#nyLDNmeet

Last Saturday, I made my way to a blogger event in London, otherwise known as #nyLDNmeet . As the event was due to begin at 1pm and I live some distance away, I was up bright and early, and got myself onto the first train so that I'd arrive in the capital with plenty of time to spare. Whenever I go to London, I always like to have a bit of a browse in the shops, and on this occasion, it seemed to be inkeeping with the theme of the day.

While some people hate travelling by train, I personally quite enjoy it, as it means that I get a bit of me-time in which to read, listen to music and just generally chill out. Thankfully, the other passengers were all fairly considerate on the journey up, so I was quite happy to sit back and watch the world go by. There was Twitter talk of snow in London, so when I passed through Reading and caught site of a covering of white, I began to worry somewhat about my choice of high-heeled footwear.

The train arrived in London at around 11.30am, and top of my agenda was a quick trip to Liberty. I took the tube as far as Oxford Circus, and from there it was simply a case of popping across the road. I had a few items on my mental shopping list, but wasn't intending to buy much as I'm currently doing my best to save the pennies, so when I approached the Nars counter and they didn't have the palette I'd had my eye on, I was - in some ways - a little relieved. I'd also been intending to pick up the Creamy Concealer, but as my shade was out of stock, I gave it a miss, deciding instead to replenish my stock of the infamous Eye Primer.

After a quick scan for the Charlotte Tilbury counter, I was told that I'd need to go to Selfridges, so I picked up a bottle of Pixi Glow Tonic, before heading out and back up Oxford Street in search of the department store.

Although it wasn't snowing, the weather definitely wasn't on my side, as it was raining heavily all the way. For a moment, I was relieved to have brought my umbrella, but it wasn't long before I realised it was actually broken. I did my best to keep under the shelter as I hurried along, and managed to get away virtually unscathed before taking shelter inside Selfridges.

It was with more of a browse in mind that I headed for the Charlotte Tilbury counter, but when I asked if I could try out one of the eyeshadow quads, I found myself being swept into a chair for a full-on makeover. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about this, as it meant that I got to try out a full face of Charlotte Tilbury makeup from start to finish, but I was a little bit pressed for time so had my fingers crossed that it wouldn't take too long. Luckily, it didn't, but seeing all of the products in action had me hankering to whip out my bank card and pick up a few pieces, so I ended up treating myself to the Golden Goddess Luxury Palette, Filmstar Killer Cheekbones and the Rock 'n' Roll Barbarella Brown Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil. Oops.

After my makeover, I rushed to the event, Citymapper acting as my guide the whole way. It wasn't far, but unfortunately for me, the rain was now even heavier, and by the time I arrived I was soaked through, boots included. Feeling a little bit flustered and desperate to get to the bathroom and sort out my hair, I made my way into the venue - a little Soho cocktail bar called Bittersweet. The event was already packed, and I got talking to a few bloggers I hadn't met before on my way in.

There were lots of activities already underway, with the lovely Henna (by name and profession) doing some amazing henna designs and the guys from Fordham Soho on hand to sort out everyone's hair. Moo Goo, an Australian skincare brand that provides natural and safe products for people with skin and scalp problems, were also around, introducing everyone to their range and to their brand new Dusty Girls mineral makeup line. Personally, I'm a huge fan of natural and organic skincare and do my best to avoid unnecessary additives wherever possible, so I'm really looking forward to trying out the samples I received - I will, of course, update you on how I get on.

Another highlight of the event was the cocktail making, and after missing the announcement for our slot, Laura and I found ourselves waiting at the bar, eager to get in on the action. It was the first time we had met, though we had been chatting on Twitter prior to the event, and were pleased to find that we were both equally as short as each other. Why? Because it's not often you come across someone else who just about makes 5ft, and while at my age I'm no longer bothered by my inheritance of the short gene, it was great to meet someone who shares the same shopping and photo dilemmas!

