Beautylicious Love

Austerity Chic: Spend, Spend, Spend, or Make Do and Mend? – guest post

2012-05-18T12:39:00.000+01:00

You’ve scrimped all month, eaten soggy homemade sandwiches and attempted to grow tomatoes. You’ve put up with less-than-perfect knickers, only bought the nail polish that’s on offer and used your boyfriend’s razor instead of buying a new one. So, when the long month is over and that pay cheque finally gets cashed, splashing out on a new pair of designer shoes and effectively undoing all of your hard work only seems fair. After all, what’s the point in working if you can’t treat yourself once in a while?

And yet, no matter how many pairs of denial shoes you succumb to, there’s no hiding from the economic climate. As predicted, the UK has got back on board that rather demonic sounding rolling coaster, Double-Dip Recession, and the state of the economy is more dismal than ever. As the nation exhales a collective sigh of exhaustion, the worry weary turn, yet again, to their bank balances to assess the damage.

In times of economic downturn, is style still an achievable affliction? As the fashion-conscious girls of Austerity Britain proved, a little bit of imagination and care can dramatically improve a budget-nauseous wardrobe. Had it not been for the clothing and material rations after World War 2, hemlines would not have crept thigh-wards and women would not have been graced with the liberation of the miniskirt come the 60’s. So what sort of iconoclastic fashion statements can we garner from the financial collapse of our generation?

Sewing is sew cool

Whilst there will always be a time, a place and a little spare cash to shop the latest trends online, creativity and sequins can make old or second-hand clothes go a long way. In artistic circles, charity shops have proven quite a lucrative way to save a lot of money, as have vintage markets. Whilst it’s undeniably tempting to buy cheap, throw-away garments that last one season and fall to pieces in the wash, it makes more sense to buy something that has lasted a thousand washes and still maintains its colour, shape and style credentials.

Vintage clothing has proven its fashion longevity whereas that nasty maxi dress you’re taking to the till in Primark is only worth the price you’re paying for it, if that. And whilst charity shops don’t necessarily boast the most fashion forward selection, alterations at home do make all the difference. Join the revolution of women getting back into Home Economics and invest in a sewing machine. The money you’ll save on buying new clothes will soon cover the cost of the machine and you’ll be able to alter clothes forever more!

Dying to tie-dye

Tie-dying is an amazing way to transform clothes from drab, under-loved no-hopers into festival ready wardrobe staples. It’s easy, it’s cheap and, as many a tie-dyer will tell you, it’s completely addictive. As long as you don’t go overboard and start tie-dying the curtains or the cat, the rest is pretty much down to you. Grab some rubber bands, a selection of your favourite dyes and a big plastic bucket and you’re away. Throw a tie-dye party, tie-dye your bedspread, tie-dye your less-than-perfect knickers. Tie-dye an old, white band t-shirt and then add fringing, beads and tassels for a true homage to the Woodstock days of old. Just let yourself go, man.

Swap Shops

Since austerity measures gripped the country, Swap Shops have been popping up all over the place. How it works is this: rummage through your family’s wardrobe, remove anything you do not like or wear, take it along to a Swap Shop and, for a small entry fee, you can happily sift through clothes to your heart’s content. If you find anything you like it’s yours –for free! Not only is this fantastically kind to your budget but incredibly environmental and ethical, too. Just make sure your hands don’t clamp onto the same vintage Dior shrug as the lady opposite or things could well get ugly.

So there you have it. With a little innovation and a lot of creativity, you can end up looking like a confused hippy in someone else’s clothes. Or, provided you have the patience to develop some skill, you can bask in the glory of your own brilliance whenever someone gushes, ‘Oh my god, I love your t-shirt, where’s it from?’ What’s more, with all the money you save, you can shop summer styles on Zalando and treat yourself to something special. After all, what’s the point in Austerity Chic if you can’t reward your good behaviour?

ghd Limited Edition Peacock Styler

2012-05-03T09:47:00.000+01:00

My straighteners have been on deaths door for a while now, we've had a long and happy life together, but they were starting to suffer, so I was over the moon to receive ghd's latest offering - the NEW Limited Edition Peacock Styler.

