Jo Malone launches Tea Fragrance Blends Collection

You all know I love my Jo Malone perfume - English Pear and Freesia so it will not come as any surprise to you that I am really excited to learn about their latest perfumes launch...

Tea Fragrance Blends Collection

This is a limited edition collection inspired by the quintessentially British tradition of High Tea. This sounds like it was developed for me in mind :-)

Available in five fragrances and just as there’s a tea to suit every taste and disposition, there’s a Tea Cologne for every style and mood. Every scent is a contemporary classic, fusing understated luxury with an air of English eccentricity. And of course, just like our idiosyncrasies of taking tea, the Tea Fragrance Blends perfectly lend themselves to being personalised with Jo Malone’s unique philosophy of Fragrance Combining™.  In true British style, the collection allows you to combine your Tea Fragrance Blend, with a dash of Sweet Lemon or a splash of Sweet Milk. 

Assam & Grapefruit Cologne 

Invigorating and upbeat, Assam & Grapefruit captures the qualities of that first cup of morning tea. 

Refreshing grapefruit and herbaceous Assam are blended with undertones of warm patchouli, spicy 

cardamom and almond. 

  

Fragrance Combining Suggestion  

Add a creamy richness with a splash of Sweet Milk to deepen and sweeten the scent of black tea.

Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne 

A playful twist on the British tradition of high tea, cucumber sandwiches served with Earl Grey, distilled 

into a modern, intriguing scent.  Fresh and fruity bergamot is cooled with cucumber and warmed with a base of beeswax, vanilla and musk.

Fragrance Combining Suggestion  

Refresh and uplift by layering with zesty Sweet Lemon.

Fresh Mint Leaf Cologne 

A refreshing tisane of freshly picked mint, translated into a crisp, clear cologne. A blend of mint, basil 

and maté infuses this cologne with a green, leafy clarity, while a warm base is created by the partnership of cedarwood with musk.

Fragrance Combining Suggestion  

Think pretty and fresh by adding a mist of zesty, fruit infused Sweet Lemon.

Sweet Lemon Cologne 

Mirroring the custom of adding a slice of freshly cut lemon or a sprinkle of sugar to a cup of just brewed tea, Sweet Lemon is given a fruity twist with pineapple, peach and fresh green cypress.

Sweet Milk Cologne 

Utterly English, a dash of sweet, creamy milk gives tea a rounded richness. The unique milk accord combines star anise, almond and vanilla to create a warm, comforting scent. Addictively sweet and unexpectedly fresh. 

I am really tempted by these, I love the concept of adding milk or lemon to your 'tea' and cannot wait to visit Jo Malone to try them out 

The Tea Fragrance Blends are available from March 2011 

And I leave you with the words of Jo Malone's Global General Manager Dominic De Vetta -  

"At present celebrating tradition is at the forefront of fashion, hence the English ritual of taking tea feels contemporary again."

The Mineral Powder That Converted Me...

Readers of BeautySwot know that I really struggle to like mineral powder foundation. I admit the results are good (I have tried some really great ones) but I find it far more of a faff than liquid foundation. Loose powders get up my nose, so they soon go by the wayside.

However, I may just have changed my mind with Green People's Pressed Mineral Powder SPF15.

I love this powder and am increasingly reaching for it when I need a quick fix and need to get out of the house in a hurry but don't want to compromise on looking good. The fact that it is pressed means that it doesn't make a huge powdery mess on my clothes, nor does it go up my nose. It covers in seconds (including the redness I have) and looks unbelievably natural and flawless. I have got the 'caramel' shade which is described as for skin with a yellow undertone, it is the perfect shade for me. As an added bonus, I tried it without a primer today, it looked good for hours and no hint of a shiny nose! A great Matte foundation in my opinion.

Green People's Pressed Mineral Powder is certified organic and is suitable for sensitive skin and those prone to acne, eczema, psoriasis or rosacea. Minerals reflect light to minimise fine lines and wrinkles and apparently the foundation does not clog your pores, allowing skin to breathe naturally.

This organic mineral face powder is made without Parabens, Bismuth Oxychloride, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, unnecessary Bulking Agents and Synthetic Colours.

