Another Birthday, Another Wishlist ...

Bonjour!

If you follow me on Instagram you may have gleaned that Friday was my birthday - I forced myself to wear a dress - get me!  This post was obviously meant to be published earlier on in the week but it didn't get finished in time - we're having fitted wardrobes in my daughter's bedroom and there has been a lot of moving of stuff around! How does one so young accumulate so much crap stuff?!  The floor of my own bedroom is currently littered with boxes and resembles an 'Albert's Bazaar' - that's my mum's term for jumble sale! It's doing my head in but a bit of deep breathing will help - won't be for much longer!   Anyway ... I didn't think it was appropriate to sit finishing off this post on my actual birthday as the husband was patiently waiting to take me out for a spot of shopping and lunch ...  so, a bit late but lets just pretend it's a few days earlier!

'It's my birthday, it's my birthday. I'mma (not a spelling mistake) spend hubby's money!  Yep well that's the plan anyway!'

Another Birthday, Another Wishlist! by beautyandthebiryani featuring a beveled mirror

When my mum and hubby first asked ... 'What do you want for your birthday?' ... I couldn't bring anything in particular to mind ...I know ... I must be mad!  Then I realised there are a few things I would quite like ... after all it's ok to have a few treats on your birthday right?

Bronzo Italia Rolo Link Bracelet - I'm into the whole Rose Gold thing and I love the chunkiness of this bracelet. Hoping my mum will take the 'QVC hint'!

Green Shirt and Tangerine Platform Pumps - I'm so ready for a pop or two of colour after the dreariness of Winter! I'd love a bright shirt to wear with skinnies and maybe a new pair of posh shoes (these are posh to me!) to wear with a plain outfit - I'm blaming the latter totally on Donna from I Won't Wear Sludge Brown take a look at her post here and you'll see what I mean!

Adidas/Nike Running Shoes - I'd say these are more of a need!  Being a regular 'gym-goer' my trainers take a lot of battering and I've had my current pair for so long that the tread is starting to wear so they could do with being replaced.  I'm fancying a change from standard white - which would you go for?

Funk Soul Classics - been listening to a lot of 80s groovy stuff recently. Takes me back to pre-house music days of dancing round my huge clutch bag in white stilettos and big curly hair!  I'd love another compilation to put in the car!

MAC Blushbaby/Benefit Dallas - I figured it's ok to buy one more totally unnecessary blusher on your birthday! I've been wanting to dip into the world of MAC blushers for a while and there's something about Blushbaby ...!  Can't decide whether to plump for me ol' matey Benefit Dallas though, which I've never got round to replacing!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - an absolute favourite but one I tend to save as a proper treat as it's rather pricey! I've asked my brother to bring me one back from France when he comes over this weekend. Bet he forgets! 

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue - this is a Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream with SPF30 and I don't think it's available in the UK until April but it's a product I really fancy trying for the warmer months so it's on my list!

Dressing Table Mirror - last but not least and yes - a bit of a weird choice but ... I would really like a new dressing table mirror! Although not strictly a need - I already have a mirror but it's not so big and it's balanced on top of a basket on my set of drawers which acts as my dressing table. A taller mirror, properly positioned, so I don't have to squat to look into it every time I want to apply some slap or dry my hair would be such a treat!

So ... that was my birthday wishlist - bit back to front but that's me all over! I did have a lovely day though - the hubby was super nice to me - not that he's usually horrible or anything but you know what I mean! My brother had come home from France for the weekend (and yes he forgot the L'Occitane hand cream!),  my musician brother is on tour in America with Kid Creole and the Coconuts (remember them!) and called to wish me a Happy Birthday from Dallas, Texas (how the other half live!).  My mum baked a superb three tier cake (which also went on Instagram) and we had a huge chinese with the family in the evening - suffice to say we were all stuffed! 

What would be on your birthday wishlist? Is it a big one (the wishlist not the birthday!)?


