My Little Brooklyn Box

Hello everyone! 

So October is long gone and I didn't even notice. Honestly, I don't know where my head has been! Well actually I do, I've been up to my eyes in work and assignments. Buuuuttt that is no excuse for not blogging as much and I apologise guys. Today I wanted to tell you all about the delightful contents of the October My Little Box :-) 

My Little Box is a deeply fabulous french brand dedicated to concocting a monthly box of delights for us! October's box is the Brooklyn box, celebrating all things from that celebrated hipster hub of New York. For those of us wishing for a holiday, this box is a little peek into one! I think this might actually be one my favourite boxes yet, and yes I am aware I say that most times! This box is slightly edgier than the previous ones and bang on trend! 

The design on the front shows a woman wearing the just-this-minute fashionable mid length pleated, metallic skirt. I love this design, it is so current and stylish. I can hear you all shouting at me to just get on with talking about the contents, so let's dive into the box. There is the usual little magazine filled with fashion and beauty tips, this month interviewing Penélope Bagieu, a french writer who moved from Paris to Brooklyn, New York. A bit of a culture shock to say the least, but incredibly interesting to read about. 

Look how cute the pins are! 

The products this month were particularly good! This little mug is ideal for your morning tea or coffee, personally I'm a hot chocolate kind of girl. You can even use the special leaf stencil to dust your drink with cocoa powder to make it look like a Starbucks! Although, these mugs are enamel so you can't put them in the microwave...very important to know! 

I love the little cards that come with each box, I have a little arty wall of them above my desk for inspiration :-) 

The little canvas bags that come in each box have such a super cute design, I love using them for transporting my makeup on the go. However, I think the contents are infinitely more exciting, don't you agree? This month there is this lovely perfume from Courrèges, called La Fille de L'air. It has quite a strong citrus scent so I think I'll be applying this one lightly! It's a perfect summer to autumn transition fragrance, not too spicy, but also not too heavy on the florals. The nail serum is My Little Beauty's own brand product. This Save My Nails strengthening treatment will be such a god send this winter to help me keep my nails healthy and in good condition. I get such dry nails in the winter, it's what comes from working outside a lot *sigh*. 

I thought swatching the colour on here could look arty...

This khol eyeliner pencil in 15 Gold Ornament By Terry is so decadent! I love the way it is not simply a boring black liner, the fact that it is thick, bright gold is so perfect for the upcoming holiday season! It is also the ideal makeup staple to turn a simple, understated look into a style with much more wow factor. This colour would suit any eye colour and skin tone, and will really pull the emphasis to your gorgeous eyes :-) I have taken to wearing it every time I feel like spicing up my look a little. 

The final product is just as gorgeous as all of the above. These three pins are super cute and stylish. I love the matching green and gold collar pins! They work so well with a collared shirt in a light colour. I wear mine with my silky black and white dalmatian print shirt and a pinafore dress. They really complete the outfit, giving it that extra classy, put-together boost. The other pin is of a strawberry iced donut, my favourite kind of donut by the way. This one is super cute to put on a denim jacket or on a jean pocket :-) 

What do you think of this box? Have you got any tips for using these items? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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My Little Mademoiselle Box

Hello everyone! 

First up, let me apologise for the appalling quality of the following photos! The light and my camera were not working with me when I took them. *Sigh* What can you do? Since My Little Box first had their U.K. debut two Septembers ago, I have been a very keen subscriber. Essentially it is a Parisian founded monthly subscription box delivering all sorts of beauty, fashion and lifestyle goodies to your door. They theme every box and you don't know what you're getting until it appears! Which if you are a lover of surprises is completely magical :-) They strive to send you all things Parisian, to make you feel a taste of that beautiful city every month! 

The packaging is so gorgeous, yet another stunning design by Kanako Kuno, who works with many big brands such as L'Occitane. This month's box was designed with the help of British youtuber and blogger Freddy Cousin-Brown and French designer Claudie Pierlot. They wish to help us all achieve that classic, elegant Parisian nonchalance with a carefully selected box of delights. Starting with the monthly magazine full of interviews, style tips and stunning fashion shoots. I always love devouring this. It's such a cute little magazine, ideal for taking on the train or reading in a lunch break. 

