A blemish rescue oil. Yes, really

Posted in Beauty, Skincare by

Votary Blemish Rescue OilThis year you haven’t heard it: oh how I love a facial oil. And this is a gem from a brand I got to know quite recently: Votary, which makes this post that little bit more exciting.

Now, my personal battle navigating between aggressive, drying blemish fighting and hydrating, nourishing age fighting products is known to an extent here (and I’ll publish a full piece on it soon), but this little hero addresses just that. Tamanu oil and salicylic acid, make it nourishing with blemish fighting properties.

Votary Blemish Rescue Oil’s 2% salicylic acid goes down deep in the pores dissolving dead skin cells and exfoliating all the way to the surface. This helps with the congestion that usually brings spots about.

And the blend of natural plant oils including rice, oat, tamanu and rosemary essential oil aids quicker recovery and promotes  balance.

Votary Blemish Rescue OilIt’s a great targeted, non-aggressive solution which is a bliss to use: it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, and even though it’s for use on the spot, I feel it works wonders on the whole face or areas, like the chin, to help prevent breakouts.

And for that, I really want to get the Votary Clarifying Facial Oil, as I think it would be a very powerful duo for problematic skin.

The Votary Blemish Rescue Oil costs £35 for 15ml (it goes a looooong way!) and you can find the gorgeous Votary products at Liberty – I mean, any excuse for a trip over there – or online on their site.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say again: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Surviving January (and let’s face it, February)

Posted in Body, Lifestyle, wellbeing by

The party well and truly is over. When the summer comes to an end (and trust me, we stretch the feeling to the bitter end), we all start looking forward to the season to be jolly.

The celebrations usually start in early December, but with the shops putting the decorations up in mid-November, it is easy to get carried away by the festive spirit, especially when you love Christmas, like me. And it’s all fun and games.

We eat, we drink, we are merry. Too merry. Then January hits. Even worse, mid-January, when you had time to take a long, hard look at yourself… No bank holidays for a long stretch, dark, dark and cold days, we are poor from all the crimbo expenditure and our bodies are feeling the worse for wear after all the eating and drinking. It is truly dreadful.

So how do I plan to survive? By looking after my mind and body, that is.

The body works

I’ll reach out for the fake tan. I’ve been loving the Fake Bake Five Minute Mouse tan as I feel mega lazy. It’s quick, transfer free, little smell and develops into a gorgeous tan that lasts up to a week (I top up every 4-5 days).

Before bed, I lather myself with the Nivea Rich Nourishing 48h intensive moisturising care, which is perfect to treat your skin, battered by the cold and heating, overnight. It’s a classic that has been reformulated recently and it’s super creamy, delivering up to 48-hour hydration, thanks to the Nivea Deep Moisture Serum and almond oil.

And smells Nivea-comforting. It is very rich, but absorbs well. Next day, I can feel it “coming out as a shower”. This is serious moisturising.

I am a huge fan of pillow sprays and as much as they are for the body, they are for the mind. I am using the Feather & Down pillow spray, together with their shower cream and body oil before going to bed.

I absolutely love the fragrance and if you are not too keen on lavender, this one is definitely for you – so calming, relaxing and absolutely delightful.

Going back to fitness has been on my list for over six months, after being plagued with injuries. I am at a point I can ease myself into my usual routine, a step at a time.

I have just had a proper week of working out – four times, and closer to my old routine, including aerial pilates, ballet barre, an inversion class and circus conditioning. My injury seems to be ok with it and as long as I take it really slowly, it feels promising.

My diet will receive the attention it deserves. No, I am not going radical, but will stick for a while to the ketogenic diet my MSK specialist doctor recommended, to diminish inflammation, as well as taking good supplements like probiotics and immune system support, which worked a treat for me this year.

That also includes cutting down alcohol (dramatically? we’ll see about that), in quantity but mainly type as some are more irritable to my body than others.

I will also stick to my Zenii Radiance and Skin Health supplements as they do work a treat to fight dullness.

