Tuesday 30 June 2015

Curvissa Five Way Blogger Challenge - Holiday Style

Curvissa Five Way Blogger Challenge - Holiday Style

Hello Lovelies, 

Recently I was asked if I'd like to take part in the Curvissa Holiday Shop 5 Way Blogger Challenge, a fashion challenge where 5 bloggers including myself were asked to style a piece from the Curvissa Holiday Shop

After much deliberation I chose the Floral Print Shift Dress* a brightly coloured floral print summer dress with lace like  detailing to the shoulders and back of the dress.

Curvissa Five Way Blogger Challenge - Holiday Style

I really like the dress and knew I would as soon as I opened the parcel and saw the dress through the clear bag it was packaged in, the colours in the dress are lovely and there's a great mix of lovely summer colours in the dress so it's ideal for pairing with many different accessories. The dress doesn't have any buttons or zips it's a pull on style and very comfortable to wear, I usually wear a size 16-18 and chose a size 18 in the dress, it fits well but is a tiny bit snug on the chest, I do have what you could call an ample chest though so I'm guessing that's why. It doesn't look snug at all but does feel it a teeny tiny bit but not enough to bother me and if I sized up the dress would be far too big everywhere else so if you are a bigger chested lady like me I'd say perhaps order a couple of sizes and see which fits best for you, it's a lovely fit everywhere else though and super comfortable.


The dress has cream lace like detailing to the back and a little on the shoulders at the front, I think it's a nice touch and adds something a little different to the dress. The dress feels nice to wear and something I can dress up or down accordingly and also wear here in the UK and when I go on my summer holiday abroad so a really versatile piece for the summer. 

Curvissa Five Way Blogger Challenge - Holiday Style

In the first photograph of me wearing the dress I chose to pair it with some gold sandals (see above) this outfit is perfect for a hot day in the UK or on my holiday abroad. In the above photograph I added some green ballet pumps, picking out the green in the dress, this would be an ideal outfit for the UK if it wasn't quite weather for sandals or abroad if sandals aren't your thing.

Curvissa Five Way Blogger Challenge - Holiday Style

I've also added a denim jacket and a bright pink bag, I think the bag picks out the pink in the dress perfectly. This would be a perfect outfit for a summers day shopping trip or lunch out with Simon and the girls or my friends, I love how the green shoes and pink bag pick out the colours of the flowers in the dress perfectly.

I am so happy with the dress, it really is a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down and styled for many different occasions, as I said I could wear the dress as styled in the above photographs for an evening out on my holidays or a shopping or lunch trip with family or friends but I could also wear the dress with a nice jacket, heels and a clutch to a summer wedding or christening, it's a very versatile piece and very pretty too.

I love the dress and would give it a 5 out of 5, it's a lovely dress, really pretty colours, easy to wear and extremely versatile, I highly recommend you check out the dress and all the other items in the Curvissa Holdiay Shop, there's some great items, you'll be spoilt for choice!

If you'd like to check out the other lovely ladies in the 5 way blogger challenge you can find them here,


Have you checked out the Curvissa Holiday Shop? Which are your favourite items?

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x




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Saturday 27 June 2015

How To Get "Unicorn Hair"

How To Get "Unicorn Hair"


Hello Lovelies, 

My eldest daughter Cole loves Unicorns, she also loves funky hair colours and being a little bit different,  combine all three things and I have a daughter with pink and lilac hair or "unicorn hair" as we call it, I say we call it that but it appears so do rather a lot of other people too. Pinterest is full of boards with pins entitled "unicorn hair" showing images of people with multicoloured hair like Cole. 

I posted the above photograph on Instagram recently and since then so many people have asked questions about Coles hair and how she got it like that, what she used or what she asks for at the hairdressers etc so I thought I would write a post telling you exactly how Cole got her "unicorn hair". 

What You'll Need.

Two Tint Brushes

Directions Semi Permanent Hair Colour In Lavender

Directions Semi Permanent Hair Colour In Carnation Pink £3.95.

Latex Gloves 

Vaseline for around your hair line to protect it (optional)

An old towel to cover your shoulders to protect your clothes.