The compacts are made with 100% natural plastic and coloured with earth-friendly, natural colour. I actually find the shape of it quite easy to hold.

I apply the mineral foundation with the Kabuki brush also from the Green People, which is available to purchase separately. This is an eco-friendly, vegan brush made of bamboo, I find it incredibly soft, I think it gives excellent results and can highly recommend it.

I am so pleased with the quality of both items and I am now looking at other products in their make-up range as they are created with the same 'natural' ethos.

Pressed Mineral Powder SPF15 costs £20.45 for 10g 

Kabuki Brush costs £20.45

For more details and information on other shades available visit www.greenpeople.co.uk

Launching Soon - Models Own Pro Range

I love Models Own polish and so am excited about their latest launch Models Own Pro, the professional nail care line with 3-Free Formula, Vitamin E to promote nail growth and UV Filters for a manicure that will not fade (Grow Fast, Fade Slow Technology).  The pro polishes are free from Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP. They will be exclusively available in Boots this month and will cost £8.

I have seen the 54! colours to choose from and already have my eye on quite a few of muted shades, but I think there will be a shade that appeals to everyone, they are gorgeous....

Shade pictured is Yas-Mint

Shrove Tuesday - Giving Up Something For Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent. Yesterday it was Shrove Tuesday which to lots of people means Pancake Day - traditionally it was the day that you would have a feast to use up products like sugar, fat and eggs, which were restricted during Lent.

We enjoyed pancakes of lemon and sugar (the low calorie version) and bananas, syrup and single cream. Absolutely delicious. My toddler enjoyed devouring them immensely!

Did you have pancakes? What mouthwatering fillings did you have in your pancakes ?

Will you be giving anything up for Lent and what will it be ?

Afternoon Tea at The Savoy - Review

Back in January Afternoon Tea at The Savoy was booked to celebrate my Sister's birthday. I was really looking forward to going as it had been about 6 months since I had last been to Afternoon Tea.

We had to change the number of people going a few times, and even the time of the booking and to The Savoy's credit they handled it well. My husband also called up a few days in advance to notify them of his request for dairy free, and was assured this wouldn't be a problem.

The Savoy has recently reopened having undergone a £100 million restoration so I was excited to be one of the (relatively) new visitors. The hotel is set back from the main road and looks stunning, Walking up to the entrance I felt a real sense of grandness as I approached this "Rolls Royce" of a building!

The reception area is huge and befitting this 'Grand' hotel.

We were taken through to the Thames Foyer where Afternoon Tea is served and shown to our seats. The Thames Foyer is the heart of the hotel. In the ceiling there is a glass cupola feature which allows natural daylight to flood in and the centrepiece of the room is a magnificent winter garden gazebo.

I was delighted to be seated opposite the new Beaufort Bar (actually at the time all we knew was that we were sat opposite some mirrored doors, which later opened up to reveal this gorgeous setting. I am looking forward to enjoying a drink there one day!) and behind us was the pianist in the gazebo which I loved.

The Beaufort Bar

We chose our teas and sat back to enjoy a relaxed Afternoon Tea in this truly sumptuous of surroundings.

There is a wide selection of teas to choose from - teas that are included in the price and some rarer ones that can cost up to £20.50 extra! I started with a Scented White Tea -  The White Peony and Rose Tea and later switched to an Oolong Tea - Oriental Beauty. This is famed to be one of the Queen's favourite teas so I simply had to try it... Both were delicious, delicate and highly recommended.

A close up of the Rose Tea in the teapot

The first hint of disappointment was when the sandwiches arrived and there was no mention of the dairy free items. My husband queried it and there was a look of surprise from our waiter. He disappeared and after quite a while had passed and the rest of the party had eaten a whole round of sandwiches, he returned with a separate platter for my husband. After this gesture dairy free was not mentioned again by the waiter.

Our sandwiches and scones (there were 2 of these on our table)

There was plenty of food on offer - The finger sandwiches included honey roasted ham with apple-cider mustard, egg and cress and smoked salmon with mild horseradish. A choice of two scones plain and raisin followed with a choice of strawberry preserve or lemon curd and of course the obligatory Devonshire clotted cream.

