OUTFIT IDEAS: VALENTINE'S DAY / NIGHT

Hi lovelies and welcome to my blog. Valentine's Day is a bit Marmite for some people whether single or not. 

Me and my boyfriend are planning to spend time together at home which suits us both. I am very happy to pour myself a drink while he cooks me a meal ;)

Anyway whatever your plans this year why not make yourself feel special. I have put together a couple of outfits to hopefully inspire you for that special date or girls night out!

I love this Carrie Bradshaw style. This amazing Anna dress was gifted to me by ADORE BOUTIQUE.

This gorgeous Pimlico Pouch from NADIA MINKOFF is the perfect accessory for Valentine's Day with it's red hue and on trend laser cut detailing. This was also a gift to me from Nadia.

The bolero is from Only which is a great piece to cover my arms and shoulders while adding a little shimmer.

I can't remember where my heart/arrow necklace and love ring were from, but the love rings are very popular so I am sure you can find them easily online.

My faithful boots are from Dorothy Perkins which I love to wear with feminine styles to give them a more edgy look.

If you want to go full on here I am sexy the sweetheart neckline on this dress really gives you that impact in this bold pink shade. The sequin embellishment on the cut out back is extra special for that added something. I have this in black which I wore a few weeks ago. The ruching is great to hide problem areas while giving you a va-va voom hourglass shape. I got this at Everything 5 Pounds where I have found many great bargains. This shade appears to be sold out, but there are four other alternate shades here.

The earrings are cute from Bank and match well with the dress. I can't remember where my cupid necklace was from.

The quilted bag I bought at The Clothes Show many years ago.

The black bolero was from Primark.

These heels are perfect for giving you height and are actually very comfortable. They are also from Everything 5 Pounds and appear to be sold out, but they have amazing alternatives in their footwear section here.

Within my jewellery collection I also found these other pieces which I think could also be worn with these outfits.

The I ❤ ME studs are from Accessorize. The L O V E rings came in a set I think from Dorothy Perkins. I sometimes wear the V on it's own as my initial. The two bottom left rings were presents from my boyfriend. I can't remember where the rest is from.

I have not added links for all items as I bought them quite a while ago. They are featured for ideas to wear.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great Valentine's Day/Night wherever and whoever you are with.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

DKNY Be Delicious Limited Edition City Blossom Fragrance Collection

Hi there sweet peas. It's the weeeeeeekend woo hoo. I hope you all had a great Friday night. I stayed in watching a film. I was glad to be home after walking in the rain in the daytime.

Today I am here to give you and perhaps your ever so kind partner the heads up on some limited edition DKNY fragrances that are due to launch soon.

This is the DKNY Be Delicious City Blossom Fragrance Collection. There are 3 fragrance inspired by the popular urban rooftop gardens in New York.

Rooftop Peony

Top notes: mandarin, bergamot, pink lady apple blossom and cassis.

Middle notes: rose absolute, peony and raspberry.

Base notes: including sandalwood, amber and reseda.

Urban Violet: 

Top notes: mandarin, blackberry, raspberry and red delicious apple blossom.

Middle notes: rose, freesia and violet. 

Base notes: sandalwood, orris and musk.

Empire Apple

Top notes: American apple extract, cucumber, grapefruit and magnolia.

Middle notes: tuberose, white muget, rose and violet.

Base notes: sandalwood, blonde wood and white amber.

Empire Apple features the classic Be Delicious fragrance in limited edition botanical inspired packaging and carton. 

These DKNY Be Delicious Limited Edition City Blossom eau de toilettes will be available nationwide from the 1st February, priced £37 for 50ml.

Although I have not smelt all of these fragrances I have previously been gifted by my boyfriend with the Be Delicious apple scent which was lovely and fresh as well as the Fresh Blossom scent.

Start hinting now for your favourite as you never know you might just be gifted with one for Valentine's Day ;)

Or if you don't have a partner just gift yourself with some fragrance love.

