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Kiehl’s on Wheels hits Edinburgh*

DSC_0689Last week, on a rare sunny evening, I meandered over to George Street after work to check out the most colourful display on George Street. Kiehl’s brand new bus rolled into town a week or so ago, and has been providing the city with the best beauty products ever since.

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Considering I use and adore at least five separate Kiehl’s every morning, it was a no brainer that I would head down and see what the brand was up to, plus it’s always fun to go to blogger events. Kiehl’s, I’m glad to say, didn’t disappoint – with the most adorable picnic benches laden with goodie bags, it was so lovely to meet some Edinburgh-based bloggers.

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After some introductions, as well as a snoop around the Kiehl’s bus (it’s packed with brand favourites for skin, hair and body) it was time for the evening to begin. We packed into the benches, and got to grips with learning all about the best of what Kiehl’s have to offer.

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Jennifer (from Tartan Brunette) bravely volunteered to be the model for the evening, letting Kiehl’s expert Holly demonstrate how to best use and apply each product.

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Starting right from the basics, we sniffed, rubbed and patted in a whole shelf of products, falling harder in love each time. There were a tonne of old favourites, including many which I use on a daily basis, but getting to try out products like the Ultra Facial Cleanser, means that my wish list has grown rather long since last week!

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There was a lucky-dip prize at the end of the evening, which the very lucky (and lovely) Emma from unf4bul0us won, and we all toddled home, clutching our groaning Kiehl’s bags. Very kindly, we were treated to a mix of hero products as well as some treats from a Scottish pop-up across the street, which I’ve been using ever since – I’d forgotten how great Kiehl’s old-school lip balm is! There was also a full size bottle of the new Cactus Flower Hydrating Mist, which is super handy, as I’ve blown through half of my first bottle already!

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The bus will be chilling in the middle of George Street for the next week or so, and then is starts up it’s travels again. So, if you hear it’s heading down your way, pop in, say hello, and treat yourself to something lovely!

Thank you to Holly, Kiehl’s and Kiehl’s on Wheels for having me!

Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass Eyeshadow Palette*

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette

So yesterday I shared the rather stunning collection of lipsticks that Urban Decay had released to celebrate the new Alice Through the Looking Glass movie, but I think that the piece-de-resistance has to be the rather stunning eyeshadow palette.

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I kind of feel like calling this an eyeshadow palette is kind of like calling a Rolls Royce a run-around. There’s just something so special about this, and it’s the perfect mix of whimsy and much loved colours, and the packaging really is jus to die for!

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Butterfly

Absolutely every inch has been covered in triply, kaleidoscope-esque images and quotes from the book. It does feel a touch magical! Also, the absolute clincher for me was the rather magical 3-D butterfly which pops up under the mirror. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it in a makeup product before.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette Detail

It seems to right that Urban Decay have aligned themselves with a film all about the odd, and not-quite-right. They are such an inclusive and forward-thinking brand, it seems like a wonderfully natural fit!

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Eyeshadow Palette

When I realised how in love I was with the packaging, I was skeptical about how much I would like the palette. By nature, I’m rather boring when it comes to makeup. I can’t tell you how many brown and beige shadows I have, so I was so happy to see a great balance of neutrals alongside some really rather stunning colours.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette review

Each column is designed to represent a character from the book, from left to right, they’re Alice, The Mad Hatter, Mirana, Iracebeth, and Time. It’s just such a novel little palette, I’m completely smitten! For daily use, I’ve been sweeping a light dusting of Reflection (a warm apricot) over my lids for a touch of definition, smudging Chronosphere (a warm, very metallic chestnut) into my lash line, and dotting Royal Flush (perhaps the most beautiful champagne shimmer highlight) into my inner eyes.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland shadow palette

As we’ve all come to expect from Urban Decay, the formulation of the shadows is pretty wonderful. They’re super smooth and creamy, with the most wonderful colour payoff. Shades like Dormouse and Chessboard are the perfect daily browns for me, and I wish I could buy a backup Royal Flush as it’s jus the most divine silky-smooth highlight. There are some surprises too! Lily looks like it should be a basic slightly yellow toned beige, but it’s shot through with pink micro-shimmer which gives the shade a beautiful fairy-dust quality. Dream On is another surprise – in the pan it looks like a deep cool toned shimmer mauve, but on the eyes it’s a wash of sheer sparkle. It’s stunning! The brighter colours are just dreamy too! I’m waiting for colder weather to rock the ultra pigmented and shimmering  Salanzan Grum, whilst I’m currently working up enough courage to wear the inky Time as an alternative to black liner.

