Review | Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow*

Hands up if you're a body scrub fanatic? Yep, me too! I usually reach for Soap & Glory, my favourite high street range, but when the opportunity arose to test out the wonderful Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow* from the Sp@ Home Body Exotics range I couldn't resist. I've always been hugely impressed with Elemis bath and body products, particularly their Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream which I was lucky enough to receive as a gift from my fiance last Christmas, and so I knew it was likely I'd fall in love with the newly released Skin Softening Salt Scrub. 

Aiming to gently exfoliate skin through the inclusion of mineral rich salts and hibiscus plant, as well as deliver a long lasting moisture boost via the scrub's soothing coconut oil base, Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow is a truly luxurious body scrub perfect for a spot of me-time pampering and indulgence. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks so, as my tub's contents has been mysteriously decreasing in size ever since I left it in the bathroom! 

I couldn't write a review on this without at least attempting to convey the wonderfully rich, warm aroma of the Frangipani range. Aaagh it smells amazing! I'm not brilliant at describing fragrances but I figured I'd play a little game of word association and hope for the best (!): 

Exotic

Warmth

Comfort

Spice

Musk

Cocoon

Lingering

Enveloping

Nourishing

Cosy

Some more 'technical' words would be 'Tahitian Monoi Oil' and 'fragipani flowers' but in case you're not sure what such a blend would smell like/feel like, word association is surely the way to go! Needless to say, it smells divine. Rich, full, heady and delicious, a seriously luxurious fragrance that lingers long after my bath, both in the bathroom and on the skin. I love it when products leave a subtle scent after rinsing, and this is no exception. 

Admittedly the somewhat hefty price tag of £36.50 might cause a few wide eyes, but the tub is a generous size (480g) and a little really does go a long way. Plus, it really does work. I like to scoop out a small handful of scrub while in the bath and massage it on to my skin gently in small circles, starting at my feet and working my way up to my arms. While the product doesn't 'lather' as such it does have a creaminess to it that makes it easy to spread and massage on to the skin with no dragging or scratching. The scrub particles vary from super fine to larger pieces but they're comfortable and not at all irritating. I was instantly struck by how softening I found the scrub to be, noticeable even on wet skin. The bath water develops a lovely soft, slightly oily texture meaning you feel very much cocooned in moisture. Upon rinsing with warm water my skin feels noticeably nourished and smooth, meaning that once dry I can skip body lotion without risking tightness or dryness on problem areas such as my legs and upper arms. This nourishment lasts, unlike some bath products that claim to lock in moisture for a long period of time yet fail to follow through.

The tub the scrub is housed in is super sturdy and although it looks like glass it's actually a strong plastic that holds well and shouldn't break if you happen to drop it on the bathroom floor. The metal lock keeps the contents secure and it looks pretty darn lovely on my bathroom shelf! 

While expensive, Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow is well worth the price in my opinion as it's such a treat to use and should last a long time (so long as my mum stops pinching it!) Speaking of my mum, after trying it for the first time she came downstairs, a look of amazement on her face, before exclaiming 'Imy, feel how soft my skin is! It's a miracle!' A truly impartial nugget of praise from my mum there! If you're looking for a pampering product that delivers high quality results and is a joy to use, then this is definitely something to try. Remember, it's only three months until Christmas..! 

Browse Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow and other products in the range here

Baci e abbracci, 

                                                         

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* PR sample. Review is entirely my own, as explained further in my Disclaimer.

Wedding | Bridal hair and makeup trial

On Saturday I had my first bridal hair and makeup trial with the wonderful Siena Powloski, a London based professional Makeup Artist who has a wealth of experience in all sorts of fields including television, editorial and bridal. The day was an absolute blast and I thought I'd write about my experiences in case any brides to be are reading and wondering what to expect from a bridal trial (and all those reading who aren't necessarily getting married... I've always been wedding obsessed so don't be shy!) 

Siena arrived with her fully loaded hair and makeup kit, enough to make any beauty blogger jealous! We began the session by chit chatting about my makeup likes and dislikes. I had some pictures to show her of the type of looks I wanted to try, and Siena also had some photos on her iPad for me to browse through while she set up. It's absolutely vital to have a think beforehand about the look you're going for. Things to consider include the style and shape of your dress, the decor of your venue, the colour scheme of your wedding, and your usual makeup routine. All of these will help you build a picture (or pictures!) of what you envisage yourself looking like, beauty-wise, on your big day. 

Siena asked me some questions about my skin type and any concerns I had about my makeup, and then we got started with the makeup trial. From base to eyes to lips to cheeks, Siena talked me through each step, showing me her chosen products and explaining why she chose the products she did. I was able to ask questions throughout and she really put me at ease with her confident and thorough approach. 

Siena working her magic!

