LUSH Spring 2016

Every season I look forward to going along to the LUSH event in my local store (@LushCardiff) where I get an exclusive peek at all the products which are new in. Probably my favourite collection of products comes out in the spring, as I am a huge fan of sweet scents and you can't have Easter products without them!

Top 5 Travel Essentials

I have been going a bit holiday-crazy recently as I've booked my first ever holiday with my boyfriend for July this year. So, when I was contacted by HomeAway and challenged to think of my top 5 travel essentials which I couldn't be without, I was well up for it!

Bblonde Maximum Ombré Kit* Review

I've been thinking about lightening my hair for some time, but it wasn't until after I got 16 inches cut off for charity that I could really physically do it, as it would have been a mammoth struggle when my hair was all the way down to my bum! I wasn't quite ready to lighten my hair all over, and I don't have the spare time to deal with retouching my roots, so I decided to try out ombré to refresh and brighten my hair for the New Year.

Tri-Active Facial at a Clarins Gold Salon

Up until recently I was completely unaware that there is a Clarins Gold Salon right around the corner from where I live, in Central Pharmacy Cardiff on Welfield Road. I got a lovely email from a lady called Chelsey asking me if I wanted to come along and try out one of their Tri-Active Facials, so obviously I jumped at the opportunity!

 

Natural Products Which REALLY Work (GIVEAWAY)

I was recently contacted by a brand called Maple Holistics, a natural, cruelty free brand which specialises in haircare and skincare. Obviously I jumped at the opportunity to try out some of their bestselling products, as I'm always on the look-out for products which really work to show you guys! I have been testing these products out for about a month, so I have a pretty good idea of how they work and what benefits they actually provide. IMPORTANT: Read this post until the end to be in with a chance of receiving your own free products!

Summer Style Series: The Beach Outfit

One of my favourite parts of summer is visiting the beach and spending long relaxed days on the sand and in the sea. Although style is not top of my list of priorities at the beach (practicality and temperature are much more crucial), it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice it altogether!

Summer Style Series: The Formal Outfit

This is the second installment of my Summer Style Series, bringing together outfits for all summer occasions. As summer is typically known as "wedding season", I decided it would be silly not to include a formal outfit. I went for something quite cool and airy, but if you prefer to be a little more covered up then you could always wear a sleeved shirt or jacket and a longer skirt.

Summer Style Series: The Casual Outfit

Summer is without doubt my favourite season. As much as I love curling up in front of the fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate in the winter, I just can't get enough of the scorching hot sun and long summer evenings with friends. Another of my favourite things about summer is the fashion, although layering is long gone and I can't wear my beloved knitwear, I love wearing floaty tops and dresses and being able to leave the house without a coat.

Finding the Perfect Gift

Gifts are one of my favourite parts of celebrations, as I really enjoy shopping for other people and picking out things I know they'll love. I get a certain kind of joy when watching someone open a present, unravelling the ribbon bow and carefully peeling back the sellotape in an attempt to preserve the beautiful wrapping paper. I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside as I watch a smile creep across their face as they look up to lock eyes with me and say "thank you".

#JORDwatch: Effortless Style for Men & Women

I've never included men's fashion on my blog before, but when JORD watches contacted me to ask whether I wanted to review one of their beautifully crafted wooden watches, one of the first things I noticed about their collection was the fact that they cater perfectly to both genders, with some watches being very simple and unisex and some with a bit more sparkle for people like me who can't resist a bit of added glam. JORD very kindly sent me two watches, one for women and one for men, so I could show off how adorable they look as a pair (if you want to be that couple who wear matching accessories!)

FREE CAKE!

Recently Bakerdays emailed me, asking if I'd like to try one of their Letterbox cakes and also give one away to one of my readers. Obviously I jumped at the chance, because who doesn't love cake?! (plus calories totally don't count if you haven't paid for it yourself) It came in a package small enough to fit through my letterbox, which I think is such a fantastic idea as you can just post someone a cake for a special occasion or if they're just feeling down!

Day to Night: Black Stiletto Ankle Boots

As soon as these gorgeous Stiletto Ankle Boots* from Shoe Zone arrived on my doorstep, I was ridiculously excited to style them. They're classic and sophisticated, and I can picture myself wearing them with so many different outfits! I wanted to write a 'day to night' post to show you guys just how versatile a good pair of black ankle boots can be, as they are the perfect wardrobe staple for any occasion.

For my daytime look, I paired the boots with my Topshop Joni jeans, Warehouse striped polo-neck (similar) and Debenhams trench. This is such a simple but stylish outfit, and I would class all of the items as staples in my wardrobe, as they can be dressed up or down with anything. I topped off the look with my H&M floppy hat, which I mentioned in my April Favourites.

To transition the look to night, all I had to do was swap the trench for my Mango leather jacket (another wardrobe staple!), add a red cashmere scarf to keep me warm, throw my hair up into a ponytail and apply a coat of my KIKO frosted lipstick in 04. 

This day to night combination would be so convenient if you only had a few minutes to get yourself ready for an evening after spending the day out, as it doesn't involve struggling out of your jeans or trying to get a top over your head without ruining your hair and make-up. It's amazing how much you can change a look by simply swapping outerwear and accessories! I try to keep quite a minimalist wardrobe of clothes that can be worn in a variety of ways, so I hardly ever wear the same outfit twice or in the same way, keeping my fashion choices stylish and exciting but also affordable!