Minding the gap

My mental health will be a huge focus this year, so I’m starting strong in January to set myself up for the year. I will practice mindfulness, work to prevent thoughts from becoming compulsive and my actions turning obsessive and spiralling out of control.

Planning my budget and organising my life in general has always been a struggle, so I am aiming to put a realistic plan together. That should enable me from planning for the travels and hobbies I want to squeeze in 2018.

Attention will be focused on what matters; people who matter. Friends who are supportive, reliable and positive. Of course, no one is like that all the time, but it’s the give and take balance that is really important here. I will not be a sole giver. Unreliable friends make me anxious and why would I want to be around people show are not supportive? Exactly.

Creating rituals is important for me. I must go back to “face mask Wednesdays”, “mani Thursdays”, or “deep stretch Mondays”. You get the drift – something that is great for body and mind. Two birds and all that.

And the blog, which has saved me through so much, will continue to be my haven and I will (and already have been) paying more attention to it,

How are you planning to survive during these dark months?

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say again: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

 

 

 

Luxe hair care

Posted in Beauty, hair by

Some time ago I started using a gorgeous Wella System Professional Luxe Oil finishing product as part of the my Wella EnergyCode consultation.

When I heard a whole new Luxe Oil, which has a combination of nurturing oils was out, I just had to try.

The whole range is oil based, of course, with a blend of Argan, almond and jojoba oils and very lightweight. Together with the EnergyCode Complex TM, which has natural lipids, caffeine, histidine and vitamin B3 amide, act long term to improve hair structure, texture and manageability. Lipids and oeleic acid entering the hair structure help hair look younger.

Clean and nourished

The Keratin Protect Shampoo gives roots and scalp a thorough but gentle cleanse, as well as protecting and strengthening with keratin and panthenol. And the Keratin Conditioning Cream softens hair making detangling and brushing a breeze.

The Keratin Restore Mask is rich and nourishing; an intensive treatment to help reconstruct and restore dry and damaged hair, leaving it supple and soft after use.

Post-wash care

The leave in treatments are great: the Keratin Boost Essence is a lightweight spray that hydrates and works on protecting against breakage and realigning the fibres for more manageable hair.

The Cream Elixir delivers smooth finishing and contains high absorption keratin for deep regeneration and long term suppleness.

Of course, the Reconstructive Elixir has an oil aspect and is multitasking: fantastic for smoothing, giving dry hair that polished, shiny finish or as a reconstructive, nourishing addition to wet hair.

When drying, after using the collection to wash and care for my hair, I am involved by the amazing fragrance: a blend of oswanthus, muguet and tonka, over a wooden base of musk and amber and finished with fresh aspects of grapefruit, apricots and spices. It in fact lingers on the hair, subtly, for a while.

Also, there is that luxurious smell of salon in the air after styling! Love it!

You can get the from salons. To find out more about the range, or find  salon to get your EnergyCodeTM consultation, check the Wella System Profession site.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say again: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

2017: good riddance

Posted in Body, Lifestyle, wellbeing by

You know when you are in the Crimbo limbo and start thinking about your life… well. Have a sit. But not beofre making yourself a cup of tea…

When 2017 started, I seemed to have it all: I was comfortable with myself, I was going to move to my very own flat and I had met someone who seemed perfect, late in 2016, and we seemed to be good together. Great right?

Plan and simply happy, I was soooo looking forward to it and waltzed into it full of hope. It turns out the world went a bit messed up, and hell, so did my life.

While the move into the new flat in February was smooth – and quite frankly, amazing (but we will get to the good once a I have a good old moan) – from there on things started to crumble.

And one of the most difficult things for me to overcome has installed itself in: my anxiety started creeping in as soon as the flat buying rush started to calm down.

“Perfect” man decided, well, that in retrospect, he wasn’t so perfect, and after almost four months, couldn’t “do us”, announced two days before Valentine’s, over the phone. I was left with a card and a gift which would never met their recipient, but worst of all, with a heart so broken, in so many tiny pieces, I still think it will never be mended. I was surprised that A) I was actually in love and B) he wasn’t. What?! And I cried.