Jen x

PS. And yes I'm aware that my font is a bit weird in these last few paragraphs but I've had the same problem as you Sarah from Forty Therapy with regards to the font! Don't have time to sort it at the minute so it'll have to do for this post!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment - Review

Bonjour!

I received the Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment  in a  QVC kit ages ago (I don't know what I'd do without QVC at times!) ...

Comes in a little (rather serious looking don't you think?) grey bottle with a dropper/pipette ...!

A little info directly from the Elemis website here for you ...

"Super-active padina pavonica and blue flower linseed helps smooth and firm, targeting fine lines and wrinkles, for a more youthful appearance. A super-light formula that packs heavy-weight results!

A sophisticated amino acid complex of natural humectants which attracts moisture into the deeper layers of the skin. Combines exceptional moisturisation with added protection to support the fragile skin around the eyes, without overloading them."

source

Now we all know my eye area is getting on a bit (along with the rest of me!) and whilst it's difficult to turn back time in this department, anything which helps halt proceedings - so to speak - can only be a good thing. I'm not a fan of anything heavy around the eye area - it just introduces more problems into the equation. Stands to reason that a light serum which is absorbed almost instantly and keeps the skin around my eyes hydrated, whilst helping to ward off wrinkles and saggy bits (dang those blasted saggy bits!) would always have been a welcome addition to my skincare routine!

All you need is a drop lightly patted around the orbital bone - it's very concentrated and the dropper makes it both easy and economical to use.  I started using in the mornings last summer and am only just  finishing it off (both AM and PM during the last few months) - it's kept going for ages. It has a cooling, soothing and slight firming feel to it and my eye area feels comfortable and moisturised (yet not overloaded with product) - and stays that way all day with no puffiness.  I'm not going to be completely wrinkle free at my age but I do think that using a quality product such as this helps to keep to keep the situation under control and treat the area in a suitable way.  I'll let you know if things start to slide after I finish this little bottle ...!

It is pricey at £39.00/15ml but no more so than any other premium product I've looked at.  I do have other eye products to try out but want to repurchase this at some stage as I feel it works for me. Wise to wait for another QVC TSV or kit though as it can end up costing a fraction of the full price and actually there is an Elemis TSV due on 16 February ...!

Have you tried the Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment? What's your favourite eye product of the moment?

Jen x

Mally Instant Impact Mascara - Review

Bonjour!

I seem to have accumulated a few mascaras waiting for a review and this is one of them.  The Mally Instant Impact Mascara was one of the products included in the Mally TSV from QVC (how did you guess?) back in April ...

The brush is a rubber type and is made is made up of clusters or 'balls' (no rudeness intended there!) of different length 'spikes' (but not painful ones!) which graduate in size down to the smallest at the tip.  It's not super stiff and has a little give in it so is comfortable to use even on my short lashes - (unlike some spiky wands where you end up poking or scratching yourself in the eye!) - good for grabbing the lashes and coating them evenly.  The formula is on the wet side but not overly so and is a smooth, glossy black pigment.

This has been my go-to mascara for the last few months.  A couple of quick coats in the morning is ideal for me (you could easily get away with one coat I reckon if you have more lashes than me!). I find it's better to apply one coat directly after the other rather than waiting until the lashes have completely dried. It doesn't smudge, flake or run (I've had teary eyes at end of term school concerts and there was no panda activity!)  but comes off relatively easily with a suitable remover. I took it on holiday this year - applied in the morning and it stayed there all day with no meltdown - even in the heat (I didn't partake in any underwater activity!).

Just a couple of very quick coats concentrated on the top and a tiny bit on the bottom for daytime (no eyelash curlers used).  If you're a reader of my blog you'll know how pathetic my bare lashes are so this length and definition on my top lashes is a result!