How To Achieve "Unicorn Hair"

*Before using Directions or any hair colour it is advisable to do a patch test first* 

1. Using a tint brush, brush the lavender colour straight from the pot and brush onto dry hair in small sections from the root to wherever you'd like it (Cole has it around half way down her hair) making sure all the hair is covered, you can use your hands to rub the colour in once it has been brushed on if you wish to make sure all the colour is rubbed into the hair properly - Cole does this. 

2. Using another tint brush, brush the Carnation Pink colour straight from the pot and brush onto dry hair on the rest of the hair in small sections,  making sure all the hair is covered, you can use your hands to rub the colour in once it has been brushed on if you wish to make sure all the colour is rubbed into the hair - Cole does this.

3. Wash and dry one of your tint brushes, then mix what your have left in each pot of colour and blend the colours together on the hair where there is a line where the Lavender meets the Carnation Pink.  

4. Leave the colour on your hair for an hour, then rinse your hair until all the colour is out or the water runs clear.

5. Dry and style your hair as normal. 

The Result.

How To Get "Unicorn Hair"

I think Coles hair looks amazing, it is super easy to do and there are so many colours to choose from.  Directions are sold in a variety of different colours so you could use whatever colours you wanted   dependant on your personal choice. You can also use Directions on wet hair but Cole prefers to use it on dry hair as she feels she gets a more vibrant colour that way, applying the colour in small sections creates a more even finish. If you would like a more 'pastel' colour mix the Directions with some conditioner and apply in the same way. 

If you coloured your hair what colour would you choose? I quite fancy some pastel pink through the ends of my hair but I think I'm a little old for having pink hair, what do you think? 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x



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Thursday 25 June 2015

Boots Expert Build Up Removal Shampoo

Boots Expert Build Up Removal Shampoo

Hello Lovelies,

I suffer with oily hair and have done since having my youngest daughter Lissy 18 years ago, I'd never had a problem before then and it's been the bane of my life ever since. Over the years I have tried so many shampoos that claim to be suitable for oily hair and have found some real gems along the way but I have also found that using a clarifying shampoo is a fantastic way of keeping the oil under control.

Up until recently I have been using a loving an Ojon clarifying shampoo, it was the best one I've ever used, but it has been discontinued, don't you hate it when brands do that? So once again the hunt for the perfect clarifying shampoo began. I have tried quite a few clarifying shampoos but they can be expensive, and not only that some of them aren't suitable for coloured hair for example the Bumble & Bumble Sunday shampoo is brilliant but it's £18.50 for 250ml and isn't suitable to use with coloured hair so I can't use it. I do love the Paul Mitchell Two  shampoo (review post here) and have re purchased that many times but again it is quite expensive at around £10.25 for 300ml so more affordable than the Bumble but still a little pricey and I really wanted to find a more budget friendly brand. I stumbled upon the Boots Expert Build Up Removal shampoo, £3.49 for 200ml completely by accident, I must have walked past this so many times before but I saw it and I thought I'd give it a go, I couldn't find anywhere on the bottle to say it was suitable for coloured hair but then again the Bumble one doesn't claim anywhere other than the website that it isn't suitable for coloured hair either (helpful, no?) I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.

My Thoughts

I've been using the shampoo for around a month now and I like it, it isn't the best clarifying shampoo I've ever used but it does leave my hair feeling clean and I can get away with washing my hair every other day when using this, it is a colourless liquid that doesn't really have a scent to it, it lathers up well and rinses out with ease, it removes product build up well and hasn't damaged my coloured hair at all which I was really pleased with. To give you an example of how long my hair will stay oil free for when using the shampoo, I wash my hair on day one with the build up removal shampoo, and then day two my hair is ok to be worn down with a little dry shampoo at the roots and then I will wash my hair the day after so I wash my hair every other day.

Overall Thoughts & Would I Re Purchase?

