Re-Purchased

Re-purchased

So not technically a haul as I got all of this last year before my shopping ban. 

 

This is a bit of an oxymoron in the beauty blogging world as there is always something new to try, the grass is always greener as they say.   My skin can withstand a couple of changes now and then, however when I do it too much my skin has a hissy fit.   (Over my honey moon I was trying a number moisturiser samples, my skin rewarded me with five big fat heavy spots on my cheeks which took ages to stew to a whitehead.   This is the 30 degree Australian sun, as general rule I never get spotty in the sun!)

 

Parsley seed cleanser and Fabulous face oil

One of the first things I tried from Aesop and one of the first things that I loved.  This is what I would deem the second cleanser in my skin care routine.  The bottle that you do get is mahoussive and lasts about a year with daily use.  

Fabulous face oil was the first oil treatment used.  I have my first bottle to my Mum because she loved it so much.  This is perfect remedy to dry scaly winter skin.  I mix a couple of drops in with a serum before applying at night.  Perfect soft skin is what I get when I wake up the next morning. 

Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm

Yes I know this is not the real name but I have lost vital seconds/minutes/hours of my life typing this out, and you all know what it is by now.  Really, I don’t know why it needs a ridiculously long name but each to their own.  This is the best balm cleanser ever, gets rid of everything no problem and nourishes your face with oils at the same time.   Use with Primark face cloths for max effect.  I have about 20 odd face clothes for face cleaning, once I use one I stick in the washing machine straight away. 

 

Clarins Brightening toner.

So I did run out of this about 3-4 months ago repurchased and then completely forgot about using it.  Toner and I don’t really get on, it’s the one part of my routine that I always skip on because I am lazy, or I never have cotton pads to hand.   However I did notice that my skin was looking a bit duller when I wasn’t using this, I started again about 2 weeks ago and my skin has perked up again.  Don’t skim on toner people it works! 

 

Hydralon

Essential essential tube of wonder for your face.   Surprising this wee tube lasts longer than you would think. 

Antipodes deliverance Hand cream

I originally poo poohed this hand cream due to it’s weird smell (Marzipan and really ripe Banana).   I have actually gotten used to this hand cream now and the fact that it is amazing for winter especially.  It is a really heavy formula however if you do have hands dryer than the Sahara desert then I recommend you buy this.   I do still love the Aesop Resurrection aromatique hand cream but I find it too light and not nourishing enough for the cold weather.  Antipodes as a range does some spectacular skincare but, be warned all the tubes look the same.  So if you don’t actually pay attention to what you are buying you can end up with something you didn’t want.  (I pick up a Manuka face mask which is actually pretty good so I kept it)

 

Chanel Les Beiges

Finally I have reached pan for my Chanel Les Beiges powder so I had a bit of a panic attack as I thought it was limited edition.  From what I can tell it’s not as every single Chanel counter has it.   Absolutely love this stuff as its airbrushed perfection in a compact.  Smell floral as well which I like when I swish it on my nose.

 

What do you re-purchase for your skin care and make up?  I really don’t think that faces can withstand constant changes to make up and skin care, what do you think?

 

Thanks for reading Carrie

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I carry on the carry on. (Airplane cosmetics bag Essentials)

Hello

I am back!  Hope you are having a good December and gearing up to the holiday period. 

So I have a real challenge packing for trips away.   My basic problem is that I want to take my entire collection of skincare and make up away with me when I go on holiday.

 Invariably when I go away I find that I use about 20% of what I take with me as I find that that what I have taken with me is not appropriate on holiday, or I simply don’t fancy using /wearing it.

 What a pain!  It is so not worth being prepared for every social occasion, the whinging and moaning I got from my husband was just so not worth the agro.   After my honeymoon I have resolved the following when going away to sunny climates

1.        Don’t take anything black, grey or something that screams winter even if it is a silk dress cool enough for hot weather.  When you get somewhere sunny you find you want to wear bright colours, jolly prints and cool white shirts only.

2.       The super smart super high heels you bought didn’t even get a look in despite the fact that you went out every single night for dinner/cocktails

3.       Just because it’s hot doesn’t mean that you skin won’t dry up on you face and body.  Bring the correct moisturiser for everywhere.  I had to buy stuff out in Oz and it is not cheap there.