The new Limited Edition collection features a ghd Gold Classic styler which is available is three colours; deep amethyst purple, rich emerald green and dazzling sapphire. Each styler comes with colour co-ordinated plates, a protective plate guard and a gorgeous storage bag and roll out mat of the same shade. The bag is truly stunning and luxe, with its carefully embroided peacock design.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you all how fantastic ghd's are and how well they can control and straighten the most unruly hair, just in case though... I roped my niece in to have her straightened, to show the results.

Liane has curls to die for, unfortunately though she likes her hair poker straight but finds it hard and time consuming with average straighteners. That was until she had a whirl of my ghd's!

Before - Major Curls

Afterwards - Poker Straight

I'd still die for her curls though!

The Peacock Collection can be purchased directly from the ghd website, priced at £119.00 with free delivery.

Pr sample in association with Best British Bloggers

NOTD Revisited - Orly Sapphire Silk

2012-04-19T16:11:00.002+01:00

I have actually featured this shade before, well over a year ago, but its still going strong as one of my favourite shades, so I thought I would give it a second outing.

Orly Sapphire Silk

Can you tell I had a glitter polish on before this one?

Although not a unique shade, there's just something about this polish that I love. I'd describe it as a cross between a teal and a denim blue. It applied faultlessly, with two smooth coats. A year later and its still going strong. Definitely one of my favourite polishes.

Lusting over - ghd's NEW ghd Air Hair Dryer

2012-04-16T13:27:00.000+01:00

Have I ever told you I have a LOT of hair? and I mean a lot. It also has length, which often gets mistaken for extensions, but no... its all mine. With me having so much hair, one task I don't enjoy is washing and blow drying. It bores me. Its not interesting, its just a chore, so if there is products out there that will speed up this process, I'll invest. Hence me lusting over the ghd air hairdryer.

"She’s got the perfect silhouette; amazing lines and curves in all the right places. She’s the envy of the others – stylish, smart, fresh, cool and commanding. Everybody’s talking about her. The music starts, the lights go down, a hush falls upon the front row. The time has come to make her debut. She strides out, confident and powerful. The flashbulbs are blinding; the applause is deafening. Meet our new supermodel, ghd air."

With a professions strength of 2,100 watts at 240 volts, Im getting the feeling this baby will definitely speed up my drying time. Fair enough, its not the cheapest Hair Dryer on the market, but I can tell the difference when I use a cheap standard hair dryer compared to a more expensive one. Not only is the drying time cut down but the result on my hair is also different. I find I get a much smoother, less static finish with a more expensive product. The fact that this is a ghd product also makes me have faith in the fact that it will be a worthy purchase. They are after all, the company that brought us the iconic hair straighteners, that many of us women love and use daily.

I think my hair would love the ghd hair dryer and it just so happens to be my Birthday next month, lets hope someone is feeling generous eh!

Available from ghdhair.com priced at £99.00

GOSH Cosmetics Smokey Eye Palettes PLUS 10 TO GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

2012-04-12T14:51:00.001+01:00

If you're a long time reader, you'll know how much I LOVE palettes. I like the ease of palettes, having more than one shade at hand. Its very rare I even venture into the home of my single shadows. Infact its rare that I even buy a single shadow these days. Regular readers will also know that a smokey eye is my favourite and preferred eye look, which makes GOSH Smokey Eye Palettes an instant hit with me.

Left to Right: 01 Black, 02 Brown, 03 Plum

Three shade combinations of four flattering eye shades that blend together perfectly to create the perfect smokey eye. Each shadow is soft and blends with ease. A few shades didn't seem to swatch very well on my hand, but once I used a brush to actually apply the shadows, that's when I noticed just how pigmented they are. The black in particular is immensely pigmented. The palettes themselves are slim and well packaged, perfect for popping into a handbag or for travelling with. Although the palette doesn't seem to have a magnetic closure, Ive done the handbag test and so far Ive had no problems with the palettes opening while in my bag. No brush is included, but then again... do we ever really use the brushes that comes as standard with palettes? Overall Im impressed. The shades are perfect for me personally and I love the ease of having 4 shades at hand, which all compliment each other and blend perfectly.

Fancy winning yourself one of the three palettes above? You're in luck then, as I have a whopping 10 to giveaway!

