Jo Malone

Biza Beauty Lock-in

- Vicki 1 Comment

Last Thursday I was treated to an evening in the newly refurbished Radisson Blu at Manchester Airport as well as a beauty lock in at World Duty Free / Biza. A beauty lock in, isn’t that every beauty addicts dream?

Biza Beauty Lock in

Radisson Blu Manchester AirportThis Works Hotel ProductsHotel Breakfast

The newly refurbished Business Class Suites are beautiful & have everything you’d expect of a luxurious hotel such as bathrobe and slippers, free high-speed wireless Internet access, mini bar, Nespresso® coffee maker and a selection of This Works products (which were lovely). The Business Class Suites also offer exclusive access to the Business Class Lounge situated on level 9, between 07:00 – 21:00 you can relax and enjoy complimentary soft drinks, teas and coffees are available throughout the day and light snacks in the evening. The Lounge also has views over the runway so if you’re a plane buff you will be able to relax and watch the aircraft taking off & landing.

Biza Beauty Lock In

At the Beauty Lock in at Manchester airport we learnt all about the beauty brands they stocked and treatments they offer. I was so surprised at just how many products they had for sale & so many big name brands.

Gone are the days where you only bought perfume as you were rushing through the airport, they now offer a whole passenger experience. Once you clear security you’re greeted by familiar & luxurious brands such as Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown, Clarins, Mac, YSL and Benefit. It feels like you’re in the beauty hall of a department store but they have so many duty free exclusive products that you can only get your hands on at the airport. Not only are you able to shop some amazing brands but you’re also able to take advantage of all the beauty services Manchester Airport now offer, there is a whole menu of treatments and services & they are all complimentary. These are a great way to relax before your flight and an excellent way to be introduced to a brand.

Jo Malone Manchester AirportJo Malone Christmas

We started our beauty lock in at Jo Malone who share a stand alone unit with Bobbi Brown, so two beautiful luxurious brands in one shop. They both offer beauty services and I was treated to a Jo Malone hand and arm massage which was lovely. You’re able to pick out your favourite scents and they use them in your massage. I love Jo Malone products and after having used it in my massage I now want their Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, it smells incredible.

Clarins also have their own store at Manchester Airport and they have so many Travel Exclusive Sets which are a great way of getting value for money as well as owning something that isn’t available outside of the airport. The staff are so friendly and offer some great beauty services, such as 5 Minute Morning Makeup, Hand & Arm Massage and  Instant Radiance Plus. They’re a great way of getting pampered and starting your holiday at the airport.

Clarins Store Manchester Airport

The main Biza shopping area is home to so many brands & its huge. They have so many beauty counters and products, its a real treat and wonderful place to shop. I spotted so many of my favourite brands and a few that were new to me too. I had no idea they sold Glamglow, L’Occitane & OPI. This is one well stocked beauty department.

Beauty Brands at Manchester AirportYSL Counter Manchester Airport

Sisley, Lancome, Bobbi Brown, Dior and Creme De LaMer all offer complimentary beauty services and to learn more click here I will be making sure next time I jet away on holiday I have enough time to enjoy the shopping & beauty services on offer. I have my eye on the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Makeup Lesson. Sounds great!

Please note that all beauty services are free and subject to availability.

Haig Club Whiskey BarBobbi Brown Manchester Airport

I have flown from Manchester a few times but I had never noticed just how extensive the beauty shopping was, I was pleasantly surprised at both the range of affordable brands and also your more luxurious brands. Manchester has stepped up its game & it felt like I was in a high end department store not an airport, although the purse friendly duty free pricing was very tempting. Sadly because we weren’t flying anywhere we couldn’t take advantage of the offers or the airport exclusives but I’m going to shop twice as hard next time I go on holiday.

It was strange being airside and not actually travelling. I had a fun evening meeting all the staff at each counter & they made us very welcome and pampered. They really do make the airport a destination & somewhere you want to relax, so let me know if you make use of the services they now offer! Remember they’re all free.

Before heading back to our rooms we all had nibbles and drinks in the hotel bar. It was so nice to meet some new faces & catchup with some lovely ladies.

