The London Tag

This is a tag I just had to do. I go to London town at any given opportunity, I love it so much and it is definitely my favourite place to be. So talking about it in a blog post is a total must.



So onto the questions :-)



Favourite Place for Breakfast - Richoux, Knightsbridge 

The perfect place for a Sunday breakfast/brunch while waiting for Harrods to open. Opposite said department store is this little gem with a menu to cater for all appetites in the morning. Also great just for just sitting down and having a cuppa or a life giving cup of coffee, there is also a stunning collection of fresh cream cakes for your perusal at the counter.

The kedgeree is uh-mazing.

Favourite Boots and Superdrug - Both Westfield White City

Boots at Westfield is huge. It has everything, seriously. Superdrug there is equally cool. Westfield London itself is just cool though, full stop. So it's no surprise these two made it into this tag.

Favourite Beauty Hall - Selfridges, Oxford Street

My favourite shop in the world. And apart from the usual brands in the main beauty hall, such as Estée Lauder, Origins, Dior etc; there is also the beauty workshop with more stunning brands such as Louise Young, REN, Aesop. It really is like walking into a parallel universe of all things beauty. With a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere and knowledgable staff I'm always more than happy to spend time here.

Favourite Area for Everything - Oxford Street

Hmm, I was kinda tempted to give Kensington a mention here but as I've only just recently started frequenting it I don't think putting it in this tag is quite justified yet. Although the Whole Foods store there does give it extra brownie points. So again, I've plumped for good old Oxford Street. A long street (but not too long) with a huge selection of stores and a plethora of restaurants down the side streets, I don't think you can go wrong really.

Favourite Park for Walks - Regents Park

My reason for this is plain and simple. At the end of the park is one of my favourite attractions, London Zoo. I visit the zoo come rain, wind or shine. I love it and my favourite animals to see are the asian lions and their leader, Lucifer (pictured below)

Tip For The Tube - Appreciate it

I heart the tube. How did such an amazing underground system begin from one single point? I love the efficiency, ease and speed at which you can get around London. I don't know how people can moan about it really.

I love trains too. Weird to some but wow I bet they can tell a story or two.

What Would Your Perfect Day Out in London Include - Shopping (no, really?), lunch, a West End show & dinner

Shopping at Selfridges, a burger for lunch at Meat Liquor, Woman in Black at the theatre followed by Dinner at Nobu, Mayfair. Perfect.

Meat Liquor

Favourite Gallery/Museum - The Tate Modern or Science Museum

I recently went to the Tate Modern and really enjoyed it.

There are some great exhibitions here, some of which are free, over about six floors. And not just paintings....you can see sculptures, short films, & light installations. Love these. Then once you've seen everything, you can enjoy a beverage in the bar on the top floor where there is also an opportunity to see panoramic views of London from a small outside area near the bar.

I was quite taken with this painting at the gallery. I can't be sure of the artist but an unmade bed, an open door and the word 'freedom' pretty much sum me up.

I need to arrange a visit to the Science Museum soon. It's always fun if I remember rightly.



Your London Secret - James Street & St Christopher’s Place

This probably isn’t really a secret as it’s right next door to Selfridges. It’s a really funky little street with several eateries, my fave so far being La Tasca for a
6000
paella, and also a cute pub called The Lamb & Flag where you can enjoy a glass (or bottle) of vino al fresco as there are heaters outside. I’ve enjoyed many a relaxing beverage in this inviting drinking establishment after a hard day on my feet selling make up :-)

James Street

St Christopher's Place

Favourite Bar/Club - The Ice Bar, Heddon Street

I went to this bar last year and it was one of the best places I've been. So much fun and something different. I recommend it as a 'must-do'.

What are your favourite places in London?

Current Skincare Routine

Being a skincare obsessive, I'm surprised I haven't done this post already. It is definitely the aspect of beauty which interests me the most and gives me the most enjoyment.



So let's do it.....

An array of my skincare collection

I'm a greedy minx when it comes to skincare. Honestly, I can find a product which I absolutely love and which gives me the results I'm after, but then I'll still go looking elsewhere for other products. So as a result of this I don't tend to stick to exactly the same routine every day. Does that deserve a slapped wrist? I don't know, you tell me.

Slapped wrist or not, I love the products I use and wanted to share them with you as I think I've found some gems.