Overall I think for the money this is a good product, it isn't as good as the Ojon detox shampoo I loved or the Bumble or Paul Mitchell shampoos but it isn't anywhere near as expensive either and for £3.49 for 200ml I think it's a good product, no it isn't the best clarifying shampoo on the market but it doesn't claim to be either, I do think the packaging could be better, it would have been helpful if it said it was suitable for coloured hair and it is a little bland looking but it's no biggy and not something that bothers me or would put me off re purchasing the shampoo. I can't go as long without washing my hair when using this shampoo but I can go every other day and use a little dry shampoo in between. I would definitely re purchase the shampoo, I think for the price it's a good shampoo and it does exactly what it says on the tin, if you're looking for an amazing clarifying shampoo that will give you a break from washing your hair for a few days this isn't for you, but if you want something to remove product build up and maybe go from every day washing to every other day, give this a go it's a good product for the price and it didn't strip my colour, I'd say it's definitely worth a try if you haven't tried it already.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the shampoo anywhere on the Boots website but it is available to buy in store for £3.49 for 200ml.

Do you suffer with oily hair? Have you found a clarifying shampoo I can use on my coloured hair you'd recommend? Please let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x







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Tuesday 23 June 2015

Ojon Revitalizing Mist - A Review

Ojon Revitalizing Mist - A Review

Hello Lovelies, 

I suffer with oily hair and for years have steered clear of using a conditioner as part of my hair care routine fearing it would make my hair more oily, and up until very recently I couldn't tell you the last time I used a conditioner (terrible I know) My eldest daughter is a make up artist and hair stylist and has a lot of knowledge of both make up and hair products and she was telling me that using a conditioner won't in fact make my hair more oily and that I should use a conditioner even if it's only a couple of times a week, a few days later she arrived home from work with the Ojon Revitalizing Mist a leave in conditioner that she said was lightweight and really good so I thought I'd give it a whirl and I've been using it for around 2 months now. 

What Ojon Says About The Revitalizing Mist

Ojon™ Revitalizing Mist Original is a lightweight, liquid hairdresser with the hair-repairing power of pure Ojon™ oil, nature’s golden elixir, Blue Agave, Lemongrass and Ginseng instantly revitalises, re-hydrates and takes out the tangles.
Tames frizzy fly-away hair. Mist on before blow-drying and your blow-out is light, free, and full of bounce - never stiff, sticky, dragged-down or dirty feeling.
Warning: this product is highly addictive.
My Thoughts
I have to admit I was extremely sceptical about using the revitalizing mist, I thought I would use it in the morning and by the evening my hair would resemble an oil slick, but I was wrong. I used the mist on towel dried hair spritzing all over my hair but avoiding my roots and then brushed my hair through and styled as normal. 
My hair gets very tangled when it's wet and can be very hard to brush through but when I use the revitalizing mist my hair is so much easier to brush through, I agree with Ojons claims that the product doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or stiff, dragged down or dirty, it feels soft and smooth and most importantly to me the mist doesn't make my hair oily at all. 
I have been using the mist for around 2 months now and I am super impressed, my hair is quite thin but does get very tangled when wet and I find the mist makes my hair easier to brush through, my hair feels lovely and soft when I've used the mist, I use it around once or twice a week and I have noticed the ends of my hair to look a lot better after only 2 months, the best thing for me though has to be that my hair doesn't become oily after I've used the mist,  I worried because the product contains oil that it would make my hair super oily but that hasn't been the case at all, it is a bi phase product although my photograph doesn't show that (sorry) so it needs to be shaken before use, the mist is easy to use and smells amazing. 
Overall Thoughts
Overall I am super impressed with the mist, it's lightweight and leaves my hair easy to brush through and feeling very soft and not weighed down at all and after just 2 months I can see a difference in the way the ends of my hair look, it is easy to use, smells amazing and very effective and best of all it doesn't make my hair oily at all, for years I have stayed away from conditioning my hair, if only I'd known about this product sooner! I would definitely recommend the Ojon Revitalizing Mist especially if like me you suffer from oily hair and usually shy away from conditioning products. 
If you would like to try the mist, you can find it online at Escentual, Boots and Look Fantastic for £20.50. 
Do you suffer with oily hair? Have you always steered clear of conditioner? Or is it just me?
Thank you for reading, much love as always, 
Zoe x



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Saturday 20 June 2015

KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review

KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review

Hello Lovelies,

I'm sure you'll be aware by now that I'm a bit of a lot of a skincare geek, my interest in skin care started after me having major issues with my own skin a few years ago, I started to research and try new brands and products and quickly became really interested and I still have a real passion for it.