Anyhoo I always like looking at what people pack in there carry on cosmetics bag.  It is like looking at what people carry around in there handbag.   I simply hate airplane dry air, it really sucks all the moisture out of my face my hands and pretty everywhere else. 

Charlotte Tilbury as well as doing divine makeup produce an incredible make up bag.  Besides being very pretty holds an enormous amount of stuff.  

The first pic show all my ‘dry’ items that don’t need bagging for airport security. 

Face wipes

Nars blush and bronzer duo

Chanel Bieges powder compact

Fluffy powder brush

Blush/bronzer brush

By Terry eyeshadow stick

Charlotte tilbury rock n Kohl eyelinder

Elizabeth arden white/beige eye pencil – good for brightening tired eyes

Toothbrush

The second pic show my ‘wet’ items that need bagging

Tiny sample bottle of Benefits Oxygen foundation

Deodrant

Claudalie Elixar face spray

Toothpaste

By Terry lip balm

Bobbi brown Eye corrector/concealer

Antipodes hand cream * I used this the most on the airplane

Pot of face cream

Porefessional benefit primer sample size

Nars creamy concealer

By Terry concealer pen

Cuticle oil

Lancome star hypnose mascara sample size

Travelo of perfume

As you can see I put my sample bits to good use when I am on the move.  In fact I try and use all the sachets and sample bit on holiday just to use them, and they are not left languishing on my bathroom shelf.

What products do you carry on the plane with you?   Do you take make up on the plane with you?  Do you reapply just before landing or do you not bother.

For me personally I touch up in the toilets just before I pick up my suitcase.  I get too despondent looking in the airplane toilet mirror its so unflattering.  Although thinking about it no body looks good after 24 hours on a plane.

Thanks for reading

Carrie x

Non-bubbly-bath-bliss

It’s getting colder the night falls at precisely 3pm every day, and you notice that the media is turning your thoughts to Christmas, and blowing your next two pay checks on your loved ones.  (I have managed to get all my xmas shopping done early this year via Amazon, as I have done the past three years,  if you have never done this I recommend that you do as it’s stress-free, budget-friendly shopping) The only thing that I want to do right now is cocoon myself in cashmere or have a bath.   In fact my idea of heaven if I could live in a large nest lined with cashmere and have my husband bring me the odd bacon sandwich, and rub my belly now and then.   My life would be perfect.  Guess a bath and a cashmere jumper will just have to do for now.   

Now I have never really spent a large amount on bathing products.  I reserve the money splurging on Handbags and the odd pair of shoes.   I am generally happy with a glug of Radox that is it, but I recently found out that bubbles aren’t really all that good for lady parts.  (Without going into it I think it’s something to do with PH levels etc.) 

I was in Libertys drooling over the scarves when I decided to check out the upper levels, as usually I can’t get past the handbags.   There is an entire section dedicated with bathing, with a cute basin in the corner to test out products.  While I was there I was pounced on by a SA who asked me if I needed any help…… and well one thing lead to another and I walked out with three products for bath time and £89 lighter. 

 

Ortiga Bath florio salts £20

This is the most girly of the four on offer from this range.  I have never really got bath salts which is why I was intrigued to try, bath salts were always something I bought my Grandma but never used myself.  There was one in the orange box that smelt of stale curry/old socks/too much cardamom, and lovely lemony/basil one but the floric flavour was my favourite.   I normally don’t got for floral scents but this is a very mild version and not too OTT.  The salts are made out of 100% Sicilian salts with all natural ingredients.  The smell of these are a mild combination of freesia/honeysuckle scent.  They make the water less hard in the bath and your skin super soft while bathing.   You don’t need a lot of the bath just a small handful to get the effect.  I do like these and I am definitely buy another box when this runs out. 

 

Ren Rose Otto bath oil £30

I have heard about this years ago, and have wanted to try it for ages.  This is a very luxurious bathing product that makes your bath water milking when you add it to the water, and leaves your skin super hydrated and silky smooth.  I not a huge fan of the rose scent as I find it a bit strong, but you quickly get used it after a while.  If you love rose scent this is the one for you.  I don’t think I will repurchase this one as it’s not my favourite, I would say that my skin does feel fabulous after.   It’s not bad, just compared to other baths I have had this kinda ‘meh’ in comparison.   If it were a different scent like lavender I think I might go GA GA for it which leads me onto……..