Cleansers

I've used facial washes for as long as I can remember, you know....gel cleansers, foaming facial washes but since reading blogs and being a little bit more informed, I feel the ones I was using may have been a little harsh on my skin and I was noticing some redness after cleansing. So recently I ventured into the world of cream cleansers. I had always been put off these as I found facial washes so quick and easy. With a cream cleanser, you have to have cotton wool pads and it's all just extra effort if you ask me. Sorry but I am beyond lazy. Anyway I use the Decléor Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk after I've removed my eye make up and I haven't looked back. I love the fact it's paraben free and it leaves my skin feeling so clean and soft. After this I'll rinse my face with water, pat my face dry then apply moisturiser.

Right now I'm also using The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Cleansing Wash as over the last two months I've been having bad breakouts. I really don't know why this is happening as my skin is usually clear but I'm doing what I can to remedy it. I'm using the tea tree wash as an extra step after the Decléor but will not continue when the spots finally go. I recommend this wash as after I've used it, when I look at my skin the next day, the spots seem more dried out. I also haven't had as many fresh spots. I was literally getting a new one every day.

Toners

Any skincare expert would probably lecture me on this section as to be honest, I find toners completely pointless. I rarely use it and when I do, I use them more as a facial spritz after I've moisturised. The one I'm using now is again from The Body Shop Tea Tree range, the Skin Clearing Toner. I have dispensed it into a spray bottle from Superdrug and I spray it onto the current problem areas of my skin either a few minutes after moisturising or during the day if my skin's feeling irritated. 

I will also sometimes use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic as a facial spritz if my skin is feeling dry or lacklustre. This product is nothing special in my opinion but it's probably the best smelling toner of all the ones I've tried.

Serum

Serums and moisturisers are undoubtedly the best part of the whole skincare routine for me. I love slathering them on, knowing I'm giving my skin the moisturisation it needs and also I love how they make my skin feel. I have one serum, namely Indeed Labs Hydraluron and I absolutely love it. I think it is the purest hyaluronic acid on the high street, which basically means it's going to make your skin hold loads of lovely moisture. It does work and I think it's something I'll always include in my routine, particularly during the colder months. 

Moisturisers

For moisturisers, I do tend to chop and change but always find myself going back to Origins. This is just such a stunning brand and my skin loves their face creams. I'm also currently using a couple of The Body Shop face lotions from the Tea Tree Range including the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion and Blemish Fade Night Lotion. These two combined with the facial wash have made such a difference to my skin lately and have helped clear up the blemishes I've been getting. If you are having problem skin I really recommend trying this range.

From Origins I'll either use A Perfect World SPF 35 or the All-Purpose High-Elevation Cream. The latter is one of my holy grail products. I wrote a post on it a couple of months ago, which I link later on in this post, if you'd like to know more. But it is just so good for dry skin. It is so moisturising and leaves my skin feeling and looking amazing. I will even leave the house without any make up on at all when I'm wearing it so that's says something. Although I won't stay outside long as it has no SPF so please bear that in mind if you are interested in the cream. The Perfect World SPF 35 is a much lighter cream, more for use in Summer when my skin doesn't need that bit extra moisture.

The moisturisers mentioned above are the ones I'll mostly use as part of my day skincare routine. At night time I am dedicated to the one and only Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins. This is a renewal cream that gives instant results and although it renews the skin cells it is gentle enough to use every day. It's so good for night time too because it has a beautiful citrus essential oil scent that I find so calming and it just feels beautiful on the skin and for me personally it has a warming sensation. It is absolutely stunning. God I could build a shrine to it to be honest.

Eye Creams

As for eye creams, I've yet to find one that I really love and keep going back to, but I am interested in trying the Strivectin Eye Concentrate. However, at the moment I'm using Origins Youthtopia and Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Moisturizing Eye Cream and I feel both are working for me. My fine lines are barely visible and I do not suffer from any dryness around my eye area. Although to be honest I wouldn't repurchase the Elizabeth Arden as it contains a paraben and I try to steer clear of products with these in. 

Treatments/Masks

This is another part of skincare I really enjoy, particularly masks. It feels so good when you take off a face mask and see instant results. One mask in particular that I use does exactly this. It's the REN Glycolactic Renewal Mask. This is a mask I will repurchase over and over. My skin feels so soft after use and this product basically does what it says on the tin. I blogged about this here, should you like to know more.

