. But last month, I was lucky enough to win one when I entered a twitter competition with Space NK! Laura Mercier has to be one of my favourite high-end brands, so I was so excited to receive something which had been on my wish list for a long time.
The exclusive Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portfolio - Petite - £85* is an all-in-one Beauty Portfolio for home and away. This exclusive organiser features two custom designed removable mesh cosmetic bags and a double-sided pocketed brush page. The mesh cosmetic bags are magnetic so they are perfect to transfer into your handbag for daily use. The set also includes four eyeshadows in; Pale Pink, Granite, Morning Dew and Sea Storm. A Blusher in; Rose Petal, a Lip Glace in Pink Prep and an Eye Pencil in Stone Slate which is a deluxe travel size. My favourite being the blush! The eyeshadows are so creamy and easy to blend - so I'm interested to discover more shades from the collection to fit into my palette.
The set is ideal for travelling and the 3-well custom compact means you can fit four shadows and a blusher and change them out when you like. The hard shell means it's quite bulky to fit into your luggage, but at least you know your make-up is all in one place and not going to get ruined at all. I have had lots of fun transferring some of my make-up into my organiser. I can't wait to use this some more when I'm staying away from home or on holiday, it is ideal for weekend trips if you want a variety of make-up in your stash.

What do you think of Beauty Portfolios?

*Won in a Space NK twitter competition

SELFRIDGES FESTIVAL BEAUTY BOX

I really enjoy the whole concept of a beauty box. You get to try new beauty products that you maybe wouldn't choose out for yourself and discover brands that you have admired from afar but have never took the plunge to commit to one product. This is the fourth Beauty box from Selfridges, I have managed to get my hands on all of them except for the valentines box which I wasn't really too fussed about, but this festival themed exclusive really won me over. The box contains eleven beauty essentials with a combined value of £110, making it the ultimate summer survival kit. I'm not attending a festival this year but the contents was too good to miss!

The box contains; Sol de Janerio Coconut Water Cooling Mist - This product is one of my favourites from the bunch, anything coconut scented is a hit with me! You can spray this on your face and body anytime to refresh your skin. It delivers a cooling sensation and would be ideal to take on holiday with you. Cowshed Antibacterial Hand Gel - This hand gel smells lovely! and doesn't have the normal overpowering antibacterial scent. It's ideal to pop in your handbag for travelling. My only dislike about it is that it doesn't seem to sink into the skin as quickly as others I've tried. Azature Nail Lacquer in Champagne - Festivals are all about the glitter! This nail polish contains gold, bronze and silver glitter and looks lovely over any nail base or simply on it's own. NPW Mini Scented Hand & Face Wet Wipes - Another handbag friendly product, also without the generic wet wipe scent. NPW Chubby Glitter Stick in Hottest Pink - I'm not too sure when I'm going to use this product, it would be great for parties or fancy dress. The stick contains bright pink and multicoloured glitter and is so easy to apply. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue - This eyeko eyeliner is foolproof, the colour is lovely, it's so easy to apply and doesn't smudge at all. The felt tip application means you can control the pen in a single stroke.

Topshop Lip Crayon in Powder Room - I had been wanting to try a Lip crayon from Topshop for a while. This one is in Power Room which is a bright baby pink, the formulation is matte but really creamy! Great to use even when you haven't got a mirror handy. Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge (Plus a complimentary eye colour consultation) - This is another one of my favourites from the box. I haven't tried many products from the brand but this cream eyeshadow is gorgeous! It gives a lovely metallic sheen and would be ideal for a dramatic eye. Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Gloss in Moxie - The formula of this lip gloss is really creamy which leaves you with a high-impact shine and vibrant colour - A real barbie pink shade. Colorsmash Hair Shadow in Je ne sais quoi - Another festival perfect product, Colorsmash temporary hair colour can be applied by rubbing it into the desired section of the hair and sealing it with hair spray. To remove, juat wash it out. It's as easy as that! Violent Lips Lip Appliques in The Warm Rainbow - This is the only product I am yet to use from the box. They would be ideal for parties or a night out. I love the colours, they last up to 8 hours and look quite easy to apply.

