L'Occitane, Christmas Gift Collections Beauty Blogger event

I was lucky enough to be invited to the L’Occitane (pronouced Lox-ee-tan) beauty blogger event last week to celebrate the launch of their Christmas Gift Collection at the boutique store in Covent Garden.

We were met with champagne and Christmas biscuits in the gorgeously rustic, bright and beautiful basement level of the store. The Christmas Gift Collection sets were displayed appealingly and we were told that we would be allowed to pick our favourite to take home that evening as a little early Christmas present from L’Occitane. You can imagine, we were like kids in a sweet shop with far too many delicious choices.  

L'Occitane Christmas Gift Collections, which one to chose??

  

I was treated to the most informative and interesting tour around the store, shown each of the product ranges and given an insight into the L’Occitane world by PR manager Simon. L’Occitane is a brand that I’m very new to and having asked around it seems many of my friends and family are as well. But as Simon explained, once customers discover L’Occitane, they remain very loyal. Simon told me on average a skincare and beauty consumer will use a brand for seven years before their tastes and needs change. However, L’Occitane customers will stay for much, much longer. After an evening spent absorbing and learning all things L’Occitane, I can understand why. 

Everyone's favourite... L'Occitane Handcream

Forced with making a decision I chose the Romantic Rose Collection as it contained a perfume and a scented candle (and who can resist a scented candle?!). Floral’s, especially Rose are top notes that I tend to avoid as I find them more suited to someone older however, this perfume is light and one that I couldn’t resist. The packaging is exquisite – a pink gift box with a gold Provençal Christmas Tree, the products inside are carefully wrapped in pink tissue and sealed with a L’Occitane sticker.

 L'Occitane Christmas Gift Collection, Romantic Rose Collection, £46

The L’Occitane experience was captivating and exciting and I urge you to visit the store for yourself.

 

30% Off at Guess, all you have to do is join their mailling list! Done!

Guess Event!

GUESS INVITE YOU TO AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT

We love a party, and a freebie, so we were very excited when an email arrived in our inbox inviting us to the following event...

GUESS are pleased to announce an exclusive party event at the GUESS Regent Street store to celebrate the launch of their holiday party and Christmas collections. The in-store extravaganza will go on for three days and will take place on Friday 25^th through Sunday 27^th November 2011 from 10am-5pm each day.

Come in store for fabulous hairstyling tips, nail treats, indulgent delights, fabulous Cosmopolitan cocktails and more.

DJs will be spinning tracks and a top fashion will also be on hand to advise how to wear the up-to-the-minute styles and trends and how to jazz up your party outfit with must have accessories.

So put on your finest and join the GUESS party! Exclusively at the Regent Street GUESS store located at 162-168 Regent Street, London.

GUESS Regent Street store will also offer 30% off purchases when you join their mailing list – 25/26/27 November only

 

Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor: Electric and Moonshine

Two gorgeous little gems have added extra glamour to my exhaustingly fun week of working and partying: Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Electric (a bluey, greeny shade) and Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Moonshine (a plumy, purple shade).

Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Moonshine

Moonshine and Electric give a gorgeous, heavily pigmented, glistening, metallic finish - perfect for the impending party season. Conveniently, as described by many of the top journalists in their beauty pages, metallic eyes are the make-up look to work this winter.

Metallic and glistening - Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Electric and Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Moonshine

I was extra crazy about Moonshine as the deep plum and purple shade is flattering, striking and completely on-trend. In this week’s “Beauty Charts” page in Grazia Angelica Hermon loves the rich and majestic purple shades found in YSL’s Golden Gloss lipgloss and Nars Eyeshadow Palette in Arabian Nights. She writes, “This week’s hottest new beauty buys: purple power.”

The formula is super creamy, velvety soft and, in true Bare Minerals fashion, does not dry or irritate my sometimes-sensitive eye area.The eye shadows come in a small tube; inside the tube is a wand with a cushioned tip. The first time I applied the colour I smoothed the tip of the wand straight into my eyelid. The intensity of the colour was pretty cool but very quickly the pigmentation particles fell onto my cheek bones.  

