L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Hand Cream

To accompany the L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Eau De Toilette that I reviewed here there is a matching hand cream - Pivoine Délicate Hand Cream.

Gorgeously pretty packaging, the hand cream is squeezed out by turning the lid to open. The hand cream is enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Peony extract.

This is not a heavy duty thick hand cream, more like a lotion in consistency. It lightly moisturises and softens hands whilst leaving them with the same floral and delicate scent that I adore in the Eau De Toilette.

Beautiful.

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Hand Cream (Ltd Edition) costs £14 for 75ml.


*PR Sample

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Eau de Toilette Review

The more I try from the L'Occitane brand the more I find I like, I have gone on to make purchases from the Almond collection, my absolute favourite bathing products. I have yet to try their fragrances bar a quick squirt of Cherry Blossom last winter which immediately had me sniffing my arm adoringly, it is gorgeous! So when this box dropped through my letterbox with this most pretty of boxes I could not wait to open it up and have a spray.

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Eau de Toilette (Ltd Edition) is described as a fragrance that' blends the delicateness of Peony petals with delicate and fresh green scents of Rose and Lily of the Valley'.

My thoughts

The outside box is decorated and so exceptionally pretty, feminine and Spring like. I love the drawings on it and the delicate pink shade. The shade is mirrored in the perfume's colour, although the bottle is wonderfully simple with the L'Occitane logo raised on the glass.

Now I am not a fan of hugely floral scents generally but this blend of peony, rose and lily of the valley is exquisite and just so beautiful and fresh that it appealed immediately, it has already been worn many a day. I do think this is very much a day scent, it is just too 'pretty' and delicate to be an evening scent in my mind. 

This fragrance is ideal for Spring/Summer and as floral scents go this is surely up there with the very best of them.

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Eau de Toilette (Ltd Edition) costs £35 for 75ml

*PR Sample

Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion Review

I have made so much of an effort to moisturise my whole body as I get older. I don't particularly suffer from dry skin so it is tempting to skip on this step, the routine however is made easier when I find products that I really like.

Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion (for normal to dry skin) was included in in April's 'Natural' GlossyBox .

Burt's Bees say

For normal to dry skin, this non-greasy, lightweight lotion goes to work the minute you apply it, and it’s scientifically proven to moisturise for up to 24 hours. Milk nourishes while honey helps to soften skin. oconut and grape seed oils and vitamin E deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin

My thoughts 

Although this is a lotion, when you squeeze it out of the tube it is quite thick. It melts quite easily into the skin, instantly softening it and making it feel satin smooth. Absorbing quickly with no greasy residue the milk and honey lotion is very pleasant and leaves skin feeling soft for hours on end. I like the fact that it is 99% natural.

However, as you know I am really fussy about a scent of a product and whether I carry on using it depends  a lot on the scent and if I like it. Personally the scent is not one that I particularly like.I thought it would be sweet but I find it to be a bit rubbery or plasticky. 

I have since passed the lotion on to my mother in law who reported back that she thought it was a fantastic lotion, it really worked. She loved it.

Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion (for normal to dry skin) costs £5.99 for 70g.

The Benefit & Refuge Mascarathon 15th – 29th June

This year Benefit has teamed up with Refuge (the domestic violence charity for women and children) to raise money and awareness by organizing a charity run..The run started in Edinburgh on the 15th of June  with Caroline Flack who is fronting the campaign kicking off the proceedings by running the first 2 miles.

The run has already visited major cities across England and Wales including Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff with celebs including Donna Air doing their leg of the run. The team have yet to get to Oxford and the run culminates with Lauren Laverne crossing the finish line in London Spitalfields Market this Friday 29th June at 4pm.

Every two miles a giant mascara will be handed as a baton to run with and there are areas for runners and their friends to have makeovers plus Benefit giveaways. 

Of course this is raising awareness and funds for a very serious subject - domestic violence. Every two miles that each of the mascarathon runners complete will mark the two women a week whose lives are lost because of domestic violence.  The funds raised will enable Refuge to reach out and help many more women who need vital support.

