River Island Haul

I do love a bit of River Island and I found a few lovely pieces that I am so happy with. First is a classic skinny black jeans (£40 in 12L Amelie Superkinny). I love the longer length of these. I am wearing it with another purchase – the Beige Laser Cut Bomber Jacket (£40).

I really like this little jacket and think it works really well with a simple top and jeans. Perfect for the summer!

I also picked up this is lovely dark denim button up midi pencil skirt (£38). A classic simple skirt, and the buttons give it that extra something!

Silver Shoes?

I didn’t know if I could get away with silver flat shoes, but then Clarks came out with this gorgeous t-bar pair (Taylor Palm £45) and I fell in love!

They are so cute and the slightly matt silver leather makes them extra special! They look really good with loads of different outfits. I know these will really come into their own in the summer (or on holiday) so I am super pleased to have them ready and waiting for the sun (whenever that comes!).

Temple Spa Cleanser

When Caroline Hirons, skincare guru, recommends something, I generally pay attention , especially if its on an amazing offer. That was the case with this In the Beginning Deep Cleansing Melt cleanser from Temple Spa (£28). I love a good cleansing balm and this one looked right up my street! It was also on offer at 2 for the price of 1 which I am so glad I didn’t resist as £14 for this cleanser is a massive bargain!

This balm is different to other cleansing balms that I normally use as this one has little beads to exfoliate that then melt away (i.e. not plastic beads!). I’m not a fan of physical exfoliation but this is gentle and works really well. The balm also smells amazing and is full of lovely ingredients including Calendula, Clary sage, Lavender, Vitamin E, OIive Oil and Basil.

I use this as my evening cleanse to remove makeup and give myself a mini facial. I also regularly leave the second cleanse on my skin for 10 minutes as a face mask.

I am so impressed with this and am almost finished with my first tub and just as excited to start the second tub – always a good sign!

Zara Holiday Haul

As I have mentioned I am off to Cape Town for Easter so couldn’t resist two holiday dresses (one for day and one for night) and Zara was the shop for me! First is this simple blue tunic dress, with slanted pockets (£29.99). I love the relaxed feel of this dress, its light and easy to throw on. I would wear this over jeans too The perfect daytime dress!

Next is my evening wear purchase – this gorgeous silver textured v-neck dress (£25.99).

Again I love how simple this is yet so stunning. I would wear it casually with a cardigan and maybe a cami under as shown in the pictures below.

Oliver Bonas Scarf

I do love a bit of leopard print and this Ashia Animal Jacquard Scarf from Oliver Bonas is just gorgeous. I think it’s the unique shades of brown and pink and grey that really caught my eye.

Oliver Bonas is fast becoming a favourite place to shop – their homewares are to die for!

Cami and Cardi

I have become obsessed with this combination – the camisole and cardigan. There is something so chic about the delicate silk and lace next to wool that works so well. I think it can be both casual and dressy and most definitely sexy but subtle.

My obsession started a while ago with a lovely blush pink silk and lace camisole from H&M. I have worn it so much it is starting to fray and look a little tired (not that this stops me from wearing it)! I love the length which makes it easy to wear with jeans with a small side tuck or completely tucked into a skirt. I have also worn it under dresses, letting the lace peek through at the décolletage!

After a long time of intermittent searching for camisoles that fit the bill I found these in Zara (£25.99 each). They are almost identical to the H&M one which I was so happy about! I had to get the pink one to backup the H&M one and of course once I saw the charcoal I knew it had to be mine! I got these in a large as I want them long and draping.

So having found the perfect camisoles, I needed the perfect cardigans. Weirdly enough Zara have also just upped their cardigan game! I picked up these beautiful, light knit ones (£17.99 each) recently and they are perfect. I love the colours and the way they hang. Of course the cream and the pinky brown complements the pink camisole perfectly and they grey the grey camisole..shades of shades!