Anxiety reached peak. I was on edge, my OCD kicked off into unmanageable levels. I cried some more. I had awful physical symptoms and my blood pressure went up.

I struggled to leave the house except when I absolutely needed to (basically work and pushed myself to go to blog events. I STOPPED DRINKING (what, you say? Who even are you?).

But I thought the summer would sort me out. Well, it didn’t. So I cried a bunch more – alright, a lot more –  and started the long road of (yet again) rebuilding my shattered self through therapy and the excruciating hard work on myself.

As in a Mariah Carey song, “you’re all smiles but in your eyes, your sorrow shows, yes, it shows”. That was me.

Then I got injured. Oh, yeah, twice. And recovery has been long. To be away from the one of the couple things that keeps me sane was a huge blow to my balance and self esteem. That pulled me inside that hole even further, together with the fact I could barely recognise my inflating, weaker and inflexible body.

Boys were generally rubbish. Although I did have all he fun, the ones I liked a bit weren’t that upfront with me, some came out of the woodwork after months of disappearing looking for an easy shag, some even reappeared not knowing I knew they were back with their exes. Yes, I knew [insert eyeroll here]. Yes, I liked him an awful lot. No, I didn’t see him again. No, I won’t ever see him again.

I became extremely sceptical and detached on the romantic front.

My ex of 7 years got married within 1.5 years of meeting this (also Brazilian) girl on Tinder I believe a mere 2 weeks after we moved apart, four days before my bday. Oh yeah.

For the record, I hadn’t already been in love with him for quite a while when we broke up and we did so in great terms. I knew he was engaged (he proposed on NYE) and going to get married this year, but I ended up finding out on Instagram on the day it was happening. NOT COOL, mate. Not cool.

Some parts of my small network of friends proved to be more flawed than I anticipated. I seemed to insist on non-supportive, unreliable, “I’ll be all over you when I need you but am rarely there when you need me” only to, surprise, feel let down and lonely.

One of my besties decided to move to Australia. Another great friend decided not to come back from Australia (Australia, I am starting to have a problem with you).

My grandfather passed away in Brazil, it devastated me, it is still hard to think (or write more) about it, as he was a huge part of my life. Then my aunt had some scary health problems.

The blog suffered. As the anxiety exhaustion kicked in, I felt little motivation to write. Traffic dropped and even when I came out of the worse patches of anxiety, the motivation was low. I started posting less and have struggled to get back into it.

What a stupid year, 2017. Talk about disappointment, I had high hopes for you.

So, I feel I HAVE to focus on the good things (I mean, did you read the above? Jeez). And it’s amazing how many there are when you actually think about it:

  • I bought a freaking flat. On my own. In London. And I made it up exactly how I wanted. I am f*cking proud of that.
  • I reigned back my anxiety. It was a long and painful process, harder than the first time it hit me this bad. Many times I just couldn’t see how I’d get out of that. It is still a day at a time battle, but when you started to have way more good days than bad, you know you’re in the path to controlling your mental health.
  • My anxiety had very little impact in my performance at work. And I am very proud of myself for that.
  • I found a twinsie friend.
  • I found support where I least expected.
  • Despite being sh*t at blogging this year, I actually got some amazing opportunities and am so grateful for that.
  • My family back home seems to be closer than ever, which makes me so happy all the way here.
  • Another bestie is expecting a much desired baby. I might even love a child for a change.
  • I rediscovered my love for glitter. Ok, I know, but I had to add this here.