 

Aromatherapy Associates Support Lavender & Peppermint Bath & Shower Oil £39

This was my favourite purchase of the lot. OMG this is like taking a sleeping pill, I know that is a bit weird.  If you are anything like me and have trouble dropping off at night this is for you.  Firstly I love lavender, I love peppermint which is why I bought this initially.   I love the scent combined of this, and taking a bath with this stuff is pure luxury in my book.  The first time I bathed with this I understood why people spend a ridiculous amount of money on aromatherapy oils, they really do work.   If I had known how effective they were I would have started using this a long time ago.  This is a lot of money to spend on a 55ml of oil, but in terms of how relaxed I am every time I take a bath/shower with this it’s worth every single penny.   Even as a shower wash it’s still effective to getting me to sleep.  I have spotted this on Beauty bay for £31.50 so I think future purchases will be made from there.

http://www.beautybay.com/bathandbody/aromatherapyassociates/supportlavenderpeppermintbathshoweroil/

The oils in the bath water also make your skin very soft after bathing.  Used as a shower gel it leaves you with a tingly cold sensation which is quite nice.

 

 

What are your bathing essentials?  Anything that I need to try?   Are you a fan of baths or showers? 

 

Thanks for reading. 

Carrie x

Getting on the Palette Bandwagon....

 

Normally I very very picky with Palettes.  They have to be all singing all dancing and very important all versatile to come home with me and join the make-up collection.

 

One of my first enables make up palettes is the first one by ‘Naked’ by urban decay.  I love, I love the shades, but I just never use the blooming thing.  It has got to be the most UNLOVED item in my make-up stash.  You see when it comes to palettes they have to be the right dimensions, and be made out of the right materials.  Naked palette is made out of velvet and cardboard.  It’s a weird size and it’s NOT travel friendly, you have to wrap an elastic band around it for travel and it usually spouts glitter all over your bag.

I digress…. You get the point it has to be right otherwise it gets unused which I hate.

 

Nars is one of my Favourite make up  brands of all time, there is pretty much nothing that they don’t do which I don’t love (except for that blush stick thing, don’t get me started).

2011 Nars did a blush palette called Danmari ‘all about cheeks’ Palette at the time I think it retailed for about $50 in the states.  Back in 2011 by the time I found out about it, could I buy it anywhere?  Nope all gone, and my heart was broken.  You can buy them still on eBay but there is NO way I am spending £100 for it.  You can read about all below on the link, and you will see the kind of palpitation inducing frenzy it gets you in.

 

http://www.amarixe.com/2011/10/nars-danmari-all-about-cheeks-palette.html

 

So that is why when I saw on Instagram pictures of the new ‘One night stand’ Nars palette I thought all my Christmases had come at once.  Also I was totally enabled by fellow blogger Georgina fromhttp://www.forksandbrushes.me/.  Who basically has the exact same taste as me.

Look and bask in all its wonder and glory, with couple of my favourite Nars flavours put in.   Nars blushes if you don’t know have one of the best blush range out there.  They are the ‘black leggings’ if you will of most beauty bloggers make up wardrobe.

 

Nars Palette available exclusively at Space nk £45

There are four blushes, one bronzer and one highlighter.  Buy yours quick as I feel these are going to sell like hot cakes.

 

Right to left.

Laguna is a firm favourite of mine, a subtle yellow based bronzer with a thread of gold shimmer.  This shade suits most except the very darkest of skin tones.  I love to wear this by itself in summer.

Devotee is a highlighter shade which gives a subtle golden glow.  Haven’t used this much but I think when I get a tan on this is going to look good.  At the moment I am a bit ‘Meh’ about this. 

Mistignette is a bright blue based blush. This reminds me of a milder version of liqudfushia in powder form.

Deep throat the perfect perfect blush in the world my favourite Nars blush of all time.  A light coral with minimal glitter perfect for everyday make up look esp in summer.

Orgasm is a coral with super super glitter.  Lovers of a subtle glow beware, you can look ridiculous if you put this on with a heavy hand (yes I have done that on a few occasions when I was in a rush for work and looked like a clown)

Goulee a deep berry coloured blush which I have tried yet.  I reminds me of Blushing bride by tarte.  Looking forward to autumnal make up looks with this.

