She Said Beauty June's beauty box

She Said Beauty beauty box, June* - £9 (+p&p)

I have been receiving the She Said Beauty beauty boxes for the past few months now, ever since joining them as a beauty contributor writing for their blog, but have yet to share with you their contents. However I was really impressed with the June beauty box so wanted to indulge you with this month's selection of samples. It brought us a nice mix of products, including two full sized ones and a cheeky bonus item as well!



Elemis Tranquil Touch Indulgent Bath Elixir
Close your eyes and drift away to an exotic retreat with this dreamy bath elixir packed full of sensuous patchouli and fragrant cedarwood. This product is a real treat and bubbles beautifully when added to your bath. Its heady and rich aroma lingers on the skin and the cocoa butter rich formula leaves your body feeling soft and soothed.

Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream (Full Size - £6)
I was really happy to find a full sized sample of the Balance Me Moisturising Hand Cream in this month's box, as I have previously used and loved this product. It has a very powerful moisturising formula that effectively combats dry skin and helps your hands stay conditioned and soft to the touch. It is perfect for every day use and with its sunshine-bright packaging, it is easy to locate from the depths of your handbag!



St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body Moisturiser
I remember St Tropez mousse being the first ever tanning product I tried while on the pasty path to bronzed beauty. I haven't yet tried this product but am excited to use it when I want to build up a subtle tan, whilst moisturising and nourishing my skin. This lotion is enriched with aloe vera as well as a healthy touch of bronze, so you can flaunt super smooth skin whilst building a gradual golden tan every day. It is a fairly decent sized sample as well!



Let's Go Lashes (Full Size - £8.95)
I think false lashes are always a winning product to slip inside a beauty box. Whether you flaunt them every day, or chose to bring them out only when ultimate glamour beckons, they are an item that I think many subscribers will enjoy. These lashes from Let's Go are fun and easy to apply and come in over 40 different styles to suit all occasions, personalities and moods, from the subtle, feathery and girly to the flamboyant, lavish and diamante-studded!



Yardley London Royal Diamond Eau de Toilette
The controversial perfume sample makes an appearance in this month's beauty box, but I think we can forgive She Said Beauty on this one as it is merely to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - and it would be rude not to! With a touch pear and bergamot, surrounded by a subtle note of honey and vanilla, this fragrance isn't really to my taste and is my least favourite item from the box this month.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream (Bonus)
We were treated to a Brucie Bonus in this month's box with this BB Cream from Ginvera. BB Creams are big news at the moment in the beauty industry yet I have strategically side-stepped them all. I haven't really been lured in by the whole premise of blemish balms but am excited to cast my preconceptions aside and give this sample a whirl.

What are your thoughts on this month's She Said Beauty box? Are you a subscriber?
If not and you want to treat yourself to the She Said Beauty sampling service, then you can find out more here.

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Liz Earle Colour makeup collection

Liz Earle has certainly proved that they know their skincare, offering us the cult product Cleanse and Polish as well as a lovely range of specialised skin products for face, body and beyond. Last year we welcomed their new haircare range and this year they have further heightened their dominance in the beauty industry with the arrival of their new makeup range - Liz Earle Colour. This new makeup range offers a collection of essential products in a series of flattering and wearable tones that are aimed to suit all ages and stages of skin. The ethos of Liz Earle Colour is to enhance rather than mask the skin with natural-looking beauty being the main priority.




Liz Earle Intensifying Mascara Base* - £10.50

This is a really creamy mascara base that dries transparent and helps give your lashes added length and volume. The formula is smooth and lightweight and enriched with vitamin E and natural oils which condition and strengthen your lashes. Because of this it can also be applied at night and worn alone as an overnight treatment too. I applied this before using the Liz Earle Smudgeproof Mascara and was really impressed with the results. I definitely noticed that my lashes appeared more full and fluttery, and was particularly handy when dealing with those troublesome, stubby bottom lashes. This mascara base can also be combed through your eyebrows to give them a little definition and help keep them in place.






Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara* - £14.50

Available in black or brown, Liz Earle's mascara (enriched with Vitamin E) is described as water-resistant, flake-free and long lasting. It glides on effortlessly, perfectly defining each lash. The specially designed brush helps grab every lash, even those bothersome short ones, lengthening and separating with every sweep of mascara. I really liked this mascara, especially when I used it with the Liz Earle Intensifying Mascara Base. The brush combed through and separated my lashes and it wasn't clumpy or flakey at all. The only thing I would say is that the volume it gives you isn't great and you do have to work it through your lashes a few times to build up the length and colour for maximum impact.




