Oscar De La Renta - The Legacy

When I heard of Oscar De La Renta's passing I was filled with a great sense of sadness as I have admired his designs from afar for many years.

Why was Oscar De La Renta so special? Oscar had to ability to make more than just fashion. He made dresses that filled women with confidence when worn, dresses that make you feel as though you can take on the world. His styles were classic and timeless and appealed to both young and old alike. This is the beauty and power of a Oscar De La Renta gown. Take a look back at some of his amazing designs on my Pinterest board.

His classic and elegant styles will without doubt provide a lasting legacy and continue to make women feel special and glamorous for years to come. As the man himself once said "Walk like you have three men walking behind you." Thanks for the frocks Oscar.

Sweater Weather // 10 Reasons to love Autumn

Image from Pinterest

Autumn is by far my favourite season. I write this post wrapped in a fluffy blanket, wearing super cosy socks and drinking a gingerbread latte - bliss. Some may call me crazy but I love the colder weather and the darker nights. If you are not yet on my wave-length I have compiled a list on why we should all be embracing this season. Get ready to fall in love with Autumn (see what I did there?).

• Layering - Scarves, chunky knits, tights, gloves, thick wooly socks. Cold weather is the perfect excuse to wear more clothes, wrap up and be cosy, what's not to like? If only it was socially acceptable to wear my duvet outside...

• Hot drinks - Mulled wine, gingerbread lattes, hot chocolates. They are warming, comforting and delicious. Why do all the best drinks appear in autumn?

• Boots - They are comfortable, practical, they go with everything and come in such a variety of shapes and sizes; knee high, ankle, wedge, stiletto, chelsea, furry, biker and of course not forgetting the classic welly!

• Candles - The warm glow of a candle on a cold dark autumn evening is so comforting and relaxing. There are some great scented options out there for autumn! I love Red Apple Wreath from Yankee Candle.

• Plum toned make-up - Plum lip colours and eyeshadows, pretty daunting throughout the rest of the year but as soon as it's late September out come the darker vampy shades. See the review of one of my favourite darker lip shades here.

• Hot water bottles - I feel that hot water bottles are underrated, they're an easy warming comfort this time of year. When you're cold, or simply just feeling a bit down and need of some comfort, a hot water bottle should be the first port of call! 

• Comfort food - There is nothing better than coming inside from the cold and wet and enjoying warm stodgy food that fills you up and makes you feel as though your being hugged from the inside. Stews, soups, cakes, pies and pastas are a few of my favourites.

• Scenery - Somehow even the rain looks beautiful in autumn. The changing colours of the leaves, bonfire night, fireworks, the christmas decorations and fairy-lights, for me autumn feels like a magical few months.

• Faux fur - Along with the layering of clothing, the contrast in textured fabrics pleases me no end. I adore faux fur and relish the excuse to wear my ridiculous furry hat, scarf, boots and gloves all at the same time. Yes, I may resemble a yeti, but the sheer warmth and comfort of faux fur makes looking like a furry beast acceptable. 

• Cinnamon - My favourite spice. You can put it in drinks, puddings, porridge, use it for decorations or to scent your home. For me this is the taste and scent of autumn.

Still not in the autumnal mood? Check out my Autumn Pinterest board here for ideas and inspiration! What are your favourite things about autumn? 

Nivea Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream // Review

I am always on the lookout for the perfect daily moisturiser. This is my latest contender, Nivea's Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream for Normal to Combination skin. I picked this up on a whim when I was abroad and had forgotten to bring a moisturiser with me. I gravitated towards this one as I had tried the Nivea Pure & Natural cleansing face wipes before (see my review here) and was drawn to the simplicity of this line. 

This day cream claims to give 24 hour intensive moisture, naturally soft and smooth skin and to enrich the skin's natural healthy glow. The product is 95% of natural origin and doesn't contain parabens, silicones, colourants or mineral oils (hoorah!). It does however contain organically grown Argan Oil and Aloe Vera which are sources of vitamin E and hydration, and claims to suitable for sensitive skin. 

Having combination/oily skin I look for a moisturiser that is light and non-greasy which makes the perfect base for make-up. Often I find moisturisers interfere with my make-up as they are overly sticky, but this one sunk into the skin fairly quickly without leaving an uncomfortable residue. My skin was left feeling clean and smooth and ready to apply make-up within five minutes of application. 

Although effective as a moisturiser, I found the scent of this product overwhelming and unnecessarily strong. It has a very fresh scent which in itself is quite pleasant, but for me the concentration of fragrance is far too powerful. When using the product I found that my skin tingled after application, which may be a reaction to the fragrance (I also found the cleansing wipes from this line irritating on my eyes). 

Overall I think that this is a good everyday moisturiser which would be suitable for most people, however if you are sensitive to fragrance I would avoid this product. It is nice to see a large cosmetic brand like Nivea introducing a natural range of products, and I hope that they explore fragrance free versions and look to expand the range.

Nivea Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream retails for £5.32 for 50ml and is available from the Boots website.

