Perfume Review | Giorgio Armani Si

When it comes to perfume, I very rarely change up my scent. I wear my beloved Stella by Stella McCartney almost everyday and up until now, Chloe was my "special occasion" perfume - you know the one you reserve for when you're going somewhere other than work or to the shops. Whilst purchasing my Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara, the sales assistant told me about their new perfume before spritzing 3-4 pumps onto my Selfridges bag. I walked out of there not really batting an eyelid and then all of a sudden this gorgeous scent caught my attention and from then on I developed a mildly worrying obsession, whiffing the bag at every opportunity and even going as far as keeping said bag because it smelt too good to bin. Needless to say, a month later I purchased a 50ml bottle of Si by Giorgio Armani. 

Si is quite sweet and citrussy in scent, featuring notes of Mandarin Oil, Liquer de Cassis (blackcurrant to you and I), Amber and Vanilla. I usually opt for something more floral, but I've found myself prefering fruitier scents of late, proving that preference changes as you get older. It's potent formula lingers from the moment you apply to the next morning when you wash it off in the shower. When I purchased it, the perfume came with a shower gel and body lotion. I don't usually rate perfume lotions and potions but unlike most, these actually smell like the fragrance and so they make for an extra special in-shower treat every now and then. 

It's not the cheapest perfume, coming in at £62.50 for 50ml, but you only need one or two sprays per application and when you really can't stop thinking about it, it's a worthwhile investment (that's how I'm justifying it to myself anyway). I purchased my bottle during the pre-Christmas sale at Debenhams, taking the price down to just over £50, so it's worth keeping an eye out for those deals. Next time you're browsing the perfume concessions, I recommend you give this a whiff, although I can't be held responsible for what comes next, it really is that good.

What's your favourite perfume?

Sephora Wish List

I'm going on holiday in four days (eek!) and while I'm in Spain I am going to take full advantage of the Sephora.  I'm a youtube and blog addict and I always watch or read american bloggers and wish that the UK could be blessed with a Sephora.  I've compiled a wish list of things that I've had my eye on for a while, but have never really been able to get hold of.  

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

1. Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit - There is no doubt about it that MUFE is the brand that I most want to buy from. I've wanted to try the HD foundation for over a year now, and although we do have a stockist in the UK, I don't always have the time to pop into London to get matched up. This kit gives you a full size HD foundation, along with a primer, kabuki and setting powder. 

2. Make Up Forever Full Coverage Concealer - I've heard Ingrid from MissGlamorazzi talk about this product a lot in her latest videos and I'm always up for trying new concealers.  This one boasts that it it full coverage so would be a great pairing with some of my lighter foundations, to add some more coverage to certain areas, if needed.  

3. Beauty Blender - I've tried the Cosmopolitan dupe to the beauty blender and liked the finish it gave to my foundation but have since lost it.  I've read a lot of reviews on the original beauty blender and would love to give it a go. This kit also comes with a sponge cleanser which is an added extra! 

4. Sephora + Pantone 'Colour of the Year' Prism Chrome Blush in 'Apricot Brandy' - A bit of a mouthful.  I've seen this crop up a couple of times on YouTube and think it's a beautiful colour for brightening up the complexion.  I also quite like the look of the packaging too!

5.  Sephora Collection Mineral Powder Brush - I think brushes are one of my biggest beauty weaknesses.  I really like trying new ones out to get the best possible make up application.  I owe this one in particular to Meg from meganisobel who raves about this brush a lot.  

6.  Chloe Eau De Parfum Roller Ball - Chloe is my favourite perfume, but because of the price I use it on special occasions and nights out.  I always like to top up my pefume when I'm out and about but usually quite scared that I will drop my clutch with it in and smash it.  Hence why I want the rollerball version. Handbag friendly and great for top ups during the day.  I have my nephew's Christening coming up so this would definitely come in handy.  

I will also be picking up one or two MUFE Smoky Lash mascara as I LOVE mine and don't want it ever to run out.  Have you got a Sephora wish list? If so, what's on it?

Diary of an Intern

This past week I've been adjusting to waking up early and working most of the day, then coming home and wanting my bed straight away.  The work experience unit on my university course has started and I am currently working as a social media intern at a dress agency in Cobham, called Phoenix.  As a social media intern I mainly look after the networking sites (Twitter, Facebook etc), but I also blog, write up press releases and take photos of the latest and greatest stock.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the various items I've been photographing.  It's been both heavenly and dangerous being surrounded by so many beautiful clothes.  

DVF, Marc Jacobs, Anya Hindmarch, Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Prada, you name it, they've got it. Everyday there's always something new and exciting added to the stock (and at ridiculously good prices too).  They get some real characters in each day.  This week I've seen girls trying on Jenny Packham dresses for their prom, a lady who 17 years ago bought her wedding outfit from us and one lady who checks tickets to see when things are due to be reduced before she buys.  