Liz Earle Eye Pencil* - £11

As someone who loves wearing golden/bronzed tones on their eyes, this product definitely excited me the most. The Liz Earle Eye Pencils come in 01.Black, 02.Dark Brown and 03.Golden Bronze and are extremely pigmented and long lasting. The consistency is quite creamy meaning that you can either line your eye or apply it to your eyelid and softly blend it out as a shadow. Once again the formula of these eye pencils is enriched with Vitamin E (I get the feeling the folks at Liz Earle are quite fond of Vitamin E) and is non-irritating, so ideal for sensitive eyes.

What are your thoughts on the Liz Earle Colour collection? If you love their skincare, will you be checking out their new makeup range?

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Essie hits the streets

It was a very happy moment when I first saw Essie nail polishes popping up in my local Boots and Superdrug, and rejoiced that I was freely able to get my mitts on this cult brand and their gorgeous collection of nail colours. I had a little Essie splurge in Boots last week and treated myself to a couple of their new pastel polishes, perfect for the summer!

To celebrate the launch of Essie in Boots and Superdrug, and to conveniently coincide with the dazzling Diamond Jubilee celebrations happening across central London, Essie are sending six manicurists to the hit the city’s streets, equipped with an army of nail polishes and a mission to paint! They will be offering free manicures to all, followed by a guide to the nearest Boots or Superdrug to check out the full 70 stunning shades on offer. These manicures on the move will be taking place at various locations across London including Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, White City shopping centre, Kensington Palace Gardens, South Kensington near the V&A museum and the Royal Albert Hall.


On Day 1 (1st June) - pop over to the Real Food Market in Covent Garden (11am – 6pm) or take a well earned break from shopping and visit the Boots in White City Shopping Centre (10.30am – 5.30pm).

On Day 2 (2nd June) - mix a bit of colour with culture at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Cromwell Road (10am – 5pm) or treat yourself to a manicure whilst enjoying the Jubilee Family Festival activities in Hyde Park (10am – 5pm).

On Day 3 (3rd June) – sing along with the London Concert Orchestra and Chorus and get polished to perfection at the Royal Albert Hall (10am – 5pm) or indulge in finger food and finger painting at the Big Jubilee Lunch, Piccadilly Circus (11am – 6pm)

On Day 4 (4th June) – rock out at the BBC Concert and have nails fit for royalty at Buckingham Palace (10am – 5pm) or get your nails done at the St Martin’s Diamond Jubilee Festival at St Martin-in-the-fields Church (10am – 5pm).

On Day 5 (5th June) – avoid the central London jubilations and head out to Boots in Hammersmith, 41-43 King Street or get that regal wave polish perfect with a quick manicure before the Diamond Jubilee Carriage Procession from Westminster (10am – 5pm)

Customers will be able to pick from 12 super cute Essie shades including Tart Deco, Mint Candy Apple, Lilacism, Fiji, Lapiz of Luxury, Ballet Slippers and any more.

Will you be giving your nails the royal treatment this Jubilee weekend?

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swinger

Illamasqua nail varnish* - Swinger £13.50

Illamasqua has done it once again and hit us with a sultry new collection, Naked Strangers, which is a celebration of naked flesh and wild fantasies with a orgy of exposed nude tones and rich licks of gold. As always, Illamasqua shrouds this collection with an elaborate narrative introducing Naked Strangers as "...the human edge between romance and permissive intimacy...a step beyond control, a step past the edge and a collection of gilded moments upon the tip of sensation."- David Horne, Director of Product Development.

This collection could possibly be dubbed as one of Illamasqua's most wearable ventures, with the launch of two soft, neutral-toned powder blushers, a sheer and intense lipgloss and a trio of risque nail varnishes - Monogamous (creamy flesh pink) Faithful (coppered metal) and Swinger.




Swinger is a glorious glistening platinum gold with ever changing facets depending on the angle and lightening. Sometimes it is a rich, uninhibited gold shining brightly, other times it is a dark, murky gold with a slightly grungy-green tinge to it to. It is a true opaque shade after just one application, and although it can appear a little gritty on the surface, a swift top coat can quickly sort that out.

Naked Strangers is available online exclusively for registered members from Wednesday 23rd May. It is then available nationwide from 31st May 2012.

Are you going to get intimate with the Naked Strangers collection?

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summer shorts

Shirt - H&M

Shorts* - Glamorous

Sunglasses - market stall

You know it is nearly summer time when you can sleep with the windows thrown open and you can swap your cosy leggings for a pair of summer shorts. The sunshine, along with floral prints and oversized sunglasses, makes me so happy and I am embracing this gorgeous weather as much as my hayfever will allow. I simply love these shorts from Glamorous, with their garden of gorgeous colours and florals, and slightly flared bottoms. I think they work perfectly with a simple top, a clean cut blazer and a pair of flip flips or some of my pastel-coloured converses. Let's just hope this mini heatwave continues...

I hope you are all having blissful weekends and enjoying the sunshine as much as possible. Let me know if you have whipped out the summer shorts yet?

