January Wish List

I feel a little bit guilty posting a wish list so shortly after Christmas when I was spoilt to lots of lovely things, but there's nothing wrong with a little (online) window shopping and a girl can dream after all, eh? Having said that, I am getting a tad bored with what's on offer on the high street at the moment. If I see another piece of moustache jewellery I think I'm seriously going to puke. Bring on some new spring items!

Planet Motif Sweater, Topshop, £35 // Jaquard Knicker Short, Miss Selfridge, £39 // Red Multicoloured Cross Bracelet, River Island, £4 // Red Embellished Feather Head Dress Print Tank, River Island, £18 // Chic Skinny Leather Belt, Topshop, £17 // Leopard Print Slipper, Zara, £37

I'm trying to be a little bit more brave with prints and the galaxy print sweater is an easy way to get into that with its nostalgic feel. I swear I had one almost exactly like this when I was about six. 

In the spirit of wearing more print I really like the baroque print short shorts from Miss Selfridge, too. My legs are the one part of my body I don't mind so much, so I'm sure these would get plenty of wear over a pretty pair of tights.

I'm usually not a major fan of crosses, but this bracelet is so wonderfully colourful it somehow appeals to my inner hippie. Maybe it's just a sign that it really needs to start being summer again!

The tank top reminds me of an amazing canvas print of a feather head dress I've seen a while ago (but couldn't afford) and ever since I've had a slight obsession with it. If I can't hang it on my wall, I can at least hang it from my shoulders.

I don't wear a lot of belts and quite frankly I'm not sure what I would wear this one with, but I really like the soft pastel blue colour.

Now, some might argue that I have enough shoes already (there might be a grain of truth in there), but I've actually managed to ruin two pairs of flats in the space of the last two or three months, so surely it wouldn't hurt to get some new ones? Especially if they look as comfy as these!

What are you lusting after this month?

Spa Organics Gentle Cucumber Cleanser Review

Welcome to the New Year everyone. I hope you had a great New Year's Eve and had a good time, even if like me you didn't do anything fancy.

For the first post this year I have a product I've been meaning to review for a while now, but haven't got round to till now: The Spa Organics Gentle Cucumber Cleanser*.

Spa Organics are a new cosmetics brand delivering (you guessed it) natural and organic beauty products at affordable prices. Their range isn't particularly big, but all products are well thought out and you can see the time and effort that has gone into creating each and every one of them.

I wouldn't be saying that just for the sake of it - the thing that made me take notice was that along with the cleanser I received a comprehensive list of ingredients for all their products, including an explanation what exactly it was doing in there. I don't know what half the ingredients in my beauty products are, not to mention what they're actually supposed to do for me, so this was truly a breath of fresh air. There isn't a single chemical nasty in their products, a lot of ingredients are locally sourced and the products aren't tested on animals either. So far, a big thumbs up.

The Gentle Cucumber Cleanser comes in a 150ml plastic pump bottle. It dispenses easily and the pump has a well functioning locking system which means it travels well without any spillages. I use about one pump in the mornings and one and a half in the evenings, when my face is grimy and dirty from make-up and, well, all that other mucky stuff you pick up during the course of the day.
The packaging may not be particularly fancy, but it's a new company we're talking about, after all, and it's the inside that counts. (I've had my fair share of brightly coloured, elaborately packaged products with lots of witty slogans printed all over them that turned out to be rubbish)

The thing that surprised me the most is just how creamy this cleanser is. I haven't tried an awful lot of all-natural cosmetics, but my experience with them so far was that the texture is somehow lacking without the use of silicones, making for products that are very difficult to spread and apply. Not so with this - it feels thick, smooth and luxurious on the skin, though it's creamy richness means you have to be extra thorough when rinsing it off.

I feel that the scent is definitely worth mentioning, so take note if you have a sensitive nose, please. This smells. Not in a bad way, but it has a very intense cucumber scent. It doesn't linger and disappears as soon as you rinse off the cleanser. Personally, it doesn't bother me - I associate the scent of cucumbers with freshness and cleanliness which fits in perfectly with the whole idea of a cleanser. Yet if strong scents bother you or if you have an aversion to cucumbers, this might be a point worth considering.