Once the makeup was applied and we'd gone through any queries I had, Siena moved on to hair. My hair is extremely fine and often looks quite lifeless, so it was decided that tongs were a huge necessity! Siena created a range of different looks based on pictures I had shown her taken from various bridal magazines. We tried up dos, down dos and everything in between! Below is a selection of styles we tried... Although I'm not sharing the final style as some things need to remain secret until the big day!

How gorgeous are these hair styles?! They proved very popular when I uploaded a few pics to Instagram! I love the twisty detailing, and somehow the design makes my crazy coloured hair look not quite as crazy as usual! I've been growing my highlights out since last December as I didn't like how light blonde my colour had become. My next wedding related task is to have a hair revamp, getting my dry ends trimmed and sorting out my colour in time for the big day. I still want to be blonde but a more natural honey blonde as opposed to bright blonde. Still, my roots could look worse at the moment!

I had such a fantastic day and picked up all sorts of makeup application tips and tricks, as well as a huge wishlist of products I really want to buy before the big day! Siena is really open to using products you already have in your collection, so for example if there's a foundation you know works well for your skin type she is more than happy to apply it for you, so long as it really is the best choice for your skin. She has a huge kit of products herself and extensive knowledge of what works best and why, so don't be afraid to loosen the reins a little! 

I think I'd quite like to squeeze in another makeup trial nearer the wedding date as I've got a few more ideas and 'tweaks' I'd like to try, indecisive bride that I am! Below are a few more pictures from the trial, I hope you can see just how talented Siena is, although I couldn't bring myself to go so far as to post a 'before' photograph as my skin is in serious need of some TLC at the moment!

If you'd like to contact Siena you can do so on Twitter @sienapowloski and on Instagram @sienapowloski. She offers makeup and hair styling for all occasions, from glam night out looks to bridal to everything else in between, so do give her a follow and check out her portfolio! I'll be calling on her again for my hen do makeup and I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Baci e abbracci, 

                                                       

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Life | Who am I?

Last night I went into total blog meltdown. I was trying to set up Google Analytics by tampering with my blog's HTML and of course, rookie that I am, I didn't save a copy of my template first. While deleting a piece of coding I somehow managed to delete lots of other things that rendered my blog's mobile template somewhat ruined. All of this was happening late at night, meaning I was tired and irritable before I even started! As soon as I realised what I'd done the tears began to flow and they just. Would. Not. Stop. 

I know, I know, way to make a mountain out of a molehill! I was so exhausted and so full of anxiety and so devastated that I had potentially ruined my blog design, which had taken me such a long time to create and perfect. It seemed like the biggest mountain EVER. My fiance tried to calm me down but it was no use at first. It suddenly hit me with full force just how much my blog means to me and the thought of it being ruined near about broke my heart. 

After the drama died down (with the help of my fiance and Megan from Little Miss Average who seems to be able to help with any and all techie questions!) I was struck by the importance I place on my blog and the way in which I feel it represents me. It gives me a sense of purpose and a sense of achievement, and I felt that if it disappeared, so would the 'point' of the last few months during which I've typed away consistently, day after day. I emailed myself the question 'Who am I?' and began brainstorming responses, sort of like a game of word association. The following isn't a poem as such, as when I write poetry I like to get really stuck in with poetic devices and techniques. I'd say it's more of a statement, unedited, as it came to me at the time. This is who I am. 

I am a writer.

I am a healer.

I am a student.

I am a teacher.

I am a partner.

I am a friend.

I am family.

I am an observer.

I am a participant.

I am a creator.

I am every word I've ever written.

I am every word I've ever spoken.

I am every word I'm yet to write.

I am every word I'm yet to speak.

I am every experience I've hidden.

I am every experience I've shown.

I am a descendant.

I am an ancestor.

I am a fact.

I am a thought.

I am silence.

I am noise.

I am music. 

I am the dullest dust.

I am the brightest star.

OK, so it might not exactly be the most profound list! It was spontaneous. It gave me a boost. I'm so attached to my blog because it's a form of expression and it's where I turn to when I'm feeling any and all emotions. Sad, happy, excited, anxious, scared, fearless. I come here and I write and I feel that I am 'me'. Yet at the same time, reading through my list, this blog isn't me. At least, it's not the only thing that makes me 'me'. If I ever manage to ruin my mobile template again, or mess up anything else on the Bluebird & the Robin, it isn't the end of the world. I still exist. I can figure things out and carry on being me while doing so. It's only a molehill!

The moral of last night's drama? Don't sweat the small stuff even when it seems huge! I got a good 'poem'/'statement' out of the experience, felt a true sense of accomplishment when reflecting on what my blog means to me, realised that these moments aren't the end of the world, and the support I got from my fiance and Megan was amazing. 

My blog is fine now! *Phew* I am fine. I am still me. 

Baci e abbracci, 

       

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