Sarenza SS12 Preview

I recently came across a shoe website and fell in love. Okay so my shoe collection is a little ridiculous and getting more in the sales. I have no need for another pair of shoes in my life but that does not stop me, oh no! So to help me in my little shopping addiction is Sarenza. Over 400 brands of shoes and accessories are all here so think of it as ASOS for shoes. You will find exclusive brands at Sarenza and every style you can imagine. Seriously I can spend hours on this site. Here is a little taster with what is to come for SS12...

Firetrap

This bright number is from Firetrap and will be £85.Love the detail on the platform.

My Shopping Picks

With all the sales and new stock coming in to stores, I thought I would pick out a few of my favourites things. I hope you like! Click on the pictures to be taken to the sites.

By Brilliant Jewellery:

The Galaxy Yellow Gold Ring


The Tilly White Gold Yellow Sapphire Ring

The Chelsea Day Spa - Sheer Bliss

This week I got the chance to for a little R&R and I went off to The Chelsea Day Spa. It is a spa based in the heart  of Chelsea offering all the services you could possibly need including waxing, massage, facials, tanning and it has a nail bar. One of the signature treatments is the New York Manicure and Pedicure to make you look like you stepped right out from Sex and the City. Super glossy and super fast as we all know New York ladies move fast. However, I went there to try out something a little different, their Deep Tissue Massage.

E>One: My IPL Hair Removal Journey

Hair removal has to be one of the most tedious, painful things. Body hair can really get someone down, especially dark hair on fair skin. Having smooth skin is part of looking groomed and it gives you confidence. I used to epilate as it was not messy. I have a high pain threshold so I found the pain no worse than waxing. IPL and Laser hair removal was always something that was in the back my head and was something I wanted to do but was ridiculously expensive. So I jumped at the chance to go see the E>One in action. The E>One is one of the top of the range at-home IPL depilation devices on the market.

Last Minute Christmas Presents

Are you still wondering what to buy your loved ones? If you are doing your last minute shopping, here are some ideas to help you.

First on my list is Damaris lingerie. I dont know anyone that does not like Damaris lingerie. It is sexy as hell and to die for. So for any men who are wondering what to buy, look no further. Items like this peek-a-boo knickers are gorgeous.

Pinkberry opens in Westfield Stratford City!

I was thought I was happy when Pinkberry launched in Selfridges but now I am ecstatic they have opened in Westfield Stratford City. If you have not tasted Pinkberry, you have not lived. It is most delicious yoghurt on earth! Want to know who agrees with me? Alexandra Burke and Jameela Jamil attended the launch yesterday looking uber fabulous. Get the look below!

Love that River Island blazer and the shoes. I could strut my stuff in those!

Westfield Stratford has become my one stop shop for all things fashion. It is easily accessible for me so I am a regular. Now I can get Pinkberry yoghurts, including exclusive toppings Westfield Stratford, Santa's Beard, Christmas Tree and Partridge in a Pear Tree. Yay! If the next store that opens could be outisde my outside, that would be great!

Nosh Detox Review

This is part 2 of the detox post. I wrote about Infrared Domes which help our body from the outside and draw impurities out. Now it is time to talk about helping your body from the inside. We all know to the healthy foods to eat and about portion control but it is easier said than done, I know. Especially with Christmas and parties, it is all too easy to pig out. So I decided to give myself a little nudge and motivation to help me get in the right direction. Step in Nosh Detox. Nosh offer a healthy food delivery service all made into programmes specially tailored for you and your goals.

Detox with the Infrared Dome

Tis' the season for drinking, eating and being merry. However with all that indulgence comes a few extra pounds. I always like to get a headstart on the new year detox and prepare a few weeks early. There is no reason why you can't enjoy yourself and get a headstart so over the next day I am posting some detox posts to get ready for all that Turkey and Yorshire Puddings. Yummy. Enough of that.... The latest technology to help you detox is the Infrared Dome, also known as Iyashi Dome.

What does it do? I am glad you asked. Simply put, you lie on a wooden bed and the Dome covers you from the face down and it uses infrared rays to penetrate and heat the body creating a a loss of up to 600 kilocalories for every half hour session. Benefits include weight loss, detoxification, stress release and a kickstart to the metabolism. Do you know how long I have waited for something like this to come out? You sit back and the calories literally drain away from you? This was to good to be true. I had to try.

Perfume Gift ideas

Still doing Christmas shopping? Well lucky for you here are some ideas for fragrance lovers from Escentual.com. They have the most stunning deal. You can get the new limited edition Marc Jacobs Daisy Silver Eau de Parfum in 100ml for half price. Instead of £60, it is £30 right now. Same smell that we have come to love, just a nice new silver coat. Yes please!