- Comment with "enter me " and state which shade you would like. One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 15th April (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- Twitter followers are also welcome

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

- It would be appreciated if you would also head over to the GOSH Facebook page - link - and hit the "Like" button to be kept up to date with new launches and take part in exclusive Facebook Fan comps and offers. GOSH also tweet as @GOSHUK

Enter the exclusive Ernest Jones Facebook Competition to be in with a chance of winning a wish list item! - Also view my Wishlist Items!

2012-04-12T11:15:00.000+01:00

I have an amazing facebook competition to share with you all today. Ernest Jones is currently promoting the launch of the new Spring/Summer 2012 collection of luxury jewellery and watches including ranges from Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and Burberry, as well as the exclusive collection designed for Ernest Jones by Amanda Wakely and featured in her Spring Summer London Fashion Week show.

To coincide with the launch Ernest Jones will be running a competition exclusively via Facebook, asking fans to create their own "wish list" of must have items from the Ernest Jones website. They then get to submit their wish list with their friends for a chance to win one of their wish list items.

Now us women love nothing more than browsing at items on the net and creating wish lists, so this is one competition that Im sure you will all love entering.

I myself have created my own Wish List and chosen some pieces from the 6 keys trends; Twirling Twenties, Flirty Fifties, Mighty Brights, Molten Metallic, Soft Sorbet and Super Prints.

Amanda Wakeley exclusively for Ernest Jones Sterling Silver Sparkle Bracelet - £150.00

Marco Bicego 18ct yellow gold multi stone ring - £1,565

Gucci U-Play medium mesh interchangeable strap ladies' watch - £435.00

9ct white gold 20pt diamond swirl drop earrings - £450.00

9ct yellow gold brown Venetian glass circle pendant - £160.00

Ernest Jones really do have some stunning pieces of Jewellery available at the moment, and it was no easy task selecting 5 items for my wishlist. It was definitely fun putting my wishlist together though!

Visit the Ernest Jones Facebook App to take part in the Competition, where you will be able to create your own Wishlist and be in with a chance of winning one of the items.

Don't forget to follow Ernest Jones on their offcial Facebook to keep up to date with the latest style news and competitions.

Miners Spring/Summer Nail Collection

2012-04-06T17:24:00.000+01:00

Left to Right: Jezebel, Keepin' It Teal, Marshmallow, Mango Tango, Sunny Side Up

Each picture is 2 coats.

My favourite of the collection is definitely Mango Tango, which I chose to wear today. I LOVE a bright Orange polish.

All shade are available from MinersCosmetics.co.uk priced at £2.99 each.

Any shades caught your eye?

Can you spare a minute of your time?

2012-04-05T18:32:00.000+01:00

One of my lovely PR friend's Jenni, is currently researching Make Up Storage and she would love as many people as possible to just please answer a few short questions. It will literally take a minute of your time, I've just done it myself, so I can confirm that.

It would be a great help Ladies!

Heres the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/makeupstorage

Thank you!!!

Umberto Giannini Incredible Body Shampoo and Conditioner

2012-04-03T15:47:00.000+01:00

When it comes to my hair, I constantly use volumising products. I was blessed with having a lot of hair, although its really thin and flyaway, so I need all the help I can to create the volume and fullness that I crave.

Umberto Giannini recently launched their new Incredible Body range, a seven-piece collection of volumising products including shampoo, conditioner, mousse, hairspray and setting lotion and I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to give the shampoo and conditioner a whirl to see what I thought.

The bigger the hair, the smaller the hips. Height, width and fullness are the vital statistics for Incredible body. If you don't have it..... fake it.

Ive used a few Umberto Gianni products in the past and a staple of mine is their backcomb in a bottle, so I was eager to give the shampoo and condition a try.

Obviously with most shampoos/conditioners the first thing I notice is the smell. I can actually be put off a product by the smell, without even giving it a try, but luckily both the Incredible Body Shampoo and Conditioner smell divine. A scent that lingers on my hair and just doesn't just disappear to nothing after Ive blow dried it. Results wise, when combining both products I end up with not only soft, silky, gorgeous looking hair, it seems to make my hair thicker and definitely adds volume and fullness. I also find it to be a lot more manageable, probably as its not so limp and flyaway, but a lot more thicker and controllable.

Overall for me it does what it says on the tin. If Im honest I don't tend to use high street shampoos and conditioners as they don't seem to be able to offer me the results I crave, with this though I get the results I like at a nice affordable price.

