New In / L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Les Blancs Collection

Pastel nails are my absolute favourite all year round and they certainly epitomise Spring for me.

This Spring is no exception and 2014 twist on the trend comes from L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Les Blancs Collection*.

As the name suggests - Les Blancs - they are white polishes infused with a drop of colour; the names are just as adorable as the shades: Peach Neglige, Nouvelle Vague, Pistachio Drage and Lemon Meringue.

White nails look contemporary and sleek but can also notoriously look chalky and streaky; the polishes  apply smoothly thanks to Colour Riche stretch technology formula and have a shine porcelain finish. 

The hint of colour also makes them elegant and very feminine; every shade is more stunning than the other and perfect for every occasion! 

My favourites are Pistachio Drage - the dreamier minty shade - and Lemon Meringue - the more daring canary yellow one.

I can't wait for summer! These pale hues will compliment beautifully tanned skin and the combinations are endless... so stay tuned for more fun ideas! :)

Review / TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

Recently I’ve been relying on dry shampoos a lot.

I normally tend to wash my hair 2/3 times per week but they seem to get dirty quicker lately; I know some people need (well, want) to wash their hair every morning, but I personally don’t like it – it just does more damage than good.

Anyway, I blame the change in my hair behaviour to the fact that I’ve been wearing hats basically everyday, to shelter from the freezing weather and - consequently - I’ve been abusing products to keep the frizz at bay and to inject a bit of boost to flat and dull roots.

I’ve currently been using the TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo* to freshen up my locks between washes.

This dry shampoo is part of the Bed Head Rockaholic line and comes in a matte black bottle with a green cap; I think it looks pretty cool and you get a generous 300ml of product.

It has a pleasant fresh scent so your hair don’t only look clean but also smell nice! 

It leaves the hair feeling soft and bouncy and it goes on virtually clear (although doesn't claim to be); it doesn’t leave an ashy powdery cast and it's easy to brush off. It's also ideal to add a bit of texture to your hair - when they look flat and lacklustre - or grit when doing hairdos but don't want to weight them down.

I guess the only downside is that it’s not really travel-friendly but definitely a worthy ally for your beauty cabinet.

Do you use dry shampoos? Have you tried this product before?
You can get TIGI Bed Head Rochaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo from HairTrade.com, the UK's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. 

Empties / February 2014

Bodycare:

Radox Eastern Spirit Bath Soak: I quite like these Radox bath products. I had this bottle for ages and don’t know if it’s still available since it was a limited edition, but they have a wide range of scents and it’s an affordable way for a bit of pamper. My husband is also a fan of the muscle soak version, especially. 

Repurchase: yep.

Kiko Anti-Cell Serum Spray: I bought this product mainly because of the spray bottle - It’s faster to use in the mornings. It has a fresh awakening scent, which was helpful for early starts, but can’t say it made a huge difference to my skin (if any improvement at all). Also - like with many sprays - it wasn't too reliable, the nozzle got clogged a couple of time but... it was a good price.

Repurchase: probably not.

Weleda Citrus Deodorant: This is the perfect deodorant! Lovely scent, kept me fresh all day and I didn’t experience any staining on my clothes. Although it’s quite small, I’ve come to realize that it’s not very travel-friendly because of the glass bottle… nevertheless, I love it! I also love that it hasn't got all the nasty chemicals, aluminium salts and I think natural deodorants is definitely the way to go.

Repurchase: yes!

Skincare:

REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel: Another sample bites the dust! I have gone through countless wee tubes of this Ren eye cream. I love it! The gel consistency is perfect for the eye area and even better if you keep it in the fridge. I shall definitely invest in a full size bottle. 

Repurchase: definitely!

Bioderma Eye Contour Gel Sensitive: This eye cream was disappointing, instead. It wasn’t hydrating enough for my needs and not a good base for concealer either. Shame, since I love the other products from this range and I had high hopes. 

Repurchase: no.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift: Sad face that it's finished :( I tried to use this parsimoniously and only before special occasions (considering the price) but it has come to an end, unfortunately; this serum is a great boost for the skin and it also gives a beautiful glow, thanks to the subtle sparkle particles.

Repurchase: wish I could afford it!