*My stay at the Radisson Blu was complimentary and I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Best of British #1

- Vicki 11 Comments

I’ve been planning this series for a while, I wanted to celebrate the incredible and diverse beauty brands that are home grown and proudly British. There so many British brands that are sold internationally as well as many smaller lesser known brands. I have 50+ brands to share with you, I’m excited to discover some new brands and share with you quite a few brands that I love. I hope you enjoy this series of posts & let me know if you discover any brands that you didn’t know were British.

Best of British Products

The Bathory*

Launched this year by Laura out of her love of a good bath, she wanted to share that love with the world & so The Bathory a cute little British brand was born. With their HQ in London & their small factory in a barn in rural Berkshire they let you invent your own blend of bath soak. This is a luxurious way to enjoy a bath and its such an exciting concept for bath lovers everywhere. Their jars of bath soak are £18 so quite pricey but if you like to relax in the bath then these are perfect for that. From their website to the final product this brand has excellent attention to detail and I really like that.  I’m excited to see whats next from this brand.I have written a full review of them here.

Soap & Glory

This is a brand that almost all of us know and love, it was founded by the creator of Bliss Spa, Marcia Kilgore back in 2006, its eye catching packaging and tongue in cheek names are what most people notice first. Soap & Glory are a fun, fresh affordable British brand that have gone from strength to strength. They now have a product range including skincare, haircare makeup, bath & body care. We all have our favourites and mine include The Righteous Butter, Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Hocus Focus Highlighter. This is a brand that is now sold internationally and they always seem to be releasing something new and exciting. I’m secretly hoping they do a line of nail polish. Let me know what your favourite S&G product is. I want to try their new Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+as I am all about the facial SPF. 

Best of British Beauty Brands

Rimmel

Was founded in 1843 by Eugene Rimmel and was originally a perfumery on London’s famous Regent Street. They’ve always been well known for their Mascara & Rimmel actually means Mascara in many languages. Rimmel is such an iconic British Brand that is sold in more than 40 countries and is Britain’s best selling cosmetic brand. They have a great range of affordable products and are still to this day most well known for their mascaras, although I think they have added more to their range. I personally like their Wake Me Up range and their Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal are a great budget friendly eyeliner – these come in 7 shades & 5 of these shades are a staple in my makeup bag. What are your favourite Rimmel products?

Jo Malone

Was founded in 1994 by Jo Malone, ‘who began her career as a facialist, soon becoming one of London’s most sought-after skin care therapists. To thank her original 20 clients, she hand-mixed her own Nutmeg & Ginger Bath Oil. One client ordered 100 bottles as table favours for a prestigious dinner. Instantly, 86 guests wanted more. The Jo Malone London brand was born.‘

It’s now seen as a quintessentially British brand, their stores are a pleasure to shop in and its so hard to leave empty handed. They’re best known for their selection of fragrances  but they also have candles, skincare and body products. They package them up beautifully with a cream box and a silky black bow so if you needed a gift these are the ultimate & look luxurious. I had a candle as a leaving gift from a job & I treasured it for months. Let me know what your favourite Jo Malone scent is, mine has to be the classic Lime Basil and Mandarin and their Amber & Patchouli. I could spend hours in their stores testing them all out.

Best of British Beauty Brands

Nails Inc

Was founded in 1999 by then fashion editor Thea Green MBE (Services to Beauty Industry) she loved how easy it was in America to get a Manicure and felt there was a huge gap in the market for aUK based fashion forward nail bar, her first salon was started in London. It was famous for the 15 minute mani & demand was high. Nails iNc grew very quickly and can now be found in department stores nationwide. Nails Inc is known for their affordable, luxurious nail care, that’s catwalk inspired and gives you professional quality. True to its British roots the shades are named after London destinations like Spitalfields and Notting Hill Gate. Nails Inc has grown to be Britain’s most successful and popular nail bar chain and they employ 400 people throughout UK & Ireland.

Their products are sold internationally and you can now find Nails Inc nail bars in Sephora in the USA and Canada. I adore Nails Inc polishes & think their formula is so good, the colour range is stunning, They are always at the forefront of new effects and finishes and it is exciting every season to see what new textures and shades they come up with. Among my favourite shades are Basil Street (gorgeous subtle nude) and St James Park (pretty pink). They have an extensive selection & I need to add a few more shades to mine. Let me know what you recommend. Nails Inc not only sell nail polish but also hand-care, foot-care and false lashes.

