Vichy Ideal Body Balm review

I'm a big believer in skincare and have been doing the whole cleanse and moisturise routine for as long as I can remember because, well, wrinkles. However, big confession to make *hides*: it's only over the past year or two that I've actually considered I've got a whole loada skin to take care of on my body too! Moisturising after showering has always been a bit of a 'nice-to-have' for me until now, when I really notice the benefits of moisturising my whole body on a frequent basis, not just when I feel like a pamper. The catalyst for this obvious 'hey there's all the skin' realisation is the super hard water, full of calcium, where I'm living. I literally have to slather on hand cream every time I wash my hands because of it. Marketer's dream for all the moisturiser right here.

So, big intro leads me onto a beautiful reason for writing. Vichy have created a body-care range using ingredients like hyaluronic acid (plumping) and LHA (smoothing), commonly used in facial skin care, combined with luxury oils and the famous Vichy thermal water (full of strengthening minerals). All of this magic helps to build up our 'lipids', which are pretty damn important, unless you're a fan of thin, rough and dull skin.

I've had the pleasure of testing the Vichy Ideal Body Balm* these past few weeks, and - first off - I cannot begin to tell you how friggin' good it smells. I wish there was some crazy-ass technological advancement allowing me to scoop a bit out and plonk it in this post for you to appreciate. Alas, you'll have to trust me when I say it's heaven in a pretty pink pot, and it's all because the formula combines peach blossom, freesia, rose and violet with base notes of musk and vanilla.

The texture is exactly what you'd expect from a balm: quite thick and a little harder to rub in than your bog-standard body moisturiser but all the more luxurious for it. I wander around my apartment feeling smug that I'm a proper grown up, treating my body like a temple and all that jazz. Another thing I appreciate is the pot packaging and fact I can use up every last bit, much better than a used-up squeezy bottle when you know Gaaad damn well there's about three more uses clinging on inside refusing to budge.

Overall, it's safe to say I would recommend this product. Aside from the fact it smells frickin' divine, my skin feels nourished well into the next day after using this, and I really notice a difference, much like the 100% of women who tested this in trials. It's well and truly a keeper if, like me, you're looking to invest in a body skincare product that really looks after after your skin from the neck downwards.

You can get your hands on Vichy's Ideal Body Balm and the rest of the range from Boots, and with 3 for 2 on skincare at the minute, you could land a pretty decent bargain.

Have you tried products from the Vichy Ideal Body range yet?

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*sent to me free of charge for review purposes

Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten Palette

It'd be a crime if I didn't share this gorgeous Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten palette. Not only is it a hyaoouuuge dupe for the ole' Urban Decay Naked 1 palette, it's actually really beautiful and top-notch quality too in my humble opinion.

As you can see, there's a fair few lovely shades, all perfect for day looks. My current favourite combination to wear is Vanilla as an all-over base, Pink T on top, then Aubersheen in the crease (hit pan with these already!). I replace Pink T with Minky when I'm feeling like I need some brightening metallic in my life. I've also been using the palette for evening looks too, as the range of shades cater perfectly for a smokier look too. Loves me a good old sultry eye of an evening.

I've swatched the colours so you get a better idea of how they look on skin. How bloomin' beautiful do they look? The texture of the shadows is super soft and powdery, so I do gather a bit of excess when I sweep the brush over the shadow but it applies fine and holds to the eyelid well without leaving a powdery mess.

The palette is availabel from Boots now for a bargain £10. It's limited edition so be quick if you're keen.

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Effaclar Duo[+] Unifiant review

There's a new kid on the Effaclar block, and it's a corker. La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo(+) Unifiant* is probably best described as a tinted moisturiser comprising the same magic ingredients as Effaclar Duo(+) but with added mineral pigments to create a light, natural coverage, perfect for the day.

At times I look at my skin and wonder what I'm doing wrong. No-one (bar the basic bitch) deserves blotchy, porey skin. I often feel guilty wearing a full-on face of foundation, clogging up my pores, so this is where I find Effaclar Unifiant appealing - a moisturiser with the same efficacy of Effaclar Duo(+) but with actual coverage. Guilt-free. Boom.

Nitty-gritty wise; it contains anti-inflammatory niacinamide, LHA (for skin-cell renewal), linoleic acid to regulate oil, and Procerad™ to diffuse inflammation and treat hyperpigmentation. With three Effaclar products sold every minute worldwide, the popularity of the line speaks for itself.

Formula-wise, it's very light, non-sticky and reminds me of a lighter version of the Bourjois 123 CC cream (big fan). To avoid inflammation, it's recommended not to heavily rub in products, and I did find this hard to resist at first but after a few days' use, I mastered the art of simply smoothing it across my skin, and the melt-in texture really helps with this.