Available to purchase from Boots. Both priced at £5.29 for 250ml.

Have you tried any products from the Incredible Body range?

Win with VYKE - The Mobile Phone App

2012-04-02T12:31:00.000+01:00

Fancy the chance of winning an iPad, Beats by Dr Dre Solo Over the Ear Headphone or a Samsung Apollo? Then head over to All About Vyke and enter their fab Easter Competition!

If you’re not familiar with Vkye, it’s a free Mobile App that can be downloaded on your phone, for cheap International Calls & SMS. They also have a PC Phone as well for the Laptop addicts out there. Oh and it is compatible with the iPad and lets you cleverly convert it into a hands-free phone! Basically its a fantastic app that connects friends and family for less! I'm sure many of you have loved ones who are unfortunately not in the same county and calling internationally can be costly, which is where Vyke make it cheaper than ever to call abroad!

The competition couldn’t be easier to enter and there is some really fab pizes up for grabs! To enter, participants will have to write a comment on the Vyke blog post, telling them about an interesting/funny Easter tradition that they know of or would like to create. You will also be required to top up a minimum of £10/$15/€10 on your Vyke account (you can create one in minutes if you haven’t got one already!) and voila, you're in a chance to win one of the below listed prizes.

1st Prize: iPad 3

2nd Prize: Beats by Dr Dre Solo Over the Ear Headphone

3rd Prize: Samsung Apollo

Consolation Prizes: iPod Shuffle, Amazon Voucher £25x2

The competition has just gone live today (2nd April) and will end on 9th April, with the winner announced on the 11th.

If you fancy being in with a chance of winning then head over to the Vyke blog LINK and enter!

More information on Vyke can also be found on their website and Facebook page.

Happy Easter!!!!!

Vaseline are launching Toilet Roll!!!!!

2012-04-01T08:41:00.000+01:00

There's a new product coming out and Im kinda excited!!!!

Introducing: Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly enriched Toilet Roll

Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly has been a long-standing favourite to help soothe and protect skin among families for generations. And now, everyone’s favourite brand is ‘abutt’, ahem, ‘about’ to enhance the daily, ‘bog standard’ bathroom routine with the launch of an exciting new product offering that is set to put a squeeze on the competition and shake up the toilet roll market…

Designed to give your tusch better moisturisation and protection, each sheet is enriched with 100% Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly to work naturally with skin to help it rebuild moisture and renew itself. So now, thanks to Vaseline, with every visit to the powder room you can guarantee that your bottom is also kept in tiptop condition and left feeling smooth from cheek to cheek.

Set to perk-up toilet experiences up and down the country the 2-pack Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly toilet roll (RRP £1.99) will be hitting the toilet roll aisle in a supermarket near you from early April.

Visit facebook.com/Vaseline to find out more

Vichy Normaderm Micellar Water For Imperfection Prone and Sensitive Skin

2012-03-27T19:16:00.000+01:00

Cleansing is one thing I love. I'm strict about cleansing every single night and hardly ever sleep in my make up (Unless I'm too drunk to remove it!). When Ive had a face full of make up on all day long, I actually look forward to cleansing of an evening and getting rid of it all, the same however cannot be said about my morning cleansing routine. That's where I get a little lazy. My morning routine is nowhere near as thorough as my evening routine and Im often short on time in the mornings, which is why I always have some cleansing Micellar Water on the go.

I love how easy and effective cleansing waters are. Although I never used them of an evening to remove make up, I find them to be ideal to use in the mornings to cleanse my skin and remove any night treatments.

I've tried a few Cleansing waters in my time, notably the famous Bioderma, which I actually didn't like, as I found it really irritated my eyes, strange.. I know. The latest one Ive been using is Vichy's Normaderm Micellar Water For Imperfection Prone and Sensitive Skin.

My skin goes through stages, it can behave and stay clear for months, then all of a sudden it will start to play up and the spots will start appearing.

Normaderm Micellar Water is perfect for when my skins going through a bad phase, as it not only leave my skin feeling totally cleansed and fresh, ready for the day ahead, it also helps to fight against my problem skin, without stripping it and leaving it feeling tights and uncomfortable. Its simple yet effective to use, with no need for rinsing, so its perfect for those busy mornings when I feel like I have no time to go for a wee, let alone give my skin a thorough cleanse.