I've got three more weeks to go and I've already learnt so much, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next week.  

What have you all been up to this week? 

Cleaning Bug

I don't know about you but sometimes I get this overwhelming feeling that I need a ruddy good clear out.  For the past few weeks I'd gotten increasingly fed up with my dressing table/desk.  As an out and proud beauty fanatic, the products sitting on my desk had accumulated to a stupid amount, half of them I never touched, some of which were years old.  That was until last week when I quite literally cleared it off and started again.  I wish I had thought to take a before photo, just so you could see just what I had to work with.  After a good two or so hours, I'd chucked away a million and one products, leaving the ones I use and love out on display.  The result? 

A rather neat and tidy space.  I can even fit my MacBook Pro nicely, meaning I can work comfortably in my room if I so wish.  I thought I'd show you what I currently have on my dresser.  

This is now what I like to call my 'goody basket', because, well, it has some goodies in it.  To the right we have the Lush products I've been using (yes, that is a TOWIE DVD next to it too...), including I Love Juicy shampoo, American Cream conditioner, Snow Fairy shower gel and my Magic Wand.  To the left we have all my Liz Earle skincare products (which conveniently ran out today, meaning I will need to pop in and pick some more up sharpish) as well as my Sigma F80, tweezers and some cotton pads.  

Before I cleared off my dresser, I had at least 8 perfumes taking up a lot of space.  I have narrowed it down to two, but don't worry I haven't thrown the others away, just stored them elsewhere.  Stella was one of my bargain sale buys and my new everyday fragrance, whilst Chloe is and always will be my (cliche coming up) signature scent. The bottle perched on top is on it's last legs, but luckily I received another bottle for Christmas.  In between the goody basket and my perfumes is the Porefessional Pretty set and two Alamay lip balms which were sent to me very kindly by the companies PR (review coming soon).  

Here's all my barnet products.  Hairspray, volumising mousse etc.  At the front we have my Tangle Teezer, MoroccanOil and Macadamia Healing Oil.  Next to these products is my iPod dock, which I want to move, but quite sure where yet.  

So that's my much tidier dressing table/desk.  Do you ever get a cleaning bug?

Christmas Presents!

Stocking essentials

Main goodies

I thought I'd show you the gorgeous things I received this Christmas as I've thoroughly enjoyed reading other bloggers posts on what they got.  I was lucky and got a lot of things I asked for as well as some other bits.  My stocking was extremely good this year, I had some Lush goodies and a iTunes gift card as well as the usual essentials.  I also received a Kindle, with giftcard, from my Mum and Dad, as well as another bottle of my favourite perfume, Chloe.  I got a couple of boxsets to add to my ever growing collection (it's huge, i'm a sucker for American TV), including True Blood 1-3 and The Vampire Diaries season 2.  Beauty wise, my favourite presents were my Clinique Chubby Stick and Benefit They're Real mascara.  

All in all I was very lucky this year! What was your favourite Christmas present?

February Favourites

Already, the second month of 2011 is over.  We've had the Baftas, the Oscars and our beloved LFW.  We saw snow storms at Burberry, Dalmatian fever at Topshop Unique and a McQueen documentary paying tribute to the great talent.

Here are my February favourites, a mixture of videos, pictures, TV addictions and products/clothes i've been using all month - enjoy!

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Directed by Fashion Photographer Nick Knight

What are your February favourites? 

Only 363 days to go...

So Christmas has been and gone.  You're probably, like me, thinking that eating fresh air for the next few days is a good idea.  I was a spoilt little girl this Christmas:

- Hitachi 19" LCD TV/DVD

- Chole by Chloe Perfume

- Boot Slippers

- Clinique Make-Up and Skin Care

- £30 Boots Voucher

- £30 Cash (Cheers, Nan!)

- 90210 Season 1

- One Tree Hill Season 7


- The Saturdays - Our Story

- Sex and the City 2 Blu-Ray 

- Chanel Nail Colour in Particuliere

- Chanel Exclusive Books from Harvey Nichols

And many more...

But Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without those special presents which have tags reading 'to myself, with love, me x'

Thanks to the sales, Thursday 30th December will see my postman bringing me many a parcel from Amazon.  I treated myself to:

- The Vampire Diaries Season 1

- Skins Seasons 1-4

- Ted Polhemus Street Style

- Lauren Conrad; L.A. Candy - Sugar and Spice

- Coco Before Chanel DVD

I also purchased a Vogue UK subscription.  Wednesday will see me and my best friend hitting the shops and sales on Oxford Street, I can't wait.  

What did you get for Christmas? 

And, What finds did you get in the sales?