YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Trio - World Duty Free Exclusive!

There is something incredibly lustworthy and luxurious about YSL lipsticks. The chunky gold packaging that encases your colour of choice, the lovely rose scent that emanates when you remove the lid and of course the fabulous formulas, no matter which product you pick.

Today I am drooling over this travel exclusive from World Duty Free - YSL Travel Selection - Rouge Pur Couture. Three full size lipsticks, individually packaged and in mightily beautiful shades.

The three shades are

01 - Le Rouge - a blue toned classic red
13 - Le Orange - A gorgeous and vibrant orangey/red shade (I adore this!)
27 - Fuchsia Innocent - A stunning pink 

The moisturising satin formula glides onto the lips and the rich colour is vivid and intense with a single stroke (see below)

Swatches 

The lipstick trio retails for £59.35 making each lipstick under £20 which when you think a single lipstick costs £26 is great value and a nice saving to get your holiday off to a great start!

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Trio available from World Duty Free 

*PR Sample

Bee Good Cream Cleanser Review

I have been trialling some products from the Bee Good skincare range and this is one of those stand out, shout it out from the roof tops type of product that you need to know about. 

Bee Good skincare say 

This Honey & Propolis 2 in 1 cream cleanser sweeps away make-up and grime without drying out your skin. Used with the included pure muslin cloth to gently exfoliate, it leaves skin bee-autifully clean, soft and silky-smooth.

Available in 30ml travel / 'try me' size and 100ml full-size packs.

Can also be bought as a duo pack of 2x 100ml tubes with muslin cloths for £19.50 saving £3.50!

The benefits of this Bee Good cream cleanser include:

• Contains British propolis which possesses well known 'healing' and ‘antimicrobial’ properties, and has been used for centuries for medicinal and healthcare purposes.
• Propolis has strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties making it one of the best ingredients for balancing problematic skins.
• Propolis stops bacteria spreading and enhances skin renewal. Rich in vitamins B, C and E it’s a natural skin healer.

Bursting with active ingredients including super-moisturising British wild flower honey, nourishing British crambe oil and British propolis, renowned for its antibacterial properties.

My thoughts 

I am loving using this cream cleanser as part of my daily skincare routine. The cream feels nice on the skin, it has a gorgeous sweet scents like refresher sweets or sherbert. This is a two step cleanse - apply cream and then use a muslin cloth (which is included) to wash off. A very lovely and effective cleanser.

My skin looks super clean and clear and feels incredibly soft. Just bee-autiful!

Oh and the bonus is that it costs just £11.50 for 100ml and doesn't contain any skincare nasties.

Top marks from me.

Bee Good 2 in 1 Honey & Propolis Cream Cleanser 100ml costs £11.50 and is available to buy from Waitrose or the Bee Good website. 

*PR Sample

Win A Stay at the AirBNB Floating House!

Yesterday afternoon I spent a delightful afternoon enjoying afternoon tea aboard the AirBnB Floating House on The Thames, currently moored at Canary Wharf.

LONDON –Commuters had to do a double-take as they spotted Airbnb’s latest London listing floating down the River Thames at sunrise. I can confirm that it was indeed causing a stir, I witnessed many a curious person peering in and taking photos :) and friends have mentioned that they spotted it on their way to work.

The fully functioning Floating House will sail down the Thames to celebrate new rules that mean that Londoners – like the rest of the UK – can earn money by sharing their homes through sites like Airbnb. Passing under Tower Bridge before gliding past the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye on its maiden voyage, the House will meander along the river throughout the week until 22 May.

The gorgeously cute home has two bedrooms, a living room, working bathroom and even a garden complete with real grass, a doghouse and an apple tree!

Sitting at an imposing eight metres tall and weighing in at 70 tonnes, the structure was built by production company Star Events over the past four months.

Crossing local neighbourhoods such as Chelsea, Westminster and Canary Wharf, the house will hold community events and overnight stays throughout the week before opening its doors to one lucky winner and three guests, who will stay overnight on Friday 22nd May. Hosted by a member of the Airbnb community, the guests will enjoy spa treatments from on-demand app PRIV, as well as a private dining experience with food personally prepared by Robert Ortiz, head chef of Peruvian and Michelin-starred restaurant Lima and Lima Floral.