I did also get this lovely soft, batwing cardigan also from Zara (£12.99) and also in grey which is a bit warmer and in Spring can work as an alternative to a jacket.

The Printed Shirt Dress

I am going to South Africa for Easter and its going to be warm and sunny (hurray!). So when I saw this long printed shirt dress in H&M I had visions of me wafting about in the sunshine with this on wearing skinny ripped jeans and flip flops!!

I love the sheer material, the print and the length. I would only ever wear this with jeans – I don’t think it would suit me as a dress.

I really hope that vision comes true!!

ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud

I recently had the amazing experience of going to the ESPA at the Corinthia Spa. Oh My..I have done a separate post on that here but suffice to say it was HEAVENLY! Whilst there I had the pleasure of being introduced to this amazing product. Its the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud (£32).

This is a beautiful thick, creamy hair mask that not only smells amazing but leaves your hair baby soft and shiny and healthy! It is also amazing for dry or sore scalps. I tend to use this an intensive treatment for my hair and I have also left in overnight. It really is a lovely products that helps my hair recover from all the heat/colouring damage.

While at the spa the therapists also use this as a moisturiser as it is meant to be amazing for dry skin. So I also occasionally put this on my hands at bedtime and let it work its magic!

This is a real hero product for me and I will most definitely buy this again and again!

 

ESPA Life at Corinthia – Spa Heaven

In January me and my friend went to the ESPA Life at Corinthia. This is no ordinary spa – it is one of the most amazing experiences.

The spa is “spread over four floors, features 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail studio, indoor swimming pool, vitality pool, amphitheatre sauna, ice fountain, marble heated loungers and private sleep pods”! It is absolutely beautiful and is the epitome of relaxation and indulgence. We went for the City Hideaway Package (£185) which included:

• 25 minute facial
• 25 minute body massage treatment
• Essential manicure or pedicure, plus a file and polish
• Light Lunch in the Spa Lounge with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne or freshly squeezed juice (we had champagne of course!)
• Access to the extensive Thermal Floor

The whole place is amazing and beautifully decorated. I wasn’t really meant to take photos there but I snuck a few in!

The ladies changing room (below) was incredible with these heated marble loungers!

A cheeky photo post steam!

I am not a regular spa goer but after this I can totally see the attraction. We got to the spa about 10.30 and had about 2 hours on the Thermal Floor. The Thermal Floor includes a pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room – we tried all of them! Throughout the floor there are huge open shower rooms full of ESPA hair and body products. The pool is stunning and so calming, with lovely loungers on the side where you can sit and chill. The jacuzzi is huge and has all sorts of amazing massaging jets. My favourite was the steam room. I love steam rooms, and this one didn’t disappoint. I made sure I washed my hair and put loads of conditioner in before sitting in the steam room giving my hair a lovely deep treatment!

After the thermal floor we had lunch, which was light and delicious and of course the champagne was perfect!

All the treatments were after lunch, starting with the facial and massage, which you have in a lush treatment room lying on a heated bed! I loved the treatments and the facial was the best I have ever had, it even included a head massage using my now favourite ESPA product – the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud (post on that coming soon!). They used a huge number of ESPA products for the facial and massage – which leave you smelling amazing.

We probably left the spa about 4pm but could have easily spent a few more hours just relaxing in the ladies changing rooms or sleep pods! I wouldn’t hesitate to spend another day there, it was worth every penny and genuinely felt like an experience!

Below are a few photos off the website so you can see how amazing it is.

 

Matte Red Lips are my new obsession

I have already said how impressed I am with H&M Beauty (see here), so when I saw they had extended their lipstick range to include matte lipsticks I couldn’t resist.

I went for two – Red Alert (left) and Lennox Lounge. They are both beautiful reds, that wear really well and don’t leave your lips dry and flaky. For £7.99 each these are as good as any major brand.

Below is Red Alert, a stunning blue red.

Pictures below are Lennox Lounge, a darker vampy red.

Amazing lipsticks and great quality – very impressed!