As for the skin benefits I would agree that this is particularly suited to sensitive skin. It was gentle enough and did not cause any of that pulling tight feeling that some harsher cleansers leave on your face. It's not meant to be used on the eye area, but if a little bit gets in through too vigorous scrubbing (I am often guilty of that) it won't leave your eyes red and sore.
At first, the cleanser wasn't quite thorough enough for me in the evenings and I'd still find a bit of dirt and make-up on my cotton pad after toning, but when I increased the amount I used from one pump to one and a half that seemed to solve the problem. After that, the cleanser served me well and did what it was meant to do in a gentle, skin friendly manner. The beautiful texture made me perk up and often stopped me from rubbing my face like a dirty old rag and to treat it kindly instead.

The cleanser retails at £10.95 for 150ml which is more than justified in my honest opinion. You'd be hard pressed to find natural, organic products at such a price and I find you get good value for your money.

You can pick up this as well as other products in the range on the Spa Organics website, which also includes the comprehensive list of ingredients used that I talked about earlier.

All in all, a great find for those who want to venture into organic skincare without having to break the bank or compromising on quality.

*PR sample sent for consideration

Westfield London Haul

It's been ages since I've written a haul post, because, quite frankly, it's been ages since I let go and treated myself to a big shopping trip. I do feel that these posts can look a little self-indulgent, but personally I really enjoy seeing what other people have lugged home in their shopping bags, so why not, eh?

I was treated to a bit of money for Christmas under the strict instruction to spend it on nice things and not waste it all on day to day stuff, so I obliged happily. I know, I know, should have waited till the post-Christmas sales, but I fully intend to spend pretty much all Christmas partying like an 80s rock star and then I'm in France for the New Year - and nobody wants to wait that long! Besides, I hate how shops get all messy and unorganised during the sale season, I much prefer neat tidy ones. (Admittedly, that's a little less rock'n'roll of me)

Aldo Aureola bracelets

I had a little snoop around in Aldo for some shoes, but didn't find any I liked. Instead, I picked up a pack of these bracelets to add a bit of fierceness to some of my outfits. Generally speaking, the high street jewellery I saw was a little disappointing. I'm bored of owls, moustaches and crosses. Any tips on where to look for something a little different?

Lush Bath Ballistics: Golden Wonder, Father Christmas and Melting Snowman

Lush was quite the experience: Small, hot, crammed with shoppers, concentrated soap smell and overexcited staff (the girl on the till started dancing when I paid). But it was worth it for a few limited edition bath goodies. I've been eyeing up Golden Wonder and the Melting Snowman last year already, but was gutted when I didn't manage to get them. On a side note, whatever it is that Lush give their employees, I want some too.

Little Big Planet Karting for PS3

A little something to play with the boyfriend or whoever fancies to pop in on quiet nights. Spent about an hour and a half playing it tonight and kept losing resulting in a massive strop on my side. Perhaps it's not such a good idea to buy racing games when I'm such an awful loser...

Ice Aquarium from Pylones

I'm not a massive fan of Pylones. I like colourful things, but this shop pushes even my limits. The boyfriend's a fan, however, and that's how we ended up with a fishy ice cube tray. Why ever not, eh?

H&M Dark Side of the Moon Print Top

Not sure if this counts as a dress or a top, but if in doubt you could always wear it as both. It looks equally good over leggings or tights as it does on its own and the slouchy fit makes for very comfortable wear, though the sleeves are cut very low, so skipping the bra is not an option!

Models Own Nail Polishes in (from l-r) Peaches & Cream, Pink Punch, Luis Lemon, Magenta Divine

Being a beauty blogger, there was naturally no way I could have just walked past the giant nail polish bottle that was the little Models Own shop. They had a promotion on where you could buy one nail polish for £5 or four for £12. It would have been rude not to. These aren't exactly winter colours (apart from the glittery one), but there's nothing to cheer me up on a dreary, soggy day like a pop of neon nail polish. Reviews and swatches will naturally follow.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

The very first purchase of the day. At the beginning of the year I put them on my beauty wish list, yet all along I just kept on putting them off, because let's face it: Beauty tools aren't a particularly exciting purchase. I hope these live up to the hype, but either way I'll let you know how I get on with them!

River Island White lip printed t-shirt

I used to have a similar t-shirt that I loved to pieces, but it got ruined in brown gooey mush when the washing machine broke (sad story, isn't it?). Spot colouring usually makes me cringe a little, but surely this doesn't count?

