Celebrations in the city

Cropped jumper - Topshop

Skirt - Topshop

Bag - LV Speedy 35

Necklace - Sara's Secret Boutique

Shoes - Primark

Yesterday Rob and I ventured to London to finish off my weekend of birthday celebrations with a spot of shopping, some rooftop cocktails and plenty of pancake consumption. We headed to The Breakfast Club in Spitalfields in the morning and after the obligatory queuing around the corner we sat down for a feast of avocado and poached egg on toast for Rob and pancakes and berries for me (although Rob did have to finish my epic portion off for me!).

Fully satiated we wandered around the stalls in Spitalfields before walking over to Soho to idle away the afternoon strolling along the set back streets, perusing the beauty hall in Selfridges and finishing the day off with a cocktail on the rooftop of Aqua bar on Argyll Street. The weather was so lovely yesterday I decided to punt for a fairly summery outfit pairing my cropped pink jumper with my beautiful textured skirt both from Topshop and some coral wedges from Primark. I don't think I will ever get bored of visiting and exploring London and it was the perfect day out to finish off my slightly extended birthday celebrations!

I hope you are all well and had terrific weekends.

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Clarins Lip Balm Crayon

left to right: 01. My Pink | 02. Creamy Pink | 03.  Tender Coral

Clarins Lip Balm Crayons launching in May 2014

Come May time this year we are in for a real treat with several new launches from Clarins; first the Colours of Brazil collection which I blogged about here and next these new lip balm crayon beauties which will be hitting counters and online in a few months time. Described as a "sheer luminous colour that hydrates like a lip balm, comforts like a lipstick and offers the shine of a gloss" these chubby-stick-like lip products from Clarins will come in five limited edition shades and deliver a subtle, pretty wash of colour.

These lip crayons definitely offer a balm-like texture when you apply them with a soft, moisturising formula that glides smoothly on to the lips and leaves them with a lovely lustre. The tapered shape of these crayons means it is easy to line and fill your lips perfectly and build up the intensity from a very light wash to brighter pop of colour, especially with shade 02 and 03. I think if you are a fan of the chubby-stick, crayon-like lip products and look forward to wearing a sheer, luminous slick of colour during the summer months then you should definitely make a note in your diary to check out the launch of these lip balm crayons come May time.

Which shade is your favourite?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick

Above, 01 Personne ne Rouge! 04 Peach Club 06 Pink Pong 07 Nude-ist

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick £8.99 available from Boots

So, matte lipsticks are back! Well, I am not sure they ever went away in all honesty but according to Bourjois, this Spring Summer we are all going to be casting our lip glosses aside and be rocking a bold slick of velvet-matte lipstick. In honour of this season’s hot lip trend Bourjois have released eight show-stopping shades in a new Rouge Edition Velvet formula with a bevelled foam applicator for a smooth and concise application. 

These new lip lacquers are housed in a clear bottle and have a lightweight, airy formula that gives you just enough time to apply and perfect your lip colour before drying to a velvety-matte finish, giving you a bold statement colour that isn’t too drying or patchy on your lips. Being a bit of a matte lips fan I am really impressed with these new velvet lipsticks from Bourjois and love how the soft, fluid texture melts onto your lips and transforms within seconds to a velvet-matte finish with an intense, buildable coverage that really doesn’t budge! The eight new shades are made up of a rich rainbow of racy reds, a pretty peach, a pepto-bismal pink and a sultry burgundy with a very unique, rose-brown nude (my personal favourite) thrown into the mix also. They are a great addition to the already brimming Bourjois lipstick line and a definite must if you love a bold, matte lip! 

Which is your favourite shade?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Birthday Outfit

Peach wrap dress* - LOVE

Heels - Primark

Clutch - Accessorize

Today is my birthday!! I can't believe I am the grand age of twenty-eight as I still feel like my sixteen year old self inside and take solace in the fact I still get ID'd and haven't had to reach for the anti-ageing cream just yet! I have just returned from a lovely birthday meal out with Rob starting off with a perfectly-mixed French Martini in our favourite bar and spent the night reminiscing about this time last year where we were celebrating my birthday on a deserted beach in New Zealand and my day was completed by a tear-filled proposal at sunset. More juicy details on that story can be found here!
Despite the rather nippy wind I decided to wear my new peach wrap dress from In Love With Fashion which is a perfect transitional piece, not too short, billowed long sleeves and a flattering cinched waist. Paired with my pastel-bright heels from Primark and a simple plaited undo, I felt ready to celebrate my birthday in peachy style!

