Jo Malone London Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne

I've always found reviewing fragrances hard, but on reading other reviews of this fragrance on other blogs I've realised it's even harder than I imagined!

Not only is perfume completely subjective in that you either like something or you don't but another may feel differently, but it's also subjective in that you may smell something completely different to a different reviewer!

Anyway I shall press on and tell you about the newest addition to Jo Malone London's permanent line, Earl Grey and Cucumber.

This previously came out as a limited edition fragrance a year or so ago, as part of the Tea Collection and I must say that I wasn't especially drawn to this one as I can't bear the scent of cucumber.

Then I received this in the post as a press sample and approached it with caution.

The official description is as follows:

"A British tradition...afternoon tea. A fragrance with a burst of bergamot, distinct to Earl Grey, and the cool succulence of crunchy cucumber. Counterpoised with a sweet base of beeswax, vanilla and musk. Reviving and refined".

Thankfully for me, I can't smell the cumber at all! That's where I differ from other reviews I've seen. To be clearer, I don't get the cucumber scent I feared. Boots Own brand cucumber toner. What I do get is a beautiful musky scent, with the bergamot adding the smoky-ish tea flavour. There is a hint of lightness about it, which I presume is the cucumber, just to me it doesn't smell like cucumber.

It's absolutely gorgeous and so much nicer than I expected it to be, I would never have picked this up or chosen it, so I'm really grateful to have been given the opportunity to try it out.

It lasts quite a long time on my skin which some of the Jo Malone Colognes don't.

I highly recommend this perfume. I'm in love. Now all I need is for them to bring Sweet Milk back!

Available from www.jomalone.co.uk where a 30ml bottle is £28 and a 100ml bottle is £76.

*Disclosure - PR Sample*

New Clarins Eye Make Up Removers

Just wanted to do a quick post on these as they are really fantastic eye make up removers so well worth a post... only a quick post though as there's only so much you can really say about them!

You may be forgiven for thinking you've seen both of these before but they are reformulated to increase effectiveness and with a pH Balance that is equivalent to your natural tears.

Instant Eye Make-Up Remover promises to instantly remove all traces of eye make up, including waterproof and long wear formulas, so for me this gets quite the hammering and I can confirm it makes light work of any make up I have on. Super quick, this is a bi-phase product with an oil layer and a water layer, the oil breaks down pigments and the water phase removes soluble product as well as impurities  related to pollution.

The Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover has also been rigorously tested by me. This is a 100% water based lotion that removes make gently as well as conditioning. Over the Christmas period I actually had lash extensions so this was a go to product for me. Worked like a charm to remove my make up but leaving my lashes in tact. Very impressive.

Both formulations are alcohol free as well as Opthalmologist and Dermatologist tested.

100ml of either will set you back £17 and trust me, a little goes a long way, these bottles will last a long time!

Available from www.Clarins.co.uk

*Disclosure - PR Samples*

Mac Year of the Snake Collection

I received the information for the newest Mac collection yesterday and I wanted to share with you because I think the imagery is really rather stunning!

It's a small collection but beautiful colours.

There are Four Large Eye Shadows RRP £16

Aztec Brick

 Carbon

 Altered State

 Metallic Vanilla

There are two Pigments. RRP £18

Push The Edge

 Brash & Bold

Three Lipsticks, each beautifully carved. £15.50

Cockney

 Freckletone

 Plumful

Shell Pearl Beauty Powder £22.00

And then there's a Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved which is black £14

And finally the Zoom Lash Mascara in Rich Black £14

The design of these is beautiful, but the imagery is just absolutely stunning!

Available now from Mac Cosmetics.

Amazing Estee Lauder Gift With Purchase

If you like Estee Lauder and you like Free Gifts then look no further because this Gift With Purchase (GWP) is one of the best I think I've ever seen.

The deal is, that if you buy two or more Estee Lauder purchases, one of which much be skincare or foundation you get the following gift free of charge. And be aware that the gift is worth £88. That's one heck of a gift!

Okay so what you've got is the complete overnight kit!

Perfectly Clean Exfoliator
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
Daywear Advanced Multi-protection Anti-oxidant Creme
Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex
Pure Color Eyeshadow Quad
Pure Color Lipstick
Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Black

And I'm told you can choose your eye and lip shades. All come in a really nice zip up purse.

So if you're in need of any new Estee Lauder products then get yourself to a counter between the 31st January and 16th February.

www.esteelauder.co.uk

*Disclosure - PR Sample*

Introducing Eye of Horus

So here's something a little bit different! How about a range  based on the methods Ancient Egyptians used to create eye products? The Eye of Horus is of course the Egyptian Symbol representing healing, wisdom and prosperity to it's bearer. The Eye of Horus products are naturally formulated, as I mentioned, based on the methods used by Ancient Egyptians. What this means are that they are made with plant based ingredients and waxes, such as Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Rice Bran Wax and Candelilla Wax.