For more details and to find out how you can help please click here.

Scent Of The Summer - Roberto Cavalli Eau De Parfum

Sexy, sultry and captivating Roberto Cavalli Eau De Parfum

The campaign poster called out to me, the instant I saw this perfume being advertised I just knew that this was a scent for me. From the imagery to the bottle I was completely seduced and by the time the first spray had touched my skin I was in love. Ever since that moment I had been lusting after this perfume.

Every so often a perfume comes along that completely grabs your attention and provides the ultimate feel good factor, when I apply this perfume I am transported into the model's life. I AM somewhere steaming hot, I am wearing a designer dress, possess that stunning figure. My skin has a beautiful golden sheen and I have shiny, long chestnut hair. Wearing this perfume I feel so confident and attractive, it just makes me so incredibly happy from within. It is quite simply my scent of the Summer.

Described as a balsamic floral it boasts top notes of spicy Pink Pepper and Green Mandarin, floral heart notes of Orange Blossom and Mirabelle Plum and finally base notes of sweet Tonka Beans and Benzoin Laos.

The result to my untrained scentometer is an alluring, exotic mix of spice and sweet in equal measure that is undoubtedly feminine.

Roberto Cavalli Eau De Parfum 50ml costs £48


*This was a birthday gift from family 

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation Review

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation  - Shade N4 Pure Beige - Review

This 1ml sample was a free sachet sample in a magazine. I do like trying out foundations this way, it can be a great way to see how a foundation works for you before shelling out your hard earned cash.

L'Oreal says


With age skin can becomes dull and tired. Lumi Magique helps give instant skin radiance. You will be glowing inside and out. Light texture lets skin breathe with 24 hours of hydration.
Contains SPF 18

My thoughts 


I have to admit that in the last few years I have become a little addicted to the radiant look, I love face highlighters and any make up that helps to give me that all important healthy 'glow'.


This shade was a bit too dark for me really however it meant I just had to blend well to avoid the tell tale tide mark dark line. I warmed up my neckline with bronzer but it also meant that I didn't have to warm up my face with a bronzer which I normally do. I managed to get 3 applications from this foundation sample.

The first time I used this foundation my skin was looking tired and dull so an ideal time to test out the claims of providing radiance from within. The foundation is a runny liquid and glides on feeling incredibly light and comfortable on the skin and looking very natural.

Coverage is a decent light-medium and is buildable. I found that it evened out my skin tone, smoothed it out and provided a real healthy 'glow' and radiance to my skin which was really rather nice, considering how dull my skin had looked moments before.

The foundation lasted for about 6 hours with no powder or primer. The only thing I would say is that my skin is normal/combination and I did notice that as the hours went on I did get an oily t zone and felt that it was starting to look a bit shiny although others said it didn't look like that to them but more dewy. Personally I wouldn't say this would be great for people with oilier skin but ideal for those with normal skin.

I really liked this foundation, especially the way it lit up my face when the light hit it. As a budget foundation this is one worth considering.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation costs £10.99 for 30ml 

Debenhams Home Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection

I recently attended a press preview of the Debenhams Home A/W 2012 Collection. I love home accessories so it was a really nice to see what is upcoming in the store.

Below are the items that particularly caught my eye, these will freshen up and brighten up rooms.

Rocha. John Rocha - Tealight Tree £38

Grey Rose by Jane Packer - Orange Ranunculus in Square Vase £18

Flowers are a great way of bringing colour into a home and these ones require no looking after..

Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson


Pink Butterfly Cushion £18
Yellow Peacock Cushion £25
Birdcage Mirror £40
Cushion £28


The afternoon tea lover in me couldn't resist these cute kitchen items

At home with Ashley Thomas 


Cake Stand £25
Mixing Bowls £18 each
Tins (set of 3) £15
Tins (set of 2) £15

Debenhams Heart Bowl £25

All pics courtesy of Debenhams.