I hope you have all had a good week and thank you to everyone who has wished me happy birthday today on twitter or my instagram (pinkpixiedoll) - I appreciate and loved every single message.

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

The Body Shop English Dawn White Gardenia range

The Body Shop English Dawn White Gardenia body lotion, fragrance mist and Eau de Toilette*
A limited edition range - available online and in stores now

Spring is well and truly in the air with this new collection of floral scented products from The Body Shop. The English Dawn White Gardenia range is feminine and delicate and with packaging worthy to grace the surface of any dressing table, it is the perfect addition to bring the elements of Spring inside even if the sun isn't shining outside! This blooming British launch transports us to an English country garden in Springtime and captures the bouquet of hundreds of White Gardenia flowers caught on a morning breeze.

With notes of sparkling bergamot, tuberose, white gardenia and sandalwood these new products smell divine without being too overpowering and are perfect for layering or spritzing and misting throughout the day. The fragrance mist is incredibly light and fresh whereas the Eau de Toilette is a little deeper and would be ideal for wearing in the evening after you've left your skin feeling moisturised and lightly fragranced with the rich body lotion. I personally think the fragrance mist is incredible and has been my go to scent for the past week or so, giving my skin an instant scent of beautiful blooms and Spring sunshine!

Have you tried this new range? Will you be giving it a sniff next time you are in The Body Shop?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow palette

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette £37
available from Debenhams

I know I am a little late to the Naked palette party here but having bypassed Naked 1 and 2 I couldn't resist picking up the latest release, Naked 3, whilst I was browsing Sephora in Paris last month. Out of the trio of palettes this is the one that appealed to me most, mainly because of the pink and rose gold influences and the lovely shimmery shades on offer. The majority of the shades have a shimmery or satin finish with only 2 or 3 of the shadows being purely matte, so definitely one to stay clear of if you don't love a little bit of glitter.

As I had anticipated the quality and colour payoff of these eye shadows are brilliant but do present a little fall out on application so be prepared with your powder brush to sweep away the excess. I love the mixture of taupe, gold and dusty pink shades broken up with some creamy white highlight colours and a couple of darker greys and a violet-brown which are perfect for applying definition in the crease or along the lower lash line. For the look about I firstly took "Dust" all over my lid and up to my brow bone to add a light base and shimmery highlight. I then swept "Buzz", a muted pink shimmer, all over the centre of my eyelid and finished with "Trick", a lustrous gold, buffed into the crease and lightly lined through my bottom lashes. I absolutely love the warm sheen these shadows instantly give to your eye and I really look forward to experimenting with some more looks from this palette, possibly trying something a little darker and more matte with the likes of "Factory" and "Blackheart".

Do you own this eyeshadow palette? Which are your favourite shades?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Aveda Dry Remedy hair range

NEW IN! Aveda Dry Remedy moisturising range*
available online

When it comes to selecting a new haircare range to try there are certain benefits that are a must to help keep my frizzy, thick mane at bay. Intensely moisturising and deep conditioning are paramount when it comes to caring for my hair so I was really excited to try this new range from Aveda which promises to saturate dry hair with moisture, love and nourishment!

This new range consists of four key products to specifically care for dry, brittle hair that is prone to frizz and brittleness. The products are packed full of goodness such as buriti, pomegranate and olive oils which work to moisturise the hair, leaving it soft, supple and shiny. The whole range smells divine with a fresh, herbal and floral aroma thanks to the addition of organic lavender, bergamot and ginger lily and because my hairdresser uses Aveda products on my hair, every time I use this range I feel I am getting the ultimate salon experience in my own shower. The shampoo and conditioner are lovely to use and have definitely helped soften my hair and makes the whole blow-drying process a lot more manageable. Their formula is rich and decadent but doesn't feel too heavy on the hair and leaves it feel soft and supple. The masque is a great rescue product to give your hair some TLC once a week. I like to leave it on for an hour or so during an evening of pampering and it really helps to nourish and relieve any brittleness or dry ends.