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland palette brushUrban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette brush end 1

The palette also comes with a double ended brush tucked in amongst the shadows. It’s decorated with the same colourful patterning as the palette. I’ve not really tried it out too heavily yet, but it’s lovely and soft and is a great little blender!

Urban Decay’s Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette is priced at £43 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

The Perfume Society: The Scent of a Man Discovery Box*

The Perfume Society Father's Day Box

I absolutely love receiving beauty boxes every month, they always come as something of a surprise, and it’s just so fun to dig through them finding new brands and new favourites.

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The Perfume Society’s brand new The Scent of a Man Discovery Box is the first one designed especially for the boys, and I have to say, it’s a good one! Packaged in a greyscale version of the brand’s signature boxes is a selection of fine fragrance samples as well as a few rather generous treats.

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Like all of the Perfume Society’s Discovery Boxes, there’s a perfect mix of well known brands as well as some indie brands. It means that you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a few new favourites in the bunch.

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In addition to 13 fragrances to try out, there are also some rather luxe products in there too! I’m not going to lie – I’ve stolen the travel sized Elemis Ice-Cool Foaming Shave Gel as it’s super refreshing to use, and the minty scent feels wonderfully clean without being overpowering. There’s also a Penhaligon Face and Beard Scrub as well as an Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for Men. I’ve tried out the female version of the moisturiser before and really liked it, so I’m sure that one’s a winner too!

The Scent of a Man Discovery Box is such a great little gift, I’m sure any father would love it! It’s priced at £19.00 and is available here.

Philosophy Pure Grace Summer Eau de Toilette*

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Ok, I know that the site is going to get pretty fragrance-orientated this week, but bear with me, they are all absolutely super! The only one that’s a real girly one is the newest offering from Philosophy with their Pure Grace Summer eau de toilette, which really is a summer vacation in a bottle!

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Packaged in a chic, rather minimalist glass bottle, Pure Grace Summer feels absolutely perfect to wear throughout balmy summer evenings. This is one of the rare perfumes I think smells better worn on the skin (as opposed to being spritzed onto clothes) as I think the body heat just gives it a little something extra.

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At first application, Philosophy’s Pure Grace Summer just smells of warm summer nights. When first applied, the notes of coconut and solar musk are the most noticeable. It smells just like long days at the beach, and I love how it just feels so transportive to wear!

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Then, as the fragrance warms with the skin, it settles into a reassuring mix of coconut and citron with a touch of vanilla. It’s so beautiful and smells just like your perfect day at the beach! My only little quibble would be that it does tend to fade away after three or four hours, but the bottle isn’t too big or heavy, so I can easily just pop it into my handbag.

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I feel like Philosophy have absolutely hit it out of the park with this scent. It’s a wonderfully wearable scent that feels like such a treat to wear!

Philosophy Pure Grace Summer Eau de Toilette is priced at £33.00 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

 

Harvey Nichols Edinburgh – Menswear for Father’s Day*

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I always think buying presents for  men is super hard – and Father’s Day might just be trickiest. Thankfully though, Harvey Nichols has come to our rescue with their relaunched Menswear Department.

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Designed after the flagship Knightsbridge store, The menswear department is definitely the chicest spot to shop for Dad anywhere outside the capital, and to celebrate, the store held a super-fun weekend filled with special services for the discerning shopper. As you arrived up the elevators, you were met with the cutest little bars serving up Arbikie – an incredible Scottish Gin and Vodka distillery.

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As if that wasn’t enough, you could personalise the most luxurious of items – Grenson let you make up your ideal shoes, picking every detail from leathers to laces.

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They could be as subtle or crazy as you could imagine, and the example shoes were absolutely breathtaking.

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My favourite part of the whole event though, was the Etch’d stand, which, with an in-store purchase meant that you could get specially laser-personalised.

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Even though I was expecting just initials, Etch’d can personalise basically anything with a flat surface, and I can’t tell you how awesome their pieces looked! Considering the chaps come from a graphic-design background, their designs were insane!

 

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Based in Tollcross, you can even get phones and laptops laser etched, and I am seriously considering getting my laptop done. It’s just the coolest!

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It’s not just electronics and perfume bottles which got the special treatment though, even shoes and sneakers were etched.

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Since I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by, I popped down to the beauty department to find something etch-able, so treated myself to Omorovicza’s Perfecting Lip Balm. It’s something I’ve been wanting since my facial (here) and the flat lid was perfect for the laser.

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I couldn’t be happier with my rather special balm, and I would seriously recommend heading up to Harvey Nichols’ first floor. The menswear section couldn’t be better, and it’s absolutely packed with awesome Father’s Day gift ideas!

Omorovicza Perfecting Lip Balm is priced at £32.00 (I did receive a discount on mine) and is available in-store. You can find Omorovicza here.

 

 

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