New Ed Hardy fragrances for him and her!

I am loving the new Ed Hardy his-and-hers fragrance collection, because for once both fragrances are actually really nice!! The new range was inspired by Christian Audigier, the man responsible for the Von Dutch phenomenon, and created in homage to the famous Don Ed Hardy – the ‘godfather of the modern tattoo’. I'm not going to lie, I am not really an Ed Hardy fan (a bit chav for me!) but I really like both fragrances especially the male fragrance which is 'manly' according to boyfriend when I asked him for a description!! According to Ed Hardy the fragrances are sexy, fresh, modern, with a pinch of edge, a twist of cool and a stamp of individuality. I also like the cool tiger design on the male fragrance, which will make a cool Christmas present for your man.

What do you think - has anyone else tried the fragrances?

No7 Christmas Limited Edition Highlighting Palette

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend, I am off to a friend's party tonight so thought I would share with you my latest party 'must-have'. I am a big fan of Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks but can't normally afford the price tag but instead have found a great alternative in No7 Christmas Limited Edition Highlighting Palette (£13). Apparently last year's version sold-out quickly and I can see why. The palette contains a gorgeous, shimmering metallic gold which is designed to sculpt and define your best features.

It is really visible on your skin, even after an evening out dancing and looks great if you apply on your shoulders as well. Just make sure you don't over-do it though and apply carefully as a little bit goes a long way so you could end up looking a bit like a Christmas decoration!! If you spend over £22 you get a free gift as well, so perfect when Christmas shopping :)

What do you think - has anyone else tried this?

Bourjois limited edition collection - Rendez-vous á Paris

Bourjois have launched a gorgeous limited edition collection called Rendez-vous á Paris, which consists of eight best-selling Little Round Pot Eyeshadows, and Blushers. The cute designs are by Parisian Illustrator Nathalie Lété and each pot has its own unique design celebrating famous Parisian landmarks. These gems are exclusive to ASOS.com and cost from £6.85 - click here to buy yours!

I love the texture and bronze shade of the Ambre d'Or but I must admit I was sold on the cute packaging.. how shallow am I?! Let me know if you have tried any of these out. I am looking forward to visiting the Bourjois stand at the Clothes Show next week as well for some bargains...:-)

My new Giles Deacon scarf!

Sorry for the lack of posts have been really busy at work :-( I promise to write a proper post tomorrow - I have been reviewing some lovely Lancôme products for the past few weeks so have got loads to write about!

Also my lovely Caramel Bunny Giles Deacon scarf arrived from the Nibbles Boutique, which I have worn every day so far! I love the unique pattern & how it brightens up any outfit!

Here is a photo of my scarf when it arrived! What do you think?

bareMinerals has a new home .....

...here in Selfridges, London! Sadly I was unable to make the launch of the new boutique in London as I don't live there but was sent a lovely lipgloss to try out and review!

If you don't know much about bareMinerals, here is a bit more information. I am a massive fan of their foundation (like many fellow bloggers are!) as they only use the finest quality ingredients to give you everything you want without any harsh chemicals your skin doesn’t need. The bareMinerals formula represents the ideal mix of makeup and skincare, problem-solving cosmetics that perfect and pamper the complexion.

I tried out the Buxom Lip Polish (£16.50) in Candi. The pout-perfecting Buxom naturally creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips. Infused with 100% pure bareMinerals, it gives a luminous shine with no sticky or tacky feeling. Tingly, cooling sensation reminds you that lips are getting an immediate increase in fullness... hmmm a bit too tingly for my liking! I like the sheer colour that it gives you, but it tastes remarkably like fudge?! I think that's what it is like - has anyone else tried it!

Anyway all your London ladies pop down to Selfridges and let me know what you think of the new boutique!

For a more detailed review on the bareMinerals foundation range, check out this great review by the lovely Zoe.

Neutrogena Deep Moisture review

As a sufferer of dry skin, I LOVE Neutrogena's new intensive moisturising range, Deep Moisture. As you probably know I hate winter so much and live for the summer and have to moisturise constantly during the winter. I have been religiously testing out the Deep Moisture range the past few weeks and am loving it. I also like Garnier's Hydralock, which is similar but not as moisturising.