I have recently been trying out some products from an Australian skincare brand KORE, a brand that up until recently I hadn't heard of, but like I said I love to research and try new products and brands so this was a perfect opportunity for me to do both.

KORE skincare as I said are an Australian skincare brand, they focus on producing superior natural skincare products using their trademarked 'Kore Complex' plus natural ingredients and AHA's found in fruit and vegetable extracts, all their products are paraben free and are developed without any form of animal testing.

KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review
KORE Skincare Luxury Starter Travel Pack* 

I received the KORE luxury starter travel pack which contained 7 products, Foaming Cleanser, Pearl Optimal Repair Cream, Pearl Gentle Exfoliator, Restorative Day Cream, Pearl Intensive Serum, Repairing Eye Cream and Pearl Revitalising Toner. 

The Products

KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review


Foaming Cleanser - I don't usually use a foaming cleanser as I find them drying and already having really dry skin they don't work for me but I didn't find that with this one, it is more of a milk than a soapy type foaming cleanser, I added a little to my hand, mixed with water then applied all over my face and wiped away with a face cloth. When mixed with water the cleanser was a milky type consistency and applied well and was easy to remove, my skin was left feeling smooth and clean. In the booklet I received with my pack it does say the cleanser can be used to removed make up but I don't like to use my cleanser as a make up remover I take my make up off before I cleanse so I can't comment on that I'm afraid.

Repairing Eye Cream - This was one of my favourite products in the pack, it sank into my skin with ease and felt instantly hydrating, the serum definitely lives up to it's claims of being "designed to tone and hydrate" it was very hydrating and felt lovely, I only needed to use a small amount too, a little goes a long way.

Pearl Intensive Serum - I love a good serum and this one didn't disappoint, it sank into my extremely dehydrated skin with ease, containing hyaluronic acid it is perfect for dehydration but is also designed to combat signs of premature ageing too something a lady of my age certainly needs help with! 


KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review

Pearl Revitalising Toner - Again one of my favourites from the pack I really liked this toner, I used it by spritzing onto a cotton pad and sweeping all over my face, it contains AHA's so gently exfoliates but also contains Aloe Vera so it is soothing at the same time, I loved to use the toner in a morning as it felt cooling on the skin and left my skin feeling fresh and me feeling awake, it is a lovely product. 

KORE Skincare - An Introduction And Review


Pearl Gentle Exfoliator - I haven't used a granular exfoliator for a long time, probably around 2 years now, I much prefer using an acid toner for exfoliation but I did find it quite nice to use, again as with all the products I tried, a little went a long way. It didn't feel overly abrasive on my skin or harsh at all and my skin was left feeling smooth. 

Pearl Optimal Repair Cream - I used this as my night time moisturiser but it can be used as both a day and night cream, it is a rich hydrating repair cream that moisturises and hydrates the skin, it is gentle but powerful and left my skin feeling very soft, hydrated and moisturised. 

Restorative Day Cream - Less rich than the optimal repair cream, I used this as my morning moisturiser and even though it isn't as rich as the optimal repair cream my skin still felt hydrated and moisturised, it contains vitamin E which helps the skin to feel silky smooth and mine certainly did. 

My Overall Thoughts

I liked all the products in the pack, my stand out favourites were definitely the eye cream and the toner, but I did enjoy using all the products. The products felt premium and were nice to use, I liked that they contained ingredients targeted at premature ageing and firming and brightening the skin, which is something I do look for when buying skincare, all the products were nice to use and a little product went a long way.  I liked that the products don't contain parabens, which is again something I look for and that they aren't developed using animal testing. Overall they are nice products containing great ingredients, I think the products in the pack are more aimed at anti ageing so they may not be for the very young but if you're looking for some anti ageing skincare products KORE may definitely be for you.

The Luxury Starter Travel Pack I received isn't available to purchase on it's own but comes as a free gift when you spend over £100 and is worth £62.00, it's a great little pack and was fabulous as a way for me to try the brand but would also be amazing to take on holiday. 