Available to purchase from Boots priced at £10.50

Current Blush Love - Benefit Bella Bamba

2012-03-24T10:27:00.000Z

Benefit Bamba is described as a 3D, multi-dimensional pink face powder.Now Im not really sure about all this 3D Multi stuff, but its a gorgeous blush nevertheless.

A stunning watermelon pink shade, with a gorgeous golden sheen. It instantly brighten up my face and does seem to offer something different that most of my other blushes don't offer. I wouldn't say I end up with 3D cheeks, but it just has a pop to it that just makes my cheeks look beautiful and my face instantly comes alive. As with most Benefit Blushes, Its very pigmented and a little does go a long way (Ive not hit pan on one Benefit Blush yet), so you do need to be careful when applying it, or else you could and up with an overdose of pink and gold. I personally love it and have been reaching for it daily.

What blush are you currently loving?

Todays face...

2012-03-23T09:50:00.001Z

Products used -

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Origins Hide It! Concealer under my eyes (although nothing can help to disguise my heavy bags!)
Boots 17 Bronzer
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Benefit Bella Bamba Blusher
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara
Revlon Grow Lucious Lash Liner
MAC Close to Real Lipstick

This is generally my every day look, same look different products on rotation though. I have started to wear more brighter Lipsticks, so I tone down my eyes a lot then and also tend to leave the blusher and just wear bronzer. I do normally wear a highlighter too, but with Benefit Bella Bamba, I find I don't need one.

Do you have a look you stick to most days?

Current Foundations in rotation

2012-03-22T19:10:00.000Z

Ive acquired a few new foundation as of late, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on the ones Im currently using on rotation.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Ive not actually used a Rimmel foundation for years, but after reading a few good reviews on their newest foundation Wake Me Up, I decided to purchase it a couple of weeks ago. I honestly didn't think I would like this foundation as much as I do, but I am actually really impressed. It offers a medium coverage, which needs a little building though. If too less of product is used, you're only going to end up with a light coverage, but it builds easily to a medium. I do have to use a bit more than I do with my HG Lancome Teint Miracle, to get my desired coverage, but it doesn't leave me looking over applied or cakey. It does contain shimmer, but it doesn't result in a disco ball face, it just finishes with a nice natural glow.

Clarins Ever Matt Foundation

To be honest, I don't really favour the look of a totally matte foundation, however there is something about this one which I like. Again this provides a medium coverage. I find it applies and blends really easily and gives me enough time to work with it before it dries. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin and doesn't actually leave a finish that is obvious to the eye that foundation is being worn, which I find sometimes does happen with matte foundations. For those with combination/oily skin this will be an ideal foundation. My skin personally is not overly oily, but I do suffer with oil throughout the day around my tzone, and this controls is really well without the oil breaking through.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation

This foundation offers the lightest coverage of those mentioned. This is ideal for people who have totally blemish free skin and just want to even out their skin tone. Its a light infused foundation which aims to give a glow from within. Like Rimmels Wake Me Up though, Its not shimmery where it warrants the disco ball face. Although Ive heard some people say its medium coverage for me, I'd say it was light. Then again everyone wants something different from a foundation I suppose. At this moment in time though, it doesn't offer me the coverage I need, maybe when my monthly bitch spots have gone back into hiding, I'll get a lot more wear from it. I really do like the finish on this and it does make my skin look more radiant, so hopefully I will be able to use it more often. I do find though it doesn't cope with my oily tzone as well as the other two foundations, I don't think it would last me in a sweaty night club. Best suited for day wear.

Lancome Teint Miracle

Last but not least. My HG Foundation, the one that no other foundation seems to come close to. Im sure Ive wrote about my love for Teint Miracle before, so Im not going to go into detail again. For me though, its simply perfection. Everything I want in a foundation. The coverage, the finish, the shade match, everything is perfect.

Disappointing - Diorshow Mascara

2012-03-21T14:47:00.000Z

There's something about a new Mascara that gets me a little excited. Using it for that first time, hoping it'll produce some new found results on my lashes. Half the time I've ended up being dissapointed though and have stuck to my beloved L'oreal Voluminous for quite a long time now and not made any new purchases. For me, its everything I want in a Mascara and the fact that its a high street brand makes it perfect. Ive tried plenty of high end mascaras over the years and non have given me the results that L'oreal Voluminous does. That doesn't mean to say that I don't get the itch every so often to try one I haven't tried before. Enter Diorshow Mascara.