New In / The Body Shop Spring Trend 2014

I’ve been wanting to try The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes palettes for a while; I was first mesmerised by swatches that I saw online and they certainly don’t disappoint in person either.

I read comments of people thinking that they looked messy and too delicate but they are actually very compact powders and – let’s put it this way – they won’t crumble if you stick your finger in them.

I love that each square comes individually cased in his own wee container, giving you the flexibility to mix and match shades and create a customize quad.

They are also extremely creamy on application, dreamy to blend and they deliver an intense colour pay-off.
As the name suggests, they are all shimmery shadows with a luminous, metallic finish; there are no chunky glittery bits and the quality is consistent (and high) on all colours!

The Body Shop has just released 2 new palettes for Spring 2014: no. 30 Spring Bronze and no. 26 Hot Pink.

I thought Spring Bronze would get all my love, but Hot Pink is surprisingly wearable and, paired with a natural lipgloss, is ideal for a fresh faced look. 

 The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Palette in Hot Pink* contains the shades: Garden Rose, Deep Fuchsia, Light Coral, Champagne Pink.

My favourites are Champagne Pink - the lighter shade - also to be used as an iridescent highlighter on the cheekbones and Light Coral - as the perfect pastel accent for the approaching Spring season!

The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Palette in Spring Bronze* has a safe array of hues that will suit every eye colour and to create a stunning bronzed smoky eye. 

The shades are: Rich Espresso, Burnished Gold, Dusty Fawn and Warm Copper; from Burnished Gold that will add light to the inner corner, to Dusty Fawn that will look amazing smouldered around the eyes and it has already stolen my heart – Beautiful, beautiful shade! Warm Copper also looks gorgeous on its own and paired with a coat of purple mascara, if you feel brave.

What do you think of The Body Shop Spring 2014 Collection? Head over to www.TheBodyShop.co.uk to check the hair chalks and lipglosses too! :)

Food Delivery / Bonjour French Food Box

Bonjour French Food* is a monthly subscription, as the name suggest, coming straight from France. 

I love food boxes because - well, I love food of course - but also because they give you the chance to discover new products. I got the say that - from all the food boxes that I have tried - Bonjour is the most original and interesting; the selection of products that I received definitely succeeded in tantalising my taste buds!

Favols Coing Thym Romarin

This quince chutney is the ideal match for strong cheeses, like roquefort and stilton but I found that it works very well with cured meat and pate' too. 

It's subtly sweet, from the fruit but with salty notes thanks to the thyme and rosemary.

Beautifully balanced and good enough on its own too!

Ducs de Gascogne Terrine de Canard Sauge et Ciboulette

I don't like pate' so this product was a miss for me; I didn't even try it but  I have to admit that it did smell gorgeous (it is more like a mental block for me). Still, it didn't go to waste and I offered it to some dinner guests on crackers. You could smell the fresh herbs - sage & chives - and they enjoyed the combo very much.

Tonton la Rondelle Saucisson Aux Herbes de Provence

This dried sausage was so delicious and tasty!

The herbs come through in the flavouring in perfect balance with the meat; matured just to my liking and with the ideal amount of fat... basically, between me and my sister, we managed to finish it in 2 evenings (the shame!).

Bovetti Romarin Enrobe de Chocolat Blanc

I couldn't wait to try these white chocolate pearls and I opened the jar straight away. These white chocolate balls can be used as an aperitif, to decorate desserts or I think they would be a lovely alternative to after eight squares/after dinner snacking for your coffee table. There's just an hint of rosemary that complement the sweetness of the chocolate, without being overpowering. 

Bovetti Chocolat Blanc Saveur Coquelicot

Can't go wrong with a bar of chocolate, right?

Another product from Bovetti, renowned for their creativity and innovation with chocolate. Here the white chocolate is enhanced with poppy flowers; the poppy caramelised sugar creates a nice crunchy texture that is pleasing on all the senses. Definitely, something to savour!

Eloide Sirop de Menthe

Mint cordial is my favourite! In Italy, it is a staple in my fridge and my favourite refreshing summer beverage. You can add a few drops to ice water, to peppermint tea or also bake delicious mint choc chip cookies. The bottle is so cute too.