If you would like try some of the KORE products, you can find them online at the KORE website they also have an FAQ page which you can find here

Are you a skincare geek? Do you like trying new brands and products? 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x





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Thursday 18 June 2015

Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher And Nail Cleaner - Review

Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher And Nail Cleaner - Review
Elegant Touch Cuticle Pusher & Nail Cleaner* £9.50

Hello Lovelies, 

It's pretty obvious by now that I love nail products,  polishes are my first love but I do love all nail products too. You may have seen the review I did recently on the May edition of nailbox,  in my nailbox was an Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher And Nail Cleaner, I have been using wooden orange sticks for months now since losing the cuticle pusher I did have but they're not the best to be honest so I was really pleased to see the cuticle pusher and nail cleaner in the box. 

Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher And Nail Cleaner - Review

To be brutally honest before I not got my nailbox to review I probably wouldn't have considered spending £9.50 on a nail tool, but since using it I 100% would re purchase and would definitely recommend it, it is amazing! It does a fantastic job at pushing back my cuticles in no time at all and the nail cleaner is an added bonus and works brilliantly too. 

The first time I used the cuticle pusher and nail cleaner I thought it was fantastic, it is so good, and the rubber handle makes it easy and comfortable to use and non slip and there's a 5 year guarantee too which is brilliant and since using and loving the cuticle pusher and nail cleaner, I also have my eye on the Elegant Touch Cuticle Nipper too now, and if that is as good as the cuticle pusher it will be great.  

I would without a shadow of a doubt recommend the Elegant Touch Professional Cuticle Pusher And Nail Cleaner it is a fantastic product and does the job in no time at all, you get exactly what it says on the tin, it really is a brilliant nail tool and I will most certainly be re purchasing as and when I need to and exploring more of the products in the range. 

If you would like to purchase your own cuticle pusher and nail cleaner you can find it at Look Fantastic (inc free delivery) Feel Unique and Boots priced at £9.50. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x




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Tuesday 16 June 2015

NOTD - China Glaze Shell O

NOTD - China Glaze Shell O

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I have another NOTD post for you, if this is your first time reading a NOTD post and you're wondering what NOTD means it means nail of the day. In my NOTD posts I tell you which polish or polishes I've used in the photographs including top coat and base coat if I've used them and I will give you a mini review of the polish including application and wear time, I feel this is important because it's fine to see a polish you like the look of but knowing someones thoughts on it I feel is  important too.

So today's NOTD is the China Glaze Shell O polish, a gorgeous neon coral shade, it's perfect for summer and I love the colour.

NOTD - China Glaze Shell O
NOTD - China Glaze Shell O

I really like China Glaze polishes for their colour range and different finishes, they do some amazing collections too, but the one thing I don't like about them is they don't last well on my nails, even with my HG top coat the Orly Glosser I am lucky to get 2 days wear time from one of their polishes but I don't let it put me off because I do love the polishes and as I said the range is amazing. 

Shell O is a polish from the On The Shore Sunsational China Glaze collection, I love the collection it's one of my favourites, such amazing summery shades. Shell O is a beautiful colour and one I adore but to achieve the opaque finish in the photographs above I need to use 6 or 7 coats of the polish, each coat dries fairly quickly so it isn't too bad but it is something to think about before purchasing, it doesn't bother me too much because I adore the shade and get so many compliments when I wear it. I also used my Orly Glosser top coat in the photographs above to achieve the amazing shine on my nails.

Despite the amount of coats needed Shell O is a beautiful colour, there's no denying it, it's perfect for summer, looks great on both fingers and toes and I love it, the amount of coats needed doesn't put me off at all because they dry fairly quickly and the results are amazing, it really is a beautiful polish. 

If you would like to try Shell O you can fine it at Nail Polish Direct for £3.95 this includes P&P, I used Nail Polish Direct all the time and they are a fantastic company especially for a nail polish addict like me, you can also find my HG top coat the Orly Glosser top coat on Nail Polish Direct for £11.10 again including P&P, all orders include P&P which is fantastic! 

Have you tried China Glaze? Which is your favourite polish? 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x




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Thursday 11 June 2015

Benefit Porefessional License To Blot Review

Benefit Porefessional License To Blot Review

Hello Lovelies, 

If you're a regular blog reader or social media lover or both, I'm sure you'll have heard about Benefits new addition to their POREfessional range, Benefit POREfessional License To Blot. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on it. 

