beauty Archives - Page 4 of 5

saharasplash29 March, 2016

Bloggers, Brands and Braids

Let me take you to a magical place, a place filled with so many bloggers, brands and braids it’s unreal. I’m talking about the Bloggers Hangout fierce fashion week that happened around this time last week at the ProVision studios in East London- my neck of the woods. This event was really special, and not just because I got to say hey to some of my fav bloggers and shake hands with some new brands. It was special because I introduced a very good friend of mine to the world of blogging (look out for her soon and follow her insta here!), as she attended her first offical blogging event. A second, one of my petite models walked in the catwalk!

I have a startup petite agency as well as this blog and a full-time job, so this event really showed me how it could all come together into one and be successful. So let’s start with some of my top brands from the event- some I already knew about, and others were completely new to me:

Amie skincare products are my new obsession. Their natural products suitable for sensitive skin as well as being cruelty free are so affordable and they are a part of my everyday routine now. I loved the scents of these fruity products and they made my skin feel so fresh and healthy right from the first use. I’ve been using them for a week now and I just can’t get enough. These are stocked in Waitrose and online here– I’m feeling a YouTube video is definitely necessary to show off how gorgeous this skincare set is!

Next on my list are Magnitone. I was lucky enough to receive a Magnitone at last year’s hangout and it was great to catch up with them at this year’s hangout event. I use my orange magnitone at least twice a week in the shower and take it with me on my travels. It’s the perfect exfoliator and cleanser without having to use harsh products and scrubs to get that freshly-washed feeling. I can’t wait to try out the new head for it- the stimulator!

I first discovered Thumbs Up products at the BPR press event last year. I have been wanting to try these cool kits out for a while, and so I was really pleased to see them at the event. The designer wraps are effortless to put on and file off the excess from the tops of your nails. And the patterns are too pretty! I trialed the ‘Lisboa’ wrap at the event and I came home with the zebra set (£6.99) to try. Keep watching as I’ll be wrapping and snapping very soon!

A new addition to my contact book are Kenneth Turner. Although I had heard of them, I never really knew much about these guys until I got chatting to them last week. Their table was crazy busy all night, and for a very good reason! Bloggers were drawn to the glowing candles and the amazing aromas from where they set up. The decorations of frozen flowers were just fantastic! They have just celebrated their 30th anniversary for their original scent and are doing better than ever. They stock in Fortnum and Mason and I would really recommend their ‘Original’ scent if you’re a fan of cloves…. I am and now it’s all around my flat! Check out their website to see more.

Now onto the braids…

A wonderful stylist (follow her here) called Amy works for Paul Mitchell who were making bloggers’ instagrams go insane that night. Amy is a braiding whizz and she had everyone lining up for a custom braid. I was the last blogger of the night to get a braid, and we went for a simple chunky style which I adored and is all over my instagram too! I have a bag of Paul Mitchell products I am itching to get trying and styling with so stay tuned for more hair madness…

And onto my star model Esther. She killed the catwalk in so many styles and I am so proud of her. A massive thanks to the Bloggers Hangout and Danielle especially for making this happen:

So all in all a truly sensational night. I have a lot more brands I am wanting to share with you too so I am saving these for another time!

Saharasplash x

For more events, hair and beauty, go check out what happened when I met Em Ford from My Pale Skin Blog!

saharasplash14 March, 2016

I’m doing a KISS and tell!

Hey all you beauties, I hope you are all ready for a very EXCITING blog post! It will be worth your while to stay tuned till the end to find out how you could get your hands on one of 4 amazing prizes too! I’m doing a KISS and tell today, as I want to share the news from a very special event I went to recently…

So Alex Silver PR kindly invited me along to their incredible party at the Haymarket Hotel to celebrate the launch of a brand new range of products from KISS and imPRESS nails. They also wanted to share the news on having a new celebrity brand ambassador, Leona Lewis. Leona was there on the night to have fun and party with all of us beauty addicts, she really is a perfect fit for the brand with her fun personality and incredible style.

