Edwin Jagger Beard Grooming at Fat Buddha Store

Wednesday 30 March 2016

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With our wedding looming in just over 6 months, Tim and I have started some intense beautification and grooming routines in order to look our best on the big day. Timmy has always been big on facial hair (he hasn't had a clean shave since we met in 2004 because I love a bit of beardy beardy yum yum) and we both want his fuzzy face to be in tip top condition when we become beard and wife. Fat Buddha Store recently sent us some products from premium male grooming brand Edwin Jagger to try, and they've gone down a treat!

The Edwin Jagger Sandalwood Beard & Moustache Wash (£17.50 for 200ml) is a natural and paraben free foaming wash for cleaning, freshening and conditioning all manners of facial hair. Tim has never even considered a beard wash before trying this, but feels he now wouldn't go back to using standard soap after using it daily. If you think about it, a facial wash isn't suited to washing hair, and shampoo isn't suited to cleaning skin, so a facial hair wash sits nicely in between these two things. The Sandalwood scent is beaut, and lingers on the beard for hours after washing, plus a little goes a long way. The tinted pump bottle is also an attractive addition to our bathroom shelf, bonus!

The Edwin Jagger Limes & Pomegranate Beard Oil (£9.50 for 50ml) is a natural and paraben free conditioning oil for facial hair. Beard oils are now super popular in the male grooming world, but it's the scent of this one that really sets it apart from the others Tim has tried. It's light! Usually these things tend to lean towards musk or cinnamon, but the limes and pomegranate scent of this one is so fresh and clean, yum. Tim also commented on how much he liked that it has a pipette for easy application. It also means less wastage as he knows exactly how many drops his beard needs for conditioning. I've definitely noticed a change in the softness of the beard, and it also sits smoother against his face giving it a much more groomed overall look. 

Beard grooming products Edwin Jagger
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Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation & Setting Powder

Tuesday 29 March 2016

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I've heard so many good things about the Vichy Dermablend range, so I couldn't wait to try it myself when a review opp popped into our inbox. Dermablend has been helping people cover skin concerns for 30 years, but they've had a little revamp and introduced a new look and some new shades in the bestselling Corrective Fluid Foundation, which I'm trying out here in shade 15, Opal, along with the Setting Powder which strengthens and extends the hold of the coverage products. 

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation blog review
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Wedding Guest Style - Monochrome

Tuesday 22 March 2016

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Here we are again with wedding guest style scenario number two, probably my fave of the lot - Monochrome! Black and white sounds easy enough, but let's take a closer look at some of the perils you could face if you get it wrong . . . 

  • Too much white and you get into that uncomfortable attention seeking 'wants to be the bride' area - run awaaaaay!
  • Too much black and you enter the 'Maleficent gatecrashing a magical day' area, yeah we all know she's cool AF but still . . .
  • Monochrome does not equal zebra print or snow leopard, sadly.
  • White leather accessories are just asking to be grubbily covered in make-up fingertip smudges by the end of the day - sob!
  • Black accessories are, well, boring quite frankly. I don't know about you but I very rarely covet a pair of plain black heels or a plain black clutch? GROAN.
So yeah, it's not as easy as it looks right? So here is my little guide for getting it just right . . .

MONOCHROME

All of these pieces were taken from Very, and surprisingly easy to put together! When it comes to clothes, you want something preferably with equal amounts of black and white, so a dress like this one is perfect. It keeps it light and fun, without any harsh stripes or business time lines. Accessories are key once again. I would avoid black shoes and bags, maybe it's a personal thing but I associate them with work or nights out. A wedding is supposed to be a beautiful, feminine celebration and I just don't associate black accessories with this sort of look *ducks* ;) Instead, go for a neutral nude or metallic rose gold shoe and think like a figure skater (just don't put your tights over them!), then match your bag to them. It may be quite an old fashioned thing to do but personally I think a tonally matched shoe and bag combo is the perf way to pull an outfit together. Finally frost with a few simple pieces of monochrome jewellery or some cool statement sunnies (if the weather allows), and Bob's your uncle, it's a monochromatic win!

wedding guest style ideas monochrome

I think this proves that you don't have be shying away from the chocolate fountain in an all white jumpsuit, or feeling like a dark creeper in a black block of dressed up doom when faced with a monochrome dress code request. Bend the rules a little and keep it fresh!

What do you think of this one? Is a guest dress code something you have tackled before?