The Floating House - just one of more than a million unique experiences available through Airbnb - will provide guests with unparalleled views of the city, as it takes in London riverside landmarks on its journey down the Thames.

Inside The Floating House 

- The rules - 

The new rules on home sharing which recently came into force allow Londoners to share their homes with travellers for up to 90 days a year. This allows visitors to truly experience London as a local, while helping people make a little extra money from their homes to afford the costs of living.

To win the chance to stay on board the Airbnb Floating House on Friday 22nd May enter at https://www.airbnb.com/night-at/floating-house by midnight on Wednesday 20th May.

Urban Decay Naked Palette - The Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette?

I do find it hard to muster too much interest in large eyeshadow palettes as there always seems to be a random horrid blue or some other garish colour (s) that I just wouldn't wear. I tend to buy singles of shades that I really want... But, you would have had to have had your head in the sand not to have noticed the hype over the Urban Decay Naked Palette and rumour has it that it is a Kate Middleton fave. Could I be converted? Is this the ultimate eyeshadow palette?

On first glance the shades are completely up my street, gorgeous, gorgeous bronze hued shades and a fabulous mix of matte, shimmer, satin and sparkle formulas.

I fell in love with the colours but was curious to see how they performed. Well all I can say was I was blown away... the shades glide on like silk across the skin, they look so wonderfully smooth, blend like a dream and most importantly last without fall out or creasing.

Every shade is complementary to the others, choosing shades to work together with is effortless. I love the range of shades going from light to dark as it is incredibly easy to create a day look and a smokey evening look in just a few steps.

My stand out shades are - Virgin (a brilliant base shade that evens and brightens the eye area)
Sin (a gorgeous  light champagne shimmery shade) and the deeper Sidecar and the golden hue of Half Baked and the medium bronze hue of Smog. However, quite honestly the colours are immensely flattering even down to the smudgy shades. I like them all and will  definitely be getting a huge amount of use of this palette as already it is my go to palette.

This is without a doubt 'if you only buy one palette' buy this palette type of product!

Swatches of the Urban Decay Naked Palette 

Urban Decay Naked Palette costs £38 

(and worth every penny)

*PR Sample

SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit Review

Thanks (mostly) to Kim Kardashian contouring became a thing. Now what she does is pretty extreme face sculpting but I am not averse to a bit of contouring myself to give myself some well defined cheek bones.  I have found the SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit really rather excellent in this mission and use to daily.

SEVENTEEN say 

Face the world with Define & Conquer Contour Kit by SEVENTEEN. The darker powder defines the face, while the lighter powder illuminates.

How to Use

Step 1: After you've applied your base, use a brush to apply the darker powder into the hollows of your cheeks. Suck in your cheeks to find them! You can also apply to your jawline, to the sides of your chin and along your hair line.

Step 2: Using a small brush, lightly dust the dark powder down the sides of your nose.

Step 3: Apply the lighter powder to the centre of your forehead, right down to the centre of your chin. Also apply to the tops of your cheek bones.

Step 4: Using your brush, blend the powders, and you're good to go!

My thoughts 

The SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit is part of my everyday routine. I love the slimline packaging that makes it great for transporting. The two shades (I am using medium, but it also comes in a light version) are perfect for my skintone.

I use the rather wonderful contour and highlight brush from Boots No7 which is designed for the job.

Easy to use and instant results - A simple contour for me would be to just apply the darker (matte) shade just under my cheekbone for instantly defined cheeks. I apply my blusher above and a highlighter above the cheekbone and brush the lighter shade down the centre of my face. It takes just seconds and really works. I love it!

In case you want detailed instructions the kit also comes with a step by step instruction sheet complete with illustration. Honestly, you cannot go wrong :)

Swatches of the Contour Kit 

Lovely super smooth powder formula, this provides a really natural contour. A massive thumbs up from me.

SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit costs £5.99 

*PR Sample

Arquiste Citrus & Woods Edit Set at Bloom Perfumery London

Last week I headed over to Covent Garden and Bloom Perfumery to try some exquisite fragrances from Arquiste Parfumeur. Arquiste is a fragrance collection that transports the wearer to evocative moments in history.

I simply adored and was drawn to the citrus and woods fragrance stories collection (pictured above)

Top of my list is

The Architects Club Eau De Parfum - A woody amber 

Cocktail time, March 1930, London.

The story - A group of architects gather for cocktails at Mayfair 's smartest Art Deco smoking room. A comforting , smoky vanilla with an amber woody base and a cool dry gin opening

Notes - Juniper berry oil, Angelica roots, Lemon, Bitter orange, Pepperwood, Guaiac wood, Oakwood, Vanilla absolute and Amber.

My thoughts - I fell in love with the story before I had even tried the scent... happily the fragrance lived up to expectation, this is a deliciously seductive and intoxicating vanilla perfume that manages to be elegant and warm without being cloying. I would wear this in the evening.

L'Etrog Eau De Parfum - A citrus chypre 

Evening, October 1175, Calabria, Italy.

The story - An unconventional citrus fragrance celebrating the evening gathering of Calabrian farmers. Within a cabin built of palm leaves and other woody branches, an aromatic bounty of citrus and lush date fruit envelope the sweet warmth of the Mediterranean night.

Notes - Calabrese cedrat, Calabrese bergamot, Sicilian lemon, Myrtle, Jasmine, Pistachio tree resin, Date fruit, Vetiver and Cedar wood.

My thoughts 

I love this  cool, fresh citrus scent. A delightful Summer scent that I would happily wear day and night.

Anima Dulcis Eau De Parfum - baroque gourmand 

November 1695, Mexico City. 

The story - Rediscovering the olfactory traces of the Viceregal convent of Jesus Maria, where Mexican nuns worked on complex recipes of spicy, sweet scents. Baroque, complex and sensual.

Notes - Smoked chilli infusion, Sesame seed, Cinnamon bark, Oregano, Mexican vanilla, Cinnamon, Cedar wood , Frankincense and Cocoa-bean absolute.

My thoughts - I do enjoy gourmand scents and this one is sweet and spicy in equal measure. Rich, dark and full of depth, this is for serious connoisseurs of gourmand and one that I would wear in the evening. Delectable.

L'Etrog Acqua Eau De Parfum - Citrus woody 

Early Morning, October 1175, Calabria, Italy. 

The story - The day after, the morning dew has been absorbed by the citron in the green fields of Calabria. A juicy, green, tart fragrance with a classic Italian feel and an elegant woody base.

Notes - Myrtle leaf, Calabrese cedrat, Sicilian lemon, Italian mandarin, Petitgrain citronnier, Bergamot, Mediterranean lavender, Labdanum, Cedar wood and Vetiver.

My thoughts - A slightly sharper citrus scent, this is definitely greener than the classic citrus scent of L'Etrog but equally addictive.

Aleksandr Eau De Parfum - Ambery leather

January 1837, St. Petersburg, Russia.

The story - Taking you through the account of a fiery gentleman's duel in a forest outside St. Petersburg. A scent that travels like a bullet in the air, from a cold exterior to a warm heart. Leathery, sophisticated and warm.

Notes - Neroli, Violet leaf, Iced vodka accord, Cognac, Russian leather and Musk accords, Birch leaves, Fir balsam and birch tar.

My thoughts - Aleksandr is by far the most masculine of the scents in this collection. I must admit I struggle to detect the alcoholic notes in this fragrance at first spray, the overriding note for me is the Russian leather and musk accords.  That said it is an unusual and sophisticated parfum but one that I shall hand to my husband to use.

*Arquiste Citrus & Woods Edit Set £55 

If you prefer floral fragrances then may I suggest that you make a visit to Bloom Perfumery and try the Floral Edit Set £50

Flor y Canto - An opulent white floral
Fleur de Louis - A woody floral
Infanta en Flor - Floral musky amber
Boutonniere n7 - Green floral

Arquiste, what's your story? 