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good things from glossybox

No, this is not a feature on this month's most recent Glossybox but in fact a celebration of a few products I have particularly loved receiving in my Glossyboxes* over the last few months. I think it is sometimes nice to take a step back and look at all the new brands and products you have been introduced to and see if they have infiltrated your everyday beauty collection. I thought I would share with you just a sample of products which have been personal favourites of mine - I would love to hear if you share my love for them too.



Figs & Rouge Lip Balm (from the April box) - Not only does it smell like mint humbugs, but this balm is just amazing at combating all areas of dry skin, whether it be your lips, face or body. It is one of those handy little tins that is great for on the go and can be used to condition cuticles, tame unruly eyebrows and moisturise chapped lips. I love that it isn't overly greasing and absorbs into the skin quickly. I definitely want to pick up the cherry and vanilla scent now.



YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum (from the March 'Harrods' box) - Anti-aging or skincare products are often received with a mixed and weary reception as skin products are a very personal thing, but I have to say I am very happy to have been introduced to the YSL Youth Liberator Serum. I honestly don't think I will be purchasing the full sized product for a whopping £60 but I have loved using this little sample of heaven. With only a few drops, it glides onto your skin beautifully, leaving it feeling hydrated and soft. It also makes for a great primer before applying your makeup.

Philip B Drop Dead Straightening Balm (from the April box) - Possibly the perfect product for curly-haired girls like me who are after sleek, straight, tangle-free locks. This balm is a non-greasy, silicone-free styling aid that weighs the hair down without being greasy and leaves it feeling smooth and free of frizz and flyaways. It also supposedly shortens the blow-drying time and helps maintain your straight style for longer.

Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream (from the March 'Harrods' box) - I am partial to Clarins makeup but hadn't ever really ventured into their skincare collection. This extra-firming body cream is a rich, luxurious formula which restores the skin's youthful density and elasticity. I am not too fussy when it comes to body moisturiser but have really enjoyed pampering my body with this one.



Lolita Lempicka L'eau en Blanc & Si Lolita perfume samples (from the May box) - I know perfume samples can be a sore subject when it comes to beauty boxes, and usually I am not a fan of receiving fragrances myself, but this month I made an exception. I believe the beauty box sampling service is all about introducing you to new brands and products that you may not have normally tried, and Lolita Lempicka was just this brand. These fairytale-inspired fragrances are just gorgeous - so delicate and feminine, and are shrouded by a whimsical narrative and elaborate packaging.



Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Colour - Honey Trap (from the March 'Harrods' box) - This was a nail brand that I hadn't heard of, let alone tried before receiving it in my March glossybox. This clay/beige colour (with a hint of mushroom) is just so normal, it is actually really interesting. It has a gorgeous creamy finish and works really well when used to recreate a classic french manicure. I also love that we received a mini sample, because whenever do you finish a whole nail polish anyway?!

You can subscribe to Glossybox online here for £10 a month (plus p&p)

I would love to hear what products you have really rated from your beauty boxes recently. Have any of them lead to full size purchases?

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Lolita Lempicka L'eau en Blanc (& giveaway)

Lolita Lempicka burst onto the fashion scene back in 1984 gracing the catwalks with a very distinct style, challenging the traditions and embracing modern, romantic and refined femininity. The Lolita Lempicka brand is all about offering women an abundant and sensual style and is richly inspired by the decadent lace and silk garments of the 30s and 40s. In 1997, Lolita took all her glamorous and feminine inspirations and created her first perfume - bold, poetic and inspired by fairytales. Three other fragrances swiftly followed including an intense and captivating masculine eau de toilette.

Lolita's new perfume, L'eau en Blanc, is a love story in a bottle, inspired by beautiful bridal gowns and the essence of dreams. The scent is described as a bouquet of white violets with a hint of raspberry and musk, a sweet marriage between floral, fruity and powdery compositions. The apple-shaped bottle is clouded with a translucent pale-pink tint with white ivy leaves and shimmering gold etching. I love the packaging of this perfume, the type font and style of bottle being very reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton-esque. I personally love the scent of L'eau en Blanc and am a sucker for all the elaborate narrative that surrounds this brand. It is quite heady with a really strong, musky scent, yet balanced with gorgeous sweet, sugary notes and a hint of fruitiness.

Lolita Lempicka's L'eau en Blanc is available exclusively from House of Fraser nationwide from June 2012. And if you like the sound of this beautiful fragrance then one lucky reader can win their very own L'eau en Blanc as well as a full-sized bottle of Lolita Lempicka's cult favourite The First Fragrance, which is considered one of the world's most successful perfumes in the last ten years!

To enter my giveaway:
1. Please be a follower of Pearls & Poodles
2. Let me know what your current favourite fragrance is?

(Giveaway will close at midnight on 4th June 2012. One entry per person. UK residents only. Please leave your email address or twitter handle so I can contact the winner. The winner will be generated by random.org)

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