I actually didn't purchase this mascara but played to win it on a site called Yipiii (If you're not familiar with the site head over and check it out!) I had a free £20.00 to play with and could have played to win a choice of thousands of beauty products, but Diorshow Mascara has a big hype surrounding it and has had me intrigued for a while, so I tried my luck and won it.

Im going to be straight to to the point with this review. Im dissapointed. I was expecting so much more from this mascara and to be honest its failed big time. Maybe I did give it high expectation, but to be fair with a mascara that costs over £20.00 I want impressive results, which this didn't deliver. Its nowhere near as good as my L'oreal Voluminous, which costs over £10.00 less. Bear in mind when I'm saying how unimpressed I am with this mascara, Im not saying its the worst mascara in the world, it just doesn't live up to the hype for me and its definitely not worth the price. If it was priced at £10.00 cheaper, my thoughts on it would be a little different. I still wouldn't be raving about it though.

To sum it up: Expensive, over priced and dissapointing.

Getting ready for Summer!!!!

2012-03-21T12:48:00.000Z

Summers fast approaching, well maybe not as fast as we would all like.. but it is on its way, the months seem to be flying by this year! Seen as my holiday is booked, I've already started browsing online for summer clothes and thinking about stocking up on them all important cami tops , which I seem to live in during the Summer months.

Here's a few pieces I've currently got my eye on from Joe Browns, the home of quirky and unique!

Sweet Rose Vest Top (£14.95)

This teamed with a pair of cut off denim shorts would be the perfect summer look.

Essential Summer Skirt (£27.95)

Long, flowy and just ideal for summer days or dressed up for those warm summer nights.

Tapestry Print Halter Neck Dress (£34.95)

A gorgeous, girly, stylish and eye catching Halter Neck Dress. Teamed with a pair of simple sandals, for a fun daytime look.

Ribbon/Chain Toe Post Sandal (£14.95)

I am absolutely in love with these! These are definitely as summery as a sandal can get.

Best of British Espadrilles (£19.95)

Every woman needs a pair of Espadrilles! I love the simple girly look of these.

Have you started to think about your summer wardrobe yet?

All items can be purchased from http://www.joebrowns.co.uk/

Molton Brown launches NEW Skincare and Bodycare Collection

2012-03-20T11:11:00.001Z

Yesterday (March 19th 2012) saw the launch of Molton Browns NEW Skincare and Anti-ageing Bodycare collection. Offering low maintenance, high performance products with clinically proven results, the new range is said to be engineered to help significantly improve the skin’s health and ageing process.

For me personally, this is a launch Ive been really looking forward to, as I absolutely love Molton Brown products and I cannot wait to put a few of the skincare products to the test.

The full range of Skincare products includes:

Kalahari Melon Cleansing Fluid - £25 (200ml)
Malachite Cleansing Gelle - £25 (200ml)
Tamarind Fruit Refining Toner - £25 (200ml)
Pink Toronja Refining Toner - £25 (200ml)
Peruvian Maca Anti-ageing Hydra-crème - £65 (50ml)
Creole Grass Anti-ageing Hydra-crème - £65 (50ml)
Rosa Fruit Anti-ageing Hydra-crème - £65 (50ml)
Vita B3 Eye Concentrate - £45 (15ml)
Pep-rich Lip Booster - £30 (3.5ml)
Karanja Tree Sunshield SPF30 - £35 (50ml)

The full range of Bodycare products includes:

Polynesian Kopara Anti-ageing Neck & Décolletage Crème - £50
Polynesian Kopara Anti-ageing Hand Crème - £25
Polynesian Kopara Anti-ageing Body Crème - £65

All products are available now, from Molton Brown stores nationwide.

Simply Soap Massage Candles

2012-03-19T18:16:00.000Z

Love Candles? Love a nice relaxing massages? Love to combine both? Then let me introduce you to Simply Soap's range of Massage Candles.

Winners of the PLATINUM AWARD for Best Natural Candles in the Janey Loves 2011 PLATINUM AWARDS, these fun massage Candles are my current love and are available in 3 different essential oil blends: Revitalizing with citrus scent, Relaxing with lavender and Balancing with geranium.