What Benefit Say About License To Blot

BLOT on the spot! This instant oil-blotting stick with tiny invisible blotting spheres mattifies shine for up to 6 hours after application.* The specially designed triangular tip targets shiny zones…the sides of your nose, forehead and chin. Oil has finally met its matte!

*instrumental test on 10 panelists 

100% saw continuous mattifying action*
97% said it helps minimize the look of pores*
100% said it absorbs excess surface oil*
*consumer panel survey on 30 women over 7 days

My Thoughts

I have very dry and dehydrated skin so when I received the POREfessional License To Blot I thought it may not be for me because I don't have an oily skin and it is an instant oil blotting stick,  but that said I do have issues with shine control, because of my super dry skin and having to use rich moisturisers and skin care products my skin can often look very shiny so I wondered if it would help with that and also help with my pores which are an issue for me. 

The License To Blot comes in a triangular shaped tube with a wheel at the base so you can twist the product up to use it, the triangular design makes application easy and I did find it super easy to use. I apply the product over my make up before I powder to my forehead and chin where I find I look most shiny and to my nose, the sides of my nose and my cheeks where I feel my pores are visible. 

Benefit Porefessional License To Blot Review
Benefit Porefessional License To Blot Review
Benefit POREfessional License To Blot £15.50*

I find the best way for me to use the product is to use a light hand and either apply straight from the tube or use my ring finger and rub it around the top of the product and then dab the product onto the areas I want it, I do have to say my make up does come off onto the product and this is something I don't like so for me using my ring finger is my preferred method when using the product and although my make up does come off onto the product my make up doesn't slide or move when using it which is something I did have concerns about. 

The product is colourless on the skin and did a great job of concealing my pores and banishing the shine from my forehead and chin, I wouldn't say I agreed with the product lasting 6 hours, for me it was more like 4 but it's a nice compact tube and can be easily stored in my handbag should I need to touch up on the go. 

Overall Thoughts

The License To Blot is mostly targeted at oil control but for me it is the ability to conceal my pores I am most impressed with, it did do a great job of eliminating shine but the effect it had on my pores was extremely impressive, I really liked it and think for the amount I need to use the price isn't bad either. 

Obviously I can't speak for oily skins but for me it's a great little product for my pores and shine control. If you would like to try the Benefit License To Blot it is available from the Benefit website, Boots, Debenhams and Feel Unique and is priced at £15.50. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x




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Wednesday 10 June 2015

Bon Marche Blogger Swap Challenge

Hello Lovelies,

Recently I was asked if I'd like to take part in blogging fashion challenge with Bon Marche, the challenge was that 2 bloggers were paired up and had to choose an outfit for each other from the Bon Marche website based on their blog and social media content, I love fashion and thought it sounded like a fun idea so accepted the challenge.

I was paired with the lovely Rachel, we introduced ourselves via email and then I spent a while searching Rachel's social media and blog finding out her style and she did the same for me. When my parcel came I was really pleased and I could see Rachel had done her homework well.

My Outfit

Bon Marche Blogger Swap Challenge
Bon Marche Blogger Swap Challenge
Bon Marche Blogger Swap Challenge

The outfit Rachel chose for me was :

Denim Slim Leg Jeans* (size 18) £18.00 
Blue Striped Linen Blend Tailored Jacket* (size 18) £32.00 
White Basic Camisole* (size 18) £6.00
Ann Harvey Waterfall Crystal Necklace* £15.00 

Outfit Sizing & Fit

I am between sizes a lot of the time and can wear a 16 or 18 so when I was asked for my sizing I aired on the side of caution and went with a size 18. The jeans were too big for me but to give you an idea of my size, I have recently bought jeans from Topshop in a size 16 and some denim shorts from Next in a size 16 but in other stores I feel more comfortable in a size 18, it all depends on the store and fit etc so if you are like me I would say maybe order 2 sizes in those, the length was fine for me maybe a touch long, I usually wear a 30 leg and am 5 feet 5 inches tall. The blazer is a fitted style and darted all the way round, the size 18 was the perfect fit for me but bare in mind it is a tailored style so very fitted, the camisole top is I think a generous fit as it was a little big on me and as another example I order an 18 in the Next camisole vest tops, the necklace had an extension type chain on it so you can make it shorter/longer if you wish so would suit most peoples taste and I think it finished the outfit off nicely. 

