Product review: He-Shi Express Liquid Tan

Sunbathing. I was very close to forgetting what it feels like to look at my body and have that golden glow. I welcomed that tan-mail and thanks to He-Shi, I didn’t forget. In fact, I developed a noticeable yet natural tan really easily.

The first thing that surprised my was the liquid consistency on the He-Shi Express Liquid Tan (I know, the clue is in the name!). It is like caramel water.

Their tanning mitt is a great tool to the perfect tan. Using that, I was able to quickly apply the solution on my whole body, without worrying about orange palms. The fact the liquid is dark serves as a guide so you won’t apply twice on the same place, and help you make sure it is well spread and avoid streaks.

Application was very easy, the liquid glides on the skin, a small amount goes a long way and it can be layered to build up colour. Packaging is very simple, the bottle easy to use during the tanning process.

Now, I noticed a change in colour immediately, as the liquid is dark, but it really developed overnight into a golden tone which lasted a good 5 days – I didn’t apply too much, spreading it really well. It smells a tiny bit (only if you stick your nose on your skin and smell it, but I didn’t catch a single whiff of the biscuity smell during the day/night).

What I also like is that, besides it being a great product, this is not tested on animals, contains moisturising agent, is Ecocert certificated (it means it is organic and natural – 100% natural DHA) and paraben and alcohol free! Nice, eh?

Thumbs up and definitely recommended.

So London, you might give me grey skies, but you shall not take away my tan!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

What I’ve been wearing – 30 June 2013

Finally, an entire outfit selection that says “it could be the beginning of summer”!

Really enjoying to create lighter looks, but I still hope the weather gets better – I have only bared my legs ONCE this year (in this country) and this is NOT RIGHT!

Outfit #1

Leopard print maxi skirt from Primark, black t-shirt top from H&M, black studded block heel sandals from H&M, black and white statement necklace from Little Birdie London, “D” necklace from Miss Selfridge, golden bracelet from H&M, rings from Topshop and Forever 21.

Outfit #2

Blue patterned crop trousers from H&M, white vest from H&M, white cardigan from Primark, white clock heel sandals from Topshop, blue stone statement necklace from H&M, rings from Forever 21 and Primark.

Outfit #3

Black straight midi skirt from a shop in Stratford Centre, leopard print loose 3/4 sleeve top (with a looovely opening at the back) from too long ago to remember where from, black studded block heel sandals from H&M, black and white statement necklace from Little Birdie London, bracelets from New Look, rings from H&M and Topshop.

Outfit #4

Multicoloured flower print shirt dress from Primark, tricolour court shoes from Zara, necklace from Accessorize, rings from H&M, Accessorize and New Look.

Product review: Bahoma London fragranced body scrub

Given the lack of sun in London, I am very partial to a bit of fake tan – and there is no better way of preparing your skin for it than a good exfoliating scrub. even better if the scrub leaves your skin super moisturised – and that’s exactly what the Bahoma London body scrub does.

I used the Desire fragrance, which has some vanilla notes on it and it smells gorgeous! The consistency of this scrub is very thick, butter like, and full of grain. As soon as you dig into the pot, it melts in your hands and when scrubbing, the grains last enough for a few scrubbing movements, before melting.

After applying in my whole body, I rinsed it off and my skin was super soft, lightly fragranced and feeling really moisturised, as if I had applied a body oil (which I usually do after showering, but didn’t need in this case!), and this absorbed quickly, with no greasy after feeling.

This really helped my tan to develop evenly and glowy and a few days after the scrub, my skin still feels super soft!

You can get more information about this and other products in the Bahoma London website.

Check out my review of the Bahoma London Vanilla Black candle

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Nails of the week: pink and purple gradient

pink and purple gradient nails - sonmaylovelythings

You may say “another gradient”? First, yes. I love them. Second, this one is a bit different; instead of doing it horizontally, I decided to do it vertically. Oh, yeah, the subtleties of life.

The technique was the same used before – sponging – and somehow I found this a bit trickier; getting the blending in the middle of the nail is quite hard! I really want to do a rainbow gradient, with different colours on all nails, and this was just a taster of how hard it will be…

I painted all my nails white (and for the first time, due to lack of time, had them like that for 24 hours – how 90’s, even though pure white nails is making a come back, it still takes me back to my teenage years!) then applied L’Oréal Color Riche Neon Pop nail polishes in Flashing Lilac and Acid Watermelon (pink).

Then I applied my all time favourite sparkling topcoat Electric Lane from Nails Inc and voilá!

Application was alright, both colours are pigmented enough not to make sponging a nightmare. My gradients usually last an awful long time, this one is 8 days and counting – just don’t want to remove it!

Rating:

Nails of the week: nude and colourful geometric

The L’Oréal Color Riche neon pop colours are so lovely that when I got the collection I couldn’t decide which colour to use first – so I went for all at once!!!

I love using a nude base and adding a splash of colour, and the collection lent itself nicely to that so I picked one of my trusthworthy nudes – Colorama Cipó, a very warm, tan beige – to create this look.

I used normal sticky tape to create the lines (some a little bit wonky); it was the first time I did a variety of lines on my nails. I tried what I call the “asymmetrical French tip” before and chevrons, but always the same shape in all nails. I was quite pleased with the results, although for the thin line through the middle of the nail I will probably use a brush in the future!!!

Then I used the super bright Flashing Lilac, yellow Banana Pop, pink Acid Watermelon and green Wasabi Hint from L’Oréal’s Neon Pop collection (which I reviewed last week) to create the details.

Application was fine, all colours were solid enough to allow one coat for the detail and to cover the nude, as well as drying quickly. Durability was great – 8 days, no chips!