I've been using it daily for a couple of weeks, applying after LRP's foaming gel, which I use religiously (see why here). My skin was smoother, imperfections were concealed, and I felt confident enough not to add foundation. Alas, after a long day in the office, its staying power was tested and my skin didn't seem as 'flawless', so I found myself reapplying before after-work goings on. I also tried it as a primer to see how that fared; I was impressed and will definitely be incorporating it into my night-out routine but prefer wearing it alone during the day to let my skin breathe a bit.

While I can't say for sure that I noticed a reduction in marks and colour imperfections (clinically proven to, with 78% agreeing), I can say that I haven't had any breakouts since trying it, and my skin has been less oily. I'll take that.  Oh, and my mum has been complimenting my skin too so it's clearly faring well.

The Cinderella of tinted moisturisers, outshining its sister product of the almost-same name, Effaclar Duo(+) Unifiant is my new favourite daywear product. Interested in trying it? There's currently a £3 reduction online at Boots. Just saying.

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*sent to me free of charge for review purposes

ASOS sale picks

Bag £4.50 | Jacket £45.50 | Floral jacket £12 | Black boots £18 | Butterfly dress £33 | Zebra flats £22 | Jumper £12 | Lace-up heels £21 | Cutout top £11 | Embellished dress £41 | Heart glasses £7

It's the inaugural ASOS sale, a time when my saved items are full to the brim and the temptation to add everything to my basket is a serious threat to my bank balance. Alas, I remember how grateful I must be that these particular items are discounted and often justify an order while the items are discounted. Winning. So, here's my top picks of the current sale, and with a further 10% off the 70% sale (code: YAY10), soz, but I deffo won't be resisting a little treat here and there. I already ordered the black flats and boots and can confirm they are a thing of beauty. 

*whispers* There's ANOTHER timed sale coming up from 7th September along with 20% off for students on 9th and 10th September so get stocking your saved items now!

Have you nabbed anything in the sale yet?

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London Fashion Weekend 2015

With London Fashion Weekend coming up in September, I thought it was about time I blogged about my visit there back in February. My lovely other half spoilt me at Christmas with two Luxe LFW tickets at the one and only Somerset House in London. I've never really thought about going before as I always felt it was a bit out of my league; as much as I love stalking super fashionable people on Instagram, shopping my little heart out and putting an outfit together, I don't consider myself a fashionista or designer-hungry girl at all, but I was really looking forward to hitting Somerset House to find out what the fuss was about.

 

While I was excited, I was also a little nervous about what to expect; I imagined I'd feel completely out of place among the throngs of the so-called fashion elite, but I ended up having a great day. I might not have been the coolest kid there (deffo wasn't!), but I enjoyed the endless bubbly supply, the front row catwalk seats (can finally say I've been frow) and browsing the rails of designer gear (with their faintworthy price tags).

These Luxe tickets were a hefty £130 each, and this allows you VIP access to a lounge with prosecco and canapés (pretty much consisting of nuts), a style talk (scheduled to be 45 minutes' long but sadly was much shorter), a front row seat for the trend catwalk show, a Pringle of Scotland tote bag (featuring label.m, Maybelline, and Essie goodies) and a private till point with shopping collection service (which we weren't really informed about on arrival, so we didn't actually use it).

The main draw of the day was the catwalk show. I'd never been to one before so it was a complete first for me. Rather than focusing on one specific designer, the show featured all the up and coming trends (now pretty well known considering this belated post!), namely florals, monochrome, shimmer/shine, and the good old 70s (think suede, fringing and flares!). The bulk of my photos are of the show so I'll stop the babbling and let the photos do the talking...

All in all, I had an amazing day. I couldn't resist treating myself to a gorgeous cream preppy Winser cardigan that screamed Blair Waldorf at me with it's pearl buttons and high round neckline. And while the Luxe tickets are a tad overpriced in my opinion (standard entry tickets are just £20), they did make a big difference: we avoided the lengthy queues to access the catwalk show, which would have eaten into precious browsing/shopping time; the goodie bag was obviously great and of course allll the prosecco, which was unlimited and nice to carry round with you as you browsed.

Will you be going to September's LFWeekend? 

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Butter LONDON nail lacquer: Goss

Following my recent post on the Gilded Gears set from butter LONDON, here's a look at the Goss shade. I'M IN LOVE. I've never owned a metallic shade, and I didn't expect it to look like this applied at all, so I was very pleasantly surprised with the result.

One layer wasn't quite enough coverage, so I applied two layers, and it went on smoothly and set well. I didn't bother with a base coat or a top coat, but I wish I did because this varnish actually started peeling within 24 hours of me applying it. It pained me to admit that because I absolutely adore the colour.

I can't seem to find the original set that this came in online anywhere now (cry), but this is available individually (11ml for those of you who like 'em big) from Look Fantastic (phew). Oh and grab yourself 10% off your order using the code TREAT10LF or 15% if you're a newbie (code NEW15LF).

What do you think of this shade? Have you tried butter LONDON before?