The range is the star product, a mascara, and a variety of eye liners and accessories. The idea is that the range is affordable, non irritating and effective and especially suitable for sensitive eyes.

I was sent the Mascara, Teal Goddess Pencil and Sharpener.

Absolutely love the packaging which is very in-keeping with the theme.

So starting with the Teal Goddess Pencil. £13

This pencil is formulated with Jojoba Wax and Mango Oil and is completely waterproof. Brilliantly, it comes with a smudger on the other end so you can blend it out. I can testify that this doesn't budge all day on my upper lid (although didn't last quite all day on my waterline), yet it did wash off easily and most importantly I didn't get any of that annoying transfer onto my upper lid after a full days wear. This is really lovely and comes in a few different shades.

Then onto the mascara. £13

This has one of those brushes I don't get on too well with , it's by no means massive but I still manage to blob it all over my eyelid on application... that's just me being inept thought, for me personally the smaller the better. This mascara doesn't promise volume or length or curl. This simply promises to enhance your natural lashes and it really is remarkable. Zero clumping. Zero flaking. Absolutely no smudging over the course of the day. Washes off easily and best of all promises to condition and strengthen while you're wearing it, and thus assist in lash growth. I find this does and amazing job of grabbing and separating each lash and evenly coating it with intense black colour.  Very nice indeed. And a perfect every day mascara because it flatters and emphasises without being dramatic.

The sharpener, well it's a great sharpener and is a great price of £3.50. The pencils, because they are choc full of lovely oils and waxes really need a good quality sharpener and this does a great job.

So here are the two products in use.

You Can buy the Eye of Horus range from Cocktail Cosmetics who are absolutely brilliant and I was buying make up from them long before I was blogger. If you buy any Eye of Horus product full price you can get 50% off several of the liners AND get a free mirror, purse and sharpener! I don't know how long this offer runs for so hop to it!

Eye of Horus products are all Cruelty Free.

*Disclosure - PR Samples*

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Revisited

I've reviewed Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation on the blog before so you're not going mad if you remember that! I repurchased this a couple of months ago when I found out that there were new shades added to the range. Previously I worse Shade 1N1 Ecru but I didn't feel it quite right, although looking back at the photographs on my last post I'm not sure why I thought that.

This time round I visited the counter to get samples to try out at home first before I finally decided upon shade 1C1 Cool Bone, which is one of the new shades.

I like the shade very much and I feel it suits me well. I would strongly recommend you read my original post as actually my thoughts are still the same on this product and I was reminded to write this post with the advent of some skin disasters I'm currently having and although I'm trying to avoid foundation as a rule at the moment, I when I do need some, it's this I reach for to cover my acne. It still requires a huge amount of care on application and I have to be extra careful around my nose and I find that one buff too much and my whole face is ruined, and I can't buff at all on my nose. I have to stipple it on until I can't see the marks any more. Regardless this is still an amazing foundation for two things. First if you need your base to stay put all day without touch ups. Double Wear does not budge. Not one bit. Secondly  if you are trying to cover spots this is incredible.

Downsides are that it can clump in places and I find sometimes it can accentuate any fine lines I have.

Still I highly recommend this foundation, its perfect for blemishes and long wear. Ideal for nights out and long days. Be warned, this is is not a natural looking foundation, it screams I'm wearing make up and I don't care.  It does give a wonderful flawless finish though but it's not a dewy natural finish by any means.

Anyway, here's a plethora of pictures for you to look at.

A staple that I think everyone should have in their arsenal for those bad skin days where you need to cover. I don't wear it every day, as its quite heavy, but when I want to look my best despite my break out, this is what I'll reach for.

Anyone who is looking for my massive break out, these are photographs taken before my skin freaked out.

I bought mine from the Estee Lauder website where I got two samples with my purchase, as show above. the mascara sample is outstanding so that's straight on my list of must haves. It's the Double Wear Zero-Smudge Volume + Lift Mascara.

Fushigi Shop Foldy Case

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Fushigi Shop. Until now my purchases have been jewellery or nail related but as a secret fan of beautiful stationary I couldn't resist the foldy case and notepad. Unfortunately for me, neither could anyone else and they kept selling out before I could get one! Eventually though I managed to get myself a Foldy Case and Notepad and I just want to share it with you.

That Peculiar One is not only a great talent with jewellery, but also with a needle and thread. You might be wondering what a Foldy Case is... hopefully this plethora of photographs should clear up any questions. It's a thing of great beauty and whimsy.

Take  a look.

And so you see, the Foldy Case is a thing. A thing for your lovely things to go in. And now I am compelled to buy a lovely pen to go in my Foldy Case thing.

Currently there are none of these on the website, and I don't know if they'll be back, they sure were a success, but please do take a look for other things of great great loveliness.

The Fushigi Shop.

You must also check out Worship Blues Blog, written by the one and same Peculiar One. It's not only my favourite blog, but there's the cutest giveaway going on at the moment.