STEAMCREAM*

Is an Anglo – Japanese brand but the product is produced in the UK. STEAMCREAM is an all in one natural moisturiser that is light and gentle enough to be used on your face, body and hands. STEAMCREAM is produced using a STEAM process, The force of the STEAM fuses the ingredients instantly – holding them together in a very gentle and loose emulsion. When it touches your skin, the naturally moisturising ingredients and pure, calming essential oils are released from the light emulsion so they can sink past the surface reaching the areas they are needed fast. Your skin will feel intensively moisturised and softer for longer’.

STEAMCREAM is also a very ethical brand with focus upon its packaging being environmentally friendly and recyclable.  It’s also Vegan Friendly, freshly handmade everyday and STEAMCREAM use a minimum amount of preservatives so that the skin’s natural balance of flora can be protected. Low preservative levels also help STEAM CREAM to biodegrade easily. I love using this multi purpose product & have a collection of their cute tins on my vanity. I have written a full review on this here.

Illamasqua

Is a British makeup brand launched in 2008, it is a brand which encourages individuality and freedom of expression. Drawing much of its inspiration from the 1920’s Berlin theatre scene and the many alternative scenes that we have seen since. It is a brand thats popular with makeup artists and beauty lovers alike, not conforming to the norm Illamasqua has a flair for the vivid, pigmented and adventurous they never shy away from pushing the boundaries of makeup. I like that it feels quite dark and edgy and that your part of a movement and not just a brand. Its quite exciting. Illamasqua are known for using colour and being bold. I have only tried a few products from them but I was pleased with the quality and their customer service, if you get chance to visit one of their shops or counters you must, their staff are very friendly, helpful and passionate about the brand. So nice to see. Please let me know what products you use & love from them.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

My Spring Fragrances

- Vicki 9 Comments

I don’t often change up my perfume depending on season, as I tend to wear the same scents all the time. I have a small perfume collection which makes it easy to pick which one to wear each day, but I have three perfumes in my collection which I think will be perfect for the warmer months and they are:-

Spring scents

Roger & Gallet Eau Sublime Or Bois D’Orange* 100ml for £32.00

A floral heart of ylang-ylang, orange blossom and coconut flower make for a sensual signature, while a dry down of sweet and sunny Moroccan cedarwood, vanilla and musk create a feeling of pure pleasure.

This is gorgeous, I’ve been wearing this as my evening perfume because it not only has a beautiful fresh citrus scent but it also has a touch of glamour with delicate flecks of gold shimmer running through it. I like citrus, feminine scents and I love that it has something extra with the touch of glitz, the shimmer is subtle so don’t be put off by that. I think it looks pretty on the skin. The bottle also looks pretty on your dressing table.

If you’re not familiar with Roger & Gallet they’re a French Perfumery House founded in 1862 by merchant Charles Armand Roger and banker Charles Martial Gallet, their products have such a rich history & they are famous for their perfumes and body products. They have a wide selection of products and you can find them in larger M&S Stores and also at www.marksandspencer.com.

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin 100ml £78.00

Our signature fragrance. Peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze. A modern classic.

This is a long standing favourite of mine, my husband even recognised the scent of this and has successfully purchased it for me on a few occasions. When I wear this so many people ask me what it is, even though I can no longer smell it on myself. I think this is my most worn fragrance and I feel like me when I wear this. It smells sweet but not overpowering it is so fresh and is the perfect scent for the warmer months. This 100ml bottle lasts me a year and I spray it liberally (no holding back). This is my little piece of luxury and I treasure each bottle.

If you haven’t been into Jo Malone, you must visit a store and test their range I guarantee you will fall in love with at least one for their many offerings. I go to their Liverpool or Edinburgh stores and both are very friendly and the staff take time to explain how to find the right scent for you, their stores are very pretty and instantly make you feel calm. It’s a lovely experience.

Spring Fragrance

Jane Packer Fig & Sandalwood Amber Eau de Parfum 50ml for £39.00

The green fig note brings freshness to the transparent white flower heart. The driftwood and sandalwood combination adds complexity and a sensual accent. The sandalwood and amber capture the attention in the moments after application.