Beginning to feel full we were then brought my favourite, the selection of French pastries  - these were amazing and moreish so we had more brought to us!

On the plate are

Black Forest Swiss roll
Savoy chocolate and pistachio “Opera”
Valrhona chocolate éclair
Hazelnut financier with caramelia mousse
Blackberry and roasted white chocolate macaroon
Passion fruit tartlet with exotic fruits

Yum, yum and more yum.

As I mentioned it was my sister's birthday and once the pastries had been eaten, the pianist started to play 'Happy Birthday' some of the room sang along and this was brought to our table

By this time we were quite full and yet there was another final (phew!) course. The trolley was wheeled to our table and we had a choice of 3 Thames Foyer signature cakes. For my sins I chose chocolate as did some of the party, the others probably wisely, chose the carrot cake.

The Thames Foyer is a large room and a lot of the time we were waiting long periods for our waiter to return to top our teas up, refresh our teas which had gone cold or ask for more food. Most of the time we couldn't even see our waiter to catch his eye. My husband was disappointed that The Savoy was not better prepared to deal with dairy free requests, and when no alternative was offered/ forthcoming when we were enjoying our delicate desserts he requested some fruit, a tiny plate of fruit eventually appeared.

We spent 3 hours, chatting, eating and listening to the wonderful pianist. She happily accepted requests and was very appreciative if you clapped at the end of each of her pieces. I loved the surroundings, the chairs were comfortable, the gold decor magnificent and decadent, the ambiance of the room and the live music but sadly the day was hugely let down by the lack of 'service' - which you pay 12.5% extra for. I wasn't paying but the bill payer paid it not wishing to make a fuss, but I could see that they were left feeling hard done by.

Afternoon Tea costs £36 per person and is served from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
Dress code - Smart Casual, No Sportswear.

For more details click here.

My Lovely New Compact Mirror!

I have been looking for the perfect compact mirror for some time and now I have found it ..

I am in love dear readers .

It may not be the tiniest of items but it is surprisingly light and slim. It is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand but big enough to be of real use as a mirror. For so long I have used my phone as a mirror but now I  am proud to bring this out.

The make is Model Mirror. This design is available exclusively to House of Fraser stores in their wonderful Apothecary Section. It features 8 battery powered LED's and resembles a dressing room mirror  - so cute.

I think the black with gold lips design (called Good as Gold) is really sleek although it comes in 3 other exclusive designs. The lights come on with a push of a button on the side, but you can use it without the lights if you prefer. The best way to use it is to shine the lights on your face while looking into the bottom mirror. The top mirror has a 2x magnification, scary stuff haha.

It comes in a beautifully soft Chamois Leather pouch that protects it from being scratched in your handbag and also cleans it!

My 'Model Mirror' costs £22, the other designs cost £19.

Battery included.

What do you think? Great gift idea?

New Product From Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Hand Crème - £13

Inspired by the sweet, fresh, intoxicating scent of Fig, Laura Mercier introduces a new scent to her delicious Gourmand Body & Bath Collection, launching just in time for Mother’s Day, or for any day that needs a touch of luxury. The indulgent essence of fresh Celeste Figs mingle with a dewy fruit bouquet of Apricot Nectar and sensuous Ylang Ylang to create a rich, luxurious scent, unlike any other. The smooth, creamy notes have a soft sweetness, while the subtle green, earthy elements add an unexpected twist.

This is a deep penetrating crème that leaves the skin velvety soft. Richer in texture and emollients than her other crèmes, HAND CRÈME works over time to ensure the healthiest, smoothest hands. This amazing crème contains rich plant oils and essential vitamins to make the driest skin like new.

I think this sounds amazing, I hope it smells as wonderful as it sounds! I cannot wait to smell it. I am already a huge fan of Laura Mercier Creams and use the Crème Brulee Body Soufflé for some after bath indulgence.

Launches April 2011

Stockists Nationwide and London: Selfridges, Space NK, Harrods, Liberty, House of Fraser, Bentalls