After chatting over some cocktails at the bar, we finally got the chance to make our own, so we snapped and laughed our way through a recipe that consisted of gin, cucumber, sugar syrup and prosecco. At some point, Philippa came to the bar to buy a drink, and though we had never met she was happy to play paparazzi as we brandished our cocktail shakers and pretended we knew exactly what we were doing. I didn't catch her name, but the lovely lady who gave us our lesson was brilliantly patient and accommodating, so a big thanks goes to her and all at Bittersweet.

Another highlight of the event was finally getting to catch up with Lola and Behold's Laura, who I have known via Twitter for the past few years but have never quite had the chance to meet in person. I had never realised that Laura was just as small as we were, so once again, we pleased to be able to exchange notes on living the short life!

Towards the end of the event, Lauren, Tamsyn and Amy held a charity raffle, in which a number of generous prizes were given out, although sadly, I wasn't one of the winners! By that time, it was gone 4pm and the end of the event was upon us, so we headed across the road to Byron for some gourmet burgers. Though there were over sixty bloggers at the event, many had to leave to begin the journey home, but there were around ten of us at the restaurant where we enjoyed a much needed meal after the cocktails that had been sunk earlier in the day. I had a chilli burger and courgette fries, which were a great novelty - I have long been replacing chips with the likes of sweet potato, so this is another lighter alternative I'll be trying at home.

After the meal, we took a few photos and caught up with some of the other bloggers we hadn't managed to speak to, and then the two Lauras and I had a wander round the Oxford Street shops again before it was time for all of us to say our goodbyes and head home.

I'd like to say a huge thanks to Lauren, Tamsyn and Amy for organising the event and for all of the hard work that went into it. I know they were feeling a little bit flustered on the day due to one or two things not going according to plan, but I want them to know that nobody noticed a thing and that we all had a fabulous time. Thanks girls - very much looking forward to the next event.

Also, a great big thank you goes out to all of the brands involved, and for their generosity in contributing to the raffle prizes and the amazing goodie bags we were each lucky enough to walk away with. Keep an eye out for some product reviews, coming very soon!

If you didn't make the event this time around then make sure that you're following @LDNmeet on Twitter - there are more meets in the pipeline, so I'm told, so stay updated - I'd love to meet some more of you next time.

Lauren - Blonde Vision
Tamsyn - Peach Pow
Amy - Beauty Glamorous

Laura - Loved by Laura
Laura - Lola and Behold
Philippa - It's just Philippa

xx

Cult Beauty Wishlist

Studio 10 Visible Lift Face Definer  //  Aromatherapy Associates Relax Balm  //  Anastasia Brow Wiz  //  Elemis Jasmine & Rose Bath Milk  //  Aesop Control  //  EOS Honeysuckle Honeydew Lip Balm  

So I might have been having a little bit of a browse on Cult Beauty lately, and if you think it was the first time then you'd be very wrong. I often find myself clicking between that site and Space NK, longing to fill my virtual shopping basket and skip happily to the checkout, but with the prices of premium brands these days it is rarely something that happens - and when it does, I'm more likely to be hanging my head with guilt.

But there's something about such products that are hard for a beauty blogger to resist - or anyone else who enjoys trying and testing high end makeup and skincare, for that matter.

I am completely new to Studio 10, and have never, ever tried any of their products. But the second I saw this Visible Lift Face Definer palette, I knew I had to have it. The muted taupe shade is completely perfect for contouring - with grey tones rather than orange, it would create a really realistic shadow, giving anyone cheekbones to die for. I'm intrigued by the gel blush, too, as I can't say I've ever come across such a formula in the past, but it certainly looks to be a gorgeous, bright shade for Summer. And who doesn't love a highlighter? At £30 for all three, I think it would be well worth the investment, and is a great way to sample a few products from a new brand, all in one go.

I'm a terrible stress head, and by that I mean that I worry and fret about almost everything. Sometimes I think I'm going to drive myself mad, and with my mind racing at a million miles an hour on a regular basis, I've tried pretty much every relaxation remedy out there.
So it comes as no surprise that I gravitated straight towards the Aromatherapy Associates Relax Balm. With a mix of vetyver, chamomile and sandalwood essential oils, this strikes me as quite a different blend from the ones I have tried before, and as such, I'm hopeful that it might provide some new relief!