I also use mud masks, including The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask, Superdrug sachet masks and Origins Clear Improvement. All these are clay like and dry hard on your face and are really great for drawing out impurities and really sloughing away the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. I will only use the Tea Tree from Body Shop on my blemished areas as it is quite harsh but the other masks, I'll use all over. 

When my skin is feeling really dry I'll use the Neals Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm as an overnight mask. This is a really thick balm so it really intensively moisturises and my skin feels so nourished after use. This is another holy grail product for me. It has a beautiful relaxing herbal scent and can also be used as a cleansing balm, and a mild exfoliant by using the muslin cloth it comes with to wipe it from your face. Really recommend if you're looking to give your skin a real treat.

Once a week I use the Alpha H Liquid gold Glycolic Acid. I don't look forward to using this product at all. I feel so bad sending my skin to bed with a load of acid on it instead of it's usual gorgeously moisturising lotions and potions but hey ho it seems to work. When I wake up my skin does look plumped and smooth. However I do find this doesn't really last and my skin does not stay plumped. So I'm not sure whether to repurchase this once I'm done with it as I'm not sure what the positive long term effects are, or if there are any. If you know, do please let me know in the comments.

On my blemishes I'll also use the Origins Spot Remover Gel. This stuff does work. I would say it makes spots heal twice as quick. It will not stop new spots from appearing but it is a good fairly quick fix for a bad blemish if you need it.

Lastly, just a quick note about my lips. I love the Antipodes Organic Lip Balm. This is the only stick balm/salve I've found that actually works. It keeps my lips moisturised for aaaages after I've used it and I will always repurchase.

The Tools

I know this post is lengthy but I can't finish it without letting you know what cloths etc; that I use as part of my routine.

So for cleansing with the Decleor cleansing milk I'll use cotton wool pads. These are available anywhere and are just the best thing for cleansing and removing eye make up. If I'm using a facial wash I'll use an Ole Henriksen Complexion Sponge as it's good for lathering the wash and I feel it gives my skin more of a good cleanse than just using my fingers as it also sloughs away any dead skins cells. The Ole Henriksen sponges are available from Feel Unique. They come to you just as two flat pads but puff up to a generous sized face sponge.

Like so :-)

Before water (left) and After being soaked in water (right)
Cute huh?

                                      

Sometimes if I don't have a sponge handy, I'll use an Emma Hardie cloth. These are just like face flannels except they have one side as a muslin exfoliating cloth. You can get packs of three for £10 from Bath and Unwind. 

Well that's my skincare..... Writing this post has made me realise how many products I actually use. I hope you stuck with me. Well done if you did, I know it was heavy reading :-)

I do have other products which I sometimes use just to change it up a little (all us beauty lovers do tend to get a bit excessive don't we!) but in this post I've highlighted my faves and the ones I tend to stick to as a matter of habit.

Thanks for reading. Any questions please ask below.

Christmas Wishlist

Finally, I'm getting round to doing this.

Here's what I would like for Christmas 2012.



Jo Malone Colognes - Pomegranate Noir and Blue Agava & Cacao are stunning

White Docs - Loving the patent ones

Ipad Mini - This is the perfect size for travel. I need one

The Brittas Empire DVD box set - A lot of you probably wont remember this but it is a hilarious sitcom based around a leisure centre in the 90's. I loved it and still do

Clarins Clay Mask - I'm getting into Clarins and would love to try this

Miss Dior Eau De Parfum - This is such a fun, sexy scent. Very me

Topshop Galactic Blazer - Love blazers. Love galaxy print. So this is good

Chanel no.5 Eau de Parfum - Sophisticated scent. Want

Louise Young Blush Brush - I need a new blush brush and Louise Young brushes are gorge

Friends Blu Ray Box Set - I already have the DVDs but it would just be nice to update to blu ray

Origins Ginger Body Souffle - Beautiful scent, luxurious cream

DIOR Colour & Glow Powder - DIOR face powder products are the best. That's all

I think I definitely want too much but here's hoping eh?

What I've Been Using Lately

Thought I'd give you a little catch up with what products I've been loving lately. I've really been enjoying these lately and wanted to share.

Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm - A gorgeous subtle, calming scented balm which can be used as an overnight treatment to really rehydrate skin, a face mask when layered on thick or a cleansing balm. My skin feels amazing whichever way I use it.