The venue itself was stunning. The pool was all lit up and decorated with beautiful flowers, and there was a band on the night who were singing everything from Uptown Funk to classic Earth Wind and Fire. I made my way around all the tables to see all the new products on display-

I had my lashes done by one of the lash technicians and they are the best lashes I have worn. I am wearing ‘Lily’ and they felt so light like a feather, and they were easy to take off too when the night was over.

I couldn’t get my nails done as they were too long for the imPRESS nails but I managed to take some home and a few days later here were my favourites (Acrylic Nude):

Here is a video from the night which you should really check out before reading about the competition below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHzJVS_fzmk

I had such a wonderful time at the event, and to keep you all happy so you feel like you didn’t miss out I have teamed up with KISS and imPRESS nails to give away 4 massive prizes! I have sooo much stuff to give you!!!

Here are the details:

I will be giving away a heapfull of prizes to 4 lucky winners. There are 4 ways to enter and it is up to you how many you do. I will be selecting one winner at random from each channel/site:

1- Comment on this post with your name and email and say why you would like to win

2- Retweet my competition tweet and follow me on Twitter

3- Like and share my Facebook competition post

4- Comment on my Instagram competition post and say why you would like to win

Simple! So you can enter up to 4 times and if you’re lucky you could be drowning in nail and lash heaven soon! The competition will run until Monday 21st March 2016 and I will announce the winners shortly after this.

Saharasplash x

If you want more, check out what happened at Makeup Revolution’s 2nd birthday party recently wearing my JD Williams boots

saharasplash11 March, 2016

Good shoes take you to good places with JD Williams

I am really excited to share this post with you. Not only is it full of events and the most gorgeous boots ever, it is also a feel good post. I really hope you enjoy my thoughts and my outfits as I tell you why good shoes take you to good places with JD Williams.

JD Williams is a long standing and thoroughly reputable brand for shoes and accessories, so when I saw these babies on their site from their Lorraine Kelly range I knew these were the perfect shoes to do this post in! I love the striking heel and they are so comfy- perfect for my current adventures…

So recently I have been thinking a lot about life, what I want from it, who I want in it and how I can make the most out of it as possible. I feel like since I have started to blog this has opened up so many doors and I have tried out so many new things I don’t want it to end. My blogging has taken me to places all around London, and in this post I managed to get to three more locations, all within the space of four days. I really hope that you will read this and come away thinking a little more about your life too, what you have done, and what you want to do as well this year. I know how precious time is and the importance of seizing the moment, capturing that moment and keeping it for a lifetime by posting it out there into the expanding universe. I think on my decisions every day, and how these decisions have taken me to such good places. So let me show you another moment that took place at Hackney Picturehouse on Monday:

I won tickets to the Zootropolis premiere on Twitter, and had the opportunity to see the film and Idris Elba too! It was a small gala screening but still had paps and a red carpet. It was fantastic and I have blogging to thank for this for making me such a social media whizz!

I wore a bright yellow skirt from TU Clothing to make the red marble heel of the boots really stand out.

The following day, my good shoes were taking me to another good place. This time a little more central London to the Forest on the Roof! For anyone who hasn’t been here, it is a definite must for a thoroughly brilliant dining experience. The restaurant and bar is on the top floor of Selfridges and is never busy during the week. My partner and I took some friends there who were visiting from Germany and we had a wonderful time. The forest atmosphere made for a perfect shooting location with my JD Williams boots…

The food is exceptional, not to mention I get to have gluten free fish and chips! I discovered this restaurant over Christmas when my blogger friend Lissa and I took a stroll around London one evening and I have been meaning to go back ever since. They have glorious little cabins outside on the rooftop as well so you can cosy up with a blanket and a hot drink after dining inside.

I love how they had a marble table- it was the fitting place for my second location with my JD Williams boots! For this shoot I am wearing a Karen Millen dress and a grey Cardigan from Apricot.

Onto the third and final location!!