I'm a little bit obsessed with defining my brows, as I think that doing so can make a real difference to any face. I'm always looking out for the best new brow products on the market, and the Anastasia Brow Wiz ticks all the boxes. With a skinny, mechanical nib it mimmicks even the finest of hairs, giving you absolute control with a really natural looking result.
I must admit, the last three items were added on a whim. I am in love with Elemis bath milks -when it comes to hydration and baby soft skin, nothing else comes close. At £42, I doubt I'd bite the bullet and purchase one myself (I was lucky enough to win one in the past), but it's always nice to dream.
EOS lip balms are always welcome in my handbag, as they smell amazing and get the job done in a pleasant and effective manner. The new honeysuckle honeydew offering sounds like just my cup of tea, and perfect to replace my minty winter Carmex.
I rarely get blemishes these days, but everyone could do with having a secret weapon on hand for the odd occasion they do decide to make an appearance. You can bet your bottom dollar it'll be the most inconvenient timing of all, so the Aesop Control is firmly on my radar. With witch hazel, lemon peel, rosemary leaf and sage oils - alongside antibacterial tea tree and exfoliating salicylic acid to chemically resurface and ease congestion, this one is bound to be a winner.
Better start saving my pennies!

Do you shop at Cult Beauty?
What's on your shopping list this week?

xx

A Sunday Pamper Session

There was a time when a Sunday pamper came as naturally as breathing to me, but of late I've barely had time to sit back and relax, let alone slap on a face mask. So this weekend, I've decided to set aside some 'me' time and indulge myself with a good couple of hours of luxury.

To set the scene, I run myself a nice hot bath. Usually, I might go with a Lush bath bomb, or my favourite - The Comforter bubble bar. But this time, it's the Radox Herbal Bath Stress Relief Bubble Bath (not pictured). With its calming blend of rosemary and eucalyptus, it's the perfect way to unwind, easing any aches and pains as well as stilling the mind. Add to that some of my all-time favourite, the Elemis Skin Nourishing Bath Milk* and I'm guaranteed silky soft skin to boot - this stuff packs a seriously moisturising  punch, and can even be used as a body lotion, too. 

Before getting in, I usually light a couple of candles and place them around the edge of the bath. This is a new tactic I've started employing of late, as I do have a tendency to get a bit bored after a few minutes if I don't go out of my way to create a calming environment. At the moment, my candle of choice is Diptyque Noisetier*, but I generally switch things up a bit depending on how I'm feeling.

When I'm nearly ready to enjoy my bath, I take a scoop of the Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Intense Rescue Melting Balm and rub it between my palms to emulsify. Smoothing it evenly through the ends of my hair, I then pin my locks up on top of my head and I'm ready to go.

To keep me occupied during my soak, I've taken to bringing in my Ipad and popping on some of my favourite Youtube videos. It's amazing how much longer I can stay put if there is something to watch.

My skin has been looking a bit dull and lacklustre this week, so my face mask of choice this evening is the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel*. I leave this one on for a good few minutes, then massage it in a circular motion for a couple of minutes before removing with a hot cloth for smooth, radiant skin. If I still feel that I need an extra boost, then I might also pop a layer of Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate on when I get out, leaving it to do its magic overnight.

After twenty minutes, it's time to wash off my hair masque. I then shampoo and condition as usual - at the moment I'm using a selection from Aussie, which my locks seem more than happy with.

Once I'm done with my bath, I go for a layer of my favourite body moisturiser - M&S Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil Moisturising Body Butter. This stuff smells nicer than any other product I have ever tried - and that, I'd say, makes it an obvious choice. If you've not heard much about this range then keep an eye out for my review, coming soon.

After that, I usually go for a couple of pumps of L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil before drying my hair. Ordinarily, I might slap on a moisture mask before bed, or failing that, my usual toner and moisturiser. But as I'm going for the Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate option this evening, I'll leave it at that, as I find it does its best work when left to do its thing alone.

And that's me.

Once I'm done, it's all about curling up on the sofa with a cup of chamomile and my Ipad, with no intention of moving for the rest of the evening.

Are you having a pamper session this Sunday? Which products will you be reaching for?

xx