Two eye make-up remover pads later I decided to take a different approach – I rubbed an eyeshadow brush onto the tip and then applied onto my eyelid. This was much more effective as there was no fall out and I was able to apply the colour as eye liner on my bottom lash line. After experimenting all week my favourite look is to apply Moonshine to my eyelid, moving up to the crease followed by applying Electric on top as liner on the lower and upper lash. 

  £15 for one, available in Bare Minerals store and concessions across the UK and online. 

Have you used these? Do you have another suggestion for application and making the most of these gorgeous colours?

The power of argan oil: Melvita New Argan Oil Roll-On

Over the previous few years argan oil has become a buzz phrase in the beauty industry. The oil’s healing and nourishing properties have led to it being used across a variety of products including facial oils, firming lotions, hair conditioning treatments and cuticle creams. 

Liz Earle is a huge fan of the precious oil and she describes the moment she fell in love with it, “It was the best facial I’d ever received. I had to know more about the oil called the ‘gold of Morocco’.” Consequently, argan oil is now a key ingredient found in many products in her skincare range. 

In this month’s Elle magazine beauty writer Suzanne Scott tries and tests Superskin Concentrate Facial Oil by Liz Earle. The product contains organic rosehip, neroil, vitamin E and the healing argan oil. Suzanne describes how the oil affects her skin, “After two weeks, my skin is soft and looking clearer. In fact, when I don’t apply the oil for a night I notice I wake up puffy faced.” 

Argan oil has been used by the Moroccan people for hundreds of years in their daily routines.

It is sourced from the nuts of the rare argan tree and can be used in a number of ways including treating eczema, preventing ageing, soothing skin from sunburn and is even used in cooking. It is rich in essential fatty acids and omega-6 so is therefore nourishing, healing and extremely moisturising. 

Over the previous month I have been slipping the new Melvita Argan Oil Roll-On into my handbag. 

I’ve used the elegant glass tube on my lips, face and any areas I’ve felt are in need of some soothing, nourishing attention. My skin can be sensitive, especially in the winter months but Melvita’s Argan Oil Roll-On has proved the perfect antidote to any inflamed or dry patches. As the oil is precious and absolutely lovely to use I have been sparing with my applications – I really don’t want this gorgeous product to come to an end!

Melvita is a skincare brand that I really didn’t know much about however it’s one that I’ve quickly fallen in love with. They are a France’s leading ecological and organic beauty brand and have stores worldwide.

They first launched in the UK in 2010 with a gorgeous store in Covent Garden, amazingly the store has two beehives on the roof with 100,000 worker bees making delicious honey which can be purchased within the store! 

With the home made honey and a promise that at least 95% of ingredients found in all products are completely natural, Melvita is bringing a new meaning to the phrase “natural beauty”. 

For more information take a little look at the Melvita website: www.melvita.co.uk

Have you discovered Melvita? Or used argan oil? Please let me know.

Classic Red Tartan

Tartan reminds me of Christmas (or weddings, but mostly Christmas). At Christmas our house is decorated with Tartan ribbons, and the dining room table is covered with a red, tartan table cloth. If made traditionally, with woven wool, the material is heavy and warm. It is perfect for the winter months, and frost is already delaying my trains.

Alexander McQueen often referred back to his Scottish roots, one of his earlier shows in 1995 was entitled Highland rape, often misinterpreted, nevertheless intriguing audiences. Although Mr McQueen himself is tragically no longer around, Sarah Burton hasn’t failed to excited us, and this season has brought tartan back in a big way for McQ for Alexander McQueen.

McQ Alexander McQueen

Tartan Crop Zipper Skinny Trouser

£275.00

These tartan crop trousers are so smart and make quite a statement. I also think they would be an investment. Tartan come back around year after year and the material is durable. I predict these will still be on trend in 30 years. Maybe my daughter/neice will have the same enthusiasm for them in 2041 as I have done in 2011.