I thought I'd include a few closer shots of the boots so you can really appreciate how lovely they are! For stilettos, I found them remarkably comfortable and I think I could manage short distances and standing in them, which is more than can be said for a lot of my shoe collection! I love their elegant pointed toe and the curve of the sole, and I think the gold zip adds a bit of detail to set them apart from your average black boot.

I couldn't really not include this photo as I look so intensely excited, but I hope you liked the outfits I put together! Let me know if you'd like me to do more fashion posts like this one, and I'll get on it in the summer after my exams!

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Wanderlust Jewellery

Recently at an entrepreneurship workshop I got talking to one of the supervisors about my blog, who told me to check out Wanderlust Jewellery as she knows the people who run it. After reading their about page, I fell in love with the background of the company and everything they stand for. Wanderlust means "a strong desire or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world" and they were established after a year long adventure across the globe where they were inspired by many other cultures. I love how their gemstones are sourced from all over the world, and how each piece of jewellery has a story and meaning behind it. 

I got in touch with Wanderlust and they were generous enough to send me their Sanah Moonstone Necklace* to feature on my blog. When I opened the box I was absolutely blown away - it is honestly the most breathtaking necklace I have ever seen! The moonstone has a blue iridescent hue when it catches the light, meaning it almost looks as if it is constantly changing and alive. They feature a little description on each item's page telling you the meaning behind it which I think is a lovely touch as it really makes you feel as if it is special. 

"Moonstone is a stone for “new beginnings”, it is a stone of inner growth and strength and believed to sooth emotions it is also believed to encourage love into your life."

I think it will be nice for me to wear this during stressful times, such as during my exams, and remember this message of "inner growth and strength" as well as reminding me to stay calm.

If you're a "wanderlusting soul", love jewellery with meaning behind it, or just like beautiful things, I would really recommend checking out Wanderlust Jewellery. They have also been kind enough to give you guys 10% off when you enter the code JODIEVOSS at the checkout!

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How to style: Cut-out ankle boots

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Recently, I was sent some gorgeous Cut-out Chunky Ankle Boots* from Shoezone. I was so excited for them to arrive (I snapped this photo as soon as they were delivered!) as I couldn't wait to style them - I fell in love with their edgy vibe as soon as I saw them on the site!

They are quite chunky and the buckles are large which initially I was worried would make my feet look wide and clunky but I was pleasantly surprised. The buckles are adjustable which is useful as I have quite narrow ankles. I decided to style them with a pair of frilly ankle socks from Topshop, black opaque tights and a floral patterned dress from Forever 21. I love the way this looked, giving a girly and feminine outfit an edgier twist! 

Many people complain about having to wear certain socks with cut-out boots, but personally I'm not going to restrict myself to only wearing black with them. I think it would look great to add a pop of colour to an outfit by wearing bright socks, and Topshop sells some adorable socks with a variety of prints which will also be making an appearance through the little cut-out!
I'm looking forward to wearing these boots in the Spring/Summer with dresses, skirts and shorts to add something a little different to my usually quite classic and simple style. I plan to wear them with my Oasis leather biker jacket too as I think they'll compliment each other well! 

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St Kitts Herbery Cleanser for All Skin Types*

St Kitts Herbery - Cleanser*

Due to the nature of my combination skin, I have never really ventured into trying cream cleansers which you apply using cotton pads (apart from Lush 9 to 5) as I have always opted for facial washes and cleansers designed specifically for acne-prone skin, as that was my concern. However, I have been on the lookout for a new cleanser since my skin has drastically cleared up. I was willing to give this product a try as the St Kitts Herbery website says it is "gentle" and also that the active natural botanicals it contains (neroli and frankincense) stimulate cell activity and encourage skin cell growth. This sounded good to me as I have a fair bit of discolouration and acne-scarring left over from when my skin was in worse condition.

The first thing I noticed when I pumped the product onto a cotton pad was the smell. Personally I loved it, as it smells very exotic and musky while also smelling fresh, if that even makes sense. I used the cleanser after removing my make-up with the Garnier Micellar Water which I usually think is quite effective but I had a huge surprise; there was still a significant amount of make-up left on my face even after using the micellar water! This cleanser felt cool and soft on my skin, and also removed the excess make-up from my face effectively. After using the cleanser I also used a different product with hot water to open my pores and deeply cleanse them as I only ever feel as if my skin is properly clean after doing this, but you could definitely go without if you don't love washing your face!

The cleanser is aimed at "all skin types" but I would say it is probably not suitable for actively blemished skin (new spots) as there are many more products on the market which are far more effective as they are targeted specifically for action against blemishes. However, I would say that this cleanser would be perfect for dry/normal/combination skin as it is very hydrating and refreshing. I would also recommend it for use on sensitive skin as it is extremely gentle.

As I have been using this cleanser alongside the rest of my skincare routine, I have seen my acne-scarring become slightly less noticeable. However, I'm not sure whether that was down to this product in particular or a combination of those I use. I will be continuing to use this bottle up to see if it does make any difference and if anything else, to remove the excess make-up that was being left on my skin previously!

*I have always been very into skincare as I have had to deal with acne-prone skin for all of my teenage life. It is one of my favourite things to write about on my blog as I love to share my experiences with others who may be looking for advice, as I know I would have appreciated that when I was younger! So obviously, I was extremely excited when St Kitts Herbery contacted me and sent me their cleanser to try. This product was gifted to me by St Kitts Herbery but all of my opinions are 100% honest and my own.