Jo Malone Blue Agave and Cacao Cologne - My new obsession (as well as Pomegranate Noir). I received both for Christmas and they are just stunningly deep sophisticated scents. They are the only perfumes which stay true on me and last ages on the skin. Recommend.



Origins All Purpose High Elevation Cream - My favourite brand strikes again. I reviewed this a few weeks ago (scroll down to see). When my skin is thirsty this stuff just quenches it perfectly. It gives my skin a healthy glow and hydrates it to the max. I even feel confident enough to leave my house without a scrap of make up when I've used this. I love it and it's my friend :-)



Soap & Glory Heel Genius - This is one of the few foot creams that actually makes a difference to my poor old feet. I have two jobs, both of which I have to stand up all day for so my feet love me when I slather this on. I always put a pair of socks on after use and I think it must be the fruit acids in it that make the hard skin on my feet feel a lot softer. Very happy with this.



Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo - I think I'm late on the bandwagon but I only just discovered this sulfate free brand. Usually sulfate free shampoos don't lather up on me (and I love a good lather, it makes me feel like I've really cleaned my hair) but this produces a lather as good as any other shampoo. This makes me wonder what's actually in it to make it produce so much foam though but hey ho. The consistency is a bit jelly-ish making it harder to control in your hands but on the whole a brilliant shampoo that leaves your hair feeling clean, healthy and soft. The Moroccan Argan Oil and Coconut ones are also nice. I think there is a Macadamia Oil one coming out too which I'd be very keen to try.



GoodSkin Labs BB10 Instant Skin Perfector spf 35* - I must admit I'm not down with the BB cream 'phenomenon'. My experience of them can be summed up in one word. Orange. I had never found one that suited me.... until I was lucky enough to try this. It's the perfect shade for my fair skin and although it doesn't give too much coverage, it evens out my skin tone and makes me glow. Love it.



Jemma Kidd Light As Air Foundation - No doubt you've all heard how amazing this is. However, we can no longer get our make up loving mitts on this. So I'll say no more except that it is the perfect foundation :-/



NARS Blush in Exhibit A - Scarily red in the pan but gives a natural and lasting flush to the cheeks. I'm loving it. Except for one thing. I've had major cheek breakouts lately and I've realised it's since I used this. Has anyone else noticed any reactions from a NARS blush?



Illamasqua Gleam Highlighter in 'Aurora' - I love this because it does exactly what it says on the tin. It makes your cheekbones gleam. It has no shimmer and this suits me as I love a really smooth sheen on my cheeks and this gives me that. Another good highlight which also gives sheen and no shimmer is Benefit Sunbeam. This isn't pictured as I've run out but it's another illuminating product I love when I'm not using Gleam.



Real Techniques Stippling Brush - This is what I use for applying the Gleam. The size and density make it perfect for applying product to my cheekbones, nose and cupid's bow.



Antipodes Organic Lip Balm - lime leaf & cocoa butter - I'm really fussy about lip balms and will only use them if they absolutely drench my lips with moisture, that lasts. For a stick lip balm this does just that and I will continue to use it. It's so handy and easy to use too. It also smells sweet and has no nasty taste. Love it.



So those are my current loves. Are you using any of the same?



Just before I go, I wish you all a Happy New Year, have a good one!!



*PR Sample

I'm Obsessed With Candles

Today we're talking scented candles. Maybe I don't read enough blogs but I don't really see too many posts about candle collections even though we seem to be constantly nattering about them on Twitter.



So onto the scented, waxy goodness.



Here are the candles I'm currently burning.

 

Back row: Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie, The White Company Winter, Archipelago Peony

Front Row: The White Company Cassis, NEOM Invigorate, Yankee Candle Clean Cotton

My absolute favourites right now are from the White Company. I've known about them for ages but have never really taken much notice until the other day when I saw the 'Winter' candle in Selfridges. This utterly gorgeous candle is basically Christmas in a bee-yoo-tiful jar. You smell it and I'm not joking all you can do with yourself is feel festive. It is uh-mazing. It has scents of cinnamon, clove and orange and I really recommend you go sniff it.

The White Company Winter. Stunning packaging.

Another thing I love about this candle is that it has three wicks so it should burn evenly. If you read my 'things I'm loving this week' post two posts ago, you'll have heard me grumbling about my Archipelago Peony candle which only has one wick in the centre. It looks awful after burning so unevenly due to the single wick. That post also describes the scent of it.