The Deep Moisture range promises to keep dry skin soft and supple for 24 hours after just one application, thanks to a new formula which allows the thick, fast-absorbing cream to penetrate through 10 layers of skin. Wow I didn't even realise I had ten layers of skin! The new range includes Deep Moisture body lotion for dry skin, Deep Moisture body lotion for sensitive skin and Deep Moisture Comfort Balm which can also be used on your face. My favourite is the body lotion which smells amazing and when applied is absorbed really easily, which is so important for me when buying a moisturiser!

So get down to your nearest drugstore and stock up for winter!!

Bulldog Anti-Ageing moisturiser for men

My boyfriend has been trying out the new latest addition to the Bulldog range, which is an Anti-Ageing moisturiser (£10.49)! My first comment is my boyfriend was totally unaware that he was using an anti-ageing product, so for all you ladies out there that are concerned about their man's skin you can subtly buy this for them! Here is a little bit more about the new moisturiser... it is dermatologically tested and has a non-greasy formula designed to target wrinkles and fine lines. It contains natural ingredients including tannic acid from oak apple, botanical silicon from millet seed, vitamin E and a unique blend of five essential oils, which combine to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and deliver younger looking skin in four weeks.

Both me and my boyfriend love Bulldog products, as they contain totally natural ingredients and are not tested on animals. The new moisturiser doesn't disappoint and smells lovely and you also don't need to use much so it will last a long time. My boyfriend also said it helped stop his skin get dry throughout the day. With regards to younger looking skin, I suggest using for at least eight weeks or longer to get proper results as it is unclear now if it actually works.

Who else is a fan of Bulldog products and would your man use anti-ageing products?!

My favourite blonde shampoos!

I thought I would write a quick piece about my favourite shampoos for blonde hair. I am always on the look out for new shampoos for blonde hair that make my highlights really shiny & keep my hair smooth.. hmm big ask!

My ultimate favourite is still the Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Blonde shampoo that you can only get in Germany, not the UK (WHY WHY WHY?!) but have discovered three new favourites over the past few months to suit all budgets!

Low price

L’Oreal Paris Highlights Shampoo (£2.45)

What is says on the bottle

L’Oreal Paris have created a shampoo that provides targeted care for highlighted hair. With a new formula enriched with Royal Jelly and Brighteners, highlights are illuminated and the hair is left nourished and smoothed. The honey scented formula instantly delivers targeted care to damaged or dried out areas. It nourishes highlights to transform their surface for a rich and smooth feel.

What I say

I really like this shampoo and think it is a bargain for £2.45 as it leaves my hair lovely and soft. Plus I like how shiny and sleek it makes my hair, which other blonde shampoos don’t. I will keep using this shampoo mixed in with more expensive brands to look after my highlights.

Mid price

Lee Stafford Bleach Blonde Shampoo (£5.49)

What is says on the bottle

Lee Stafford Bleach Blonde Shampoo leaves hair looking and feeling super charged. With Pro-Blonde complex of panthenol, chamomile and moringa seed extract, otherwise known as Miracle Tree (a multi-tasking ingredient that helps keep hair squeaky clean, whilst encouraging natural shine to truly glow), this shampoo contains 21st century colour protection, that helps to stop that annoying fade caused by styling , sunlight and the damage caused by UV. Warning - This is a toning shampoo so you may find you need a break in-between washing to stop over toning.

What I say

I think this shampoo is great for use in the summer as it contains protection against UV rays so stops your highlights fading. It’s a bit too much to use every time I wash my hair, so favour this one when I am on holiday and in the sun!

High price

Joico Color Endure Violet Shampoo (£12.95)

What is says on the bottle

Want to protect the vibrancy and longevity of your colour treated blonde hair, without disturbing or losing your hair’s colour molecules? Well, Joico’s Color Endure Violet Shampoo, will do just that using its Multi-Spectrum Defense Complex. Return the gleam to your golden hair Joico Color Endure Violet Shampoo. This colour-maintenance shampoo will ensure your hair colour lasts longer; and your hair will become softer, more manageable and stronger. It will gently cleanses while protecting the vibrancy and longevity of your colour treated hair.