However, the real winner from this new range is the Dry Remedy daily moisturising oil which drenches your hair with hydration. The Buriti Oil from the forests of Brazil is the hero ingredient in this oil treatment and targets parched, brittle hair and helps tame frizz and flyaways. This oil has been formulated without silicones and is lightweight enough to be used everyday on damp hair before drying and styling. It has no greasy residue like so serums and oils can and can also be used lightly on dry hair to smooth through the ends to add lustre and shine. Definitely my haircare hero product of the moment!

Have you tried anything from this new range? Do you enjoy using Aveda haircare?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Aussie Hair Twitter Party and the Three Minute Miracle Mousses

Yesterday I helped host a twitter party with Aussie Hair to celebrate the launch of their new three minute miracle lightweight treatment mousses and to give the twitter community a chance to ask their burning hair questions to Aussie ambassador, Liz Taw. The lunchtime hour flew by and I had such fun chatting with you all, answering some of your queries myself and sharing my personal hair tips and techniques from everything to achieving volume without the heavy products to creating curls and waves without reaching for your curling tongs. Thank you so much if you took part and if you wanted to have a skim through some of the answers and questions from the twitter chat then similar search the hashtag #AussiePerfectMatch.

As for the new products, I have been using them on my hair for the past few weeks and am really impressed with this novel new mousse formula for ultimate nourishment. These lightweight yet deep treatment mousses are intended for those with particularly fine hair who find normal hair masques and treatments a little too heavy and greasy for their tresses. It has a fun, whipped-cream like texture and smoothes through damp hair easily to help condition and nourish the hair without weighing it down or making fine locks feel lank and greasy. It is a great new addition to the Aussie hair treatment range and now hopefully everyone can find their Perfect Match product in the hair aisle.

Have you tried this new product? Did you join in with the twitter party yesterday?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

sponsored post

View Post

Illamasqua Fire Rose Shattered Star nail varnish

Illamasqua Fire Rose Shattered Star Nail varnish* from the new Glamore collection
£15, available online and on counters

"More colour. More texture. More beauty."

Last month Illamasqua launched their latest beauty collection to take us into Spring with a celebration of timeless textures, bold shades and strong definition. Glamore is an exciting range of new products for the lips, nails and brows to embrace and evolve a new era of glamorous beauty. It gives us a chance to celebrate the classic whilst introducing vivacious shades and multi-dimensional finishes that challenges and provokes a whole new brand of glamorous and I absolutely love the new products that Illamasqua have introduced.

Along with three new satin finish lipsticks and an eye brow cake and brush, to help define and and sharpen your brows, comes the new trio of shattered star nail varnishes. Trilliant, Marquise and Fire Rose (featured) are rich, dense shades ladened with multi-dimensional glitter giving your nails texture and a captivating colour and finish. Fire Rose is described as a shattered pink and is a lovely rose pink studded with various sized flecks of silver glitter that is completely opaque after two coats. It is very unique and absolutely perfect if you love you outrageous, pink glittery nails for a fun, girlie look. Despite the fairly chunky shimmer suspended in the pink polish, the application is smooth and easy and is really nice to use however, as to be expected, the removal of Fire Rose is a little bit arduous...but completely worth it!

Have you tried anything from Illamasqua's new Glamore range? What do you think of this shattered star varnish?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

My Paris Pharmacy and Sephora Haul

When I found out I was going to Paris with Clarins at the start of the year my thoughts immediately turned to the elusive French skincare products that the British bloggers lust after, and the Paris pharmacies have in abundance, and of course the beauty mecca of Sephora that no Parisian trip would be complete without a visit to.

Lily and I headed out on our final day in the French capital and the first stop was City Pharma to stock up on Bioderma and see what other treasures lurked amongst the aisles. As well as picking up two bottles of the Bioderma Crealine H2O (which is available in the UK but obviously was a lot more purse-friendly in Paris) I also decided to try their dermatological facial wipes which are designed for sensitive skin and are always handy when travelling and trying to avoid those liquid restrictions. We were then faced with row upon row of La Roche-Posay products and following Lily's lead I picked up the Serozinc which has been a much coveted product by British bloggers recently and isn't available in the UK currently. This is a spray that delivers a fine mist of goodness to help purify and soothe your skin, combating any redness, acne-flare ups or angry blemishes. I plan to do a full review soon, but in short - it is really very good!