 

 

Hourglass Ambient Powders Palette. Space nk £56

 

Okay so I knew about the existence of this way back in April when Anna from Vivianna does make up meet the founder of hourglass make up.  I swore I wasn’t going to by this especially seeing as I own ‘Dim light’ already but I caved and bought it.  I haven’t used this yet as I have it for two days and it’s so pretty I don’t want to sully it by use yet.  It is gorgeous it comes with three shades, one is a setting powder (Dim light) one is a highlighter (Incandescent light) and a bronzer ( Radiant light)

 

What palette christmas make up packs do you have your eye on?  Are you as picky as me when it comes to palettes?

 

Thanks for reading

Carrie x

Amazon Hauling and being good this month.....

Dear all

Sorry for the radio silence.

I have been settling in to Married life, and going back to Uni part-time, adjusting with all of that as well has holding down a full time job and having some sort of life in the process.  With all things in Life something has to ‘give’ and at the moment it has been my beauty blogging.  So please forgive the fact that I haven’t written anything, I have been taking photos but I just haven’t actually written down any of my thoughts.

Month after I got married I save a bit of money as I am going on my delayed honeymoon in early December.  However I did pick up a few little cheapie bits that have seen me through for the past 6 weeks.

Fav photo of wedding

I have recently picked up some exciting palettes which I have had some banter with fellow blogger Georgina ( from forks and Brushes blogspot, AKA my beauty centric blogging pal who has the EXACT taste as me ) I will share those shortly as they are very exciting.

 

Firstly Nail polish from Essie ‘After School boy blazer’ and ‘The gals are out tonight’

£5.95*on Amazon about a month ago. ( *this varies seller to seller so try and hunt it down)

Any of you who have a thing for dark nails in winter this baby is for you.  It reminds me of ‘blue satin’ by Chanel for years ago.  That colour was perfection but the formula was beyond rubbish.  Which is why this bad boy is causing quite a stir as it’s the dupe of ‘blue satin’ but with all the bonuses of a Essie nail polish.

 

The ‘gals are out’ is another foray in trying to find the perfect pink. I actually wore this on my toes for my wedding which is why I got it for sentimental reasons.  It’s a sort of mid purple with blue tones and bunch of silver sparkle.  It looks like a solid colour from far away but when you peer at it close it got a subtle sheen from the silver sparkle.   I haven’t tried this on my nails yet, but it’s the perfect alternative to a bright red or bright pink on your toes.  

 

Wet and Wild comfort zone palette is the perfect palette for easy every-day make up.  This landed on my radar  when I saw it on Lily pebbles blog, after she came back from New York.  In the states this retails for about $5, but I got it online from ebay for a £10.  Yes paying over double the price but in my mind worth it.   

The formula of the eye shadows is very buttery, and very pigmented.  You don’t need a lot to get a good colour pay off on your eyelids.   With a primer I found these to last 6-7 hours which is long enough for the work day, or a night out.  There are directions with where to put what on your eye, and I have experimented with both sides of these.  ( Green and brown) and they look lovely.  However for a day look I think this is a bit OTT which is why I have been using each colour in turn for a one wash colour on the eye.  The definer shadows don’t really work on this, but the others can be easily worn as a one wash shadow for a neutral look.

 

I am so glad I bought this, usually I am loathe to buy anything beauty wise on ebay, but because I used this so much I feel it was such an investment.  Do you ever feel the more you use something the more you love because of its versatility? I love things like that.

 

So in the month of September sent a total of £21.90 on beauty.  Are you going on any self-imposed cut backs on beauty?  Do you have any budget bits that you swear by

 

Thanks for reading

Carrie

 

 

Hello I'm back!

Please bear with me while I try and get my life sorted.  My wedding was amazing, the best day of my life.  Now I am trying to grow my brain back and get back in my normal route.  When I get my proper photos I will show you all a few.  But here is a little teaser....

Sorry lost in a wedding hole

Dear All

I have many ideas, pieces of writing, photos etc to share with you. Due to my up coming nuptials I seriously have no time to blog much this much.  Hopefully in three weeks I will be able to get back on track. 