Do you have a favourite daily moisturiser? Let me know your recommendations in the comments!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

I haven't blogged for many months. During this time I have graduated from university, dabbled with writing, work, travelling, and general pondering about the future. Being released into the big wide world after graduation is a daunting and scary time, especially when you are unsure of what you want to do next. Absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder and although I haven't blogged in a long time, I have missed it and have lots of plans in the pipe-line, so watch this space! 

Looking behind the labels // Cruelty free beauty

Image Source

I have mentioned before that I favour organic and natural based beauty products in my Looking behind the labels: Parabens post, but what about cruelty free products? 

I have always been an animal lover since I collected the Animal Ark book series as a child. Although my vet aspirations did not last long (weak stomach!), my love for animals has always stayed with me. Due to this I would never knowingly purchase a product that has been tested on animals, but like many beauty lovers I feel that the industry makes it difficult to find out the origins of the products we buy. Many consumers buy products based on their advertising or on a whim whilst out shopping - therefore skipping the research into the ingredients and whether or not they are tested on animals. This convenience shopping could mean that people are unknowingly purchasing products that they might otherwise avoid for ethical reasons.  

Fortunately there are many fantastic cruelty free brands on the market today which certainly makes it easier for those of us who want to avoid products that have been tested on animals. For an easy way to identify cruelty-free products look out for the Leaping Bunny logo which are 'certified cruelty free under the internationally-recognised Humane Cosmetics or Humane Household Products Standards.' Although the EU has now banned animal tested cosmetics, this is not applicable to cosmetics sold outside the EU. As Go Cruelty Free states, 'The Leaping Bunny is a global standard and applies to all of the operations and sales of companies, not just those for the EU. We only certify companies that have a policy not to test their products on animals for any market, including China where animal testing for imported products is currently required.' So definitely keep an eye out for the Leaping Bunny if you want to ensure you are buying cruelty-free products! 

Cruelty free brands:

Burt's Bees

Neals Yard

Liz Earle

Dermalogica

Lush

Marks and Spencer's own brand products 

Models Own

REN

Sainsbury's own brand products

Soap and Glory

Pai Skincare

The Body Shop

To name but a few! For more cruelty-free brands and shopping advice I highly recommend visiting the Go Cruelty Free website. How do you feel about cruelty-free products? Do you research cosmetics or companies before you make a purchase?

Book Review // Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Before I Go To Sleep - S J Watson, published 2011

Before I Go To Sleep tells the story of a middle-aged woman named Christine who suffers from anterograde amnesia - she wakes up every morning with no recollection of who or where she is. The book is a psychological thriller that follows Christine as she attempts to reconstruct her memories and discover who she is. 

For a first novel I think that this book is very well written and well paced. As a reader you are kept in a sense of anticipation as to what will happen next throughout the book. I enjoy psychological thrillers and find stories that revolve around memory quite fascinating (Memento and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind happen to be a couple of my favourite films), so I was instantly drawn towards the premise of this novel. Although a little slow in parts, I think that this doesn't distract from the book rather acts to highlight the mundane suburban existence that Christine finds herself living. For me the ending was somewhat predictable and dry, but overall I enjoyed the story and felt that I connected with the character of Christine - a trait that I look for and associate with a good writer. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thriller and I am looking forward to SJ Watson's next novel! Before I Go To Sleep is now being turned into a film adaption written and directed by Rowan Joffé, starring Nicole Kidman as Christine and Colin Firth as Ben. I will be intrigued to see how the film lives up to the novel and how the actors will portray the characters. I think Colin Firth has been cast well but remain unsure of Nicole Kidman as Christine.

Have you read Before I Go To Sleep? What do you think about the film adaption?

Scalp Saviour // E45 Shampoo Review

Sometimes products are not pretty or glamourous... this is one of those times. Over the past couple of years I have been struggling with my scalp. I have no idea what triggered it, but after one sunny holiday my poor head was never quite the same again. I am not sure if my issues are due to sun damage (always wear a hat folks!), but ever since I have had an extremely sensitive scalp. Oh so glamourous. 

Although I am fortunate not to suffer with any unsightly dandruff, I do get a very uncomfortable scalp. It often feels tight, itchy or sore and means that I have to wash my hair everyday in order to keep it comfortable. Over time I have tried many different shampoos and conditioners, but all have seemed to irritate my sensitive head - until now!

Feeling fed up with my poor head, I decided to try a few more specialist shampoos that are designed for either extreme sensitivity or dry conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Having tried similar products in the past I wasn't too hopeful, but decided to try the E45 shampoo as I had seen some positive reviews. The shampoo is perfume free and hypoallergenic and claims to be a 'gentle, effective shampoo for dry, itchy scalps...'. Even after first use I could tell that my head was happier. It felt somehow soothed and not at all irritated. Once dry my hair also felt incredibly soft - a pleasant surprise to say the least! 

Although it is still early days for my scalp, I feel that this shampoo has really helped me and I could not help but share my thoughts. If you are suffering from similar sensitivity issues I would really recommend giving E45 a try! E45 dry scalp shampoo retails for £5.89 for 200ml and is available to buy from Boots.