Lush Review: Ro's Argan Skin Conditioner

Hello all! So according to my last post I have not blogged in nearly a month, where did that time go?! Hopefully I can be forgiven by providing the following review for you all...

 After receiving one of lush's lushest Rosie packages as a gift a couple of months back, I finally got around to testing the first of its contents. Living in a student house it's not often that I have the luxury of a long, hot, relaxing bath so I guess I was savoring the moment to open this gift box until I could really appreciate it at home. I am not a religious buyer of lush products, she says shamefully as they are so ethical, but I guess have been too comfortable with using my normal bathing and beauty products that I haven't taken the plunge, so I was very excited to receive this gift! I was most eager to use the Argan body/skin conditioner as I have used argan products before of my hair and LOVED them. And as I occasionally suffer form pimply arms I was hoping this product would help soften my skin as effectively as Argan products had done for my hair!  As described on the pot, you apply and rinse the product the same way as you would on your hair. However, the word rinse is used fairly lightly as I did find some of the product remaining on my skin the first time I used it so I would recommend paying more attention to the rinsing process if you were to use this product yourself, in order to achieve the best results. I have been using Ro's argan body conditioner for about a week now and I have found that as well as leaving a lovely almondy scent after use, my skin is noticeably softer and my pimples less apparent,  so I am confident with continuous use this product will continue to please.

Fighting animal testing, Hooray for Lush!

This product alone retails at £16.50 for a 225g tub (please note the one in my images is 45g) which may seem a little pricey but worth it for all the natural goodness that is jam packed into it! Or you can purchase it as part of the updated version of the Rosie gift box for a reasonable £21.25 just in time for Christmas.

I also plan to use up the other lovely goodies in this box soon so keep an eye out if you would like to see another review!

Have you used this body conditioner before?

what Lush products are you loving?

Love,

Ellie

A spooky treat!

To those of you who follow my blog will know on festive occasions such as Easter and in this case Halloween, I like to get my baking hat on! So just in time for the big day tomorrow you can still have fun making these scarily good treats (I apologies for that awful pun) with the kids, or like me alone with your 20 year old self! So what am I making you ask? Well having browsed the internet to get some inspiration I found a fab recipe which i have adapted to make the below, frozen banana ghosts! I decided to make them on the slightly less scary side as they turned out to be the cutest little bananas ever. So if I tempted you enough to make these yourself heres how...

You will need:

3 chunky bananas (or if you can find them in the supermarket a bunch of mini bananas will work well too)

150 grams of melted white chocolate 

100-200g of dried coconut shavings

And a handful of milk chocolate chips
Lolly sticks or blunt ended skewers

To start making your banana ghosts you will need to melt the white chocolate in a bowl over or pan, or the microwave. TIP: If you are using a microwave heat at a high heat but in short bursts to ensure it hasn't burnt! Once melted put aside to cool whilst you prep the fruit.

Next, peel your bananas and  cut in half so you have 6 portions but if you are using mini bananas leave whole. Gently push a lolly stick or skewer half way up the banana, try not to do what I did and poke a whole through your banana on the first go!

You then need to prep a large baking tray, lay a sheet of grease proof paper on it so your bananas dont stick. Make sure your tray can fit in your freezer.

Return to your melted chocolate and using  a pasty brush begin to coat the flat side with a layer of the white chocolate, do this for all 6 halves. 

Now to start with the coconut coating, this was my favourite part! Sprinkle your coconut onto a plate big enough to dip the banana in. You will fin you might not use all the coconut however I found it easier to coat the bananas with more coconut to play with! Once you have coated the chocolate covered half, just repeat the process again coating the other half in chocolate and covering with the coconut. NOTE: If you have any melted white chocolate remaining, lick off spoon now.
Your bananas are now ready to be tunred into proper ghosts as it is decorating time, use your milk chocolate chips to create whatever faces you like! Once you feel you have finished decorating, line your bananas on the tray and place them in the freezer.

If you are patient enough to wait 4 hours for your banana ghosts this is the recomemnded time to freeze them for, and not that mine would last that long you can freeze them for up to a week. For your bananaas to be as fangtastic as they can possibly be, try leave them in the freezer for the allocated time, wait and enjoy!

 HOW CUTE IS MY MUNCHKIN PUMPKIN (this is just for show by the way!)

I hope you have been inspired to make some treats of your own, I look forward to sharing with you my next festive creation!

Happy Halloween!

Ellie

OOTD: When In Florence...