Thank you readers 

Carrie xxx

Breaking my back this week – New post on my handbags and what I lug around .

2007 Summer bronze/brown Mulberry Bayswater.  – Libertys £500

Back story- A reward for myself after scoring my first job in London and a 5K pay rise. 

I used to work in Kent in a little village that was a 10mins bus journey away from my house.  It was a really easy job, but it was dull as…. All my friends lived in London and I longed to move there.  6 years later I am still here and I still have a huge love affair with London.   The Bayswater bag is Mulberry’s cheaper take on the Hermes Birkin bag.  Back in 2007 the bags cost £500, and not the whopping £900 that they do now.   Mulberry as a brand have turned hugely popular in the past couple of years.  With their new covetable bags such as the Alexa and Lana every man and their dog wants a Mulberry.  The Bayswater will always have a special place in my heart as this one is my one and only.  She is very battered, worn and loved.  The Bayswater remains a popular choice amongst the London Ladies, however the ones I see are mostly box fresh and not loved as mine.   I love bags with a bit of wear in them, the Bayswater in my opinion gets better and better with age.   The leather is really floppy and soft now so when it’s on the floor it puddles in a lovely gloopy bronze pile of leather gorgeousness.  The only problem with these bags is because they are so big you can literally fill them up with an enormous amount of stuff.  The shoulder straps are really narrow so it cuts into the shoulder when you carry it.  

Inside my handbag

Make up bag

-bobbi brown powder

-Lipstick queen in medieval

-free blush brush from Clinique

-Tarte Amazonian blush in natural beauty

-concealer Nars in ginger solid form not liquid

Clear plastic wallet

Trying to be more transparent (ha ha) with money so when I buy stuff I use cash now.  I like that its clear to I can see how much money I have easily. Oddly this is missing for pictures as it is in my pocket when I was taking pics DOH! 

Brollie

-I am paranoid about rain, I hate getting wet.

Tissues

-I have super sonic hay fever

Antibacterial gel

-London is dirty and minging

Perfume Neroli Bianca Guerlian.

-I LURRVEE THIS!  So yummy so orangy so summery.

Kindle

-I currently reading ‘The Kingsmaker daughter’

Keys work and home

Hand cream

-Dry monkey mitts even in summer

Deodorant

-Because I am sweaty betty

Hair serum

-Hairy monkey that stuck its fingers in an electric socket otherwise.

Two hairbands wrapped around hair serum bottle

-Because I sometime just want my hair out of my face!

Hair brush –Tangle teaser

-I hate knotty hair.

Any mulberry favourites?  What do you lug around day to day? 

Thanks for reading 

Carrie xxx

What are you thankful for today? Taking stock of the internal stash...

I love blogging, I love reading blogs, and I love everyone’s individual take on something. I love buying beauty products. I love when something new comes on the market and I enjoy the ‘hunt’ and the ultimate ‘purchase’. I love it when bbloggers forgo the new and re-find, re-use and re-love items in their stash. 

 It’s this trend of ‘shopping my stash’ that got me thinking about the wealth in my life that is not confined to a tube, or a pot. It is very easy to get caught up in the hype of beauty and strive to possess the ‘new’ thang. This can quickly lead to putting emotional importance on physical things. I admit I do get sucked occasionally. I am sad that hunting the newest shade of nail polish took over time that I could have spent with friends or family. Now that is just wrong. 

 When I was younger I did have a lot of self-confidence issues. (Is it no surprise that I like beauty then…. ohh amateur psychologist) My counsellor told me to list down all my qualities every morning. Surprisingly and as cheesy as it sounds I really started to feel better about myself after listing all the good things about myself. Now every morning for the past two months I write down what I am thankful for. Almost every morning I say I am thankful for my fiancée. (Loves me warts and all) This exercise really brought me in focus as to what is important to me in my life. I am also starting to look out for what is good in my life now, as opposed to think what is rubbish, and imagining how much better life would be if X, Y and Z happened. I look at my list and I am very blessed and I do take a lot for granted. 

 I love beauty products, I don’t think there will come a time where I am not fascinated by them. However they won’t take over what is really important in my life, and no amount of make up or skin care will ever compare to that. As I get older I realise that it’s the memories and experiences that I have had that make me richer as opposed to the things that I have or had possessed. What are you thankful for in your life? Is it your friends? Is it your family? Go and give them a big hug and tell them you love them.