When you delve a little deeper in the box, they call contain a little canvas bag with the beauty goodies. This month it is a ginseng shot masque, a mascara and a perfume. The face masque is from the Korean brand Erborian, now if you are a frequent reader you'll know I hold Korean beauty brands in very high esteem! This masque was wonderfully fresh and my skin felt so rejuvenated. Applying it was quite a laugh, it was so slimy and strange, but I swear it did my skin so much good! It was my first experience of shot masques, and now I'm officially converted. The cute vial of Yves Rocher perfume looks wonderful on my nightstand and is the perfect size to take on weekends away. I love Yves Rocher, they are so typically French, whilst remaining affordable. The So Elixir Bois Sensuel scent is quite musky and grown up, I'd say the tones of iris, vanilla and patchouli are quite sensual actually. Ideal for a woman trying to achieve that seductive Parisienne attitude. 

Every month they put in a product from their own My Little Beauty brand. Over the years these have become some of my favourite products, especially their facial mists and micellar water. This month is their Mademoiselle Volume Impertinent Mascara. The wand is gloriously thick and the mascara itself pigmented an intense black. I love it, it gives me seriously glamorous lashes! I'm thinking of keeping this mascara as an evening one for when I want to channel my elegant French up-bringing :-) 

The final surprise is this super cute Claudie Pierlot purse. It's in her classic, simplistic style of a pretty, deep navy, subtly bordered with red. The signature Claudie bow decorates the front. It's the perfect size for carrying your few essentials and the soft leather is a delight to hold. Be a minimalist like all the best Parisiennes! 

Of all the subscription boxes out there, this is a firm favourite and I honestly can't wait to see what next month's box has in store! Have you tried this subscription box? Let me know what you think in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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London Cosmetics Haul

Hello everyone! 

It feels like forever since I last did a haul post! I think it's because I tend to buy new products in bits and bobs rather than one big splurge. This is in the vague hope that I will feel less guilty for decimating my purse...it doesn't work! Anyway I went to London last week with my Mam to keep her company to and from work. While she was working I decided to do a little bit of cheeky shopping! 

My first stop was of course the infamous Lush shop on Oxford Street. It's hard not to pop in when I'm so close! I have been mentally preparing for the dry skin that comes with autumn breezes and damp weather by planning a new and improved skin care routine. To aid this I wanted to try out a few new products in store and decide what suited me. The shop assistant was so helpful and spent at least 30 minutes talking me through products and trying out treatments. 

In the end I mixed it up by getting a facial soap and a steam toner. Yes, that was not a typo, I meant to write a steam toner. For those who, like me last week, don't know what that is, it's a small tablet (similar to a dish washer tablet) which you put in a small amount of water. You then put a towel over your head while it hangs over the bowl of water and you use the steam as a toning treatment. Afterwards you can pour the water into a small bottle and keep it as a normal toner for the next weeknas long as it is refrigerated. I went for Dream Steam, which has the most lovely scent! It smells of rose, lavender and chamomile blue oil, with a slight hint of tea tree oil. Apparently it is really good for dry or sensitive skin as it opens up your pores so the oils can be absorbed properly :-) 

Now for the facial soap! I went for Fresh Farmacy because I loved the scent of elderflower and calamine, it is simply delightful. It makes me think of meadows! The chamomile blue oil and lavender oil make it feel very soothing on the skin. It is super creamy and lathers up beautifully. The different elements provide antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as helping to restore the natural balance of your skin. 

I couldn't go to London without nipping into Abercrombie and Fitch to pick up a new bottle of Fierce. I love this scent to pieces, even though it is a men's cologne I think it can smell quite feminine on the right person. Over the years it has become my signature scent. The sandalwood fragrance makes me feel so refreshed and ready to take on the day! 

Another sign that summer is almost over is my fading tan. Not that I had much of a tan anyway, let's face it, as a red-head I am rather porcelain skinned. However, I do still need different shades from summer to winter. Sadly my current foundation is getting a tad too dark for me now, so I went in search of a new one. The Nars Sheer Glow foundations have been raved about on the blogosphere for years and it was about time I tried one! In case you are wondering my shade is Light 4 Deauville. I loved how well it worked with my skin, the coverage is medium, but buildable without feeling heavy on my skin. I felt like my skin did glow and was still well moisturised by the end of the day. Another aspect I liked was the buying the pump separately part. It means I can recycle it for future products and help the environment in some small way :-) 

I did a tad of clothes shopping when I was there so if you would like to see those pieces then let me know in the comments below! Please do tell me what you think of these products if you've tried them :-) 

xoxo

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Sample Sunday - Scents

Hello everyone! 

