ORLY Coastal Crush Collection 2017

July 24, 2017 - Vicki 2 Comments

Orly Coastal Crush Summer Collection*

This collection from ORLY features six new shades for Summer. It seems ORLY has stayed away from the NEON trend and opted for more subtle but still vibrant shades and I like that. I think ORLY have covered all bases and offer a selection of shades which most people would associate with a Summer holiday. Although I have to say I’m on the fence about the dark blue shade – Under The Stars, I am not sure it fits in with the collection for me, what do you think?

I found the two shades I was testing to be opaque in two coats and the formula was fluid and easy to work with. The shade For The First Time (Pink) is my favourite out of the two I have tested and it looked instantly Summery on my nails. This colour would look gorgeous with a nice tan (which I do not have). Under The Stars (blue) had a little sparkle to it and it is a pretty shade but I think this is more of a Autumn / Winter shade.

The collection features six shades,

No Regrets – Vibrant, bold fuschia pink
Sea You Soon – Sweet blue with a shimmer running through
Summer Fling – Gorgeous peach
Surfer Dude – Stunning bright orange
Under The Stars – Deep blue shimmer
For The First Time – Pretty bright purple / pink cream shade

The blue took a little longer to dry and I wish I’d have used three coats as I felt it wasn’t as opaque as I’d hoped. The pink shade was stunning and I am still wearing it on my toes, having chosen to reapply it for the 3rd time in a month. It looks super cute with my open toe sandals and it is for sure my go to nail polish for Summer 2017.

I do like the look of a couple of the other shades in this collection – No Regrets and Summer Fling. They both are very beachy shades and I can imagine they would look beautiful with a tan.

Have you picked up anything from this new ORLY Coastal Crush Collection? Which are your stand out colours?

*PR Sample

My Favourite Cafes in Cornwall

July 19, 2017August 12, 2019 - Vicki 6 Comments

There are no shortage of aesthetically pleasing cafes and restaurants in Cornwall in fact I think we’re spoiled for choice down here. Working from home means I tend to spend a lot of time quite isolated and in my own space which can often feel suffocating. So one thing I enjoy doing is taking time out to go to cafes either to meet people or to work from as it gives that much-needed change of scenery and I find I’m quite productive working remotely. It is safe to say I have visited more cafes than I dare admit and when I find one that not only looks amazing but the food and service are on par too I have to tell the world about it & that is how I feel about Loveday’s in Charlestown.

Loveday’s is a fairly new addition to my local village, there has always been a restaurant there for many years (which wasn’t the nicest) but this year it changed hands and there was so much buzz about the renovation which made me very excited. Although it has taken me a few months to actually visit, it was well worth the wait.

My husband & I are Vegan so we often struggle to find anything on the menu that we can order without having ingredients changed and are often left disappointed that the choice is very limited, so when we saw that Lovedays had a wide selection of Vegan & Gluten Free options we were beyond thrilled.

We have both had the Acai Bowl and Homemade Baked Beans on Toast and on every occasion the food has been delicious. Very well presented and the service was fast and so friendly. The waitress was enthusiastic about the menu and knew what options were suitable for Vegans so that put our minds at rest (always have to check those ingredients). They also have milk alternatives so that is good news for us plant-based tea & coffee drinkers.

I like it when everything from the furniture to the crockery has been well thought out and Lovedays felt like it had such attention to detail. The atmosphere was very relaxed and welcoming, they also have a few different seating options so if you want to eat a table or read the paper on the huge sofas they have you covered.

The lunch and evening meal options also sound really appetising and I am planning on visiting soon to try it out as I hear it is a great place for drinks in the evening. Oh & it is dog friendly so dogs are welcome inside until 5pm too which is so cute.

I’m already a regular and have started a Saturday morning Acai Bowl Club with my friends so that makes me one very happy lady. So if you’re ever in my neck of the woods in Charlestown, Cornwall then make sure you pay Loveday’s a visit and let me know how you find it.

NIOD Dermal Science Radiance Set on QVC

July 17, 2017March 2, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

I’m here with a HEADS UP! One of my favourite skincare brands, NIOD have a cracking deal for you. The Dermal Science Radiance Set is going on pre-sale on the QVC website from 10 am TODAY & then it will go live on the QVC shopping channel at midnight on July 19th.

In true QVC style, they have an incredible deal for you! This set has an RRP of £110 and it will be available on QVC for just £40!! So you can have all 4 products and save yourself a massive £70. Be aware that this offer is available for 24 hours. So mark your calendars people.