NET-A-PORTER Knitwear for Christmas

Well Christmas is not far away. If today was anything to go by, it will be freezing from now on. It's all downhill from here! Well have no fear, to get you in the Christmas mood, Net-A-Porter have released designer knitwear to keep you warm and looking foxy. My favourite is this gorgeous Stella McCartney Polar Bear intarsia wool & alpaca blend for £670. I would love this to wear on Christmas day.

All Saints SS12 Preview

For SS12, All Saints are sticking with their trademarks. They have lots of sequins and embellishments, just lightened up for summer. Love this sequin top...

 

ECOYA comes to the UK

After an insane amount of press days and lots going on, I am back and raring to go. Lots to write about and share with you guys so watch this space. I came across a australian brand new to UK, ECOYA. Their have the most amazing natural candles and skincare.The candles are made from Soy wax. One of my favorite candles is the Sorrento Occasion Jar, pictured below. It is beautifully packaged and has a contemporary look to make the perfect gift for a candle lover.

Sexy in the City Bootcamp

I am the biggest fan of The Biggest Loser (the US version not the UK one). I adore Jillian Michaels. I love the way the trainers motivate you and push to your limits and beyond. That is when you truly get results. So when I heard about Sexy in the City Bootcamp I jumped at the chance to try it out. No, this nothing to do with Carrie & Co. It is all about fitness, nutrition and getting in shape. 

Phil Hawksworth instructing a class

I have tried out a few personal trainers. I found training good but lacking on the nutritional advice so would it not be nice to get the whole package? Someone to train and motivate you as well as nutritional and diet advice in a short space of time? This is what celebrity trainers Tim Drummond and Phil Hawksworth do. The bootcamps take place twice a week with classes at Liverpool Street and London Bridge lasting for 30 mins and regular emails with nutritional advice.

New CID Cosmetics i-pout

I am huge believer in red lips. I think everyone can wear a red lips, it is just about finding the right shade. Coming into party season, it is the perfect time to find your shade. I got the chance to try i-pout lipstick from New CID Cosmetics. There are 12 shades including 7 new shades. For a bright red, make like Gwen Stefani and go for Scarlet.

Onitsuka Tigers Trainers

The weather has turned very cold this week. It has rained and poured heavily. At times it was difficult to know what to wear as I looked outisde in the morning and the sun was shining yet by 1pm, it is pouring. My shoes often were soaked through which never feels good. So I began the hunt for some winter shoes. I first saw Onitsuka Tiger trainers when watching Kill Bill and Uma Thuran wore the infamous yellow trainers with a black stripe. Here are the latest boots and trainers from Onitsuka Tiger in stores now.

Benefit Watt's Up Review

Benefit have recently released their latest highlighter, Watt's Up. Designed to make you glow like a lightbulb, it is a highlighter stick in a champagne shade. I prefer this much more to Highbeam as it has a more creamy finish.

It has a sponge for blending on one end. Personally I like to blend with my hands as it gives more control so I did not use the sponge but always good to know it is there. Use it along your brow bone and cheeks for a lovely glow. You can use it by itself or above makeup.

At £24.50 it is cheaper than NARS Multiple but still priced above the average highlighter. I do think it is worth it.

Soap & Glory Cosmetics Review

Skincare favourite, Soap & Glory have now released their makeup range. 2 of my favorite products are Supercat and Arch de Triumph. Supercat is an eyeliner pen. It is easy to apply and has an intense black colour. I am huge fan of the cateye with a flick. However, some people find it difficult to create the look. Supercat makes it easy. You can create a thin line by using just the tip or a thick line by using the side.

Forever 21 SS12 Collection

Ever since Forever 21 has opened their stores in London, they have gone from strength. It has quickly become a favourite of mine and everyone else it seems judging by the queues in stores. So here's a little taster of things to come for SS12. I am already planning my wardrobe. The inspirations include Japanese Garden, Retro Riviera, lots of colour blocking and the 60s and do not get me started on the jewellery, fabulous!

Japanese Garden:

Boutiques and clothing lines from the TOWIE ladies

It seems all of the TOWIE ladies have a little side business going on. I like how they are all business minded and quite intelligent. So let's look at what they have. Boutiques opened, clothing lines and beauty lines launched. First up, I just got in from the launch of Lauren Pope's clothing for Little Mistress. So many cute dresses.

New Makeup and Beauty Products

I love seeing new products for Christmas. There are many new items coming out in the run up to Christmas. So to help out with the gift shopping, here are few ideas for makeup junkies and bath relaxation. From gift sets to stocking fillers to little treats for yourself.