What are your current DKNY fragrances? Is this collection something that appeals to you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Image not my own.

Love to you all 

Valentine's Day. Will You Be Ours? GlossyBox February 2013

Hey, hey, hey Beauty Addicts how you doing? I hope the answer is good. My GlossyBox arrived which always puts a smile on my face :) With Valentine's Day approaching this week the GlossyBox team have put together a box of treats to fall in love with whether you are single or attached as everyone wants to look and feel good right? So here is the box and the products.

 The box is pink not purple as it is showing up here

Left: MicaBella Cosmetics Mineral Blush Powder (MB-4 Siera Suede), £34.95 for 9g

Micabella Blush Powder provides excellent coverage and protects skin with an SPF 15. Micabella Mineral Blush offers a beautiful hint of colour and natural glitter that can be applied to the cheeks and temples for a healthy translucent glow. Safe to use on eyes or lips.

Apply with a blush brush in thin layers from the apple of the cheek to the hair line or use a darker shade to contour cheek bones.

There is some sparkle in this product so if that's not your cup of tea this may not be for you. It's not massive chunks of glitter, but it does show up when it catches the light. I like this shade, but I tried to get this out of the pot and it wasn't that easy because of the sample size so I may have to take the plastic insert off to dip a brush into this.

Right: ModelCo Eyeshadow Duo: Eyeshadow Palette in Bronzed Goddess, £18.00 for the 3 shadow palette including these 2 shades ~ 2.35g each

The EYE SHADOW TRIO eye shadow palette range is a classic collection of lustre and matte finishes - shimmering bronzes, khakis & browns collide with champagnes & golds, pops of aqua & rich midnight blue – a definitive array of colour to shade, shadow & define.

 Complete with a stylish slim-line black compact containing all the tools you need to create a defined, sultry eye. The clear window makes for easy selection of shades, and the inbuilt mirror & double-ended applicator is perfect for eye makeup glamour on-the-go!

As you can see the third shade that is usually included in this palette is not there so the price above is for the 3 shades. This is a great little compact for creating a subtle or smokey eye. The left shade is a gorgeous sparkling champagne colour that will definitely highlight the eyes. The right shade is a golden brown that sparkles too. I am so in love with the left shade and can't wait to try this palette out.

Centre: Anatomicals You Need A Blooming Shower! Your Nose Smells Rose Body Cleanser, £5.00 for 300ml

This vitalising body cleanser makes every shower a flower-power experience. You are left feeling as fresh and fragrant as a flower.

Lather entire body, gently scrub and rinse off thoroughly.

I don't hate the rose scent of this, but I don't love it either. It's a little old fashioned for me. I don't know why it's usually always rose scented products that get added to beauty boxes. I have added a link to the Anatomicals website above, but I couldn't find this exact product, sorry.

Left: Helen E Cosmetics Moisturising Lipstick (Sienna), £8.00 for 3.5g 

• Cream and pearlised colours
• A selection of neutral and vibrant colours
• 21 long lasting colours

Use alone or with a Helen E Lip Pencil to define and give you fuller looking lips.

This lipstick does look moisturisng. It has a very creamy consistency. The shade is a warm golden brown red. It will be interesting to see how this looks on the lips. It has a really nice sheen to it to make the lips look fuller. This lipstick shows up as a Long Lasting Lip Colour on the website as shown in the link above. There are some really nice looking shades in this range.

Centre: Docteur Renaud Raspberry Soft Cream, £25.00 for 50ml

This luscious raspberry cream enfolds your skin in absolute softness and hydration. Offering the skin comfort and protection. This formula is enriched in exhilarating Docteur Renaud Phyto-Endorphins, a plant complex that sends an instant message of well-being for visibly relaxed and radiant skin. Your skin is perfectly hydrated, supple, comfortable and protected all day long. Suitable for normal to dry skin.

Directions:  Apply in the morning and / or evening to the face and the neck perfectly cleansed.