The candles have a 3 in 1 multi-use, so not only can they be used as a standard candle to illuminate and scent a room, they also have a low melt point so that the oil can be poured directly onto the skin and used for a nice sensual massage. The unique 100% natural base and plant oils can also be used as a skin butter. The balm consistency can be applied directly onto the skin to moisturise the lips or the entire body!

I've been putting the Balancing Candle to the test and have well and truly fallen in love. I find its a perfect product to take into the bathroom, have a nice candle lit bath and then follow by applying the oil directly to my skin (obviously after blowing the candle out though!) and massage it into my body. It leaves my skin feeling amazing and smelling gorgeous.

If you’re not familiar with Simply Soaps, it is a company set up by 2 brothers with funding from The Prince’s Trust in 1997.They set out to make wonderful handmade products in particular cold process soaps, ‘in harmony with you and the environment’. Simply Soaps test their products on people, not animals and their electricity is from green powered energy. They are a carbon neutral company using power wisely. They also will only use sustainable palm oil.

The website is Jam Packed with products, so its well worth taking a look at. The massage Candles can also be purchased directly from the website, priced at £8.95

Christina Aguilera Secret Potion Eau de Parfum

2012-02-08T10:02:00.000Z

To be honest, Im not really of fan of Celebrity Perfumes. Ive tried quite a few of them in the past and I always think they have a young "teenage" feel about them. With me being a few years older than a teenager, smelling like a one doesn't really sit well with me. One Celebrity fragrance which has really impressed me though is Christina Aguilera's Secret Potion.

Secret Potion is described as "a mysterious and erotic evening fragrance for women who like to be in the spotlight, whose beauty lies precisely in their strength and confidence" and the description fits its perfectly. If you have read any of my previous fragrance reviews, then you will know that I like my fragrances to be sensual and sexy. I tend to not wear perfume that much during the day, so light fresh scents don't really do it for me. I like a nice seductive scent. Secret Potion is just that. On myself I find it smells quite sweet but a little musky too, which for me makes it that little bit seductive. Its not as strong and powerful as the normal fragrances I go for, but then I wouldn't expect it to be, with it being in the category of a Celebrity fragrance. It is however long lasting though and it really holds out well and lasts throughout the evening.

Overall its definitely the best Celebrity Fragrance I have tried. I think it fits all age categories and if a subtle but seductive scent is your thing, then its definitely worth having a sniff!

Available to purchase at Boots with prices starting at £19.90 for 30ml.

Don't forget to check out my GOSH giveaway HERE.

GOSH Cosmetics Click 'N Conceal - PLUS GIVEAWAY OF 10 TO BE WON! CLOSED

2012-02-07T20:29:00.001Z

CLOSED

Concealer. The one product most women cannot live without. It works wonders and hides a multitude of sins. When GOSH recently released their NEW Click 'N Conceal pen, I was interested. Im a fan of GOSH's Touch Up Concealer and have re-purchased it many times, so I was interested to see how this compared for use on the under eye area.

The Click 'N Conceal promises to Boost Skin Radiance and wave goodbye to dark circles, blemishes, imperfections and reduce the look of fine lines. It contains light reflecting properties and 'light magnification' to increase luminosity, hide perfections and leave the complexion looking more radiant. It is available in 4 shades, all of which I have kindly been sent. The four shades are: Light, Medium, Dark and Green. With Green being for anti redness.

Light -

Medium -

Dark -

Green -

I've been using shade light for the past couple of days and have found it really impressive. Its slightly thicker than the Touch Up Concealer, but it does a fantastic job of covering my dark circles, without looking heavy. I did think with it being slightly thicker than it might looked a bit caked and maybe settle into my fine lines, I experienced neither though. Overall I've got no complaints and the fact its budget friendly at £6.99 makes it ideal if you're looking for a budget concealer that does as it says on the tin and covers areas that need concealing with ease.

If you fancy giving Click 'N Conceal a whirl for yourself I have 10 to giveaway! To enter simply follow the rules below.

- Comment with "enter me " and state which shade you would like. One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 14th February (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

- It would be appreciated if you would also head over to the GOSH Facebook page - link - and hit the "Like" button to be kept up to date with new launches and take part in exclusive Facebook Fan comps and offers.