I must admit I was sceptical about the Mally Instant Impact Mascara but it's been a great all rounder.   It's only just starting to clump and dry a little in the tube now after five months of use.  My only gripe - and probably the reason I've not posted this review before now is that it doesn't seem to be sold here in the UK as a separate item - only in the same QVC kit I originally purchased or over on QVC USA as a $30 duo. Wonder if this will change in the future?

Have you tried the Mally Instant Impact Mascara? What's your favourite of the moment?

Jen x

Calling All Mallynistas!!

Bonjour!

I must admit to somewhat hyperventilating when I saw a preview of Todays Special Value on QVC from Mally Beauty! Anyone who's a  fellow 'Mallynista' will know where I'm coming from...I mean would you just look at it ...!

Mally 6 Piece Easy on the Eyes Collection...all you have to do is choose which eyeshadow palette you want to play with...!

In the Buff 

I  Love Color

Here are the details of the kit from the QVC website...

Contains:

• 1 x Eyeshadow Palette 
• 1 x Volumizing Mascara 
• 3 x Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliners 
• 1 x Perfect Prep Under Eye Brightener 
• 1 x sharpener
• 1 x double ended eyeshadow brush in compact
• 1 x instructional booklet                                                                                                            (source)

All this lovely lot is priced at £39.98 (the approximate price of the eyeshadow palette if purchased alone) plus p&p for today only. Further details can be found at QVC here.

Are you a fan of Mally Beauty? Will you be taking advantage of this special offer?

Jen x

Beauty Day on QVC!!

Bonjour!

It's  Beauty Day on QVC! Loads of special prices and easy pay offers to be had!  Today's Special Value is  the Laura Geller 5 Piece The Magic of Colour Collection. 

Priced at £33.98 (with the option of 2 easy pay instalments) it contains over £100 worth of products...

• 1 x Balance-n-Brighten Foundation (9g; full size) 
• 1 x Waterproof Eye Spackle Neutraliser (2.2ml; full size) 
• 1 x New Baked Flambe Blush (5g; full size)
• 1 x New Baked Eye Shadow (1.8g; full size) 
• 1 x New Color Drenched Lip Gloss (9ml; full size) 
• 1 x Mini double-ended shadow liner brush
• 1 x Mini blusher brush

The Balance n Brighten foundation is an old favourite of mine, so long lasting and easy to apply and I love her  Baked Blushes to bits! Full details of this kit and other offers are over on the QVC website here.

I must admit I am extremely tempted by the sight of this little kit...

The Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Duo. This product is meant to be akin to the iconic Elasticizer - but in a bottle - what could be better! The travel size would be ideal to take on holiday.

Will you be taking advantage of QVC Beauty Day?

Jen x

Liz Earle Offer On QVC Today!

Bonjour!

Just wanted to let you know that QVC 's Today's Special Value is from Liz Earle (as if you hadn't already guessed that!) ...

The Liz Earle 8 Piece Instant Radiance Collection

(source)

Includes...

• 1 x Cleanse and Polish (100ml full size) 
• 1 x Instant Boost Skin Tonic (50ml travel size) 
• 1 x Skin Repair Moisturiser (50ml full size) 
• 1 x Brightening Treatment Mask (50ml full size) 
• 1 x Gentle Face Exfoliator (50ml travel size) 
• 1 x Lash Definition Smudge Proof Mascara (8ml full size) in Black 
• 1 x Sheer Lip Gloss (5ml full size) in Mallow 
• 1 x Healthy Glow Cream Blush (2g full size) in Rose 
• 1 x Botanical Essence No.100 (2ml) - sample
• 2 x muslin cloths

The collection is priced at £44.98 plus P+P and looks like amazing value!   All you need to choose is which option of Skin Repair Moisturiser to go for and whether to have single or auto delivery (every 90 days - in which case you'd receive a different colour of blush and lip-gloss with the set).  You can check out full details/options directly from the QVC website here.

Will you be treating yourself to a bit of Instant Radiance 'Botanical Style'?