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Burt's Bees Honey Pot collection

There's just something about this bloody brand that I can't get enough of! I'm in love with their packaging, their natural products, and the name Burt just down right makes me smile. What a chap eh?! I mean, just look at this gorgeous little pot (part of the 2014 Christmas collection). Not only is it shaped like a, erm, traditional honey pot, it's filled with lip and hand care goodness in the form of two delicious lip balms and the ever-so-greasy-but-ever-so-moisturising hand salve (I prefer to wear it before bed for this reason).

The beeswax lip balm surprises you, as it leaves your lips tingling with its peppermint flavour. I can't get enough of it for this reason, and my lips feel all soft and nourished when I'm wearing it. In fact, this will be my second tube as I've already been using one for the past few months (they're long-lasting!). Onto the honey lip balm and, while the texture is smooth and my lips feel moisturised, it doesn't smell like honey whatsoever. In fact, it smells more like talcum powder to me, so it just reminds me of babies! I wouldn't say it's off-putting at all, but it's not the pleasant honey scent I was hoping for.

It doesn't look like this collection is available on the Burt's Bees site anymore, but I've spotted it on lookfantastic.com, so get it while you can (grab 10% off your order using the code TREAT10LF or 15% if you're a new customer using the code NEW15LF). It's only £7.99, and the fact the pot can be used for whatever takes your fancy (jewellery, make up, candles; heck, why not honey?) really makes it worth your pennies in my opinion. I think it'd make a lovely little gift too, and the cardboard sleeve is easily removed so you could add some extra goodies before gifting it if you're feeling generous!

Have you tried Burt's Bees products before? What's your favourite?



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Freiburg, Germany

It's been a long time since I wrote a lifestyle or travel-related post, and - as cheesy as it sounds - these ones are probably my favourite to write as they afford me time to reflect and reminisce over lovely times, places and generally have myself a little throwback party. This time, it's Freiburg's turn.

Freiburg, which translates as free borough, is about a 45-minute drive from where we currently live in France, so we took it upon ourselves to pay it a little visit one sunny weekend last autumn. It's an old university town situated near the Black Forest in Germany (I wrote about Black Forest's Titisee here if you want to read more). I've since read that it's the sunniest town in Germany, with the sun shining its pretty little self down on it a whopping 2000 hours a year. Lucky they may be, but those Freiburgers are also pretty smart; they've taken advantage and apparently managed to generate as much solar power as the whole of Britain, bagging a 'greenest city' label, so Lonely Planet inform me! Props to them...or whatever the trendy way to say congrats is these days.

Without a doubt, the imposing medieval Münster cathedral is the main architechural draw of Freiburg. Built between 1520-30, it's an old beauty but a beautiful red sandstone one. It features scenic sculptures from the Old and New Testaments. Its gothic design reminds me of Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia...on a considerably smaller scale, though you can apparently get a view of the Vosges mountains in France if you climb the tower!

As we wandered the streets, we also noticed these unusual - if a little dangerous - open gutters with water flowing through them. Apparently, these Bächle are quite famous and were once used for livestock and fire fighting; they now contain diverted water from the Dreisam river. I've read that if you happen to accidentally land your foot in one of these waterways, then you're destined to marry a Freiburger! Twit twoo.

Another sight we spotted was the Martinstor, the former town gate, which is quite understated yet so pretty to actually wander through as you stroll the streets. Unfortunately, I didn't get any better pictures of it than this...so I hope you can appreciate the big twiggy tree partially blocking the view. Oh, and spot the McDonalds sign beside it! The city council prevented the standard red and yellow sign in favour of a more reserved colour! They got told!

Another of Freiburg's sights is the Historical Merchant's Hall, which dates back to the 1520s and served as the region's hub of finance. At first, you could be forgiven for missing it since it's situated beside the show-stopping catherdral, but it's definitely a unique building and one I actually snapped before I knew what it was! I love the mosaic-tiled spires on either side of it.

We proceeded to stumble upon a really busy area, full of people relaxing and supping on beer sat on the streets. At first, we assumed there was some sort of festival or event going on and felt a little out of place, but I later found out (when researching for this post) that it's simply a really popular chillout spot for local students and younger people, probably helped by the surrounding bars and restaurants. I loved this little snippet of local culture and fact it's not uncommon to just find a spot, plonk yourself on the cobbles, and enjoy the sunshine.



Probably one of my favourite photos of the day was this little winery positioned quite randomly in the middle of quite a bustling area. Freiburg is situated in the heart of a major wine-growing region so this is probably the norm for the locals but it looked so out of place to me...though clearly very pretty with the gorgeous blossom tree. Shame we didn't get a little sip of its goods!

Here's a few more pictures I captured on our wander around the streets. The buskers were brilliant, and the little kid in front was dancing his heart out! We ended the day with nutella and fruit pancakes, while watching the sunset from our balcony. Perfection!

Do you like the look of Freiburg? Have you visited any new cities or places recently?

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