What I say

I love this shampoo, which justifies the high price tag. Joico’s products are a big favourite of mine as they really look after your hair and leave it SO soft it’s amazing! My highlights have definitely lasted longer and look super shiny too so a thumbs up from me!

So there you go… let me know what all you blondies think out there!!

Amazing Elemis Christmas sets!

Ok I know it is slightly early to be talking about Christmas presents BUT all the adverts are out in force now & the cold weather has made it feel ever so christmassy! I thought I would write about my favourite gift idea so far - the fabulous Christmas sets from Elemis that actually work out at fantastic value, saving £44 with this Perfect Radiance Kit (£45). Inside the kit you get:

Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, 200ml

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner, 200ml

Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream, 50ml

Elemis Maximum Replenish Night Cream, 20ml

My favourite item is the lovely Soothing Apricot Toner (£19) which also doubles-up as a refreshing facial spray! It is alcohol-free so really soothing and helps leave your skin clean and radiant - a worthy investment as the bottle is huge so will last ages. I love apricot product so much!

What do you think - who else likes the Elemis gift sets?

My weekend!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, sorry for the lack of blogging I had my boyfriend's parents over staying with us from Germany so had to entertain! We went to Winchester to see some lovely fireworks with my friends, which was really good fun - loved the fireworks (see my photo above!) It was quite cold, so was glad of my lovely new Giles Deacon bunny scarf and Blistex Lip Massage to look after my exposed bits!! If you suffer from dry lips in the winter, I recommend trying this lip cream, as it actually massages your lips getting rid of rough bits and keeps them moisturised with shea butter and aloe vera. Plus it tastes good too so definitely try it out!

I have received several 'lovely blog' awards from Panda Does Make-up, Clearly Beautiful and Make-up Princess so thanks very much guys much appreciated!

So I have nominated seven other blogs for awards:

Amy from Amy Antoinette

Zoe from Zoella

Charlotte from Lipglossiping

British Beauty Blogger

Beauty Scribblings of J

Lolipop26

Laura from A Daisy Chain Dream

The Rules:

1. Add the logo to your blog.

2. Link to the person from whom you received this award

3. Nominate 7 or more blogs

4. Leave a message on their blog, letting them know they are "One Lovely Blog"!

Amazing Wonderbra competition - win tickets to the Ultimate Strapless Party!

With invitations flooding in…the search for the ultimate strapless dress…the man you’ve had your eye on for months….it can mean only one thing – the Christmas party season has arrived!

Wonderbra is literally on hand with their most wanted Ultimate Strapless bra. Its hand shaped support will give you ultimate oomph so there’s no need to worry about it letting you down - it’s been made to stay up as long as you do!

Not only is Wonderbra giving 40 lucky girls and a friend the chance to get their hands on an Ultimate Strapless bra, they're also offering the chance to win exclusive tickets to the 'Ultimate Strapless Party', hosted at Soho’s ‘Punk’ nightclub on November 26^th, an exclusive party venue and celeb hangout.

Invite only, the party will be the ultimate girls night out with our lovely friends at ASOS putting on a catwalk show, giving you an exclusive insight in to the hottest trends this Christmas. Kirsty Drury, top stylist to the likes of Kylie, Claudia Schiffer and Cat Deeley will also be on hand to share her top tips to ensure you’re looking your best under the mistletoe this year.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets EXCLUSIVE TO MY BLOG enter at http://www.ultimatestrapless.co.uk/party - Good Luck!

My favourite products in October

Is it me or has October felt like the longest month! On the plus side I did win a lovely scarf at the Cadburys boutique, which I am still waiting for and have received a few blog awards - thanks guys I will write about these tomorrow!! First though, here are few of my favourite items I have been using religiously this month!

Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener

I love the Aveda Smooth Infusion range, which is perfect for my wild, frizzy hair! The new Glossing Straightener smells really lovely and consists of a blend of plant-derived cellulose, wheat, organic aloe, maize and guar bean. It helps to keep my locks straight all day and the wheat protein protects the cuticle from heat damage caused by my lovely straighteners!