This limited edition product smells like raspberry sweets. The cream feels nice too so I look forward to trying this one out.

Right: GlossyBox Heart Lollipop, Free

This is a lovely sweet treat. Last time GlossyBox included a bit of GlossyBox rock in one of their boxes there wasn't one in mine so I'm glad I got mine this time :)

Swatches of the blush, eye shadows & lipstick

I will use everything in this box, but the stand out products for me are the eye palette, the lipstick and of course the lollipop, ha ha ;)

For more info on GlossyBox UK click here and for the US GlossyBox click here.

Which products did you get in your GlossyBox? Are you happy with them? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

NOTD: Monochrome Butterflies

Hey lovely Beauty Addicts. As always I hope your week has been superb. I haven't been up to anything particularly special. I visited my Mum yesterday which is always good. We made pancakes as she will be on her own pancake day and I didn't want her to miss out. Today I have a NOTD post for you so here it is :)

Left: White Shade from the StarGazer Diablo Manicure Set which I was sent for free as a PR sample. Reviewed here.

Right: Claire's Nail Stickers £3.00 for 1 sheet

I applied one coat of my Rimmel base coat followed by two coats of this white shade. I really wanted a plain background so that the butterflies would stand out and as the monochrome trend is here to stay for a while I thought I would embrace it. Once the nail polish had dried I used tweezers to carefully place stickers on alternate nails, pressing down carefully. I sealed the manicure with one coat of the clear top coat that comes with the StarGazer Diablo Manicure Set shown in the link above.

So here is the finished look. I think it's really pretty and simple. It has a kind of innocence about it. I think this would be a nice look for Valentine's Day. I really like the Valentine manicures that you always see about at this time of year with red, pink and/or purple shades, but I think this is still suitable for the day and something a bit different. It can of course be worn any time of the year though.

Do you like using nail stickers as nail art? Any tips for newbies that haven't used them before. Let me know if you have created any Valentine nails in the comments below.

Love to you all

Friends Can Show Love Too

Hey Everyone. This is a quick post today. I don't like how Valentine's Day can make some people feel bad or lonely. I think it's nice to celebrate it whether you are in a relationship or not. I went with a couple of girls from work on Thursday at lunch time to our local Mexican restaurant for a girly Valentine's lunch (We do it early in case we have plans on the day). We did it last year so I think this could be a continued trend. One of them bought myself and my other friend a couple of Valentine's related gifts which was really sweet.

The keyring I have pinned to a board at my desk, the roses are for myself and the other friend to share. We sit next to each other at work so they are between us. I am saving the chocolate lolly for Valentine's Day.

We were each given a free 'Sex On The Beach' cocktail too as my friend found a cocktail stick in her burrito.

I think it's lovely to spend time with friends you love as well as the one you are in love with. So if you are single feel the love this Valentine's Day or if you are in a relationship and not going to be spoilt by your man or woman then spoil yourself :)

Big Love To You All, Mwah

NOTD: Say It With Kisses

Hello Petals. I have another NOTD post for you today. This one is Valentine's Day inspired. So I will get straight into it.

Firstly I applied my usual Rimmel base coat. I then applied two coats of the Barry M Nail Paint (Pale Purple 308). I'm not sure if it's still available, but you may be able to find it on Ebay or Amazon? You can use any pale purple shade though or if you really like Barry M Nail Paints I would try Berry Ice Cream as it appears to be in the same shade family, Link :)

I then painted on a french tip using the Barry M Nail Paint (Peach Melba 318), Link :). I applied two coats to give an opaque finish. I love the combination of these two colours together. These candy colours are quite on trend at the moment also. I really like the thickness of Barry M Nail Paints and for £2.99 each they are such a bargain.