Before heading back to our hotel for a spot of lunch (and more of the most exquisite French fries I've ever sampled!) we jumped back in our car, took a scenic route via the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and ended up outside Sephora - quelle surprise! My two purchases inside this makeup mansion weren't particularly bold or exclusive to France but included the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette which, at the time, had been a nightmare to get hold of in England and also a soft touch shadow pencil from NARS in the shade Goddess which filled all my shimmering, pink-champagne needs for my eyes. Soft, creamy and perfect for a fresh look this Spring.

What products are on your French beauty shopping list?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon scented candle

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon scented candle, £39
available online and in stores

If there was ever a scented candle that epitomised the description "smells good enough to eat" then this is the one! It might come as a surprise that despite being a total candle junkie I had never ventured further than a browse and a sniff at the Jo Malone counter in Selfridges. So when I was in Westfields the other weekend I decided to take a detour into the Jo Malone store and came out with the most heavenly candle and a dangerous new obsession.

Sweet Almond and Macaroon is a comforting confection of sweet almond and creamy coconut enriched with ripe cherries and soft vanilla. It is basically a cherry bakewell in candle form. It captures all crumbly, buttery biscuit of the pastry case followed by the sickly sweet centre of almond and vanilla and topped off by the candied glace cherry. It is one of those candles that fills the room with its freshly-baked macaroon scent before you've even lit the wick and makes the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of tea and crumpets or a sunny Sunday morning whilst you pour over the weekend papers. It has taken pride of place on my coffee table and I cannot wait to explore Jo Malone's candle collection some more next time I am in town.

Which is your favourite scented candle from Jo Malone?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Benefit Gimme Brow brow-volumising fibre gel

Wearing my Saras Secret necklace | Topshop Ohh La La lipstick

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow "brow volumising" fibre gel*, £17.50
(available in two shades). Available online and on counters now

When it comes to brows, I have always been a little tentative when it comes to exaggerating them to follow suit with the bushy brow trend and believe less is more, for me. I love a heavily defined brow as much as the next person but on me I don't think I really suit them or am clearly not cool enough to pull them off. Therefore I have always stayed clear of brow kits that offer you a flat angled brush, powder or tinted wax as however lightly I apply the product, it always seems a little too cakey and heavy for my liking. Give me a tinted brow gel however and I am as happy as larry. I like to comb and groom my brows and add a little bit of colour and density without manicuring them to the nth degree and making them too perfect?! So you can understand why I was so excited to try Benefit's new brow product which is a dinky fibre gel with a mascara-esque wand applicator that gives your brows a natural makeover! Perfect.

Benefit's Gimme Brow makes brows magically appear; from skimpy brow to wow brow with a quick stroke of the brush. The brush-on fibre gel adheres to skin and hair so helps you create a shape and fill in any sparse areas whilst forming a perfect arch and an uniform shade all through your brow to add fullness and definition. I absolutely love this product and find that I can use either shade (light/medium or medium/deep) to brush my brows into shape, fill in the gaps and add a natural colour which is incredibly long-wearing and doesn't budge. Ever. Unlike some of the brow waxes and powders I've tried, this seriously doesn't move and because the brush is tapered and so tiny, it gives you the freedom to manicure the thinnest of brows and give them the perfect shape.

Are you keen to try this product and take your brows from skimpy to wow in an instant?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Clarins Colours of Brazil Collection - Bronzing Palette and Eyeshadow Quartet

Clarins new Summer 2014 Colours of Brazil Collection
available online and on counters from May 2014

When I was in Paris with Clarins last month I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek, a fleeting glance, at the new Colours of Brazil Summer collection with is due to hit counters and their online store in May. As always with Clarins collection, this new launch is completely sumptuous and screams summertime skin with a pop of on trend eyes for a really striking, fun range of products.