J xoxo
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Wedding Guest Style - Pastels

Monday 21 March 2016

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So obviously it's Tara's wedding in May, and you just know it's going to be a very stylish affair so I need to be thinking about my outfit right meow! Being a wedding guest is a lot harder than you'd think. You could throw on any old dress or you could plan it out for months, but there's always going to be a number of perils to get around :

  • Someone else is wearing the same thing 
  • You didn't read the invitation properly and there is a dress code that you clearly didn't meet
  • The 'theme' does not match your look
  • The bride is not wearing traditional white/ivory and your dress is looking a little too similar for anyone's comfort
  • You overshot it by miles and are mistaken for a bridesmaid

I could go on, but you get the idea. Anyhoo, with all that in mind I've put together a little series of wedding guest style guides for a bit of fun, but also as a little brainstorm for myself :) First up is . . .

PASTELS

A common request for many summer weddings is for the guests to adopt a pastel theme. It's a Pinterest dream against a floral, rustic backdrop and photos will look pretty and dreamy, so it's easy to see why brides ask this of their guests but not everyone looks good in baby pink or baby blue (if you do, then great!), so how do we tackle this one? With accessories people, accessories. Get yourself a neutral base (a nice non-bridal nude or pale grey) and pastel accessorize the shizz out of your summer weddings! 

All pieces are from ASOS, and I think you can see how easy it is to just mix your pastels up - ta daaaa!

Wedding guest style ideas

I'm feeling positively inspired after putting this look together, it's so simple once you get going and much easier than finding that one elusive pastel coloured dress that flatters your shape and skintone! What do you guys think? Any other tips for pastel dressing for weddings this summer?

J xoxo
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MCM Comic Con Liverpool with Travelodge #EvolvingCities

Monday 14 March 2016

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Travelodge have recently focused on Liverpool's rich and vibrant heritage with their #EvolvingCities campaign, creating an interactive 'map' showcasing some of my fave city's attractions and landmarks and celebrating how far Liverpool has come over the last century. I LOVE a day out in Liverpool, it's always changing and there's always something new to see and do every other week, and you don't have to spend a lot to have an amazing time.

This weekend Tim and I had Priority tickets to MCM Comic Con Liverpool which was held in the Exhibition Centre, just a step away from the Echo Arena on the docks. Being huge nerds, we were super excited and got there for 9am to find an already huge queue to get in, turns out we aren't the only scouse geeks to have made the trip! 

MCM Comic Con Liverpool
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VOYA Skincare

Thursday 10 March 2016

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I'm always up for a bit of new skincare and I've never found it easy to commit to a range when there's so many good things out there to try out! Some people think you should always use the same products for fear of shocking your skin into misbehaving but I'm always chopping and changing and I don't think it has any really awful effects on mine if I'm honest so I'm going to live this blogger life and enjoy it. Anyhoo, I've been trying a couple of new to me products from VOYA, an Irish brand that grew from a family-run seaweed bath business. Their customers were looking to replicate the soothing effects of the baths at home, so the Walton brothers set to developing the first genuinely organic seaweed-based cosmetic products in the world, creating VOYA, now a global brand distributed to some of the world's top spas and hotels.

I've been using two of their facial products for about a month now, so I figured the time was right to review them for you :)

Products c/o VOYA for review

VOYA skincare

The VOYA Even Pure Light Calming Moisturiser (£51 for 50ml) is part of their facial range for oily and combination skin, it claims to decrease pore size and reduce sebum production whilst replenishing with essential vitamins, minerals and hydration. Firstly I must address the price, it is obviously expensive and not something I would normally consider buying for that reason alone but if you are a premium skincare lover then yes, it is probably worth it. I have seen a reduction in both pore size and blemishes since using it twice a day, and I've always thought that my pores were unreasonably large so the results have been pleasing. One pump is more than enough for face application, though you may want two if you want to use it on your neck too. I've been using it for weeks now and I've barely skimmed a couple of centimetres off the top so at least it will last a while. It is light on the skin and sinks in quickly with no greasy residue (pet hate), and skin gives off a little inner glow. Overall, definitely recommended, but still probably a little too expensive for me to purchase a second bottle when the time comes. I guess I'll see how long it lasts and if the positive results continue on, but for now, fine holiday fun.