As this look is Valentine's Day inspired I thought it would be cute to add some kisses along the french tip part of the nail. I used this blue Nail Art Varnish Polish Brush Pen to apply three simple crosses/kisses to each nail. I applied two coats to make sure that they stood out against the Peach Melba shade. I picked up this product at a show. It says on the back of the bottle it's from fraulein38.com, Link :). I have also found some of their products on Amazon, Link :). You can use any blue nail art striper to create this look though.

I took these photos before applying my Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat to seal the look. I think this is a nice alternative look to the usual pinks and reds. 

Have you come up with any nail art that is Valentine's Day inspired? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

NOTD: Bombshell Red For Valentine's Day

Hi loves. The snow looks so pretty while I am cosy indoors, but I might not think like that tomorrow morning when I leave for work at 6.45am and it's blooming freezing, ha ha ;)

Today I have a NOTD post for you. It's a colour that I think will look fab this Valentine's Day, but let me know what you think.

O.P.I. Nail Lacquer (Color So Hot It Berns), Link :)

I think this bombshell red is a classic, stand out shade. It will look great on all skin tones, but I really like it on my pale digits. The handle on this bottle makes the polish easy to use due to it's shape and texture. The brush also spreads the polish evenly. I used my usual Rimmel base coat, two coats of this O.P.I. Nail Lacquer (Color So Hot It Berns) and topped it all off with one coat of my Seche Vite top coat to seal the colour and give it the high shine that I think perfects this nail look. O.P.I. Nail Lacquer (Color So Hot It Berns) retails at £11.00 for 15ml on the Lena White website shown in the link above.

Are you planning on wearing a classic red nail this Valentine's Day or are you just a fan of red shades? Tell me your favourites in the comments below.

Love to you all

January 2012 GlossyBox: Valentine's Day Edition

Hello Sweetie Pies. How bad will the snow be that is coming? I'm sure everyone is talking about this today. I'm part excited as I think it looks so pretty and part unhappy as it's just hassle when you need to get about. I will be window watching later I'm sure.

Now on to the post for today. I am going to show you the products that came with my January GlossyBox. This box is called the 'Valentine's Day Edition'. 

I love, love, love this hot pink GlossyBox. I would love it if this was the permanent colour.

The pink heart replacing the usual GlossyBox sticker is so cute.

Yes I did take these pictures with the print in the lid upside down, doh!

All the products.

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner (Midnight Blue), Link :)

The Information:

Eyeko SKINNY EYELINER Pencils for precise definition and intense colour. Line and define for long-lasting colour. The wax based, creamy formula allows for smooth application. Even when you sharpen the pencil to the smallest nub the silver handle remains for longer use.

Application:

Use light strokes close to the lash line for everyday definition. Hold pencil on its side for thicker lines and a dramatic look. Smoke-out the shade by using a brush or Q-tip to blend and soften the line for an effortlessly glamorous look. 

Ingredients:

Ricinus Communis Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Petrolatum, 2-Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Lanolin, BHT, Propylparaben, Mica. MAYCONTAIN: C177891 (Titanium Dioxide), C177499 (Iron Oxides), C177007 (Ultramarine), C177510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), C177288 (Chromium Oxide Green), C119140 (FD&C Yellow 5), C116035 (FD&C Red 40), C142092 (FD&C Blue 1).

This eyeliner is very smooth and intensely dark. It's nice to have a dark blue shade rather than the usual black. I thought the very long handle was a bit strange at first glance, but as described in the information above it is meant to be there so that sharpening becomes easier when you near the end of the pencil. This retails at £9.50 which I think is a bit pricey. I am looking forward to trying out this shade though. I think the blue will make my eyes look a bit whiter and brighter.

Left: Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream, Link :) & Right: Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream, Link :)

Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream

The Information:

A firming day cream that contains revitalising White Tea and Succory Dock-Cress, clinically-proven to help visibly reduce the signs of ageing lifting, toning and smoothing the skin for noticeable results. Infusing skin with firming benefits that are immediate and long-lasting. Day after day, skin appears younger as facial contours are tightened and look more defined. Lines and wrinkles are noticeably minimised.