*PR Sample 

TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray Review

Hair dryers, straighteners and curling tools all use heat to style the hair and can have a detrimental effect on your hair. I have used a few heat protection sprays over the years but I fancied trying something new and spotted TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray on the shelf and picked it .

TRESemme say 

UV Filter
Heat Defence - Up to 230°C protection against heat damage
Styling Spray - Protects and seals in shine

Prevents hair becoming brittle and dull, reduces breakage with continued use.

My thoughts 

This is a great heat protection spray, it smells salon gorgeous, the spray releases product evenly and feels weightless on the hair with no sticky residue.

I would repurchase this.

TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray 300ml costs £5.25 from Boots 

Godiva Ice Cream Parlour

Summer is fast approaching and with it the promise of warmer days ahead...naturally thoughts turn to ice cream and more specifically delicious, grown up, ice cream from luxury chocolatier Godiva.

Mmm, looks good doesn't it? I can confirm it tastes decadent and rich and everything you would expect from the chocolate experts.

Offering dark chocolate or creamy vanilla ice cream or if you are having difficulty deciding, a swirl of the two. You can choose to have it in a waffle cone, chocolate waffle cone or a tub, and then select a topping to make it bespoke to you! Options include chocolate syrup, chocolate flakes, crispy pearls in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate, or my favourite bresilienne (a nutty caramelised hazelnut crunch).

Godiva Soft Ice Cream costs from £4.50 and is available from London stores

Fiorelli Mia Grab Nautical Bag & For All My Eternity Natural 10 Self Tan #Fiorelli24Seven

If I had to say whether I was a shoes or handbag person I would hands down pick bags every time .I have bags for every occasion so when I was told about the Fiorelli 24Seven collection I was a little sceptical, could this bag take me from day to evening...?

I think the answer is a resounding yes, roomy for day but chic enough to dress up in the evening. I would use the long strap during the day and switch to the handles for the evening.

I was sent the Fiorelli Mia Grab Nautical bag and what a gorgeous bag it is. Summer for me is all about nautical themes so I adore this white, navy and tan combo. It goes with so many Summer outfits, complementing them nicely. Whilst I seem to live in black all winter, I love lighter and brighter colours for Summer.

The bag is also extremely roomy for fun day trips out featuring 3 zipped compartments and the central (and biggest) also having an internal zipped pocket. Just when you think that is all.. it also has a front pocket with an envelope flap magdot closure.  Another bonus is that it comes with short handles AND a strap, I like this detail as I like to have options!

Dressed up or down the Mia Grab Nautical is just perfect for Summer and definitely going to be a staple accessory for me. Smart, stylish and versatile, what is there not to love?

Fiorelli have teamed up with luxury self tanning brand 'For All My Eternity' to offer customers who purchase a #fiorelli24Seven bag either a shower gel or natural 10 self tan product from the range...

I have tried both products out and have had great results

The Tan Saving Shower Gel has been created to protect and prolong your tan, designed for use with self tanning products. It has a delicious grapefruit scent and feels nourishing and leaves skin feeling soft. Intense hydration is provided by Provitamin B5 with natural skin conditioners including certified organic Aloe Vera, natural vegetable-derived glycerine, and organic allantoin specially chosen to keep skin moisturised and nourished, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and supple.  

Free from parabens, sulfates, artificial colours and fragrances.

Natural 10 Self Tan Lotion

For All My Eternity say 

For All My Eternity’s Natural 10 is a luxury natural self tan lotion that delivers a totally natural-looking tan whilst caring for your skin. Loaded with the finest natural ingredients and extracts, including Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter, Vitamins A & E, and infused with organic ingredients such as Rosehip Oil, Sunflower Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, Natural 10 works with your skin keeping it hydrated, young and supple, whilst giving you a long-lasting naturally bronzed glow.