Nip + Fab Dark Circle Fix

Does anyone else find shopping for eye cream to be such a chore?? It took me forever to find one that sounded sort of appealing. I would have just stuck to the Murad one I tried recently, but this blog's causing this urge to try new products all the time. Expect a review in a month or so, when I've had it long enough to see any effects.

Urban Outfitters Grey Carlton High Top trainers,  Glitter Phone Clutch and Triangle necklace

By far the most successful stop of the day was Urban Outfitters. These amazing hi-tops were on sale for £20 - bargain! The necklace is an attempt to build my pretty much non-existant jewellery collection and you can't really go wrong with geometric shapes.
Now, when I saw the phone clutches I almost screamed. Which genius came up with this idea?? The amount of times I headed out and only wanted to take my phone and some cards, but had to lug around a hand bag to keep them in - this has a compartment for your phone and one for your cash as well as a few card slots and a handle that can be wrapped around the wrist. Genius. Simply genius.

Have you treated yourselves to any shopping lately? Let me know in the comments section below!

End of the Year / World Post

So far this whole end-of-the-world thing has been unsurprisingly anti-climatic. But with the year slowly coming to an end it's time for many to reflect on the past twelve months and maybe even (yes, I'm going to say it!!)... make some resolutions?

2012 has been a tough year for me, in many different ways. I had surgery on my wrist twice and even faced the prospect of disability at one point. I broke up with my fiance after five years and got back together with him several months later under the most ridiculous of circumstances. I moved country three times, alienated my family and racked up loads of debt, half of which I've paid off now. I had three jobs, all of which I had to quit and lived in four different cities. I made some great friends, only to lose them again. Without a doubt, it's been the most eventful year of my life so far, but rather than stick my head in the sand as I normally would, I came out stronger, more confident and fearless.

If there's one thing I've learnt over the last year it's that no matter what happens and how bad you think it is, it will turn out to be for the better in the long run. Learn your lessons and accept that what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. If it wasn't for all that crap that happened this year I wouldn't be the person I am today, and as cheesy as that sounds, I'm grateful for that.


One thing I've read about in a recent issue of Zest magazine that I can wholeheartedly agree with is that New Year's resolutions shouldn't just be about all the things you want to give up (ultimately making life a lot more boring and frankly, a bit shit). This year, rather than saying that I want to lose two stone, stop drinking alcohol, never ever have takeaway again and blah and blah, I want to think of ways in which I can ENRICH my life.


RESOLUTION NO1: HEALTH

Let's be honest, I'm not going to stop doing unhealthy things permanently. I'm still going to enjoy a glass of wine (or two or three), go to parties and not get enough sleep from time to time. But that's fine. The one thing I want to change is to listen to my body more. I enjoy eating healthy foods and I enjoy exercise, but sometimes these things get a little bit lost.
Our bodies are great at telling us exactly what they need, but do we ever listen? Most of us don't even know what it's like to be hungry, because we eat out of habit. What I've learnt through my injury was that trying to change your body hoping that it will give you more confidence is reverse thinking. But if you learn to appreciate your body for all the good things it does, then positive change will come by itself.

RESOLUTION NO2: BLOG MORE

My goodness, the amount of time I've apologised for being MIA due to my crazy personal life this year. Truth be told, I love blogging and I love reading other people's blogs. I think this long, rambly post shows just how much I love writing and expressing myself, so I promise I'm going to try to be a better blogger next year.
Hand in hand with that goes starting to take my camera out with me. Truth be told I can never be bothered to lug it around with me, but then I'm annoyed cause I have nothing other than my phone to take snaps with.

RESOLUTION NO3: LEARN A NEW SKILL

Don't know what that's going to be yet, but ideally something that will push me out of my comfort zone. Any suggestions?


Have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions yet? Let me know in the comments section or leave a link to your blog if you have!
And to make up for that wall of rambling and blabbing, here's a cute picture of an owl in a hat:

Murad Christmas Kit: Reveal Radiance

One thing I really love about pre-Christmas shopping is all the beauty kits available to buy. Granted, there are a few duds out there with products shops are desperate to shift - shockingly overpriced just for a bit of fancy packaging. But there are also loads of really great sets to get your mitts on with huge savings to be made. And in my books the only thing better than a great beauty product for Christmas is several great beauty products to play around with.

