Scentsy Wickless Candles

Scentsy provide an exciting wickless alternative to candles.  Their warmers are electical and heat up scented wax via a light bulb.  They are a fantastic way to enjoy scented candles without the risk of a naked flame and would be perfect for those with wandering little ones or inquisitive pets (my cat almost singed his whiskers while investigating a tea-light the other day).  There is a large range of decorative warmers to choose from, they have something to suit everyone.

Images provided by Lori

I was very kindly sent some sample scents to try by Lori, who is an Independent Scentsy Consultant from the US.  Scentsy works in a similar way to Avon and other home businesses, in that you grow your own buisness by becoming a consultant.  Although the company orginiated in America, they have now expanded to the UK and the rest of Europe.  The wax is available to buy in a bar form and you simply break off a couple of sections and pop it on the dish on top of your warmer to begin melting. 

Linger is a sweet and light fragrance that includes pink grapefruit, apple, praline and marshmallow.  It's fast becoming one of favourite scents.  I was sent some mini samles to test out too; my favourites were Pumpkin Roll, Peppermint Dreams, Pixi and Mandarin Moon.  All of these are perfect for this time of year and make your home feel cosier!  I took a peek at the rest of the range and really like the sound of Hazelnut Latte, Midnight Fig and Black Raspberry Vanilla.

I think a Scentsy warmer and bar of wax would make a lovely Christmas gift.  There are various festive items to choose from too!  If you would like to contact your local consultant to purchase Scentsy items, or if you are interested in joining Lori's team and becoming a consultant yourself, you can email her - lorirmorgan@gmail.com.  You can also find out more on her Scentsy site here, or on her blog here.

What do you think of Scentsy?

100 Followers | Thank you!

Today, I reached 100 GFC followers, which for my little blog is a massive achievement.  I've really enjoyed my blogging journey so far and have lots planned for the future!  It still feels a little bit strange that people are actually reading my ramblings!  I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone who comes to have a little read, and who has commented or followed.  I've got a giveaway planned for the new year, when Brighton Girl has it's first birthday, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Catherine xx

Gisela Graham | Christmas

There’s less than a week until the start of December, and exactly one month until the big day!  I’ve already got my advent calendar (..a Gruffalo one), several batches of homemade mince pies are in the freezer and I’ve started to pick up a few new bits for the tree.
 

We’re going for a neutral Christmas palette this year, with hints of red, green and gold.  I picked up these hanging decorations in my local garden centre and they are all by Gisela Graham.  I’m hoping to create that cosy cottage feel with these new decorations and I like that all of them have a homemade feel or distressed features; it all adds to the shabby chic look.  I’ve got my eye on some bargain baubles in Tesco and am hoping to make both a wreath for the front door and some clay hanging decorations for the tree to complete the look.

How will you be decorating for Christmas?

Foundations | YSL & MAC

Foundation is a staple of the majority of makeup bags across the country.  Perfecting an even and flawless base is the first step of my makeup routine.  For the past year, I've come back to using MAC's Studio Fix Fluid, after unhappy affairs with offerings from MaxFactor, Clinique and No7.  However, I recently received a sample of YSL's long-awaited Touche Eclat foundation and it turns out my Studio Fix may have found a rival.

I have combination skin, verging on the oilier side, so the formulations of both foundations suit my skin type well.  I'm prone to breakouts and so like my base to have rather full coverage.  The Studio Fix Fluid is brilliant for this as it's great for building up coverage easily.  I usually go back over areas that need a little more, such as my chin and around my nose.  I find that it also gives a nice matte finish and lasts well with a layer of powder.

The Touche Eclat foundation absolutely lived up to my expectations.  It's lightweight and blends in perfectly.  It basically looks like your own skin, but better!  On catching my reflection on one of the first days of trying out this foundation, I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and illuminated my face looked.  I also really like how the shades are in three categories; for pink, beige and yellow skin tones.  It's great for those of us who don't exactly fit into either of MAC's NW or NC ranges.  