This is the Champneys Travel Collection Gift Set. It has little bit of everything you need for a holiday. Body Cream and Shower Cream in Exotic Retreat, Mediterranean Bliss Body Hydrator and Shower Cream, Thai Royale Body Cream and Bubble Heaven and a body polisher. 

These nail polishes are from 2True and come in bright colours with some shimmer. Perfect for the party season.

Christian Louboutin - Les 20 Ans

There is one word that makes me quiver, one shoe that makes me salivate. Louboutin. A few weeks ago it was announced all over the blogosphere that in honour of his 20 years of hard work, Christian Louboutin  is releasing Les 20 Ans, a 20th anniversary book. It is now on sale and to coincide, Christian Louboutin has releases videos of what went into making this book. It is behind the scenes at the photo shoots.

What I would have given to have a been a fly on the wall that day! The video includes Dita Von Teese, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mika and Gareth Thomas to name a few. There is a lot of skin on show. It is all about the shoes! Did you know Christian Louboutin collaborates with Dita and makes all her shoes for her shows? Lucky lucky lady! My love affair with CL continues!

The book cover above

Love these but nowehere near brave enough!

I have also had a peek at the new collection for SS12, unfortunately I could not take photos but I can tell you it is fabulous. Expect studs, spikes, jewels and lots of colour. There was a pair of shoes with long spikes on the toe area mixed with jewels. Fabulous!

On a complete random sidenote, do you have nickname for Louboutin shoes? Loobies? Christy Loobs? I always hear the funniest nicknames for the shoes. Tell me in the comments.

Nails Inc Blogger Competition

Nails Inc are having a competition which gives YOU the chance to create your very own nail polish! Several bloggers have created designs using Nails Inc polishes. To enter, all you have to do is 'like' your favourite design. I went for a crazy, eccentric design. Tell me what you think in the comments and if you like it, vote for me!

 

To create this look I used 4 colours. First a base colour of Charing Cross (red). I did this the day before as it needs to dry completely for the next step. Once dry, put a strip of sellotape over the nail and paint a colour over the top and bottom. You can choose any colour and amend the design. Perhaps stick to two colours and go horizontal?  Leave the sellotape on for about 30 minutes to let the polish dry then take it off.

 

See the other designs and vote by going to Facebook here. 

Nutribeauty for all your beauty needs

I have discovered the most amazing natural beauty site where you can buy products without chemical overload. If you have sensitive or problem skin, it is maybe one of 2 things. You are probably using the wrong products for your skin type or putting the wrong things into your body and the toxins provide skin problems. Well online beauty boutique, Nutribeauty may be able to help. They have a holistic approach and the brands they have are relatively green. Some of brands you can see on the site include Heaven, Neal's Yard, Dr Hauschka and Trilogy to name a few. Here are some of brands and products in a bit more detail.

The most unique brand was Genki. Genki aims to bring some of the top beauty secrets from Japan to you. The product that I have fallen in love with is the Konnyaku Sponge. Konnyaku is a popular southeast asian vegetable, rich in minerals and traditionally used in Japanese beauty treatments. The plant fibre structure of konnyaku exfoliates but does not leave the skin raw like some exfoliators can. This is ideal for people with sensitive skin as it is very gentle yet provides a deep cleanse. You can use with cleanser or by itself. It does come in 3 types, original for normal and sensitive skin, Pink Clay for dry skin as it has moisturising properties, Bamboo Charcoal for oily skin. The best thing is it only costs £10.

Combat Winter Skin with Melvita

Isn't it getting a bit chilly these days? I was shivering all day today. One thing that suffers during winter is your skin. The cold can dry out your skin and leave it dehydrated. Melvita is the largest certified organic beauty brand in France. They offer products for the face, bath and food supplements. In November, they are launching their new Apicosma range.

Now what makes this special from the millions of skincare products out there? The 3 Honey Complex, which is a unique combination of honey ingredients to treat the causes of dry skin. That means it does not just create a sweet smelling creamy layer on your skin which lasts all of 30 minutes and your skin is as dry as a bone, but it actually treats the cause of dry skin. How does it do that, you ask?

The 3 honeys used are Thyme, Acacia and Orange Blossom. I met the Head of Research & Development at their launch recently and he described the technology behind the products. When creating the Apicosma range, they were trying to see which was best honey and see what effects each honey provided. It turns out that when combined, the new 'super-honey' had unexpected, new effects. Not only does it replenish nutrients in the skin, it regenerates the skin cells to create a thicker epidermis and strengthen the skin. A thin epidermis is a cause of dry skin so this is how it fights dry skin and makes it completely different to other skin ranges.