So how I am taking 2018? At my pace; I have no shame to say it will be all about me (I mean, to be honest, it’s always all about me. I hate resolutions list but I will:

  • Put myself and my health in the first place. Mental and physical.  I will take time for myself, I will be mindful of it, I will go back to fitness and look after my body. Circus activities which I love so much will be back and I’m sorting out my diet.
  • Give toxic and unrealiable people no time. At all.
  • Give f*ckboys no time. I’m genuinely bored of ya.
  • Work harder on the blog. Actually pour in the love I have for it.
  • Dance more. Just go out and dance.
  • Not be too hard on myself. I really struggle seeing how good I can be, what I can achieve and always think I am not good enough.
  • Holiday more. I have only been to one holiday in 2017 and that, my friend, is nowhere near good enough.
  • Volunteer. I used to a while back and must return to it. I always felt I got so much more than I was giving!
  • Get a new hobby. I haven’t yet decided what I want to do, burlesque is currently at the top of the list, inspired by one of my besties.
  • Have a long hard think about my career and where I am going, where I want to be and if the path is right.
  • Concentrate on people who matter. Show them I love them, make an effort.
  • Be a little bit more sensible with money.
  • Nurture (and ideally grow) my network of friends.

Phew. Thanks for hanging in there. Please send some cheer and tell me you had a better year. How did 2017 treat you?

written by Dani

Six weeks of festive nails

Posted in Beauty, nails by
essie nail polishes suit & tied, ring in the bling, new year, new hue, be cherry!, on your mistletoes and social-lights

suit & tied, ring in the bling, new year, new hue, be cherry!, on your mistletoes and social-lights (L-R)

With everything so festive around us, nails have to follow suit. And of course, essie has the perfect collection to make sure your talons are ready to join the party.

essie nail polishes

For the first week of December, start light: suit & tied is a warm sand beige, almost toasted, that is neutral but at the same time interesting enough to keep my unusual nail polish taste satisfied. Great for those who like nudes, but with a little difference.

The second week welcomes be cherry!, a bright crimson red with a hint of pink to brighten up the darkest of days. It is a versatile and fun red, slightly different from the ones I usually go for and yes, it is rather cheerful.

essie nail polishesAs Christmas approaches, and the parties are in full swing, why not go for on your mistletoes, a dense oxford blue with a hint of green – looking like a dark, funky teal to the untrained eye.

I’m a fan of all shades of blue on my nails and this blue-green is super festive and a little bit edgy.

essie nail polishesSo it’s Christmas! Yay! For the oh-so-festive fourth week, ring in the bling: a gorgeous metallic ruby red, tinged with a little bit of cobalt making it magically hot, cold and pearly.

It is red, it shines and will look amazing under the tree.

essie nail polishesMy favourite will have to see the new year in. The fifth week begs for social-lights, a fabulous pearl slate grey with a subtle, glistening amber warmth.

I adore a colour shifting nail polish and this is the deal. It looks strong on the bottle but a bit more subdued on the nails. And apart from the warm hints, it also produces some great blue-ish sheen on movement. Great colour depth for new year’s eve!

essie nail polishes in be cherry!, ring in the bling, on your mistletoes and social-lights

essie be cherry!, ring in the bling, on your mistletoes and social-lights

And to kick off January, the sixth week begs for a very wintery, and appropriately named new year, new hue. Write those resolutions with this luscious magenta purple on your fierce claws.

essie nail polishes in new year, new hue and suit & tied

essie new year, new hue and suit & tied

So, what’s your favourite? How would you spread the shades over the six weeks?

You can buy the essie nail polishes from major retailers nationwide, including Superdrug and Boots, for £7.99 each. Remember, it is limited edition, so hurry up! written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Npower Lights up the Sky in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

Posted in Lifestyle by


How about sending a glittering interactive hologram message into the London night sky and in the process help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their precious work?

Sprinkling some magic over the capital’s skyline, Light Sky sees the glamorous Amanda Holden team up with npower to help raise funds for the cancer charity. She kicked off the Christmas campaign by sending the first message, one of love, into the sky at the Southbank Observation Point.

If you are in the area, pop in and talk to one of the friendly guys over there – you can donate, send your own message and watch the beautiful spectacle illuminate the sky. If you are not in the capital, you can still spread love, support and hope by going to npower.com/lightsky.

Sent in person or online, the message will be projected among London’s landmarks and you will get a video of it via email, to share and treasure.