So which one do like the best?  I have to say that both are great but I'll be sticking with my MAC Studio Fix Fluid for now.  
 
At the moment, I depend upon the buildable coverage that this foundation provides; I found I couldn't achieve the same with the Touche Eclat.  However, I will be purchasing the YSL to use as a summer foundation, when I like a slightly lighter coverage.  

Have you tried either of these foundations?

Party Peplum | Two Ways

The Coca Cola Christmas advert has made its first appearance, mince pies are starting to take over the cake aisle in the supermarkets and there’s limited edition Christmas coffee everywhere you look.  The festive season is well and truly upon us! 

I always look forward to party wear trends as it’s the perfect time of year to splash out on something glamorous or sparkly!  The past couple of years have seen me in a mad dash around Brighton's Churchill Square trying to find the perfect dress, but this year I’ve been inspired by the popularity of the peplum to mix things up a little.  An embellished peplum top is the perfect piece as it’s just so versatile.  It can be easily dressed up or down to suit the mood of the Christmas event you happen to be invited to, and if you’re not afraid to be seen out wearing the same thing on more than one occasion it might be your knight in shining armour this party season.

Miss Selfridge Leather Look Jeans  |  Schuh 'Blake' Glitter Court Shoe  |  River Island Geometric Panel Clutch          
Miss Selfridge Baroque Peplum Top

The first outfit I’ve put together would be ideal for dinner followed by sipping Christmas cocktails with the girls.  The top features gorgeous gold embroidery across the tops and onto the cap sleeves.  I've found that keeping the palette of your outfit simple is key for Christmas outfits as it's really simple to find items and accessories to match; black and gold is a classic.  The peplum shape is so flattering and black leather look skinny jeans will elongate your legs.  The glittery heels and studded leather bag add a bit of fun and attitude to the outfit; with a nod to Fearne Cotton’s style.

Miss Selfridge Baroque Peplum Top  |  Dorothy Perkins Black Bow Bag  |  Warehouse Full Skirt  |  Accessorize Lipstick in 'Passionate'    Accessoirze 'Twiggy' Gold Heeled Ballerinas

 The second outfit is more suited to more formal events, like the big office party.  Although the peplum shape is great, by simply tucking it into a full skater skirt you can create a whole different look.  It would also look fantastic over the top of a tight pencil skirt.  This outfit is quite 1960s inspired, so I opted for an adorable clutch with a cute bow and some gold heeled ballerinas.  To finish off the vintage look a sweep of seductive red lipstick is a must.

If you're in Brighton on 6th December, Churchill Square are hosting a Christmas Shopper evening from 5pm to 9pm.  There'll be retro swing singers and free mulled wine to get you into the party spirit!

Will you be working the peplum this festive season?

 

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Beanie Review

This No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour has been rolling around at the back of my drawer since last year as it's not really a colour I wear during the Summer.  It is, however, the perfect shade for Autumn, so I rescued it from behind my other polishes! 

Named 'Beanie', the polish is a rich, deep grey-ish brown.  It's similar to Barry M's 'Mushroom', but perhaps a tad darker.  I like a really glossy finish to my nails.  In the photo below I'm not wearing a top-coat and you can see that 'Beanie' gives an excellent shine.  The first coat is a little patchy, but full opaque coverage is achieved in two coats.

The application is really improved by the brush, which is slightly longer than your average and has a nice rounded shape.  I've seen that No7 have since altered the bottles of their nail polishes; I really hope they've kept the design of the brush!

Despite the high-shine finish, you do need a good topcoat as I've found it can chip easily if it's worn without one.  Overall, though, I really like this polish.  I'm glad I rescued it from the back of drawer and am now wondering what other treasures I've forgotten about.  I'm definitely going to have a rummage this week to see what else I can find!

Have you rediscovered any Autumn beauty must-haves recently?

New Shoes!

