SEROZINC, La Roche Posay comes to the UK

Serozinc, a product that has been talked about so much this year and last, and finally it’s coming to the UK.

Serozinc from La Roche Posay is a hypo-allergenic toner which contains only 3 ingredients; Water, Sodium Chloride and Zinc Sulphate. It is designed to reduce irritation and redness of the skin, it also reduces blemishes. I remember a few years ago when I had acne I used to spend hours on the internet trying to find ways to get rid of it and something that aways came up was Zinc supplements - whilst I didn’t try the tablets I was so very intrigued to try this product from La Roche Posay. 
The product is suitable for those with oily/acne prone skin. Whilst I no longer suffer with acne anymore I do still have the occasional break out. 
After applying my cleanser I use this product, the Serozinc toner*. It comes in spray bottle and has an instant cooling effect on the skin. The mist is very light and you only need the smallest amount, if you dont want to use it directly from the spray bottle itself you can apply it onto a cotton pad first. After this I apply a non-comedogenic moisturiser over the top, aka something that won’t clog up my skin and preferably oil free. The zinc in the Serozinc draws out excess oils in the skin. Another thing I like about this product is that fact its un-scented. 
Results wise I noticed some instantly, my face felt a lot more firm and quite matte. In the winter my skin turns quite combination so this product is ideal for those of you have have quite oils skin. After a few days use I also noticed that any blemishes I did have had reduced in size. 
I must admit, I don’t generally care for toners that much as it is another step to add to your routine but I really like the design of the Serorzinc toner from La Roche Posay. The fact it comes in a spray bottle and can be applied directly to the face in a matter of seconds definitely makes it a winner. And if it gets rid of blemishes, redness and excess oil on your skin too then whats not to love? This has definitely become my new favourite and a step I will make sure to add my routine everyday.
Serozinc will be sold on Escentual exclusively in the new year, tomorrow. It retails at only £8.50. Currently they have 20.15% off with the code ESCENTUAL2015 so you can get it even cheaper, around £6.79. You can actually pre-order it right now!
I hope you enjoyed this review, have you ever tried this product or any french pharmacy skincare?
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Christmas Gift Guide/Wishlist: Luxury

Mulberry cashmere and wool check scarf - Selfridges KitchenAid Artisan Mixer, White - Selfridges Snowflake Pandora Charm - Argento  Provencal Stripe french chair - The French Bedroom Company Miss Dior, Blooming Bouquet - Boots Jo Malone Pomegranate Home Candle - Selfridges Radley Border Double Zip Top Leather bag - John Lewis Marc by Marc Jacobs Amy Silver watch - ASOS
My last little Christmas Gift Guide post, a luxury version! I literally want everything on the list so titled the post ‘wish list’ too - of course. 
I’m loving the Mulberry scarf, I have been wanting one for years but every time its the sales they are always sold out. Maybe it’s time to treat myself to one? Similarly the KitchenAid mixer has been on my wish list for a while too... I added in the Pandora charm as it represents the festive season, it is also the cheapest item on this post!... I am loving french style decor and this chair is cute, so chic. I am loving the whole white and pastel theme. Next on the list is this gorgeous Miss Dior perfume bottle; I would literally just use this for display purposes... I have seen a few people speak about the Jo Malone candles recently, I really want to try the pomegranate one. I love the packaging too, it’s simple but luxurious.... Radley isn’t really a brand I have cared for much before but recently they have bought out so many pretty bags; I am loving this grey one. I feel it would be suitable all year long, I also love the rose gold detailing. Finally for someone who unintentionally collects watches this Marc Jacobs one is lovely. 

This is my second last post of the year, I have one coming up in a few days but for now I am focussing on my little blog design shop. Many of you are wanting to spruce up your blog for the new year, so seen as I'm off work I have decided to work on blog design orders instead to keep busy. :) Let me know if you are interested. You can check out prices, portfolios and more on AleelilyDesigns.