I was very lucky to be part of the launch during a cold, but cheerful, evening and Amanda, who looked amazing in red, said she felt “privileged to be a part of this campaign; Macmillan Cancer Support is a great charity which provides crucial support for people affected by cancer” and urged people to take part.

As one of the first to do so, I (made my donations and) shared two messages; one to my beloved grandfather, who passed away last month in Brazil, and it shone up in the sky the way I am sure he is shining now.

As I had no time to say my goodbyes and hadn’t seen him in a while, I wanted him to know he will forever be with me.

The second message was to my aunt, to echo as her optimism, strength and hope through very recent tough times with surgeries and waiting for biopsies results.

As she is also in Brazil, I want to reinforce that she is supported, loved and I am adding to the hope everything will be alright.

Amanda Holden kicks of the npower Light Sky for MacMillan Cancer Support
Amanda’s message of love

MacMillan Cancer Support does amazing work with people affected by cancer, be it practical, emotional and personal support. They are there during treatment, to help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings.

MacMillan does not receive any government funding, so every donation counts towards keeping their fantastic work going.

One in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetime and, not wanting to play the scare card and more putting things into perspective, the support of a charity like Macmillan would probably keep someone like me, who has been living alone in a foreign country for many years, stronger and more hopeful to fight through such a difficult time, should that happen.

And npower, which is putting on the stunning light show, is a long-standing partner of Macmillan, helping people affected by cancer to keep warm without worrying about the costs.

Take part sending as many messages as you can; the suggested donation is £4 per message. Not only will they light up the sky and the heart of your loved ones, but will also be helping those affected by cancer. How amazing is that?

Head off to the Southbank Observation Point in London (58-72 Upper Ground, Gabriel’s Wharf, SE1 9LT) between 5pm-10pm or get online at npower.com/lightsky.

written by Dani

This post of was created in partnership with npower. I do, however, believe it is a great cause to support, so get on the site, for this campaign or just a straight on donation!

When one scent is not enough…

Posted in Beauty, Body, Lifestyle by

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal from scentaddict by the Fragrance ShopUntil a few years ago, I stuck to the same fragrance. It was my thing, my signature.

Then, something happened. Maybe I started realising I was one and many a person… maybe I just got lured by the many scents on the market, bombarding my senses. Who knows?

Enter scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop celebrates the need to change fragrances ever so often, with little guilt. In fact, it lets you “date” it for a while, before deciding if you want to commit.

I don’t know about you, but usually the very base notes on fragrances are the one I do not like, do to know I really like a perfume, I need to wear it for a while, see how it develops on my skin and how it lasts throughout the day.

The deal

atomiser - scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop

With scentaddict you can do just that. For a monthly subscription of £12 you get 30 days (8ml) of your chosen fragrance, including luxurious, expensive ones, to try in a lovely refillable atomiser.

To start with, you add up to 12 fragrances to your account and the first one will be with you in about 2 weeks. You can choose to receive the another fragrance you selected the following month or the same one.

Should you really fall in love with a scent and decide that’s the one for you (you know, it an happen), you can redeem the£12 towards the cost of a full bottle.

As it’s a subscription service you can pick a different scent every month until you find the one! It’s a really a discovery service and you can stop at any time.

The one for me 

I got Scandal, a delicious John Paul Gaultier fragrance which has the most relatable pin-up legs up – if you cannot make up the relation to me, have a scroll through my Instagram. It might become apparent.

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal from scentaddict by the Fragrance ShopThe top notes are citric (blood orange and grapefruit), and I am not a citrus fragrance person. Having said that, the opening is rather sweet and crisp.

However, it was the delicious heart of honey and gardenia that really hooked me in, offering a mellow, sweet smell finished with a strong patchouli base. It’s a world away from the classic JPG that is not quite my cup of tea.

Plus, those heeled legs? I mean, what’s not to love?

You can get all the info on scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop on their website, where you can subscribe and start flirting with a plethora of scents – there are more than 100 to try!

