special occasion Archives

Lauren 1st March 2016

Appleyard London Lemon Drizzle Bouquet*

So I’m absolutely astonished it’s coming up to Mother’s Day already – 2016 is completely whizzing by (I’m still guilty of writing 2015 about 50% of the time!) and it’s time to start thinking about the best ways to treat your mum! Appleyard London‘s bouquets are a sure-fire hit, and they make it super easy to earn a whole lot of brownie points without trying too hard.

When Appleyard London kindly allowed me to pick out of of their glorious bouquets of mother’s day flowers, so I went for the Lemon Drizzle. It’s a mix of bouquet of pink sweet avalanche roses, lemon carnations, crisp white blooms and lemon flair hypericum berries. I just adore the mix of flowers and berries, and it looks so special in a beautiful crystal vase in the breakfast room.

Appleyard London have an absolutely incredible selection of bouquets to choose from if your fancy treating someone to some mother’s day flowers. They run the gamut from spring-fresh, full of daises and lilies, to full blown glamour filled with roses.

As well as being absolutely beautiful, I am just obsessed with how much of a great gift they are! They come posted in a huge big grey box which keeps the flowers absolutely pristine, and they come wrapped in layers and layers of tissue, meaning you don’t even need to wrap them!

I also love the attention to detail from Appleyard London. Not only are the flowers an absolute knockout, but they come with plant food, a card and instructions on how best to care for them. It’s really these little touches which make the whole experience an absolute joy.

Appleyard London flowers are also as long-lasting as they are beautiful. I got six days of perfection, then I just picked out the blooms which were looking a little tired, and got an extra four days!

If you’re looking to really make someone’s Mother’s Day special, I couldn’t recommend Appleyard London enough! Even better news is that I have a sneaky discount you can use! Just enter BLOGGER33 at checkout for 33% off your bouquet!

Lauren 20th December 2015

Glossybox December 2015*

I think we all have rather high expectations for the last beauty boxes of the year, and thankfully, Glossybox haven’t haven’t disappointed! Teaming up with blogger ReallyRee, this month’s offering is a study in rose gold, and covers everything from skincare to lipgloss!

The box itself is such a joy to open – a metallic rose gold emblazoned with wintery sayings. It feels wonderfully seasonal, and it’s just so pretty!

Once you get inside, you can see how well thought out the box is. With everything from a face mask to highlighter, the box really does contain everything you need to get through the festive season!

I’m always rather happy to get Darphin samples – they’re a brand I’m pretty much in love with, so getting to try the new 8 Flower Nectar Oil Cream. It’s a super rich formula, that just sinks into dry skin, so my winter-ravaged skin has really been enjoying the treat! It is quite heavily fragranced, but it’s such a gentle cream that I don’t really mind.

Etre Belle is a brand I don’t think I’ve come across before, but their Caviar Eye Gel sounds rather luxurious! Packaged in a golden roller ball, the gel smoothes, relaxes and refreshes tired eyes, so it’s perfect for using after late evenings. The gel itself is lovely and lightweight, and I keep my rollerball in the fridge for some extra refreshment.

The final piece of skincare in the box is a Starskin Red Carpet Ready Face Mask. I absolutely adore these paper masks, as they force me to sit still and actually relax, so I’m looking forward to trying out this one! It promises to smooth, rejuvenate and hydrate skin, so I can’t wait!

I don’t think I could love the colour of this Essence Liquid Lipstick any more if I tried. Even though I wear neutral shades daily, this pinky red is just so pretty, and it provides a much needed pop of colour during grey evenings.

It’s a full size tube, and it has a beautifully glossy finish on the lips. It’s not the longest-wearing colour I’ve tried, but it’s a great colour and doesn’t feel drying to wear.

In grey December days, I like my skin to look as healthy as possible, so this So Susan Skin Highlighting Crayon was very warmly welcomed. I think it’s another full size product, and it’s a great little makeup bag staple.

Packaged in a crayon stick, the highlighter itself has a chiselled tip for precise and easy application, and on the skin it gives a luminous golden sheen. If you’re a mid to olive tone, I think this will look absolutely stunning, as it does look a little yellow on my pink-toned skin.

The last little gem in the box is a full size nail colour from the Cheeky brand. It’s the diffusion line from the Cowshed Beauty Line, and the shade is Candy Shop – a true bubblegum pink.

To get an even, opaque coverage I needed three thin coats, but it’s such a staple shade, I can see myself reaching for it well into the Spring.

Glossybox subscriptions are priced from £10.00 per month +p&p and are available here.

Lauren 4th December 2015

Molton Brown Alba White Truffle Hand Exfoliate & Hand Treatment*

Molton Brown Alba White Truffle Hand Exfoliator & Hand Treatment

Now we’re squarely into December, and the temperature has taken a rather seasonal downward turn, I’m all about hiding indoors and giving myself a bit of a pamper. So, these brand new goodies from Molton Brown couldn’t have arrived at a better time!

Molton Brown White Truffle Hand Exfoliator & Hand Treatmen 1

Packaged in some seriously slick silver tubes, the Alba White Truffle duo are designed to really treat and soothe winter-ravaged hands, and they could feel more luxurious to use! They really are a must-have if you like a do-it-yourself manicure!

Molton Brown White Truffle Hand Exfoliator

Once or twice per week, and before painting my nails, I’ve been using the Hand Exfoliator. It’s a super thick scrub which smells absolutely incredible! The formula contains a rare Alba truffle extract to soften skin, and since it has such a rich texture, you only need to use the tiniest amount per application.