 I love you Ben, and I love you Sarah. Thank you for being in my life, it would definitely be a sadder place without you.

 Thanks for reading 

 Carrie x

Washa washa washa.....

Washa washa washa ….. There have lately been a clutch of articles promoting washing your hair. Loving it! (Carrie does a crazy dance in the living room) 

1. A blog that I follow that is as funny as it is fabulous. Sonia is hysterically funny and doesn’t take herself too seriously, check her out. http://runwayhippie.com/2013/08/01/when-in-doubt-clean-hair/

 2. Last week Stylist wrote about hair care. Kudos to the beauty team, their advice is always sound week to week. 

3. Apparently next month Allure August, Kate Moss it quoted say ‘if in doubt what your hair’. * I don’t know as August edition hasn’t come to UK yet. Which is rubbish as we are ALWAYS a month behind, and it blooming hard enough to get a copy as Selfridges for £4.40 each month grumble, grumble grumble, moan, grumble some more…….. 

This is a topic that is close to my heart as a couple of months I had horrid itchy puss filled warts on my head. http://www.makedoandmakeup.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/shampoo-and-conditioner-for-spotty.html 

The cause of this? Not washing my hair enough. For the record I have the greasiest scalp and skin in the world. The texture is fine, wavy and there is a lot of it. Here is me in my specs and just air dried hair. (I don’t blow dry my hair in summer, my hair hates heat so I generally bung is some serum/thickening cream and let it do it’s thang) 

And here is me with my length of hair behind my back. 

If you have a dry skin and wash your hair once a week then this post really isn’t for you. However if you have friends who do have greasy hair tell them to wash their hair more often people! For me I wash my hair every day without fail, and warts disappeared and my hair went back to its wavy, shiny, itch-free- self again. I have heard from friends there are magical formulas to get rid of spotty scalps, which incidentally is very common problem, but I just got a gentle formula shampoo for daily washing and standard conditioner. Bang problem sorted.

 My mother from a young age would tell me the following:

 “Don’t wash your hair every day as you are washing all the natural goodness out of your hair” 

Well natural goodness is sweat, sebum and dirt, so no you really should wash that goodness out of your hair. However occasionally I do forgo a shampoo and just rinse my hair if it is feeling a bit on the dry/sensitive side. 

“Don’t wash your hair during your period its ‘REALLY’ bad for you” 

When I ask what ‘BAD’ will happen to me unsurprisingly she can’t tell me why it’s bad for me. As far as I am concerned these are old wives tales and I find it really annoying that these types of myths get bandied around like truths. There really aren’t any proper rules and regulations when it comes to beauty. The only one that really counts is 

“If it works for you and you are happy stick with it” 

We all have different skin/hair/colouring/preferences so what may be one girl’s/guy’s treasure may be your trash, or conversely the other way round too. There is many a time I have bought something and it just hasn’t worked on me, because my skin was too greasy. Or I have bought a shade of lipstick that wasn’t blue based because it was a trend amongst beauty bloggers. (Orange is a big no no noo!) So the point of this post, try new things, don’t necessarily believe what you Mum tells you. 

Oh yeah and wash your hair often if you have spots on your scalp. What old beauty myths are mythbusting this week? Any good results? 

Thanks for reading

Carrie x

On my quest to find the perfect pink nail polish- Essie 'Watermelon'

I stumbled on a post by Kate from ‘Ghostparties’ about ‘watermelon’ by essie a month or two ago.  This instantly went on the want list, where I promptly forgot about it until I stumbled into Superdrug in Bond Street tube station mall last weekend.  I went in initially for some hay fever tablets and found the Essie booth with all the new formula, Essie nail polishes.   To be honest the stall looked like a dogs dinner, and most of the good colours were gone.  However one colour they did have in abundance was ‘Watermelon’.  For the price of £7.99, and the fact that I had just enough points on my superdrug card I snapped this up immediately.  In my excitement  I also forgot about hay fever tablets, fail!

The colour is a beautiful fuchsia berry pink, that verges on red but not quite.   It is really opaque so you can get away with one coat if you wanted to.   It also dries really quickly which surprised me.   I have been wearing it for about three days and the chips are just beginning to show slightly right on the very ends of my short nails.  I love this colour so much I am currently sporting this on my nails and my toes, which I never do normally.  