Braun Silk-épil Xpressive Wet & Dry epilator

It's the first premium epilator from Braun which can be used in water to provide the gentlest form of epilation yet and gives you smooth, soft skin for up to four weeks. I have used epilators loads in the past and hated having to epilate seperately from having a shower (what a waste of time!!) Plus it's pretty gross having to clear up the hairs afterwards!! So the best bit about this epilator is you can use it in the shower AND the warm water soothes and relaxes your body, so hairs are removed as gently and pain-free as possible!! You are also not left with bumpy-red legs like you get after waxing.

Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear cream shadow in Antique Gold

I am a big fan of Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadows and love the new shades that have a touch of glistening sparkle and last all day. Antique Gold is a lovely dark gold shade that I have been using all the time when I go out!

Max Factor Second Skin Foundation

I adore this new foundation and have been using it every day since I got it! The formula is designed to be virtually undetectable once it’s on your face, but to provide coverage that makes you look “naturally” perfect. Sounds almost too good to be true, but it gets better: the liquid formula also contains “multi tonal pigments” which will synchronise naturally with your skin. It gives you such a natural look and is a refreshing change to foundation that is thick and clumpy on your face! It is currently under £10 at Superdrug at the moment so well worth trying if you like the natural look like me!

Simple Derma Intensive Relief Lotion

If you suffer from dry, itchy skin they try out the Simple Derma range, which is ideal for very dry, sensitive skin. My boyfriend has really dry skin so can’t use many moisturisers, but he likes this one and goes through a bottle every month! It is specially formulated with Aquaxyl™ and Canola Oil which deeply hydrate and restore your skins natural moisture levels as it protects and prevents further moisture loss.

What are your favourite products of October?

Look what I just won at the Nibbles Boutique!!!

A Caramel Bunny Giles Deacon scarf on the Enchanted Hunter blog!! I have been trying all day yesterday to win one and got to the front of the queue after 5 minutes! I'll post a photo up here when it arrives in the post...Has anyone else won one and what do they think? You can follow Caramel Bunny on Facebook to see where the shop will be arriving next...Love the virtual store it's a great way to engage people, which it certainly has as there are thousands of people chatting on there all day!

Clinique review by my Mum!

Sometimes when I am reviewing items I feel that it is difficult to give a 'proper' review, as I am not the intended target audience. Like anti-ageing items for example - I do take good care of my skin and cleanse, tone and moisturise every day but I am only 23 so who knows if it has an effect now!! However when buying presents for my mum I always take recommendations from reviews I read on blogs so thought I would ask my mum to write about her favourite eye cream which is her HG product. So here goes.. as written in the words of my mum! My love for Clinique is purely down to her, thanks to her always using Clinique skincare products and me secretly trying them in the bathroom!

'I was asked to review Clinique's All about Eyes (£22) by my daughter to see how it compared with other eye creams I had used in the past. As a lady fast approaching 50 I believe it is important to use the right products for your skin so I was intrigued to see if all about eyes could make a difference. The first thing you notice is just how creamy, smooth and light it is. The velvet gel cream glided over the skin, absorbed quickly and did not leave it feeling sticky. I applied it after my normal cleaning routine night and day under and over the eyes. The cream is a unique combination of botanicals, proteins and anti-oxidants that work to fade the look of under-eye darkness, decrease puffs and strengthen skin against enivronmental aggressors.

After just a couple of weeks use I noticed a huge difference. The dark areas had diminished considerably and it works very quickly to reduce any puffiness particularly first thing in the morning. It is the first time i have seen an eye cream make such as difference. I will certainly be continuing to use it on a regular basis.'

Thanks Mum for the recommendation! Who else has asked their mum to review products before?

Introducing Cloud Nine Irons

As I am sure you know I am a mad straightening addict and use straighteners most days *slaps wrists*. The day I discovered GHDs literally changed my life and I am being deadly serious. If anybody to this day asks me what the best invention has been, I will always say GHDs! I have thick, wavy hair that just looks ‘lumpy’ if I don’t style it, so love it after I have straightened my hair when it is sleek and shiny!