Application:

The GlossyBox website directs you to apply this every night to a thoroughly cleansed face and neck, but as this is the day cream I guess you would do this in the day.

Ingredients:

Stimulen: ensures protection for immune cells and enhances skin renewal. Euglena, Hop: energise and firm. Soft Wheat proteins: immediate 'lift' effect. Clarins new Anti-Pollution Complex (White Tea, Succory DockCress, Glycofilm): protects against free radicals and the harmful effects of the environment.

This has a pleasant scent and appears to be a nice cream. It feels quite cooling when I tried it on my hand too. This says it retails at £46.00 on the GlossyBox website for 50ml, but it says £46.50 on the information leaflet? I am looking forward to trying this, but the price does put me off buying it in the future. I will give it a go though.

Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream

The Information:

Clarins’ intensive night-time skin renewal complex including soothing Rosemary, firming Alfalfa and revitalising Glistin “lifts” and tones while you sleep for a firmer, more luminous complexion upon waking. Complements the action of Extra-Firming Day Cream smoothing lines and wrinkles, defining facial contours and promoting noticeably younger-looking skin.

Application:

Apply every night to thoroughly cleansed face and neck.

Ingredients:

Glistin: helps maintain the skin's nerve endings, youthful properties, regulates skin's functions and enhances cellular renewal. Alfalfa: firms, repairs and enhances collagen synthesis. Rosemary: soothes and relaxes features. Silicon and Vitamin E: protects against free radicals and helps collagen fibres maintain their supple aspect.

I tried this last night and it feels nice on the skin. It also has a pleasant scent. This retails at £48.00 for 50ml. Although this feels like a nice cream I'm not sure if I would buy this in the future because of the price.

Fab Body Moisturizer, Link :)

The Information:

Formulated with ingredients to nourish and restore, it will improve skin barrier function and locks in moisture after bathing. Allergy-tested, fragrance free, dermatologist recommended and contains no harsh chemicals. Safe for sensitive skin.

Application:

I would suggest using body moisturiser at least once a day after each bath/shower. 

Ingredients:

FAB Antioxidant Booster, a powerful blend of botanical antioxidants to combat free radicals and protect the against photo aging. Dimethicone protects skin. Shea Butter nourishes and moisturises. Colloidal Oatmeal soothes and heals rough, dry skin.

On my information leaflet that came with my GlossyBox there was information about the Fab Gentle Body Wash and not this product? When I looked on the GlossyBox website the information about the Fab Body Moisturizer told information about the face moisturizer instead? I can't really smell any scent with this product, but that's probably because it's safe for sensitive skin. This retails at £13.00 for 226.8g on the Boots website.

  

Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer - Dewy Finish, Link :)

The Information:

Oil-free, pore minimising formula creates the perfect canvas by concealing flaws, evening skin tone and can be used under or in place of foundation. One universal shade creates the perfect skin tone match.

Application:

May be used every day after moisturising. Blend evenly over face and neck. Wear under or in place of foundation for a fresh look.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Silica, Boron Nitride, Stearyl Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Chitosan, Propyl Gallate, Polyurethane-40, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

When I swatched this I was so surprised that this has a tint to it. Usually face primers are white or very, very pale shades. As you can see from the blended out swatch above though it does blend out nicely giving a dewy glow as it describes. I am looking forward to trying this. It dispenses out with a pump. This retails at £29.00 for 30ml which sounds a lot, but I am intrigued to see how this looks.

So that's it folks. Overall I am really happy with my January GlossyBox. The pink box itself had me excited from the moment of opening. I will definitely use all of the products. The only one that I am not excited about is the Fab Body Moisturizer, but it will get used.

It's a shame about the confusion with the product information on the information card and the website, but I got there in the end.

If you want information on subscribing to GlossyBox please check out this Link :)

Which products did you receive in your January GlossyBox? Were you happy with them?

Love to you all