What colours are you sport on your nails and toes this summer?  Any recommendations?

Thanks for reading

Carrie x

Summer scents- Branching out

 I am a creature of habit I usually just stick to 3-4 perfumes and keep it that way. However as I have grown up a lot of perfume smells have old associations which I would rather distance myself from. (i.e. when rubbish boyfriends bought you a scent and now when you smell that scent you only think of them and how rubbish they were). I generally like floral scents but I have been branching out to newer scents that are musky or figgy. Not that summer is upon us I have been craving something fruity to suit the weather. Here are two new ones that I have purchased/been given. 

Honey by Marc Jacobs £50 for 50ml. 

In most department stores and Boots online and in store. 

On my hunt for the perfect wedding table decorations in Selfridges I was spritzed with Marc Jacob’s newest offering ‘Honey’. Now I am not a fan of the bottle designs (I hate ‘Lola’ bottle design it looks a Triffid*) however I do like the smell of ‘Daisy’ but I have never liked it enough to actually buy it yet, even in Duty free. I am however a massive fan of the original Marc Jacobs scent, the one in the plain black and glass bottle. Which you don’t really see around now-a-days incidentally. The bottle design for honey is horrendous. Don’t get me wrong I am half Chinese so I normally LOVE cute plastic stuff but as a perfume bottle, but my exacting requirements dictate the bottle should be beautiful. You are after all going to display this on your dressing table. Honey’s bottle is just a cutesy stupid design with stripy bees all over it like a fat kid over cake. (Actually ‘Daisy’ is quite pretty in comparison now I think of it) The smell of Honey is lovely so that makes up for the stupid bottle. Honey is a fruity mix of Pear initially that mellows in to mandarin to Honeysuckle. After about an hour wear on me it turns to a honey vanilla with a woody undertone to prove its not completely gutless as a scent. I used to like fragrances with pear in it (Petit Cherie by Annick goutal was my fave) however with those kind of perfume you literally have to keep spraying it on to smell of it, which is why I didn’t repurchased it. Also after a while Petit Cherie turned a bit flabby and ceased to excite me scent wise. Honey is a scent that has some interest to it which is why I bought it. This has about 4-5 hour lasting time on me, which is fine as I usually have a top up spray during lunch time. *For those who don’t know a triffid is a vicious plant from a novel written by John Wyndham, which is basically plant life form that takes over earth and renders people dead with a strike of it’s sting tenticle. It’s not a bad read for those who like science fiction. If you have ever been on a Paris Metro the flowers on the outside of the ‘Le Metro’ entrance were the inspiration for the Triffid. “Day of the Triffids” by John Wyndham 

* update...the bottle is slowly growing on me.  It's rather jolly sticking out of my handbag this morning 

Nerolia Bianca by Guerlain eau de toilette £39 for 75ml. Available in Selfridges and John Lewis.

 This is my first proper Neroli perfume. It is lovey and orangey and I am obsessed with this scent at the moment. I normally don’t look at perfumes at Guerlain however I only found this as during the John Lewis beauty event I went to a couple of weeks ago one of the Grazia Ladies recommended it. It branches on a room spray smell, but there is something about this that reminds me of something happy in my childhood. I don’t think it was my Mum, but maybe one of her friends or an Aunt. A lot of reviews I have read about this say it is cheap, nasty and disappointing in comparison to some of Guerlain’s other offerings. Seeing as I am completely new to Guerlain’s perfumes I have nothing to compare this too and love it regardless.

The wear is not great about 2-3 hours.  Top notes on are as you would expect orange, bitter orange and scents that emulate being under an orange tree.  There is as mentioned before a 'eau de colonge-y' room spray smell which makes it quite sharp and clean smelling.  After an hours wear you still get the more mellow orange sweetness followed by a warm creamy vanilla smell which is nice and homely.  

I love the design of the bottle, it's so grown up and sophisticated.  It would look stunning on any dressing table.  I like the engraving of the bee on the lid. The price is not bad for the amount you get.  I know it's and eau de toilette so that is probably why. 

What are your summer scents? Any recommendations? 

Thanks for reading

Carrie x