I was asked if I would like to try out a pair of Cloud Nine irons which was very generous of them as they are not cheap at £129.95 so thanks very much (There are three styles on offer, a regular iron, a micro one and one with wide plates which I tried). As a self-confessed straightening addict I jumped at the chance and have been really excited to try them out. They arrived in beautiful black and blue/green packaging, which looked really expensive and impressed me straight away (yes I am a sucker for good packaging – it is so worth it!) Cloud Nine irons have been created by the original founders of GHDs and provide a beautiful natural finish - without the heat damage. They allow you to achieve a vast array of styles, at lower temperatures than GHDs so your hair isn’t put under so much strain. They also have a secret ingredient trapped within the black ceramic plates, a mysterious element that adds shine and sparkle to the hair every time they're used. Obviously I can’t vouch for this after only using them for a few weeks but my hair does look much smoother and shinier since using them.

My only complaint about these great irons, which I have found with other brands, is that the plates are not as big as GHDs and when you run them through your hair quickly, they can scratch the hair. I can use my GHDs from any angle and they will not catch or scratch my hair. Having said that, when my hair was just washed and dried it didn’t scratch, so maybe it just does it with hair that isn’t freshly washed? Hmm...

But overall I am impressed with their quality and love the wide irons, as it means I can straighten my hair much quicker in the morning, The variable temperature setting is also really good if you have thinner hair (I wish!) that didn’t need as much heat! It would be interesting to compare GHDs with Cloud Nine after using both for a month to see the difference in hair damage – maybe I should do this?!

British Beauty Blogger also has a great review here on these straighteners - so the big questions is will Cloud Nine take over from GHDs?

St Ives 24 hour body lotion

As you already know I am a huge St Ives fan and especially of the Radiance Cleansers (thank you so much Helen from St Ives sending some to me as they are now discontinued - they are my HG in the morning to wake me up!) I have also discovered a new favourite, which is similar to Garnier Hydralock - 24 Hour Moisture Body Lotion (£4.20). My legs always seem to get really dry underneath trousers (why is that?!) so I have to religiously moisturise twice a day to keep them smooth. The body lotion is "specially formulated with Hydratein, an exclusive protein complex that hydrates dry, flaky skin, replenishing it and infusing it with long-lasting moisture." Like Hydralock, its keeps your skin really smooth and moisturised for 24 hours and smells lovely too. It is also easily absorbed, which is important when moisturising as I hate products that take ages to rub in.

I recommend this body lotion if you have dry skin that needs a bit of TLC - and it is priced reasonably under £5 but not as cheap as Hydralock though.. Who else has tried this product - any thoughts?

** UPDATED OFFERS ON ST IVES**

Save a 1/3 on the whole St Ives range from 2^nd December – First week January in Tesco

All St Ives products will be HALF PRICE from 2^nd January – 26^th January in Sainsbury’s

Origins Skin tone correcting serum

I hate this time of year as my skin always seems to look so dull having lost its summer glow. I am always on the lookout for skin brightening products that will give me a healthy glow all year round so decided to try out the new Origins Skin tone Correcting Serum (£30). I must admit I don’t know too much about Origins and their product range, but I do know they use potent plants, organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils which is really important for me when applying products to my face.

This serum consists of naturally-derived Vitamin C which helps to create even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dullness, dark spots and discolourations. Cucumber Extract and Japanese Basil Leaf help prevent future spotting and freckling. It has a lovely smell and texture that feels really soothing on your face and definitely brightens up your face. The downside is it is pricey – but then as you know you get what you pay for with skincare products and serums do tend to cost more than moisturisers.

Who else has tried Origins and what are your favourite products as I’d like to try some more out!