So Thursday night I was off to the Cafe de Paris for Makeup Revolution’s 2nd anniversary celebration. One of the first beauty YouTube videos I did was with Makeup Revolution and I use their products every day, so this was going to be a great event. Taking my boots along with me, I decided to go all out with a red faux leather dress from Pretty Little Thing:

The event was held at the glorious Cafe de Paris near Leicester Square and what an event it was! Makeup Revolution is founded by Adam Minto and he invited his partners, sponsors and the bloggers they work with along for an evening of makeup and entertainment. We had Scott Mills set the party atmosphere with a fabulous DJ set and I met up with my friend and blogger Vicki of Vickisbeauty.com. I met a new friend too- Mona of monaseyes.com

My boots kept me in good spirits all night as we danced, took selfies and tried out some of the new range out next month. The cocktails were on point and so was the atmosphere. It truly was one of the best parties I have been to in a long while and I will continue to support such an amazing brand that really deserves its successes.

So my boots took me to 3 completely different events and I am grateful for all of them. I loved how each event is connected to my blogging and I really can’t wait for what the future holds on saharasplash.com this year. I hope that my good boots bring me good luck as I travel in them on my next venture- you will have to keep reading to find out if they do!

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading, if you want some more check out how awesome my macaron making skills are here

I received this product for free for my honest opinion and review

saharasplash23 February, 2016

Let’s do lifestyle with Essence of Arcadia

For me, a blog has to be whatever you want it to be. Some bloggers like to stick to one route such as travel or beauty. But I like to change it up depending on the companies that I reach out to, or who reach out to me. A few weeks ago I was contacted by a lovely company- Essence of Arcadia. They wanted me to try out one of their diffuser sets with essential oils. I have never done anything like this before, but after reading up on their website I found that I just had to review their products! So, let’s do lifestyle with Essence of Arcadia!

I live with my partner Paul in an East London flat. It’s great for us with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but the living room is always something which has been lacking in the space department. It is a joined kitchen and living room so we just have a dining room table, a sofa and the TV. About a year ago, we took a trip to Ikea and bought some fabulous shelves to go up on the TV wall with sleek glass doors, but due to life and other stuff we have only just got round to putting them up! Needless to say this was the perfect time to get a diffuser now we have a brand new feel to our living area.

A bit about the Essence of Arcadia products. You have the option to buy 2 diffusers on their website- a lovely crystal effect diffuser which is golden and looks like this:

Or a round flat pebble design which has a smooth wood effect, this is the one I went for and is pictured below:

The diffuser comes with a set of three different oils- I got eucalyptus, tea tree and lavender in my box, though if you want to go oil crazy you can also buy the oils separately from the site. These can be used not just with the diffuser, but you can add a few drops to your bath to create a similar environment.

I put the diffuser on our newly-built shelves, and am so happy with how great it looks! I am now on the hunt for some more wooden features to put on the opposite side!

The diffuser is super easy to use, all you need is water and your essential oil of choice and you’re set! I also love how the diffuser has a lighting option too so you can have a lovely scent and a warm glow to go with it.

The mist slowly escapes from the top of the pebble, and we have tried out all 3 oils now. My favourite is the lavender with its relaxing properties; it’s just perfect after a hard day at work to put on and unwind.

I’d really recommend getting the diffuser as well as a choice of your favourite oils- I’m quite keen to try out the Cinnamon flavour next

If you’re looking for a beautiful feature for your home, Essence of Arcadia is definitely something to add to your shopping list!

Saharasplash X

If you like this lifestyle post, check out what happened at Niche gluten free restaurant this month!

I received this product for free for my honest opinion and review

saharasplash30 January, 2016

Why choose L’Occitane for that perfect gift?

So we are all feeling that post-Christmas lull and are back to reality. We’ve got that January paycheck and we are already allocating budgets for those friends with February birthdays, Valentine’s Day and if you’re as forward thinking as I am, you’ve probably given a few thoughts to Mother’s Day in March too! I want to give you a little helping hand and answer the question-

why choose L’Occitane for that perfect gift?

L’Occitane has a very rich history; I’m talking heart and perseverance rather than papers. Celebrating their 40^th birthday this year, they started out with one location in Provence (south of France) making traditional soaps in 1976 and within 2 decades had branched out to the Americas and to China. After this L’Occitane reached out to Europe and the brand now has an incredible 2700+ stores all over the world. Hard to think they just started from an old soap factory 40 years ago- I love it!