I can't wait to start burning Winter and will probably have it on while I put my Christmas decorations up.

So with the three wicks in the Winter candle it is very similar to my second favourite brand of candle, NEOM Organics.

The first one I tried from them was the Happiness candle which is absolutely lush and I plan to put it on my Christmas list as I need another. I love how with NEOM the wax looks so creamy and good quality. The other one I am currently trying is Invigorate. The scents in this are grapefruit, bergamot and lime. I've nearly finished this candle and to be honest I prefer the smell of when it's not burning. When it is alight it's just not the same and is also quite weak. It is still a quality candle though and the burning scent of it is down to personal taste. The NEOM candles are large with beautiful packaging, and use vegetable wax and essential oils which justifies the price tag of around £40. 

The price of the Winter candle from The White Company is £55 and is considerably larger than the NEOM. It is made of refined mineral wax. I'm not too sure about what this is and whether or not it's as good as vegetable wax. The other candle I'm enjoying from The White Company is Cassis. I purchased this in the smaller size for £20. This scent is reminiscent of berries and is quite fruity consisting of cassis, blackberries and cedar.

The last two candles are by Yankee Candle. I'm not a massive fan of Yankee anymore since trying NEOM and White Company. I have Clean Cotton and Christmas Cookie which are nice fragrances but once lit, I find them quite heady and sickly. Also the top of the jars seem to go black despite the fact I ensure the wicks are short before burning.

What are your favourite candles and candle brands? If you've done a post on them or know of any posts on them that you think I'd like to read, please link me to them below.

Current Holy Grails

Hey beauts, hope you're having a fantastic weekend. I'm chilling out and pampering with a hair and face mask (namely Lee Staffford Treatment for t
800
hat hair never grows past a certain length and Origins Drink Up Intensive mask) and thought I'd share with you some of the products I'm currently using that I really don't want to live without.



So here we have it.

Illamasqua Gleam - OMG best cream highlighter I've ever used. The texture is almost like a paste which feels so satisfying to work with. I love it. It really does what it says on the tin. You will be gleaming and your cheekbones will look immense.



Tom Ford Lipsticks - The beauty of these begins with the packaging. It's beautiful, weighty and just feels like pure luxury. There's an amazing colour range, they glide on, have staying power and I will be buying more. From left to right I have Scarlet Rouge, Nude Vanille, and Wild Ginger. All are perfect on my pale complexion.



DIOR Forever Foundation - I speak for all Dior face products in this paragraph, not just the foundation. From the face powders, through to the bronzers and foundations Dior gives you amazing coverage and also leaves you with an effortless, long lasting luminosity. This foundation is aptly named because I will use it Forever.



Lady Gaga Black Fluid - I tried this in a Glossybox a couple of months back and it just has something about it. I'm not one for celebrity scents or anything celebrity to be honest but this just does it for me. It's sweet but not overly so and I wear it every day. It makes me happy.



Origins High Potency Night - A - Mins - This is a renewal cream that smells like oranges. I LOVE the scent of it although it's not
8000
for everyone. I use it every other night before bed and it really does rejuvenate the skin. When I've applied it my skin feels warm and just comfortable and cosy if you know what I mean. I wake up with glowing, soft skin the next day too. Absolute winner.



Topshop Glitter polishes - I don't think I've ever heard a bad word about Topshop nail products and I'm not surprised. They are gorgeous. I've heard people say the £6 price tag is a bit steep but I disagree. For me what's steep is Chanel charging around £16 for a polish that lasts about an hour before chipping. Topshop's £6 for quality long lasting, beautiful looking polish is fine by me. And what's more the glitter particles and plentiful and easy to apply onto the nail. These look great over metallic polishes and darker coloured polishes. From left to right I have Ice Crush and Panther.



Skinetica Anti Blemish - I received this in last month's Glossybox. My skin is pretty good on the whole but I'm prone to a couple of blemishes from time to time. I've been dabbing this on as soon as they appear and I would definitely say they heal in half the time after using this. It doesn't dry the skin out around the blemishes either. It is described on the the bottle as 'kind to skin' which is great if you ask me.



So there's a quick round up of some of my beauty staples right now.



Which products can't you live without at the mo?

Remembering You