Molton Brown White Truffle Hand Exfoliator 1JPG

The duo has to be one of the best smelling products I’ve tried all year! The fragrance contains a blend of myrrh, nutmeg and vanilla, and it’s ridiculously yummy. It’s the perfect gourmand scent, and I really can’t get enough of the stuff! I wash off the exfoliator using warm water and a clean flannel, and my hands are so, so smooth. If, like me, you suffer from cuticles which peel and hands that need a little pampering, you have to try it!

Molton Brown White Truffle Hand Treatment 1

After giving my hands a good slough, I’ve been slathering them in the delicious Alba White Truffle Hand Treatment. It’s one of the thickest and most luxurious hand creams I’ve tried, and it’s absolutely glorious!

Molton Brown White Truffle Hand Treatment

Despite the incredibly thick consistency, the Hand Treatment really soaks into skin quite quickly, and it leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated rather than sticky. Again, the scent of the cream is divine – heavily vanilla-based, but in no way too sweet or cloying. It’s a beautifully festive option! Using the duo feels like such a treat, and my hands are really showing the benefit of using them!

Molton Brown Alba White Truffle Hand Exfoliator is priced at £14.00 and is available here. The Alba White Truffle Hand Treatment is priced at £14.00 and is available here

Lauren 26th November 2015

Sisley Phyto Blush Eclat – Pinky Coral*

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral

Before I even get started I feel like I should say a huge Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US! I hope you’re all suitably feasting on turkey and stuffing, safe in the knowledge I’m rather jealous (and may already have enjoyed a little too much eggnog!) So, even though Thanksgiving isn’t any sort of a holiday here in Scotland, I thought I would share one of my most treasured and indulgent loves today – Sisley’s Phyto Blush Eclat in 05 Pinky Coral.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral 1

Packaged in the most eye-catching of compacts, the blush is just a study in luxury from start to finish, and, if you’re like me, and you feel like you need a little ‘pick-me-up,’ this is just perfection!

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral 5

The blush itself is a mixture of two of the most beautiful pinks you can imagine – one is a soft rose, whilst the other is a warmer coral. It’s really the stuff dreams are made of, and, when swirled onto the apples of my cheeks, it gives the perfect flush.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral 4

Thanks to the incredibly finely milled texture, the blush never veers into the powdery territory, and instead it just illuminates the skin. As you would expect from such a skincare-focused brand like Sisley, the Phyto Blush doesn’t just give you a lovely flush! The powder is enriched with Woodmallow, Gardenia, and Linden blossom which soothe and protect the skin – an absolute must for the dropping temperatures.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral 2

The use of two colours within the single blush means that it’s incredibly easy to personalise the colour depending on your mood. On days where I want a perky, fresh-faced look, I rely more on the coral powder, whilst if I need a sleeker, more neutral colour, I go for the rose shade. Most days though, I tend to just swirl my blush brush over the entire compact for a flattering wash of colour.

Sisley Phyto-Blush Eclat - 5 Pinky Coral 3

As you can probably tell, I am just in love with the blusher! It’s such a perfect product!

Have you ever tried Sisley makeup?

Sisley Phyto Blush Eclat in 5 Pinky Coral is priced at £51.50 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Lauren 24th September 2015

Harvey Nichols – The Art of Style*

If you’re from Edinburgh, you’ll know how glorious Tuesday was. It was the perfect Autumn evening – all golden light and cool breezes, and it was an absolute joy to walk down George Street to Harvey Nichols to attend their Art of Style Trend Presentation.

Nestled in the middle of all of this season’s most beautiful clothes, I got to attend the most fabulous panel discussion which focused on the links between art and fashion (i.e. my main two loves)! As an Art History major, I can seriously geek out over the tiniest brushstroke or fabric pattern, so the evening was a must for me!

Designed as the pinnacle of Harvey Nichols’ The Art of Style calendar, the panel of speakers was really something special – the iconic Molly Parkin, Harvey Nichols’ Buying Partner Darren Skey, Project Director of Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art Mal Burkinshaw along with Anne Lyden the Curator of Photography at National Galleries of Scotland.

Discussions ranged from Molly Parkins’ rather unorthodox childhood in a Welsh mining town to the technicalities faced by fashion buyers, as well as the on-going David Bailey exhibition currently showing at the National Portrait Gallery not to mention the burgeoning number of students currently flooding fashion schools. We even got a glimpse of Molly’s technicolor do!

The conversation flowed freely for over an hour, and the chance to ask such a distinguished panel questions was a real thrill! I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I could have easily sat listening to everyone chat for hours, and once the panel had concluded, there was a chance to chat to everyone, resulting in the most interesting discussions which were wonderfully plied by the free flowing prosecco (Harvey Nichols’ own is absolutely delicious I have to say!) Chatting with both Molly and Anne was really incredible, and I’ve already arranged a trip with friends to visit the David Bailey Stardust exhibition next week (it’s on until the 18th of October).

Thank you so much to Harvey Nichols for inviting me to this event.

Appleyard London Lemon Drizzle Bouquet*

Glossybox December 2015*

Molton Brown Alba White Truffle Hand Exfoliate & Hand Treatment*

Sisley Phyto Blush Eclat – Pinky Coral*

Harvey Nichols – The Art of Style*

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