Changing It Up Slightly

I like to push the sleeves up on blazers and cardigans so I tried that look too and I also tried the jeans rolled up a little, I think I prefer the outfit worn like that, what do you think? I paired the outfit with my white converse to give it a smart/casual look and I was pleased with the result, I do prefer my jeans to be more of a skinny fit but that was my only complaint. I love fashion jewellery and anything sparkly so the necklace was an instant winner for me too. 

Bon Marche Blogger Swap Challenge

Overall Thoughts On My Outfit

I am pleased with my outfit and think Rachel chose well, one of my go to spring/summer outfits is skinny jeans with a vest top and some sort of jacket for example a blazer, kimono or cardigan and a statement necklace and either converse, ballet pumps or sandals weather dependant, so this outfit was a great choice for me and my style. To be honest before I took part in the challenge I wouldn't ever have looked at the Bon Marche website so this challenge really took me out of my comfort zone and it was nice to be made aware of another option for on line shopping. 

It was lovely to be chosen to take part in the blogger challenge I really enjoyed it, it was something completely different and it was nice to 'meet' Rachel too. Thank you to Bon Marche for asking me to take part and to Rachel for choosing my lovely outfit. 

Do you always stick to the same on line shops when buying clothes? Or do you shop around and if so do you have any recommendations of places for me to shop on line? Please leave your comments below. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x







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Tuesday 9 June 2015

NOTD - Nail Of The Day

NOTD - Nail Of The Day

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I have another NOTD post and today's NOTD is a Rimmel London polish in the shade Hot Tropicana, Hot Tropicana is a gorgeous coral colour and one that is perfect for the summer months, it is one of the Rimmel London 60 seconds super shine range and is the first polish in this range that I have tried. 

NOTD - Nail Of The Day
NOTD - Nail Of The Day

I adore this polish, the colour is amazing, I had a few lighting issues when taking the photographs (thanks weather!) but the above photograph is the most true to colour out of all the photographs. It's not only the colour I adore about this polish, the wear time was incredible, I wore this polish for 8 days, it chipped on day 8 but I could have worn the polish longer as the chip was tiny, I was so impressed with it, it's super shiny as the name would suggest, however I am wearing a top coat in the photographs. I used 2 coats to achieve the colour in the photographs and love the beautiful opaque coral colour, perfect for summer and also looks amazing on the toes. 

The brush is a nice wide brush which makes application a breeze, Rimmel claims 10 days wear time, chip resistant, anti fade, hi shine colour and I completely agree with them although I got 8 days and not 10 but I think that's incredible for a polish that cost me under £3, I am super impressed and will be picking up more in the range so watch this space for more NOTD featuring these beauties.

NOTD - Nail Of The Day

The top coat I used is the Orly Glosser top coat, this is my HG top coat, it gives my nails a fantastic shine and my nail polish lasts for days too, it is a fabulous product. 

If you would like to try Hot Tropicana you can find it on line at Boots and Superdrug for £2.99 and you can find the Orly Glosser top coat on line at Nail Polish Direct for £11.10 inc free delivery. 

Have you tried the Rimmel 60 second super shine polishes? Do you have any shade recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x



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Wednesday 3 June 2015

MAC Paint Pot In Painterly - A Review

MAC Painterly Paintpot Review


Hello Lovelies,

I suffer with very dry skin but very oily eye lids, what a combination! So keeping my eye make up in place is a bit of a nightmare for me unless I use a base under my eye makeup. For years now I have used the Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (full review here) which I love but it is a powder eyeshadow base and I do love to use cream eye shadows and pencils too, so I recently re purchased an old favourite of mine and something I used religiously for many years as an eye shadow base, the MAC paint pot and the shade I love to use as a base is Painterly.

MAC Painterly Paintpot Review

MAC Painterly Paintpot Review

Painterly is a lovely pale nude shade, perfect to use as both as base for my powder eye shadow and cream eye shadows and also alone as a nice neutral eye colour for days when I want a natural make up look, I use the painterly with a slick of mascara and a neutral lip and it gives me a bit of something without applying a full face of make up, so a really handy and versatile product.