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Gimme vitamin…C

Posted in Beauty, Skincare by

I’m no stranger to the Nivea Q10 range; a while back I was introduced to the antioxidant properties of Q10, which is a co-enzyme present in our skin.

Now Nivea has just boosted these properties with amazing vitamin C, also known for its antioxidant properties and to deliver radiance and energy to the skin.

The Q10plusC Anti-Wrinkle + Energy Eye Treatment (£10.99) is my favourite – you know I love an eye product.

It’s light and super smooth, I find perfect for the day as it keeps the area moisturised and bright, but also great for the night as it is not heavy and works wonder de-puffing and refreshing dull and tired skin.

The Q10plusC Anti-Wrinkle + Energy Skin Sleep Cream (£10.99) is a delight. It is a very fluid cream that glides and sinks so well in the skin.

It feels so light but works wonders: skin wakes up refreshed, rested and plump.

Last, but not least, the Q10plusC Anti-Wrinkle + Energy Day Cream with SPF 15 (£10.99).

Of course, any sun protection is always welcome and on top of it you have fantastic skin protecting antioxidants.

It has a firm consistency but spreads smoothly and behaves extremely well under makeup.  I don’t know if it’s me but it feels like it creates a good, non-greasy and even base for foundation.

This range went straight to my bedside table (ok, not a bedside table, but the packed everyday skincare drawer more like) and I’ve been using very regularly since putting to the test.

Oh, and the smell on the face products is rather nice; slightly reminiscent of the classic Nivea, but fresher and not overpowering. I love it!

You can check them out on the Nivea website and you can get them from major retailers, such as Superdrug and Boots.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Sculpted eyes

Posted in Beauty, Make Up by

NIP+FAB is very known for they skincare range – clue is in the name and the fab products mostly containing acids are effective and affordable.

The Eye Palette Sculpted, however, was my very first contact with NIP+FAB as a makeup brand and I am not disappointed.

The NIP+FAB Eye Palette Sculpted has 9 great warm shades from light cream to dark brown, to sculpt, shade and smoke eye from day to night.

Most are matte but there are 2 gorgeous metallic shades that work well with any combination on the palette. I’ve been using it a lot, especially for day makeup.

Eye shadows are velvety and don’t drop, and I was impressed with the pigmentation and durability, as well as blendability and how well all shades combine.

I love dabbing a little bit of the stunning shimmery shades in the centre of the lid as a final touch to my eye makeup – an easy way to make a day look sparkle for the evening.

The NIP+FAB Eye Palette Sculpted is available from Superdrug and costs £12.95. You can also explore the new(ish) NIP+FAB makeup range which has everything from bases to colour.

At the moment, Superdrug has a 3 for 2 in selected cosmetics and beauty accessories (including this palette) and you get a free tassel when you buy in the promo!

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

A beauty lift for eyes

Posted in Beauty, Skincare by

Eye creams: I’m obsessed! No secret, I use them day and night and I juts love the feeling of applying and of course, having hydrated  round the eye area all day long.

DHC brought the Beauty Lift range out a while back and although it didn’t quite work for my skin, the Beauty Lift Eye Care Essence Roll-on is a complete different story.

Start with the three tiny metal beads that form the roll-on. They mean a more delicate and targeted multipoint gentle and cooling massage on application to ease puffiness.

Inside, a very light and fluid serum like formula containing firming and smoothing oat kernel extract, also firming mevalonolactone and ceramide 3, plus hydrating and lifting pentapeptide-18.

It’s light enough for multi-use. For the day, first thing is the morning, it’s a godsend to help with puffy and bed eyes. At night, it’s a refresher to wake up hydrated and refreshed.

I also like the click pen that delivers the exact shot for one application! No excess product or waste.

And how pretty does the pearlescent pink packaging look? Dreamy!

The DHC Beauty Lift Eye Care Essence Roll-on costs £24 for 6ml, but it’s currently on sale until 30/11/17 for £20, a real bargain! You can get it directly from the DHC website.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.