VOYA skincare

Secondly, the VOYA Luminosity Refining Radiance Exfoliator (£37 for 50ml), again part of the oily and combination skin range, uses pineapple and seaweed enzymes to give dull skin a new lease of life by eliminating dead cells and minimising pore visibility to leave skin fresh, radiant and smooth. You apply to dry skin with fingertips in a circular motion, leave on for 5-10 minutes, remove with a muslin cloth (not supplied), then rise with water. I have been using it 3 times a week for about a month and I love it every time, there's honestly no cleaner feeling in my experience! Again, the price is an issue but I am going to find this one hard to give up because it's a bit of a game changer. It's so gentle and you can barely feel the exfoliator as you massage in, but once it's rinsed off my skin just feels and looks amazing. I like to use two pumps as applying it to dry skin inevitably means you need a bit more for coverage, yet again I've barely skimmed a few centimetres off the top level. I truly hope it lasts forever - blub!

VOYA skincare

I've enjoyed using these VOYA products so much that I'm now really intrigued by their other lines, particularly the face masks which sound like detoxifying treats! Maybe I'll treat myself to a pre-wedding facial? Tara and I are literally using these weddings of ours as excuses to buy all kinds of stuff we wouldn't normally gift ourselves, it's great fun and I highly recommend it ;) 

Big thanks to VOYA for the introduction (you scoundrels!), has anyone else tried this brand or experienced it in a spa?

J xoxo
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House of Fraser: Mint Lace and Beads Maxi

Tuesday 8 March 2016

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Will I ever get bored of pastel maxi dresses? I think not! Today's beautiful & Springalicious dress by is Lace and Beads at House of Fraser. Wedding season is almost upon us and I'm busy trying to arrange my own wedding & plan for the other two I'm attending! I always love to wear maxis to weddings because they're lightweight, airy & super comfortable.

This mint maxi dress is particularly lovely, it's also an absolute sale bargain at just £40 instead of £80! It has intricate white beading on the top and flattering pleats - perfect for hiding food babies after a decent wedding breakfast.

Mint Green Maxi Dress
House of Fraser Maxi DressLace and Beads Maxi

Lace and Beads Maxi - House of Fraser (c/o)

I'm not a big fan of matchy matchy bridesmaid dresses, so my five maids will be wearing all different pastel shades at my wedding. I paired this mint maxi with my go-to sterling silver bracelets, some stacking rings and metallic shoes. I'm wearing the size small which looks big on the hanger but fits like a perfect size 8. I'm also 5'7 so it's just the right length for me!

I still haven't found *the* dress for Jade's wedding in September, but I know I want another sale item because sadly my wedding isn't cheap ha ha (understatement of the year). If I could find a Valentino gown with 98% off...

Are you attending any weddings this year? What's your go-to wedding guest outfit?

T - Gert mint.
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Happy Mother's Day With Next

Sunday 6 March 2016

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Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there! To celebrate this special day, Rawrgirl faves Next recently got in touch to ask if I'd like to style my mum! Next is, without a doubt, my mum's favourite store and I love them too, so of course the answer was YAAAS!

She likes to be quite casual at home but when she's out an about, she always makes an effort therefore I chose a black belted jacket, drape tuck dress, leather two part wedges & a leather messenger bag. She accessorised this with her own Kate Spade necklace. That's right, my mum is officially cooler than me.

Mum and Daughter Blogs
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Champneys: A Little Something Special

Saturday 5 March 2016

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With tomorrow being Mother's Day, I wanted to schedule in a quick post for those last minute shoppers who will be heading out first thing in the morning to buy their mum a gift! My mum loves nothing more than flowers & beauty products, so I can confidently say I think I've nailed it this year. Ahaha.

Everyone knows about Champneys spas, they are relaxing, luxe & oh so popular because they're run to such a high standard. Although I couldn't quite stretch to a spa break this year, I'm still able to give my mum that 'spa experience' thanks to their new Champneys 'A Little Something Special' collection.


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Easter With Flamingo Candles - Bunny Kisses!

Tuesday 1 March 2016

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Flamingo Candles have gone and done it again with one of their yummiest scented candle releases yet - Bunny Kisses! As if the mirrored bunny rabbit bedazzled jar isn't enough to make you squee with delight, the rhubarb and custard scent inside sure will! This is probably our fave Flamingo Candle yet, we both agree on how delicious it smells, and the throw on it is incredible so it will last for ages (well, the recommended 50 hours at least!). Prepare to swoon out candle fans . . . 


Candle - c/o Flamingo Candles

Flamingo Candles Bunny Kisses Easter Gift
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