MAC Painterly Paintpot Review

MAC Painterly Paintpot Review

Depending on your skin tone, painterly can also be used to line your lips to stop a lipstick bleeding, if you don't have the correct shade of lip liner, take a lip brush if you have one or if not just a small brush and apply painterly around the edge of your lips and it will help to stop your lipstick bleeding.

When using painterly as a base for my eye products, I apply it with my ring finger and blend over my eye lid, I then apply whatever product I'm using whether it be a powder eye shadow or a cream eye shadow,  my eye make up stays in place all day, it doesn't crease or smudge at all.

Painterly is the perfect shade for me but if it is a little too pink toned for you you could choose soft ochre which has more of a yellow undertone, but there are 23 shades to choose from some more neutral like painterly and soft ochre and some coloured shades too. The mac paint pots are brilliant as either a base for an eye look or worn alone, they are a really handy product and you only need to use a tiny bit so a little really does go a long way.

The only negative I have regarding the paint pots is that they can dry out but if you screw the lid on super tight and store them upside down it helps to stop them drying out, I have some other shades which I've had for years and they are fine and haven't dried out at all but have always been stored upside down.

If you would like to try one of the MAC Paint Pots, you can find them on line at the MAC websiteDebenhamsHouse Of Fraser and Selfridges for £15.50.

Have you tried a MAC Paint Pot? What shade is your favourite?

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x
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Tuesday 2 June 2015

La Roche-Posay Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

La Roche-Posay  Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

Hello Lovelies, 

As you'll know if you're a regular reader of my blog, I am a huge skin care geek and I love finding new skin care products so I was super excited to try the La Roche-Posay Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel. I love La Roche-Posay they have some amazing products and one of my holy grail skin care products is the Serozinc spray.  

About The Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

The La Roche-Posay Make-Up Remover Micellar Water Gel is a gentle cleansing gel which is suitable for normal/combination and sensitive skin, it is alcohol, colorant, soap and paraben free and contains hydrating and soothing active ingredients including the La Roche-Posay thermal spring water. 

La Roche-Posay  Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

My Thoughts Including First Impressions

The first thing I noticed and was impressed with was the pump on the bottle, I like products that are easy to dispense, I also liked the scent of the product it has a lovely fresh scent to it with a subtle hint of rose, I was a little lost with the directions of how to use the product as on the back of the bottle it says "apply to wet face, no rinsing" which is a little strange but it didn't bother me too much. 

La Roche-Posay  Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

I decided to use the gel in the same way I use my cleansing balm, I dispensed one pump into my hands, rubbed my hands together and then smoothed the gel all over my face and neck and then removed with a face cloth which I'd had under hand hot water and wrung out. I did find that one pump of the gel wasn't enough to remove a full face of make up and I needed to repeat the process twice more to remove all my make up. 

La Roche-Posay  Make Up Remover Micellar Water Gel

I found the gel left my skin feeling really fresh and cool, it felt soft and not tight at all. I have also used the gel as my morning cleanse and my evening cleanse when I'm not wearing any make up and I really enjoyed using it like that especially as my morning cleanse because it leaves my skin feeling fresh and cool and it leaves me feeling awake so it is perfect for my morning cleanse. 

Overall Thoughts & Would I Re Purchase? 

I really liked the La Roche-Posay Make-Up Remover Micellar Water Gel, it is a completely different cleansing product than I am used to and have enjoyed using especially in the mornings. I wouldn't use the gel as my only make-up remover or cleanser as I feel it isn't as beneficial for my skin as a balm cleanser because I have extremely dry and dehydrated skin and I need something with a little more nourishment but I really enjoyed using the gel as my morning cleanser or my first cleanse/make up remover as part of my evening skin care routine. I think the La Roche-Posay Make-Up Remover Micellar Water Gel would be brilliant for someone with an oily skin as their morning and evening cleanser, but for me it works best as I said as my morning cleanse or my first cleanse in an evening  and I would purchase it for that purpose as I loved the way my skin felt after using it. 

If you would like to try the La Roche-Posay Make-Up Remover Micellar Water Gel you can find it on line on the Escentual website where it is currently on offer for £8.00 (rrp £12.00) 

Have you tried the La Roche-Posay Make-Up Remover Micellar Water Gel? Or like me do you love the brand and have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe 









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