I couldn't of asked for a more lovely way to start the autumnal month of October than in the north of Italy in the beautiful city of Florence. Although we arrived to worse weather than England, the days following we couldn't of asked for better as temperatures reached 28 and the sun was shining over the Florentine skyline. As I have recently been taking a night class in Italian i was very excited to practice the language. I have visited Italy a few times but no where like Florence, the city itself felt very chic, yet traditional, and full of culture and beautiful people. To those of you who aren't familiar with Florence might like to know that Florence is also a great city to visit for fashion as it is home to many famous Italian fashion designers, including Gucci who has in recent years opened a museum there, a great place to see an archive of the designers greatest designs. Not forgetting, if you are a fan of leather pieces, Florence is THE place to go for a genuine leather article, with almost every other shop and or market selling the most gorgeous selection of leather bags and goods. So as I was in fashionable surroundings I thought it only right to an outfit of the day post. My most recent shopping spree involved me hitting the H&M sales and grabbing a bargain or two. This including the new love in my love at the moment, my black duster coat (similar to one in my wish list post below); which I was surprised was in the sale as I have noticed this style of coats just becoming a popular trend. I teamed this lightweight with more H&M both old and new, along with some H&M sunglasses that I bought especially for the trip. In fact, I think the only thing I was wearing that WASN'T H&M was my sandals, a Topshop purchase a couple of years that I absolutely worn to death i am pleasantly surprised with how long they have lasted! See below for some similar options of the older items.

The beautiful Florence itself...

Duster jacket H&M was £29.99 sale £15

Top H&M full price £14.99

Shorts (old) for similar click here

Sunglasses H&M full price £6.99

Sandals Topshop (old ) for similar click here

I think it is safe to say that this OOTD post is the last one where I will be seen wearing shorts for a while as on my return from Italy i decided the season of coats has finally arrived!

Have you got your winter wardrobes ready?

Keep in touch!

Ellie

LFW: Zoe Jordan SS15

Another September passed and another fashion week been and gone, and in my case, also the end of a 5 month internship at womenswear brand Zoe Jordan. My time with the London based brand was a valuable experience, to any fashion students reading I was really interested in hearing about other peoples experiences in the industry before starting mine, so to those interested here's a little inside info on mine! After a bit of a steady start working within the business, branding and admin side, I was soon in my element working closely with the design team getting some real hands on experience including designing, pattern cutting and my biggest achievement during my time there, sewing actual show garments! When looking for placements, although a well known brand would stand out on my cv, from the start I wanted to go to a small studio with the hope I would get given more responsibilities, and I am pleased to say that the further I got into the duration of my internship, the more I was trusted with. This enabled me to gain some great skills for the reminder of my degree! 

As part of my Zoe Jordan experience I had to opportunity to accompany the lovely team to London fashion week to showcase the collection, the atmosphere at Sommerset House was incredible, with fellow bloggers and designers surrounding the area it was a very fashionable affair. But as you can imagine, in the build up to fashion week things are slightly less glamour behind the scenes with last minute changes, alterations, and finishing touches. However the thing I love most about studying fashion is that all the hard graft is worth it in the end to see the finishing result. With some gorgeous prints, tailoring, quality fabrics, and colour palettes, Zoe Jordans spring summer 15 collection 'Tour' is completely wearable and luxurious. Here are a few of my snaps from the designer show room at London fashion week. 

LFW Sommerset house

 LFW Sommerset house

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Zoe Jordan SS15 'Tour'

 Designer showrooms after party

Did any of you get a chance to go to London Fashion week?

What were your favourite collections?

If any prospective fashion interns would like to know more on my internship or advice on how to get one, please don't hesitate to contact me!

E.D

September Wish List

With the arrival of September it's out with the shorts, vest's and flip flops and in with the autumnal shades, long sleeves and boots. Fortunately, this means an entire new range of clothing is being launched into stores, excuse for a shopping spree, I think so! The nights are still light and the return of the limited editions Costa coffees is not far away, Honeycomb Hot chocolate I'm ready for you! However optimism aside for a moment, I am still a student so my shopping spree is on standby and wishing is all I can do at the moment. 

But honestly, composing this wish list post has actually got me rather excited for the upcoming season, and do I dare say the C word? Okay maybe it's a tad early to be thinking about Christmas just yet (oops I said it). For now, see what bit and bobs I'm loving for this season.