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know your favourites.
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Bomb Cosmetics Berry Xmas Cracker Gift Set

I have never tried anything from Bomb Cosmetics before as I have always stuck to Lush but I was intrigued by this set. This is a first impressions post rather than a review as I really wanted to get the post up this week . 
The Bomb Cosmetics Berry Xmas Cracker Gift Set* is a limited edition item from Bomb Cosmetics. I love the way it is presented. The bright pink cracker is tied with gold tinsel around each end and looks so festive. How cute would something like this look under the tree? It’s definitely a change from a standard box!
Inside the cracker you receive three different bath bombs: - Fresh Berry Blaster, It’s Xmas Blaster and the Cherry Bathewell Blaster, all of which are made from essential oils and nourishing butters. 
Fresh Berry Blaster (£2.29) As the name suggests this bath bomb smells like raspberry and vanilla, I absolutely adore this one and am excited to try it. I also love the way it looks. 
It’s Xmas! Blaster  (£2.29) This festive bath bomb contains pure Neroli and Sweet orange essential oils - I  could smell this one out of the box, it’s quite strong!
Cherry Bathewell Blaster  (£2.09) This bath bomb contains chamomile essential oils which help you relax - perfect. It smells like white chocolate and somewhat nutty, similar to almonds or coconut. How cute is it with the little ‘cherry’ on the top.
The set itself sold out quite quickly online but you can still buy them individually.
I am so excited to they these out! Have you ever purchased anything from Bomb Cosmetics? What are your thoughts on these?
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Text Santa 2014

Just a quick little post, something a little different to what I normally write about. As you may be aware Text Santa will be on tonight at 8pm. Text Santa is an annual Christmas Charity appeal which raises money for 6 UK based charities each year. This year the charities are Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, WellChild, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society and Together for Short Lives.  
The Hut have a range of Text Santa merchandise available and if you buy an item from them 25% of the sale will go to the Text Santa Appeal. They have items available for adults as well as children. I chose the Text Santa Snowflake Onesie* (£18) it’s so pretty and pink! (the colour is true to life on the webiste, I have had lighting issues today! It’s bright fuchsia pink) TheHut are also offering free next day delivery on all TextSanta merchandise with the code TSANTA.
I will be wearing this whilst watching the show tonight. It has cute little pockets either side and I like how the material isn’t thick like some onesies. This is the same onesie Amanda Holden was wearing on Philip Schofields Text Santa 24 show that was on the other day. She looked lovely in it!
You can make a donation towards the Text Santa Appeal here.
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Christmas Gift Guide: Beauty

I thought I would write up a little beauty gift guide post as theres’ not long left now to the 25th. These items in my opinion are perfect for people of all ages.

Elizabeth Arden, Untold. 50ml (£44)* I have been loving this perfume because it is not too florally nor too fruity. The scent is delicate and perfect for the day. The top notes for me were pear, amber and jasmine. It smells very feminine. This is the longest lasting perfume I have ever come across, there is quite a depth to the fragrance.  I think this perfume would be perfect for people of all ages purely because it’s quite neutral.  I also absolutely love the packaging, I really love the gold quilt style pattern on the box. The bottle is quite a simple yet elegant design. Très chic! 

Frozen Lip Smacker Tin. 6pk (£10)*
I love Frozen and I love lip balms so Frozen lip balms for me were an instant winner. I have lost count of how many times I have watched the movie. Most of my presents are wrapped with Frozen wrapping paper. WILD. When I was younger I remember always buying the Coco Cola lip smackers, as gimmicky as they were they were actually quite moisturising. This is the perfect present for Frozen fans, young and old! 
I have the individual ones pictured which are around £2.50 each or you can purchase the cute tin instead which I have linked, these include 6 lip smackers for £10. They come in 6 different flavours: Cool Vanilla Mint, Chilled Cranberry Grape, Strawberry Shake, Ice Pop, Berry Slush and Coconut Snowball. How fancy!