Now not everywhere on the body is dry. Some areas will have dry patches. So Melvita have the Apicosma Ultra Nourishing Body Balm and most definitely my favourite. It is a rich body balm to target the dry areas and smells amazing. Wonderful for mild eczema sufferers like me!

For a more everyday product there is the Skin Softening Nourishing Body Milk. It is less rich than the Body Balm and rapidly absorbs into the skin leaving it super soft. For your hands which often get forgotten about in winter there is Apicosma Extra Rich Hand Cream which left my hands feeling amazing.

For people with dry skin, this range does the trick. You can buy Melvita from their Flagship store in Covent Garden and Melvita.co.uk.

Green Eye Makeup

For an evening out, I regularly return to green eye shadow for an amazing effect. Green eyes featured in the Alice & Olivia SS12 show at NYFW. So I thought I might have go.

Image courtesy of Cosmopolitan

Murad Hybrid Range

I cam across Murad which is a doctor skincare brand with a different approach. I had the privilege of meeting the founder, Dr Howard Murad, M.D at the launch the new Hybrid range. His philosophy is that skincare comes from not only what you put on the skin but what you put in your body.

GANT SS12 Preview

For a chic look, I love to head to Gant. I love their preppy looks. I previewed their SS12 collection and it has lots of bright colours with some moroccan themed pieces. I find the looks very summer Gossip Girl meets Hamptons. Have a look at these gorgeous pieces...

This dress is a must have for me!

Diamonique from QVC Pop-Up shop

People I am back!!! I have been going to lots of press events so I have lots of exciting things to tell you but first things first, Diamonique at QVC. I am true believer in the saying "Diamonds are a girl's best friend". However, for us mere mortals a diamond may not be in the budget. Diamonique have the most beautiful simulations of diamonds at a fraction of the cost. To celebrate the launch of 3 new categories of Diamonique, QVC had a pop up shop on Tuesday 11th October with a little lady you may recognise...

Fashion Rocks in Westfield Stratford

So by now you know all about Westfield Stratford City opening and you may have had a walk around. But if you are like me you may have missed a few shops which are slightly outside the centre in all the chaos. So I went back for round two once the madness died down and found a little gem and my new home, Fashion Rocks. You may know of the catwalk shows which brings fashion and music together. There are now spinoff stores in London and Sheffield. I cannot express how much I want to live here...

New Frontcover kits!

Frontcover can only be described as beauty products for the fashionista. Whatever shade you need, Frontcover has it. If you have not heard of Frontcover, (where have you been?), they  release limited edition beauty collections twice a year. The collections include complete kits for the lips, eyes and nails. I recently got the chance to meet one of the co-founders who told me about the inspiration and what goes on behind the scenes.

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless

I always like a brand that dares to be different. Illamasqua are eccentric, unique and very bold. The new collection is called Theatre of the Nameless  and inspired by self-expression that transformed 1920s Berlin. The collection is rich in colour and has some fabulous rubber-look nail polishes.

Amway Fashion Show

A few weeks ago, I went to the Inspiring Diversity Fashion Show sponsored by Amway. I finally have the chance to share some of gorgeous clothes with you. It was a charity fashion show in aid of a fantastic cause. The collections were available to order and all profits went to raise money for the Inspired By People (IBP) charity. They support projects in developing countries and aim to improve and empower the lives of vulnerable people, particularly women and children. 5 designers were on show so without further ado...

z-mode was my favourite collection and the hostess' favourite as well as she wearing the most beautiful dress from z-mode below. The hostess was Zoe Hardman who was really nice and quite funny. The designer, Victoria Rangayah is from Lithunia. She relocated to the UK in 2008 and launched her label z-mode during LFW SSH in 2010.

Purity Ritual Spa Experience... Heaven on earth

Just before the chaos of LFW, I was lucky enough to go to Purity Spa for the most luxurious spa experience. I thought is was the perfect way to prepare and relax. If you are looking for a spa experience, I recommend booking through Wahanda as they have a wide selection of spas and treatments including blowdrys, fish pedicures and all around pampering. The best deal I found was the Ritual Experience at Purity Spa in Hilton Park Lane.

Shoes and Bags from London Fashion Week

As there is so much on show at LFW, I decided to split the post into various categories. yesterday you saw the jewellery. Now you get to see the amazing shoes and bags!

Cleo B was a standout shoe designer for me. Sandals like this made me fall in love. Go BOOM!

September GlossyBox

For a few months, I have been hearing a lot about GlossyBox. The good, the bad, ups and downs. Well if you have been locked a cave for the past few months, GlossyBox is the UK's answer to BirchBox. It is a subscription service where you get 5 samples every month for £12.95. So I dived in and here are my goodies...