Rating:

Product review: Simple revitalising eye roll-on

My poor eyes usually wake up feeling quite exhausted and a bit puffy. I suffer from allergies and when I get up in the morning my eyes are in a bit of a state, so I really welcomed the Simple eye roll-on to my drawer.

What I really like about eye roll-ons is the massage it offers around the eye; gently, if physically pushes away the puffiness, leaving behind some skin loving ingredients and a bit of hydration, complementing my night eye cream work. I love that the roll-on ball is metal, so it is quite refreshing too!!! After application, the area around my eyes feels calmer.

The Simple revitalising eye roll-on has cucumber extract (you know, you don’t need cucumber slices anymore!) and pro-vitamins B5 and B3, glycerin and lupin extract, so what stays after your mini massage is going to care for that all delicate eye-area!

Having tried similar products from premium brands before, I can say that this products has the same effects of something a few times its price and for me, works great for what I need!

You can find more information on the eye roll-on and other products on the Simple website.

Nails of the week: green marble with tutorial

Always wanted to try marbling, but don’t really have time or patience for water marbling – just the thought of it makes me want to cry.

After obsessing over it in Brazil, where my manicurist gave them to me for the first time, I promised myself I would try the wooden stick marble myself – it seemed much more manageable than its water counterpart!

Well, I did, and I am chuffed with it! I woke up one morning obsessed with green (yeah, go figure!) so I used white (Collection 2000 103 French White), jade (Kiko 343) and mint green (Colorclub) to create this marble.

It didn’t tak me too long; I first applied a base coat on all nails and then started the marbling process one by one. It is important that steps 1-5 are done nail by nail, otherwise the bottom layers dry, the polish won’t mix and gaps will appear!

marble_tut

1. Apply a coat of the base colour in the whole nail (I used the jade green)

2. Apply a second coat of the base colour, but this time, apply generously – quite thick; a bit blobby even!

3. Put 3-4 drops of the other colours on it

4. Using a wooden stick or a toothpick, gently swirl it around as you please, creating different patterns and making sure you cover the whole nail

5. Clean the excesses (I use the same wooden stick, clean side)

6. Repeat on every nail

I then applied a topcoat and removed the excess using the wooden stick with cotton wool at the end, dipped in nail polish remover.

I love this. It took me 3 attempts on my thumb to get the hang of it, and the others were plain sailing. Just be careful not to rub the stick to hard and completely remove the polish, leaving gaps!

Application was much more straight forward than I though; and durability was ace – flawless for 7 days!

Rating:

Product review: L’Oréal Color Riche Neon Pop nail polish

loreal colour riche neon pop

How exciting to receive a big box at home only to open it and find four lovely shades of nail polish and a lovely balloon, delivering a true colour pop to my day!

The L’Oréal Neon Pop collection for the Summer 2013 is a fusion of Tropicana brights with arty colour block palette – and bright they are, even though they are not your conventional neon colours; they really pop when applied!!!

(more pictures at the bottom of post!)

The colours here are a purple, called Flashing Lilac, yellow Banana Pop, pink Acid Watermelon and green Wasabi Hint.

As seen above, from left to right, first is Flashing Lilac, which I found the sheerest of them all, definitely needs two coats, but delivers a lovely finish, almost gelish.

Banana Pop is very pigmented but sometimes you can see the brush strokes, you must apply carefully and they will go away! It is really the colour of a very ripe banana skin!

Acid Watermelon is probably the closest to a true neon colour and also very pigmented, one coat is almost enough for solid coverage.

Finally, Wasabi Hint I think is my fave, very pigmented and a very peculiar shade of green with great shiny finish.

I find the colours are very wearable, even for those who steer away from anything neon. I like the brush and drying time was standard. I did the swatches and also played around with the colours a little bit, as couldn’t help myself – they are so pretty!!!

I will be posting my look using the colours on a mani next week! Exciting!

They will be available to purchase this month!

The mystery box

And the polishes on the inside of the lid!

The colours codes

The pretty ballon!

Colour matching!

Swatch

Playing with it a bit – quite sloppy but hey, just a test!

And yeah, if you are wondering, the pretty balloon is from Bubblegum ballons! Soooo adorable, it is looking lovely in my sitting room!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Product review: Bahoma London Vanilla Black scented candle

As I mentioned a few times, I really believe beauty is also influenced by everything around you, and is partly a state of mind – nothing better than to feel beautiful! And I really like when my house smells good – I think most of us do; it makes me feel as if I am surrounded by beautiful things. Now that I have finally organised our new(ish) home, I love just to sit around and enjoy the place.

Bahoma Vanilla Black scented candle

And I’ve been, for the first time in my life, burning scented candles. Bahoma London has a line full of home and body products, with fragrances designed by their perfumier Malgorzata Strug-Gozowska in their London studio, where they are also manufactured. There are candles and fragrance diffusers (for the home and garden) to treat your senses and fragrances, lotions, scrubs and shower gels to treat your body.

I got some Vanilla-themed items (as it is my favourite fragrance!) and the very first thing I used was the Vanilla Black scented candle. This baby has a great vanilla scent that is not sickly sweet – of course it has some sweetness, but the amber core in the fragrance makes it ; and after only 30 minutes burning, it leaves a lovely subtle scent in the ambient that lasted very well. It is so lovely to walk in or move around in the room and catch a whiff of this candle! I am very happy with it!

Their recommended burn time is 3 hours for a medium sized room and the candle lasts for an amazing 75 hours. They have a great range of exclusively designed fragrances for their scented candles.

The packaging, a round glass jar, is neutral and unobtrusive enough for any room in the house.

Bahoma Vanilla Black scented candle

For more info on candles or other products, visit the Bahoma website.

This post contains PR samples. This review , however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.