Lancome Hypnose Mascara gift set (£22.50)*
I have heard many great things about the Lancome Hypnose mascara so was excited to see it now included in a gift set. The set contains 3 highly raved about products:- the Hypnose Star mascara, a mini kohl eyeliner and 30ml of Bi-facial, this product removes all eye makeup, even waterproof products. 
The particular set I have is called ‘Glamour Eyes’ but there is also ‘Lovely eyes’, ‘Dramatic eyes’ and ‘Magnetic eyes’ available. They all contain the same liner and cleanser but the mascara brushes are different and so give you different effects.
This is on sale just now, 15% off so will be somewhat cheaper but House of Fraser are also hosting  a 12 Days of Christmas event and the Lancome Hypnose Mascara gift sets will be on offer from the 24th to 26th of Decemeber, so you could grab an even bigger bargain!

In a few weeks I will be writing in depth reviews of the products.

I hope you enjoyed this little Christmas gift guide. Let me know what you think of my picks!

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My festive nail picks

Quite a festive post today, festive nails that is. I love these nail shades, they have been on rotation for the whole of December so far so I thought I would share them with you all. 
Barry M - Rose Quartz I love this shade all year round but for this time of the year it is perfect. This nail polish features a mixture of rose gold glitter of different sizes. The shade is quite subtle but up close it looks so pretty and sparkly. I love the look of this shade with a black dress.
Nails Inc - Savile Row This deep purple shade reminds me of autumn and winter. I love opacity of this nail polish. I also love it paired with the Barry M - Rose Quarts nail polish on top.
Barry M - Amethyst Glitter Another glittery shade! This one features a mixture of silver, pink, light blue and navy glitter flecks. I love the effect glitter polishes give, they are so fun!
China Glaze - Phat Santa You can’t go wrong with a red nail polish. I like this nail polish as it is quite shiny, almost gel like. The shade itself is a vibrant red.
George - Octopus My favourite shade of green, this shade is so autumnal but I have been loving it for winter too. This forest green shade also contains a little glitter inside and that makes it more festive.
Barry M - Navy I love this shade on it’s own or paired with the Amethyst Glitter polish. Such a pretty pair!
Hope you enjoyed this post, let me know what nail polishes you’ve been wearing this month?
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Pandora love

As you know I love dainty jewellery so today I thought I would write about my ever expanding Pandora collection;- the experts of dainty jewellery in my opinion. 
I purchased my first Pandora bracelet a few years ago and wear it regularly. I decided to opt for a Black leather bracelet because it is something that would go with many different outfits. I feel the leather bracelets can be worn casually or with more dressy outfits, along as they are stacked with other dainty silver bracelets. Recently I added the Double cream leather bracelet* to my collection. Again I chose this because it can be worn anytime, I love the colour of this bracelet and its a little different to the regular ones as it wraps around the arm twice.
I have a long list of charms I want to add to my bracelets but also like the look of them as they are. I suppose if you are wanting to collect lots of charms I would personally opt for the silver Pandora bracelet rather than the leather as you can’t put more than a few charms on it. I currently have a cute little heart charm and hope to get the little cupcake charm next.
I also have two Pandora rings, one of which is the Opal birthstone ring - I picked it out because I liked the colour and was assured by the sales assistant many people do this haha. I also have the Pandora Star ring* which they have newly launched for the Christmas collection. I think they look nice together.
I am very much a Pandora fan and hope to expand on my collection. I love the bracelets because you are able to find a charm for every occasion/milestone in your life and it just makes it all the more sentimental. The jewellery is timeless and of good quality. The rings look gorgeous stacked together, I love the way the sales assistants stack their jewellery. Pinterest also has some really good Pandora stacking ideas. They can of course be worn on their own too.
This is the ideal Christmas present for people of all ages. My Pandora wish list is ever growing, they have so many pieces I really want. (I hope I get to open a Pandora package on the 25th!)
Hope you enjoyed this post, do you have anything from Pandora? What do you think of the brand?
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Teeth whitening | Beverly Hills Formula black toothpaste

Many of you who follow me on Twitter or have been followers of my blog for a long while now will know about my obsession for white teeth. I mean the fake white teeth that celebs have. I have even contemplated getting porcelain vaneers in the whitest shade to feed my obsession. (but that idea went swiftly out the window when I realised they cost over £1k  per tooth!)