Jane Packer is a world renowned florist and she released a fragrance line in 2010. The fragrance I have is the Fig & Sandalwood Amber, it is absolutely beautiful. If something has fig in it, I need to have it. I love Fig scented products they smell like my childhood (grew up in Cyprus). This is quite a heavy scent at first but it dries down to smell fresh, light and very soothing. It has been the perfume I’ve been reaching for day to day, it is very long wearing and I can still smell it on myself hours after first sprayed.

The bottle is sleek and feminine, the lid is shaped like a flower, it looks grown up and luxurious. Very simple but pretty. It is a lovely perfume to have in my collection and I enjoy wearing it very much.

What are you go to perfumes and do you change them up depending on the season?

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

September 2013 Favourites

- Vicki 6 Comments

September 2013 Favourites

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin

I adore this perfume, my husband buys it for me every Christmas and it is my signature scent. Its beautiful  and smells very citrus. It is my perfume I save for weekends and special occasions. Jo Malone products make the most special gifts as they always come beautifully wrapped.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

This give my lashes length and separates them too. It makes them look amazing and like I have really healthy long lashes. I have black and find the colour to be intense and a true deep black. I like the formula and how amazing it makes my lashes look

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Took me a while to actually get around to using this as I thought it was going to be similar to the Collection one that is raved about – that one doesn’t seem to work on me as I have very dehydrated under eye and it just settles in every fine line. I was surprised to discover this Rimmel one is creamy and blends really well. The colour also matches me better and I get good coverage. It’s a fantastic drugstore concealer. I have the shade Soft Beige.

Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

This was a purchase totally inspired by Estee from Essie Button. If you’re looking for a product that gives your lashes that false lash look this is totally it. It’s a white primer that you apply before your regular foundation. It lengthens, separates and makes my lashes look so thick and long. It’s a miracle worker. I get lots of compliments when I wear it.

Origins Brighter By Nature High Potency Brightening Peel

These are a great way of exfoliating the skin and removing all dead skin, keep skin looking bright and radiant. They also help minimise blemish dark spots. I use them once a week after I’ve used a face mask and had a pamper session. They keep my skin soft and fresh and also keep my blemishes at bay.

Mac Minerlize Satin Finish Foundation SPF 15

I always forget I have this foundation, its my perfect winter shade NC25. I love the finish its a little dewy but doesn’t leave me looking greasy or shiny. It gives a light coverage which I like so it leaves your skin looking like skin 7 your freckles will show through. I have re discovered it and been enjoying is all over again. I think they have stopped making this – which is sad.

Pixi Lash Line Ink

For  a precise eyeliner look this is the bee’s knees. You can apply it so close to the upper lashes that it looks almost like you’re not wearing eyeliner. It is a felt tip nip and at first I found it tricky to use but now I have the hang of it I can achieve a really clean look. You can use it for a really pretty cat flick look. It’s very intense black and although it’s not waterproof it has really good staying power.

September 2013 Faves

Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Rubenesque

This is a pretty burnt orange colour, It’s creamy and pigmented. I want to say that it has a slight frosty look to it. I often wear this all over the lid i love how effortless cream shadows are. I’ve worn it under a pretty gold shade from Inglot and it makes a really good base. I only own 2 Mac paintpots and out of the two this is by far my favourite.

HD Brow Palette in FOXY

This came in a Glossybox last year – I use the warm brown shade for my brows and really like the natural look it gives. I go over the top with my N07 brow gel & together they’re a good team. This palette is going to last me forever.

Mac In Extra Dimension Eye shadow in Sweet Heat

This shadow is so unbelievably pretty. Its one that can be worn wet too & that makes the colour so intense. It is a beautiful shimmery brown. It’s another product from my stash that I have re discovered & it deserves to be worn. Too pretty to sit in a draw.

elf nail polish

elf Nail Polsih – from the Glam Bam Set

This is a really pretty deep plum colour with gold shimmer running through. I didn’t expect this polish to last long on my nails but It didn’t chip until the 4th day of wearing it. It has a lovely sheen to it. It does come in a set of 3 but the other colours are nice too. They are quite nice Xmas Party colours.

Wow, I didn’t realise I had so many favourites this month and 3 of those being Mac, not a brand I buy from that often. Let me know if we share any of the same favourites.