My thoughts 

This self tan lotion is white and unscented. I applied it to dry skin with a mitt. It is hard to know where you have applied which is my only criticism as the tan goes on to develop into a beautifully natural golden glow after just one application. Two applications leaves my skin how it would look after I have spent a week in the sun. I should say however that I am not a sun worshipper so this lovely shade is perfect for me and really, really natural looking. I am impressed.

Easy to apply and pretty much foolproof, it dries almost immediately allowing you dress and there is no tackiness. Streak free and paraben free this is a brilliant self tan.

In the first picture I also shared some other items that are Summer beauty must haves ..

The Vichy Ideal Soleil Velvety BB Cream SPF50 - this is a great face base with a super high SPF that I will be using over the Summer to protect my skin and provide a nice, even skintone.

The perfume that I can always rely on come rain or shine is Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle - it is simply gorgeous and evokes great memories every time I wear it.

I love YSL's Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Nude Beige as it is a real 24/7 product - barely there for day it gives a hint of pink to the lips, by night it provides the perfect partner to a smoky eye and its buttery soft formula is a winner.

Estee Lauder's Little Black Primer only came out this year but already I can see just how much of staple this is... It can be worn 3 ways - alone for more definition to the eyes , under your favourite mascara for that extra wow factor or my fave way, over mascara to make it waterproof. I use this most days now.

And finally - Kiko Tri-Bal Soul Baked Blush in Mysterious Earth - This blusher can be swirled and used to provide colour and radiance to the skin or you can use the three shades individually for more impact to provide contour, blush and highlights to the face. Simple!

Well I hope you enjoyed my 24/7 journey with Fiorelli and For All My Eternity

Bettina x

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Protect Cream Review

I have only been using this new moisturiser from Caudalie for less than a week but as it seems to give me instant results I am excited to share this review sooner rather than later....

Caudalie say 

The anti-wrinkle defense
This rich cream moisturises and nourishes the skin. It protects the skin from free radicals and treats wrinkles. The skin appears plumped and replenished. Apply in the morning to face and neck, after your serum. Avoid the eye contour area. Non-comedogenic.

The Polyphenol C15 Cream provides unbeatable anti-oxidant protection while treating the problems of dry skin. The formula both protects the skin against oxidation and provides optimal nutrition offered in a luxuriously indulgent cream. The rich texture melts onto the skin leaving a subtle scent of sweet orange and fresh mint leaves. The cream is filled with powerful Grape-seed Polyphenols and stabilised vitamin C, a potent combination that work to increase collagen production, correct and prevent wrinkles and stop oxidation in its tracks. The cream is also rich in hyaluronic acid and orange butter which nourish and plump even the driest of skin.

Dermatologist tested. Against animal testing.

My thoughts

The cream is a relatively thick cream but once applied to the skin feels weightless, pleasingly it smells pretty incredible too, a really rather delicious sweet, citrus orange scent that is not overpowering at all. I like the fact that it is housed in tube format for non messy application. Once on the skin, skin is instantly plumped and radiant, fine lines appear smoothed. I really, really like this moisturiser and look forward to continued use.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Protect Cream £29 for 40ml 

*PR Sample

Drink Me Chai Latte Skinny Blend - Review

If you read BeautySwot.com regularly you will know that am I huge fan of Chai Lattes, so when I saw this trial sachet in the Waitrose magazine I, of course, had to try it out!

Drink Me Chai Latte Skinny Blend - A sweetened blend of tea, skimmed milk and spices.

Contains 30% less sugar and fat.

99% caffeine free
Suitable for lacto vegetarians

Drink Me say

This new blend of chai is a lighter, everyday recipe for those who like there Chai fresher tasting with a bit of a spice kick.

Containing just 62 calories per cup if made with water.

My thoughts 

This is a powder blend that you mix with hot water, personally I prefer my chai lattes creamier so I mixed the powder with half a latte glass of hot water, I then topped this up with frothy hot milk (made with my milk frother)

The result was an utterly delicious and balanced sweet and spicy chai latte, great for enjoying in the comfort of your own home.

I give this a big thumbs up

Drink Me Chai Latte Skinny Blend costs £2.50 for a tin