A few years back I started using the Crest Teeth Whitening strips and with that my teeth have gotten considerably whiter, white enough for people to ask me what I use and also if they are real?! The only problem I have found is that I am now having to use the whitening strips a lot sooner each time as it wears off quicker. Crest recommends every year or so and while this was doable all those years ago I can just about go 3 months without them now. I don’t drink caffeine or have fizzy drinks either. Maybe Crest have changed the amount of peroxide they put in them?

Anyways back to the point of this post. I have been looking for an alternative for a while. Mainly a product thats easy to use, cheap and doesn’t make your teeth sensitive. After scouring blogs for a while I came across many reviews and recommendations of  the new Beverly Hills Formula - Perfect White black toothpaste*. So for someone who hasn’t tried anything from the brand before I thought now would be a good a time as any to test it out.

The tooth paste itself is black, yes you read that right but don’t worry because once you start brushing your teeth it turns white. It contains activated charcoal which is known for removing tannins from your teeth, thus making your teeth whiter. I have only been using this a few days and noticed the results from Day 1 and as the days progress my teeth are considerably more brighter and a lot whiter. This is the fastest result I have ever had from a teeth whitening product and surprisingly it was from a toothpaste! This will save me so much money and also I won’t have to deal with sensitive teeth again. I just find that along with pearly whites comes a ton of confidence, after all "A smile is a girls best accessory”.

I could go on but I shall leave it there. Overall I am so excited to have come across this product, something that actually works with quick results. It is also nice and minty! I am SO excited infact that I have just placed a huge order on Superdrug.com and stocked up on these because they are half price just now at £2.48! Move over Crest, this toothpaste is definitely so much better.

I also have one to giveaway which is perfect before Christmas! Just follow the steps below to be in for a chance of winning. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Illamasqua Precision Gel eyeliner - Infinity

 

I remember back in the day when I first got into watching youtube videos and reading blogs how much this product was raved about; - the Illamasqua Precision Gel eyeliner* of course.
The gel eyeliner from Illamasqua is definitely a product I would class as being ‘worth the hype’. 
I have never used a gel eyeliner before purely because I thought they took quite some skill to apply, and yes I am a die hard liquid liner kinda gal too. Thankfully though and to my surprise may I add this gel eyeliner applied very easily. The texture of the gel is just the right consistency, this gives you better control over how much you are applying. I guess that’s why precision is in the name.
I have been testing the Illamasqua Gel eyeliner in Infinity for quite a few weeks now and absolutely love it. I found the  Real Techniques Fine liner brush (£6.99) works perfectly alongside it. The Illamasqua gel liner comes in a 5g pot which will last you a good while. Compared to cheaper brands the Illamasqua gel eyeliner won’t dry up as quick. You can just feel the quality throughout the whole product.
I love the pigmentation of this gel liner, it really is the blackest of blacks. Which of course is perfect for a signature cat eye look or even a dramatic night time look. I sometimes find that liquid liner flakes off but didn’t have that problem with the gel liner, if anything I needed to use a good eye makeup remover to take it off as it stays on so good.
Overall I love this gel eyeliner, at £18 it is a high end beauty product but for the quality it is totally worth it. 
Do let me know if you have tried this eyeliner or what you think of it? All I need now is for Illamasqua to come out with a navy and olive green one and then I’ll be even happier. :)

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