The Clarins Summer Bronzing Palette (limited edition) is a huge mosaic of matte and shimmer shades, a jigsaw of warm and cool toned bronzed hues with a hint of golden shimmer to help you customise your perfect finish. The powder is fine and smooth to apply and is easy to build up whether you want a light flush of colour or a more defined, contoured look. The overall finish is very neutral and matte which makes quite a pleasant change from the shimmer-ladened bronzers I tend to go for but the little square of golden iridescent powder means you can still add a hint of gleam to your skin.

The Clarins Eyeshadow Quartet & Eye Liner Palette (limited edition) is probably the most striking piece from this new collection and is a must if you love your satin-soft, matte neutral shadows with a pop of cobalt blue or hint of peachy coral. At first I was a bit unsure about this palette and recoiled at the thought of the blue eye liner but after I had had a little play and used all the shadows on the above look, I was really sold on this palette. I used the light taupe shade all over my lid and placed the peachy shade over the top in the corner of my eyes. I then placed the rich bronze shade in the outside half of my lid and then buffed the darkest, chocolate brown hue into my crease. As for the blue liner, I just lightly ran the powder through my bottom lash line to add definition and a fresh take on your standard black or brown liner. The colour is rich and extremely pigmented but doesn't scream 90s blue shadow and actually makes me want to embrace the bold colours more this Summer.

Are you excited by this new collection from Clarins?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

MAC All That Glitters eye shadow

MAC All that Glitters eye shadow £12.50
available online and in stores

There is always that one item that reappears time and time again on your beauty wish list but you never get round to purchasing. After watching countless tutorial videos I knew that All That Glitters eye shadow was a shade that I needed in my collection. I had been hunting for the perfect warm toned, golden-champagne shimmer shadow for ages; one that I could easily sweep all over my lid for a fresh, Spring look paired with pink lips and bronzed cheeks.

All that Glitters is one of those shadows that goes hand in hand with a multitude of other shades and colours - coral, pinks, browns and taupes - they all work perfectly alongside this shadow which makes it such a must for any eyeshadow enthusiast! It is a Veluxe Pearl finish which is a lovely understated shimmer with a smooth texture and strong pigmentation. Described by MAC it is a beige shade with gold pearl and seems like it would suit most skin tones, buffed all over the lid and into the corners of the eyes to add sparkle and highlight. Whether you use it as an all-over colour or a highlighter to contrast with a darker shade, it is absolutely perfect and a shadow I would consider incorporating into my own wedding makeup as it would make the ideal shade for my summertime look and is so pretty on the lids.

Have you tried All That glitters eye shadow from MAC?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush

Clinique Cheek Pop blushers* £16.50
available exclusively online now and on counters from 21st March

This Spring a bunch of new blushers have blossomed on the Clinique counters and they are possibly some of the prettiest products I have seen for a long time. With an embossed gerber daisy design and a beautifully silky formula, these brand new Cheek Pops from Clinique are bringing a pure colour and satin-sheen to your cheeks this season and have a shade to suit everyone. These blushers have a wonderful pigmentation yet blend out effortlessly onto the skin to give you a natural flush with a hint of sheen without being too glittery or shiny on your cheeks. The consistency feels lightweight, smooth and vibrant without being cakey or too powdery and gives you the freedom to wear the blushers sheerly with one swirl and sweep of your brush or to build the powder more intensely for a real pop of colour! Developed with a new breakthrough technology, these cheek pops begin as a smooth liquid and are transformed through a slow baking process to a distinct powder which gives them the appearance and application of a standard powder blush but the finish and silkiness of your favourite cream blush.



01. Ginger Pop - a rosy, muted-brown shade with a sparkle of rose gold.



02. Peach Pop - a warm, peachy shade with a golden sheen. Very similar to Benefit's Coralista.



03. Berry Pop - a bright, berry-toned pink. Probably the most matte of all the blushers.



04. Plum Pop - a fun, plum-pink with a cool, silver iridescence running through it.

Clinique's Cheek Pop blushers are a really treat and are all absolutely beautiful in the pan and on the skin. I think my favourite has to be Ginger Pop with Plum Pop coming in a close second...but then again Peach Pop is very pretty too! I would love to know which shade has caught your eye?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post