The NIOD Dermal Science Radiance Set includes:

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum – (15ml; full size) – designed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and give a firmer, plumped up appearance to your skin 15ml
NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex – 15m – this treatment offers visible hydration, plumping, comfort and uniformity to the upper level of the skin, combining 12 forms of hyaluronic compounds in a peptide-charged delivery system
NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12%, (30ml; full size) – the reflecting serum-textured formula contains light-reflecting prisms and helps to correct the look of uneven skin tone and colours, helping to give a radiance photo-finish. Designed to hydrate your skin for up to 48 hours after application, and formulated with Nano-Prismatic Yellow-Red Hue Corrector, patented Dragon Fruit Chromatic Refractor and bio-sugar complex
NIOD Mastic Must, (90ml full size) – this NIOD treatment has been specifically designed to help treat and improve oily complexion, as well as skin types that have noticed an increase in pore size due to their age or environmental factors.

A complete package – this kit offers treatments you can easily slot into your skincare routine, with a clarifying face mask that can be used two to three times a week, two lightweight serums for everyday use, and a lightly tinted fluid to help create a sheer veil of colour – perfect for those no-makeup days.

This set includes two hero products (and two of my absolute favourites) Copper Amino Isolate Serum and Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Complex, both designed to reduce the signs of ageing while hydrating your complexion. These are two products I use daily and are a must-have if you are worried about the early signs of ageing or want to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Also included in this set are two products I haven’t tried before, so I’m thrilled to see them included in this Skincare Set. I have heard so many positive reviews of the Photography Fluid Opacity 12% which sounds and looks like a wonderfully radiant serum which helps even out your skin tone. Very much looking forward to trying this out. The final product in this set is the Mastic Must which I haven’t heard of before but it sounds ideal for my oily t zone and for tackling congested skin. I can feel a pamper evening coming on.

I just adore DECIEM and their scientific, no-nonsense approach. Using their skincare makes me feel like a badass scientist, what with all the cool brown glass bottles, pipets and interesting product names. I love it. I also can’t recommend them enough in terms of the results, they produce affordable skincare without compromising on quality and I have seen my skin become more radiant, feel extremely hydrated and be less blemish prone since I discovered Deciem almost a year ago. So if you have wanted to try NIOD for yourself now is the perfect time to snap up some of their best selling products!

Click here to shop Deciem brands on QVC

So why not help to reduce the signs of ageing and discover this science-driven cult skincare brand.

*PR Sample

Daycol Derma Face Polish

July 15, 2017December 26, 2017 - Vicki Leave a comment

I love trying new skincare and there is nothing more satisfying than discovering a small, more indie brand which really blows you away and that is how I feel about daycol. This is a brand that a friend of mine introduced me too and she has incredible skin so I was excited to see how it would fit into my skincare regime.

Daycol are a British skincare brand founded by Annette Heard and she has developed a range that focuses on using lovely organic ingredients to ensure our skin is well taken care of.

“There’s nothing more precious than our skin. Its condition affects our mood, feeling of wellbeing and emotions. I have created a range with natural organic ingredients, free from sulphate, paraben and alcohol to help you look great. And when we look great, we feel great.”

daycol Derma Face Polish £25

I have been using the daycol Derma Face Polish for a few months now and I’m quite tough when it comes to reviewing face scrubs because they’re my favourite step in my routine. I like how a scrub can leave the skin feeling smooth and give it a healthy radiance but that said I also hate a scrub that is unnecessarily abrasive so this product had a whole checklist it had to meet.

This face polish has a cream-like consistency and the scrubbies are tiny pieces of Volcanic Rock which are fine enough to exfoliate away those dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling smooth and promote a healthy radiance. I like that it’s not at all rough or abrasive on the skin (so it well and truly ticks that box).

Formulated with daycol’s own infusion of Bioderma3 Complex to include;

Apricot Kernel Oil- Apricot Kernel Oil is also high in vitamins B1, B2, B6 and beta-carotene. It has a luxuriously rich texture and is used to soften delicate and dry skin
Coconut Oil – Naturally high in vitamins A and E coconut oil will protect against the harmful effects of free radicals.
Avocado Oil – A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (similar to those found in fish oil) it is also high in sterolin which has been shown soften skin and help prevent age spots. Avocado oil is also rich in the antioxidants vitamins A, D and E, making it useful for healing sun-damaged skin and lecithin and potassium.

So this lovely creamy face scrub feels really luxurious and after using it my skin is soft and radiant. It really feels like it makes light work of removing dead skin and you do not need to scrub your face – just gently massage into your skin allowing all the cocktail of skin loving ingredients work to their magic.

I am so pleased to have discovered a brand I haven’t heard many people talking about. Daycol has a small but well-rounded selection of products and next on my must-try list is their Ultra Rich Marine Collagen Moisturiser which sounds wonderful.

Let me know what smaller brands you have been loving.

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