Jen x

Mally Beauty on QVC Beauty Day!!

Bonjour!

Just to let you  know that it's QVC Beauty Day - all day! Exciting! Apparently it's the 'Biggest Beauty Day of 2013'. Everything on air is in 4 easy pay instalments plus web-only offers ... what's not to love?

Check out the superb 'Today's Special Value' (TSV) from Mally Beauty ...

"Mally Beauty is a collection of high-performance products that encompass simple techniques from celebrity make-up artist Mally Roncal. From gorgeous daytime simplicity to red-carpet-ready glamour, Mally has the answer with proven products that last all day."

'source' 

The 7 piece kit is amazing value - contains Mally's Poreless Primer, Under Eye Brightener, New Instant Impact Mascara in Black, High Shine Liquid Lipstick in 'Delish', Evercolor Starlight Eyeliner in 'Black Violet', Evercolor Shadow Stick in 'Antique Taupe', Brow Fix plus silver shoulder bag ... all this lot for £43.96 (plus p+p) in easy pay instalments! For more information about each product full details directly from QVC are here!  If you haven't seen Mally on QVC you can check her out on one of today's shows - she's brilliant - always brings a smile to my face!

Looks like Beauty Day also includes shows from Liz Earle, Leighton Denny, L'Occitane, Decleor and more!  I've already ordered the Mally TSV and can see that I'll be tuning in - on and off - all day at this rate - dangerous! Don't forget that the TSV is on offer for today only (if it lasts that is!) and with the QVC '30 day money back guarantee' you can't go wrong in my book!

Will you be tuning into QVC to check out today's offers?


Jen x

Emma Hardie 'Amazing Face' Moringa Balm - Review

Bonjour!

I've been intrigued by Emma Hardie Moringa Balm for a while. Early this year my skin had been playing up good style- oily t-zone, large open pores, de-hydrated cheeks - so when QVC had an Emma Hardie TSV (Today's Special Value) back in May, I jumped straight to it.

To my mind this is a range that nurtures rather than challenges, enveloping your skin in nourishing botanical treats and surrounding your senses with decadent, uplifting aromas! Moringa Balm can be used not only as a cleanser but a facial oil, hydrating mask, lip balm - the list goes on...to me it's like a luxury salon treatment - pure indulgence at the end of the day!

Some information directly from Emma Hardies's own website:-

Key Ingredients and what they do:

- Moringa seed extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E:Balance, purify and help to minimise the appearance of open pores
- Orange, Neroli and Mandarin extracts: Rejuvenates and revitalises the skin.
- Jasmine, cedarwood and Rose:  Helps to recondition dull, dry, dehydrated and mature skins

I use Moringa Balm as my evening cleanser, it removes all traces of make-up, including eye make-up.  You can either mix with a little water to emulsify first or apply in it's balm state.  I prefer to apply the balm directly and massage into my kite as it melts into a lovely aromatic oil - feels like it's giving my skin a thorough and deep cleanse.  I then apply a little water to loosen everything up and buff/rinse off with either Emma's own micro fibre cloth or with one of my millions of Liz Earle muslins which - I have say still do a grand job! Skin is left soft, cleansed and comfortable - I don't feel the need to use a toner afterwards and just follow with my night cream.

I think this balm has turned into one of my desert island products - it's had a balancing/calming effect on my skin - although it is expensive at around £32-£34/100ml it's worth it if it performs so well (I'm willing to cut corners in other areas). I'm  now on my second pot which I bought whilst on special offer at QVC (the first lasted a good few months as you only need a small amount to cleanse).

I've enjoyed every product I've tried from the Emma Hardie Amazing Face range so far and have just discovered that good old QVC have another Emma Hardie TSV on 12 December so hoping to bag another bargain!

Have you tried out the Emma Hardie Moringa Balm? What's your favourite night cleanser?


Jen x