This year, Murad have launched several skincare kits which are perfect for gifting (and you've still got time to dash to your nearest department store for any last-minute emergency purchases).
Kindly enough, the people at Murad sent me the Rescue Radiance kit* to sample at home a fair while ago. The reason I only write about it now is because the products in there performed very differently and it took me a while to figure out which one was doing what to my skin.

This kit consists of:

• Active Radiance Serum, 30ml
• Complete Reform, 3.7ml
• Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture, 7.5ml
• Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 | PA++, 4ml

And for me, there was a product I liked, one I loved, one I felt fairly indifferent about and one I have a sort of love/hate attitude towards.

Packaging-wise the kit isn't too over the top and kept rather simple, but in my opinion that goes quite well with the brand ethos. The set is aimed to give skin a bright and radiant glow.

Now, on to the actual products. Let's start with the one I liked.

Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture is a daily moisturiser, which is meant to keep skin intensely hydrated and plumped. Despite its richness, the cream sinks in quickly and feels incredibly light on the skin. 

For my fairly normal skin it delivered the perfect hit of moisture, without at all weighing it down. It wasn't sticky or greasy but kept my face wonderfully moisturised. If it had an added SPF I would go as far as saying it's perfect. Nonetheless, it's a fantastic product I would more than happily recommend.

Now, on to the one I love. The Essential-C Eye Cream does feature an in-built SPF and again it feels insanely light-weight on the skin while providing it with a delicious hit of moisture.

What ultimately makes this a winner in my book, however, is that it is the second eye cream I have ever tried that really made a difference to my dark undereye circles (the other one is All About Eyes by Clinique). Nothing overly dramatic - the only thing that permanently rids me of them is plenty of sleep, water and a thick concealer - but it does make them less noticeable and made me instantly look a lot more alive than I felt in the mornings.

Next up, a product I'm not really sure about. The great thing about the Active Radiance Serum is that you get a whopping 30ml of product which will seriously last for ages. The texture is again quite light, but it doesn't sink into the skin as quickly as the moisturiser does.

Murad claim on their website that this will improve skin firmness by up to 63% in 15 minutes and unfortunately my own experience doesn't confirm that. To be fair my skin's still holding up well as I'm only 23, so perhaps more mature skin would experience a stronger effect.

For quite a while I was convinced that this serum was breaking me out, but that turned out to be wrong when I started shuffling products around. What I did find, however, was that it had virtually no effect on my skin whatsoever, neither positive nor negative. Again, maybe mature skin would benefit more from this, but for me this serum is more of a take-it-or-leave-it product.

Ah, now to the arguably most interesting product of them all. Complete Reform is as far as I understand a cross between a serum and a glycolic peel. I've heard a lot of people rave about the effects of glycolic acid in skincare, so I was very intrigued by this little tube.

As the packaging suggests you don't need to use an awful lot of this at a time - a little goes a long way. The consistency is quite similar to the serum, but it sinks into the skin almost as soon as it touches it, so there's no residue what so ever.

The first time I used it I was amazed. I don't even know where to begin telling you what a huge impact it made on my skin. It was soft and silky as a peach, bright, radiant... I swear it was almost as if my face was glowing. Then little red lumps started appearing on my skin. And from then onwards, those little red lumps got angrier and redder and more painful with every application. I took a break and they took almost two weeks to clear up. As soon as I began using Complete Reform again, they came back. "Gutted" doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. It's a fantastic product, but my skin just cannot handle it - and my skin is anything but sensitive!

So, the verdict in conclusion? I wasn't too keen on Murad after I received one of their products in a Glossybox (and, quite frankly, hated it!), but this kit made me reconsider a little bit. There are some gems in their repertoire and the eye cream is definitely a re-purchase. I'd buy the moisturiser too, but it's slightly out of my price league at the moment. I think the thing with all the products I've tried is that they are just very, very powerful and not everybody's skin is going to agree with them.

If you're interested, they're definitely worth giving a go. I'd recommend asking for a little sample at a counter, just to make sure your skin doesn't react to a product before purchasing. Murad have actually launched a Youth Cam at one of their House of Fraser counters, which gives an in-depth analysis of your skin, so it's definitely worth checking out!

The Reveal Radiance kit retails at £58.50, but contains products worth £137.31, so there's some big savings to be had!

*PR sample sent for consideration