L'Oréal Paris Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara review

There has been quite a few reviews on blogs about the new L'Oréal Paris Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara (wow what a mouthfull!!) so was really excited to try it out. It is currently on offer in Boots for £7.76, which is a pretty good deal as you get the Renewal Lash Serum, as well as a mascara. As you can see from my photos,it gives amazing lashes! First of all you use the serum enriched base coat with Arginine and Centella which makes your lashes really nourished and looks after them in the long-term helping them grow! Secondly you use the lengthening mascara for a lash extension effect which claims to give up to 80% longer-looking lashes. I don't normally believe claims on mascaras adverts, as we all know they use fake lashes anyway (what is the point in making an advert for a mascara if you use fash lashes - why?!). However, I would actually say this claim is pretty correct as my lashes were much, much longer than before!

The only downside to the 'double' mascara is in the morning I really can't be bothered to apply the serum, then the mascara. That's purely because I always get up so late and have around five minutes to apply my make-up! But if you have a spare ten minutes for your routine in the morning, then it is a fantastic buy and I will definitely be re-purchasing!

Who else has tried this mascara and what do you think?

Best Breast Cancer Awareness pink products

As I am sure you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are loads of products out there at the moment which are donating money to Breast Cancer. I think that is so great of brands to do this and I always look out for products that support good causes - plus I love all things pink! So I thought I would write about a few of the best 'pink' products I have come across this month!

1) Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion (£3.51) is a great moisturiser made of 100% cocoa butter (which I love!) enriched with vitamin E. It is a real holy grail product for me thanks to its skin smoothing and stretch mark reducing benefits, plus it keeps your skin smooth for hours and feels proper moisturised. The bottle looks fab in pink - only downside is they only offer 25p to charity from each bottle which I think could have been a bit more! Great buy though as a bottle costs under £4.

2) Avon have some fantastic products on sale with at least a 25% donation to breast cancer. My favourite is the gorgeous 'Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer' nail file which only costs £1.50 with 75p going to charity which is extremely generous.

3) Tweezerman Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Slant Tweezers (£20) from feelunique.com look so cute, with £4.00 going to Breast Cancer Campaign. Tweezerman are contributing £2 for each pair bought and feelunique.com will match this with a further £2 which makes it even more important to buy from them online! They are decorated with gorgeous pink ribbons and are ideal for clean, precise plucking - even getting those most annoying hairs! Well worth purchasing as they are for a good cause and look great too in your make-up bag hehe!

So let me know what you think - what are your top beauty buys for Breast Cancer Awareness month?

Nailene review

I am soo rubbish at painting my own nails - I always get my sister or friend to do them for me if I can't afford to get them done in a salon (which is most of the time!) Nailene, a US company kindly send me some products to try out, so I decided to try out the French Tip Pen Kit which has a great white tip pen and a lovely top coat. I found this kit really easy to use and in particular like how easy it is to do a french manicure yourself!! At first I couldn't work out how to use the tip pen but realised you have to push down on the end like a bingo pen! This ensures that you have enough varnish on the pen for each nail. It literally takes five minutes to give yourself a great, smooth manicure and is so easy to do even with complete novices like moi! I have found one downside though - I have had the polish on for two days and it has already chipped which is a real shame :( Maybe next time I will add an extra top coat to see if it lasts longer? You can buy Nailene products for around £4.99 online so they are well priced and worth checking out!

Goody's Add & Shine jojoba-infused brush review

I suffer from really dry hair that has been abused by straighteners so was really intrigued to hear about Goody's Add & Shine jojoba-infused brush which claims to put an end to dull, damaged hair once and for all with jojoba infused bristles!

The Goody Add & Shine paddle brush is infused with nourishing Jojoba oil, and has soft, rubbery bristles which stimulate your scalp. You can’t see the Jojoba oil as it's released slowly as you brush and absorbed by the hair. The oil smoothes down the cuticle to stop natural moisture escaping, as well as providing extra hydration. So if you have oily/greasy hair then this isn’t for you!

It also means the effects are longer lasting than the 'just brushed' look you get from using a traditional hairbrush – your hair feels much smoother and softer. The bristles are also really soft as well – not the best for untangling but great for smoothing down your hair and removing annoying frizzes that are the bane of my life!

I also recommend using the brush alongside your normal hair products to make your hair super shiny and a frizz-reducing dryer like the Remington Shine Therapy dryer which I swear by. What products do you swear by for smooth hair – please let me know as I am always keen to try out new products!