Now I don't know about you, but I love samples! They are such a great way to try out a product to decide whether you like it or not. I have been squirrelling away samples for months now in order to create a mini-series in which I trial them for you :-)

To kick things off let's talk about scents. I seem to get given the same scents all the time, which is great if I like them, but not so great if I want to try loads to review! The two that I have been given many of are Miu Miu and Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. 

The Miu Miu scent is very fresh and woody, it's almost a unisex scent really. It has notes of akigalawood to give it the freshness, with the more subtle lily of the valley to give a light, floral tone. The fragrance is actually Miu Miu's first foray into the perfume world and I think it is a fantastic first. It makes me quite excited to see what the brand will bring out next. This scent is quite grown-up and would suit any woman of any age. It could be an everyday scent, but could also easily be used as a more elegant evening scent. It really is quite versatile! 

Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle is hardly a new scent, but is very much loved all over the world. A few years ago it was my signature scent, so I am very fond of it. It's a much younger scent than the traditional No. 5. To give it that more youthful feel quite a few floral notes have been added. The more powerful tones to avail the senses are jasmine and rose, with a kick of orange. The after tones of patchouli and vetiver are more subtle, but play a big part in reigning back the scent to keep it delicate and feminine. Although it is distinctly floral, it still manages to keep a freshness which is essential for its youthful vibe. This scent was inspired by Gabrielle Chanel and although aimed at a younger market, I feel it could be worn by anyone! 

Fragrance is something that I get quite excited about and I can't wait for Chanel's latest fragrance to appear on shelves. They have launched a new edition of Chanel No.5 in the form of Chanel No.5 L'eau! This is aimed to be a younger version of the signature Chanel perfume to make it more accessible to a younger market, almost a little sister scent for the original fragrance. 

What is your favourite fragrance? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Scents For Summer

Hello everyone! 

I was planning to do a summer makeup look for you all today, but then the weather failed me and the rain started to pour. In honour of poor lighting and my desire for summery weather to return, I thought instead that I would write about my favourite summer perfumes to conjure up some warmer vibes :-) 

Scents can be so evocative, instantly transporting you back in time to when you last wore it or to a significant moment. I love this effect, it is why I tend to return to the same scents seasonally in the same way birds will migrate across the planet! 

Eurgh, rainy days always mean bad lighting! 

My favourite scent for summer, and in general, is Abercrombie & Fitch's Fierce. I know it is a bloke's scent, but I feel it is very unisex and can smell very feminine on the right woman. I associate this scent with that lovely new clothes feel when you've been on a summer shopping spree. A&F is superb for summer dresses and floaty tops! This scent is refreshing, without being overpowering, the hints of sandalwood make me think of long evenings on the beach. This year I varied slightly with Fierce Icon, which I love, but not as much as the original Fierce. The bergamot gives it a much headier scent, making it a definite night time perfume.

I have been loving Ted Baker's body spray, the rose, sandalwood and raspberry notes mean it is very floral and light. It is perfect to throw on in the morning, leaving you refreshed and ready to face the day. This scent is ideal for the floaty summer dress days, it is super feminine without being sickly sweet. If you are a floral lover, this is the scent for you :-) 

Next up is the old handbag essential, the roll on perfume. I think every girl should have at least one of these, they are great to chuck in a bag if you're on the go, meaning you can top up your perfume as needed throughout the day. It also removes the risk of spillages or smashing a delicate glass. The one I love for summer is Sabé Maison Paris' Copacabana, the packaging for this is bright and puts me in mind of a South American carnival! This scent is light too, but can be quite sweet if applied too liberally. I find that a quick dab behind my ears and on my wrists is sufficient in the morning. It also has moisturising properties, making it very kind for sensitive skin. I love the subtle notes of amber amidst the stronger orange blossom, rose and violet tones. This scent is definitely a feast for the senses! 

Finally, is Vera Wang's signature Vera Wang perfume. I have long been a lover of Pink for the autumn, and this one certainly lives up to the reputation. It is the perfect heady summer scent, it will turn heads it smells so good. It is the ultimate sexy, feminine eau de parfum. It has a deeply sensual, floral bouquet, evocative of long summer nights spent in the company of a loved one! You can enjoy all of the different elements quite individually. The lily, mandarin blossom, rose, iris, woods and lotus flower notes blend together to create a distinctly unique whole. This perfume is to be worn elegantly! 

What is your go to summer fragrance? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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