As you can see the contents is well worth the bargain price tag! The Selfridges Festival Beauty Box is £25 and is available here. Have you got yours yet?

SELFRIDGES CHRISTMAS WINDOWS - VISUAL MERCHANDISING

Before Christmas, I visited London and one of the highlights for me was the Christmas windows on Oxford Street. Selfridges is probably my favourite Department Store, and their  Christmas window displays really won me over this year. My favourite part was the playful Anya Hindmarch wooden workshop window, (last photo) everything was moving either up and down or on a little train track and the floor was covered in Quality Street chocolates - it was all really clever! The theme behind the windows was 'An unusual Christmas' and you can watch the behind the scenes video of how they put it all together here and the making of the Anya Hindmarch window here. I also really enjoyed the Children In Need Pudsey Bear window and the Sefridges building made to look like a giant Gingerbread Store - all so cute! What was your favourite Christmas window display? Hope you all had a great Christmas.

SELFRIDGES BEAUTY WORKSHOP LUCKY BAG CONTENTS

When I saw the Selfridges Lucky Bag advertised on their blog, I signed straight up to be alerted by email as I knew these wouldn't be around for long. After the success of their Beauty Box, (see my post here) I knew I wanted to get my hands on one of these as I enjoyed discovering and using new brands that I maybe wouldn't of picked up in-store, but I guess the contents of that box was guaranteed. With this lucky bag, you payed £15 for a random pick of 5 or more beauty products. There was a 1000 available on their website and a few of the bags contained a Beauty Workshop service card worth £150.

I have seen a lot of mixed reviews, but the bags are now sold out. The contents of my bag included, a mini Nails Inc nail polish, Anatomicals hand cream, Nail Art nail decorations, A pack of tissues, Beauty Junky strawberry face mask and anatomicals banana lip balm. I was fairly pleased with what I received, and thought it was an average bag from the other reviews I had seen. I was most excited about the Nail Art nail decorations as I had been looking at these in Topshop last week, which I thought was a bit of a coincident. I am also enjoying using the Anatomicals products, but I know you wouldn't think of Selfridges to stock such an affordable brand. 

I really like the concept of this Lucky Bag, I just wish that Selfridges had collaborated with brands that you imagine when you think of their Beauty Workshop. Maybe I have high expectations of Selfridges and was spoilt by their Beauty box, but I guess you get what you payed for. I believe a lot of people would of payed more for guaranteed high-end, quality sample products, as I think you can pick most of these products up from your local Boots. Maybe it would have been nice to find a sample size in your bag and then have the link to their website where you can buy the full-sized item. On their facebook page, Selfridges have stated that if your not happy with your Lucky Bag, you can return it for a full refund. I will be keeping mine as I feel I got my moneys worth, enjoyed the concept and liked taking the risk of what I might of received.

Did you order a Lucky Bag? What did you receive?  

SELFRIDGES BEAUTY LUCKY BAG

Today, Selfridges have launched a limited edition 'Lucky Bag' just in time for Christmas. This goody bag includes a lucky dip of a minimum of 5 beauty must-have samples. It is a great gift for any beauty lover or Selfridges innovators. A few of the bags also contain a Beauty Workshop service card worth £150. So it is a real bargain at just £15. With only 1,000 available, they won't be around for long. Like the Selfridges beauty box that was sold out so fast! See my post here. 
I love this concept, I really hope Selfridges keep bringing out new beauty innovations as they have been so popular and are a great way to promote the Beauty Workshop - which is a beauty heaven! I've just got my hands on one, get yours here. Will you be ordering one?

LONDON RESEARCH - V&A MUSEUM, VICTORIA'S SECRET, BURBERRY AND SELFRIDGES

A couple of weeks ago, I visited London to go to 'The Little Black Jacket Exhibition' amongst seeing a few other things. I went to the V&A to see the 'Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 Exhibition'. I really enjoyed this, although we were not able to take photography. I saw dresses worn by actresses and celebrities including Elizabeth Hurley, Bianca Jagger and Sandra Bullock. My favourite was the S/S11 Alexander McQueen feather dress. It is definitely worth the trip, it's on till the 6th of January 13. I will be going back to see the new Hollywood costume Exhibition. 
I also took a trip to see two new stores in the city, Victoria's Secret and Burberry. Victoria's Secret, Bond Street is the first store in the UK which opened back in August. It was a great experience to see how they have fit into the UK market, it was just like stepping into a store in New York. Burberry's new flagship store on Regent Street opened last month. It is an impressive multimedia event space, showcasing the future of digital technology.
I also really enjoyed Selfridges visual merchandising featuring a collaboration with Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton.