So for Christmas just gone I received a shea ultra rich lip balm from L’Occitane pictured above and cannot sing its praises enough. The quality of the product as well as its delicate design definitely earns it a top spot in my everyday essentials. It is this dedication to its products which is why I have a penchant for L’Occitane, and I know that the perfect gift can be found if you are looking to get something meaningful for someone special to you. I’ve carefully researched L’Occitane’s gift section on their website and I have hand-picked a few of my favourites below –

Limited Edition Shea Butter Tin

http://uk.loccitane.com/limited-edition-shea-butter-tin,83,1,29776,865519.htm

This shea butter collection has your hands and lips covered during the cold and dry season. The nourishing power of shea butter is no secret, so why not gift a friend or loved one with this beautiful set for just £25

The Voyage Set for him

http://uk.loccitane.com/l’occitan-voyage-set,83,1,39632,856157.htm

For the gentlemen, we have the Voyage Set. It comes with the classic soap/shave/shower products that all men need to have them scrub up and smelling fantastic before a romantic Valentine’s date or night out. At the affordable price of just £22

Hugs and Kisses Set

http://uk.loccitane.com/shea-butter-hugs-kisses,83,1,29776,865428.htm

I had to have my favourite lip balm in here- seriously you need to get this as a gift and one for yourself too! This little set is perfect for Mother’s Day and the packaging is just lovely. For the smaller budget at just £16

The Cade Classic Collection for him

http://uk.loccitane.com/cade-classic-collection,83,1,29810,856243.htm

The Cade Classic Collection is the gift you want to give to indulge that special man in your life. Be it father, boyfriend or husband, this wood- scented gift set infused with juniper will definitely impress whatever the occasion. Priced at £48 but worth £65!

The Delightful Collection for her

http://uk.loccitane.com/delightful-collection,83,1,29819,825291.htm

Last but by no means least is a best seller- the Delightful Collection. This set includes some L’Occitane favourites like the roses and reines shower gel and the ever popular shea vanilla hand cream. This gift is a star buy at £35 and contains 6 amazing products and comes with a cosmetic bag too

I hope that these little L’Occitane luxuries will help inspire you when finding that perfect gift for whoever you are buying for. Don’t forget to check out the L’Occitane website for even more gift ideas too!

Saharasplash x

If you liked this, you are sure to love my post featuring Colette Green!

saharasplash11 January, 2016

10 Day Challenge with Timeless Truth Miracle Masks

Hey babes, I’m back! I had a wonderful Christmas break, and I’m sure you’ve been keeping up to date on my Twitter and Instagram whilst I’ve been away from the blog. I have a load of material for this January, including fashion, beauty and some gluten free tips too, but let’s start with beauty! I’m really excited to start 2016 off with a project I filmed while I’ve been on the ‘bloggers break’. I’m here to tell you all about my 10 day challenge with Timeless Truth miracle masks!

I met the TT team at the bloggers hangout last autumn and I fell in love with their bee venom mask. Timeless Truth have award winning masks from both the 2014 and 2015 Beauty Awards and they have been seen in Glamour and Vogue magazines.

They have a wide range of masks filled with active ingredients and each mask is used for different purposes depending on what you prefer. I chose the bee venom and royal jelly mask for its rejuvenating properties and its ability to promote collagen production- in essence it’s a great mask choice for anti-ageing!

I decided to use my 5 masks every other day, and I filmed my journey for you all to see how I got on (video at bottom of post!)

Here are a few snaps from my experience, I had a great time doing the challenge with the Timeless Truth Miracle Masks and I kept things interesting by changing the mask temperatures and also trying out the masks in different environments to show you their versatility- whether in bed, on the couch or in the bathtub you should really give these masks a ten day trial too!

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You can buy the Bee Venom pack of 5 right now for just 38.50 here!

Check out my video below to see the masks in action and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel too- I’m doing a lot of giveaways right now to say thank you to all my readers and subscribers so let’s start 2016 off with a bang!!!