I fell for these Primark shoes as soon as they caught my eye the other week.  I'm quite aware that I'm rather late to the party in terms of studded shoes, but better late than never!  Studded accessories are such a great way to toughen up an outfit quickly and easily.  These pumps were £10, meaning that they're a lot more bank-account-friendly than Topshop's studded flats and also a cheap way of adding a punch of attitude to a look.

I spent a a good while in Primark's shoe section, trying on far too many pairs of shoes and boots.  I intended on buying a pair of cowboy ankle boots, but they'd sold out of size 7s, sob!  I also really loved their glittery Chelsea boots and saw the most perfect pair of 1960s inspired oxblood velvet heeled flats.

Have you jumped on the studded shoes bandwagon?  What do you think of Primark shoes?

Halo Protects: Supporting Women's Health Charities

When I started blogging, the last things I expected to be writing about were feminine hygiene products.  However, the Halo Protects range has really impressed me with their contributions to women's health charities so I thought they more than deserved a mention.

I actually picked these liners up during a quick dash around Tesco's before I had to be at a friend's house and it wasn't until the next morning that I took any notice of what was written on the box.  I was pleased to see that 15p from every pack goes towards The Halo Initiative; a charity that raises funds and awareness for women's charities.  Considering the fact that women in the UK spend over £20 million a month on sanitary protection, it's comforting to think that now some of that money is going to help others with gynaecological cancers, mental health issues and those who have suffered from domestic violence.

So far, I've only tried the scented liners but will certainly be buying more from the range in future.  They are very good quality and I love the cute packaging; the liners themselves also have pink hearts on which brought a smile to my face.  Surely, this can only be a good thing for days when I want to eat my entire body weight in chocolate fudge cake and mope on the sofa watching Bridget Jones' Diary! 

The Halo Protects range and The Halo Initiative were developed and set up by Tesco, and the range is available in-store and online.  I think this is a fantastic idea.  Previously, I hadn't given any thought to how much is spent on products like this and am really glad that some of this revenue is now going to help others.  I like that with Halo Protects, not only am I protected on the days that I need it but I'm also helping keep others protected too!

What do you think of the Halo Protects charity contributions?

Montagne Jeunesse Exotic Fruits Review

The new exotic fruits face masks are the newest addition to Montagne Jeunesse's extensive range of natural skin care and include Pawpaw Peel Off*, Dragon Fruit Sauna* and Prickly Pear Peel Off*.  I was really excited to try these as they reminded me of the song Baloo sings in The Jungle Book!  They all smell fantastic and are perfect for combating cold days with some exotic escapism.

Pawpaw Peel Off*

This mask has a thick orange formula.  It’s a really good consistency and smooths onto freshly cleansed skin easily, forming an even layer of product.  Once applied, you leave the mask to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.  Afterwards, my pores were visibly reduced.  This mask is also fantastic if you have oily skin, as it helps to control shine.

Dragon Fruit Sauna*

This mask is applied to wet skin so that the clays contained in it react with the water to create the heat.  I like using warming masks as you can really feel them getting to work.  The Dragon Fruit Sauna mask is packed with vitamins which can help fight blemishes and are also anti-ageing.  My skin was smoother, noticeably brighter and felt hydrated afterwards.  This would be a great mask to use at a girly sleepover as it smells absolutely gorgeous and is bright pink in colour.

Prickly Pear Peel Off*

This mask is my favourite of the three.  It’s a great mask to use to help combat blemish-prone skin.  This is because it’s full of antioxidants and the Mangosteen it contains is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  My skin was softer and hydrated after using this peel off mask.

The exotic fruits range is one of my favourites; I loved using all three of the masks.  The sachets contain alot of product and you can easily get two applications out of each one.  By always looking to use natural ingredients, Montagne Jeunesse face masks always deliver visible results.  All of their products are suitable for vegetarians too.  They really can do no wrong!

The Exotic Fruits Face Masks are now available at ASDA, Boots and www.montagnejeunesse.com

What do you think of these masks?  Are you a fan of Montagne Jeunesse?