SELFRIDGES BEAUTY BOX - THE BEAUTY WORKSHOP

This Summer, Selfridges have just launched their newest beauty destination - The Beauty Workshop in-stores. The Beauty Workshop is a concept that opened last week showcasing the latest beauty trends, exclusive services and products in just one exciting space. To celebrate it's arrival Selfridges created their own limited edition beauty box, containing some of their favourite beauty brands for a bargain grand total of £15. Selfridges has to be my favourite department store, and once I had heard about this amazing offer I knew I had to get my hands on one. 

I know a lot of people were trying to get hold of one, as only a limited number were available, and checkout was more than stressful. But I persisted, and I was lucky enough to receive it in the post the next day. The box came beautifully presented in Selfridges signature colours. The box itself contains 7 high-end and well known products. At £15, it really is amazing value considering the products would cost over £200 if they were bought individually. 

Inside the box was;
Philip B Katira Hair Masque 60ml, Fullsize 178ml £30.00 - This product is a hair treatment which fills in weak, damaged spots in the hair cuticle for added smoothness and strength. It claims to revitalise hair colour, speed up blow-drying time and lock in shine. I've heard good things about this brand, so I can't wait to see if this makes a difference to my hair. I'm all for a good hair masque!
Antipodes Avocado and Rosehip Divine Face Oil 30ml, £18.99 - This face oil actively boosts Type 1 collagen in skin cells, targets scars and wrinkles and eases the effects of ageing. Serums are something which I am just introducing to my night-time skin routine, so I'm looking forward to giving this one a try. I really like the natural scent so far.
Stila One Step Correct 30ml, £24.00 - This is a product I have been eyeing up for ages now. It is a primer, colour corrector, brightener and anti-aging skincare serum all in one. I think this is a great product to cover blemishes and provide a flawless base to your make-up. It's great to receive some full-size products in the box, this is going straight in my make-up bag to use under my foundation.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask 5ml, Fullsize 50ml £57.00 - This product is a deep cleansing mask which is packed with mineral-rich moor mud from Lake Heviz. It is rich in calcium and magnesium carbonates, which removed impurities and make-up. It claims to leave skin looking supple and younger-looking. It will be good to see if it helps with any blemishes or scaring. 
Estelle & Thild Lip Balm Raspberry 15ml, £14.00 - This lip balm is saturated with vitamins that nourish, plump and protect your lips. Their products only contain high-quality, organic ingredients that protect your skin's natural balance. I didn't think much to the product when I first opened my box, except for it's pretty packaging. But I love the raspberry scent and it leaves my lips feeling so nourised. This is a product I will definitely be keeping in my handbag.
Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum 15ml, Fullsize 100ml £43.00 - Aesop is a brand I have been wanted to try for a while now. This is a serum for dry, combination and sensitive skin. It is a light moisturising serum which can be used every day and is rich in potent anti-oxidants. This is another serum I will be introducing into my night-time skin routine, if I like this product I am going to look into their face masks next, as I have heard only good things.

Bioeffect EGF Serum 5ml, £49.00 - Just two drops of this concentrated, anti-aging serum once a day delivers dramatic improvement to skin tone and visible reduction in lines, blemishes and dark circles under eyes. This little pot of serum is a bit pricey for the amount you get, but it is great to get the opportunity to try something you wouldn't normally purchase.
Overall, I am really pleased with all the product I received in this one-off box. Anybody who loves skincare would of loved this box, it's just a shame that there was only a limited avaliable. This box is now sold out, but you can buy the products separately online or from The Beauty Workshop itself. I am looking forward to visiting soon. If only all beauty boxes were like this. Did you manage to get a box? What do you think of the products?