Good Luck!

Clarins Colour Breeze Spring Collection 2012

2012-01-26T12:49:00.000Z

Clarins Colour Breeze Spring Collection 2012 will Launch this February and I have quite a few products from the collection to share. Full reviews will be coming soon, but for now I just wanted to share some images of the fantastic products on offer....

It’s like the first signs of spring, a certain poetic grace and a hint of casualness. It’s the sheer lightness of a high-shine lip gloss, exquisitely smooth powders, fresh and truly unique textures; tender yet vibrant shades. It’s a bright, luminous complexion, beautifully enhanced cheek bones, ultra-shiny lips and naturally unsettling eyes.

Blue Sky Eye Quartet Mineral Palette £30.00

Colour Breeze Face Palette £30.00

Instant Light Blush £19.00 Left to Right: Vitamin Pink, Coral Tonic

Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss £15.50 Left to Right: Candy, Blackberry, Papaya,Chocolate

Joli Rouge Lipstick £16.50 in Baby Pink

Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick £16.50 Top: Pink Magnolia. Bottom: Pink Coral

Swatches and full reviews coming soon! Anything caught your eye?

Today's Nails - Nailene Studio Nails in Red

2012-01-23T16:31:00.000Z

It's no secret that I love false nails. My own nails are very thin and break easily, which for me is too annoying to put up with, so I choose to wear false nails. I've used Nailene nails in the past but this is the first time trying their coloured nails. I normally just go for the french look, or clear ones which I paint over myself. I have had SO many compliment these past couple of days on my gorgeous red nails though, that I definitely want to try some of the other shades from the range. What is impressive, is that people have actually complimented the colour and have assumed that the nails are in fact my own, which is what I aim to achieve when wearing false nails.

Apparently Ive been told by nail technicians that I have odd shaped nails and sometimes I do actually struggle finding a fit for some of my fingers. I had no problems whatsoever when applying these though, they fit nice and snug and look a lot nicer than my own nails could ever look.

Ive had mine on now for 5 days and they are still going strong. Still looking perfect, with no chips and with actually no sign of coming off. Impressive!!!!

If you fancy trying some for yourself, they're available at boots priced at £4.69

Dress lust at Boohoo!

2012-01-20T12:01:00.002Z

Boohoo has got me lusting over so many dresses at the moment. So I thought I'd share a few of my favourites with you. If anyone is feeling generous, just drop me a line!

Carrie V Neck Embeliished Back Dress (£12.00)

Emily Leopard Bustier Strappy Dress (£20.00)

Carly Lace Back Ruched Sleeve Dress (£20.00)

Gracie Button Waist Wrap Dresss (£20.00)

Veronica Slinky Wrapover Dress (£20.00)

I honestly could have stayed here all day and written a mammoth post showcasing all the dresses I have my eye on. I don't think Boohoo can be faulted on price either. Each one is nice and affordable and fits into my budget perfectly.

Now I just need that lottery win!

All dresses featured can be found on Boohoo.com

Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection

2012-01-19T14:02:00.000Z

Im sure Ive mentioned numerous times how I love nothing more than a long hot soak in the bath. Its my time to wind down, relax and have 5 minutes peace and quiet. Aromatherapy Associates are well known for their award winning Bath Oils and I've been eager to give one a try for a long time. The hard part was deciding which one to try though! There is so many to choose from, which is why the Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection is just perfect!

The Collection contains 9 3ml miniature bottle of all the oils; Relax, De-stress, Revive and Support.

Although the bottles are small, they contain the perfect amount for one bath. I was actually really surprised, as I didn't think one bottle would be enough but as soon as one is emptied into a running bath, the aroma fills the bathroom and it truly is like having a home spa experience. The strength is of the oils is so powerful. My favourite is definitely the Award winning Deep Relax. Its easy to see why this is an award winner and continues to be a best seller. I've had trouble sleeping lately but after using my miniature bottle, I had the best nights sleep Ive had in Months. The essential oils of Vetiver, Camomile and Sandalwood helps to totally relax the body and mind and do what they say they do and promote a good nights sleep.

The Miniature Collection is the perfect way to try each oil and find out which is your favourite before purchasing a full sized bottle.

You can pick up the collection from Victoria Health priced at £28.50 with free delivery.