1. All hail the new palettes from the 'A Novel Romance' collection at Mac. My personal favourite, 'A passionate quest' is a premade made palette of the most gorgeous autumnal shades of pinks and purples, with a hint of navy and slight shimmery pigments, to die for! £30.
2. Also from Mac and the 'A Novel Romance' collection, are these lush lipsticks. Available in a few shades but I have my heart set on 'Myself', a gorgeous nude beige for a more a natural look and 'Hearts a flame' a statement purpley red that is perfect for the season. Both £15.50.
3. I am loving a cropped knit and shirt look at the mo, find this grey knit in New Look for a mere £14.99 and this silk shirt from Zara, £39.99.
4. You can never go wrong with a pair of super skinny dark wash jeans to team with your autumn knits, River Island, £45.
5. The most gorgeous pair of boots that will unfortunately remain on my wish list for a long time yet, Kurt Geiger, £90.
6. I have seen these everywhere in the shops recently but I have found no other other duster coat quite like this one, this will be hanging in my wardrobe one day, Zara, £79.99
7. Practical, and a statement accessory, this large faced bracelet watch can be found in River Island, £28.
8.Would it be autumn without a tan tote bag? Of course not. I have my eyes on this one from Zara, priced at a purse friendly £29.99.

What's on your autumn wish lists?

Until next time,

Ellie

Jimmy Choo Flash Perfume & Body Lotion Review

Thanks be to my boyfriend and his wonderful taste, I was very happy to receive for my birthday the most recent Jimmy Choo Scent, Flash. Although scents can be tricky to describe I think this perfume is a good example of one that can be bought without having smelt it first. Reason being, this perfume has the perfect balance of sweetness and muskiness so is likely to appeal to many. Flash Eau Du Parfum contains essence of tangerine and strawberry,  giving it its freshness and sweetness, however its notes of exotic flowers and woods reveal a glorious muskiness. This perfume comes in a luxurious little bottle and is a spray. It is quite a powerful scent therefore is long lasting, I find just two squirts is enough, one to the neck and one the wrists, delicately rubbing onto the other wrist to not crush the scent. Along with the perfume I also got the perfumed body lotion to match which smells equally as divine. Its light by creamy texture absorbs into the skin after several minutes, leaving your skin to feel silky smooth, dewy and smelly fab. Be careful of wearing the two together, you can if you want to, however as I like my perfume to be subtle and more personal I find it a bit overpowering wearing it all once, like I would leave a trail behind me! The great thing about scented body lotions though is that you can wear them alone, not having to spend the extra on a perfume, I just find it a little bit more luxurious owning a bottle of perfume itself.
Overall I think this a gorgeous scent, each of its notes combined release a powerful smell that if I had to describe in three words I would say it's, Sophisticated, seductive and sweet. So if you're one for changing up your scent and would like to try something new I think this is nice one that will appeal to many a nose, so I recommend you give it a go. This product retails between £35 - £61 alone, depending on the perfume bottle size, around £35-40 on the gift set with a 100ml bottle of body lotion the same size as mine. You cannot miss it on the shelves for its super sparkly packaging, hence the title, Flash. You can also buy the body lotion alone in a 200ml bottle for around £20-£24 depending on where you get it.

Have you tried this scent before?
What perfumes are you currently loving?

See you soon.

Ell

Do it like a dude

Recently I have unintentionally found  myself wearing a range of loose fit, boyish clothing and have since been more and more aware of this type of look in stores and magazines. And quite frankly, it is safe to say I have now fallen in love with the boyfriend fit trend!

In this slightly more summery weather there is nothing more I have loved to do in a morning than throw on a pair of ripped jeans, a loose fit T or cami with some Birkenstock sandals and a pair of shades. It's great to be comfotabale and feel great in what I'm wearing, so for me I think this trend is a win win. If you're yet to discover the boyfriend trend, take a look at some of my fave high street pieces below. I have put together some outfit combinations, however a lot of these garments would look great mixed and matched too!

River Island Duster Jacket £55
RI Loose Fitting Black Top £22
RI Long Shorts £30
Topshop Smart Rucksack £38
Office Silver Birkenstock Sandals £39.95
ASOS Half Frame Sunglasses £12
RI Icon T-shirt £16
RI Ripped Boyfriend Jeans £40
Dune Black Snake Espadrille Pumps £75
H&M L'Amour Jumper Initially £14.99 Sale £8
Topshop Ripped White Skinny Jeans £38


Are you a fan of this trend?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this post so feel free to comment below.

Until next time.

Ellie