Coffee & Roses

bluebell

2012-05-28T06:51:00.002-07:00

yay for messy application

Hola! I know I'm being a terrible blogger ATM, I promise after this week I will sort it out! Exams and hot weather = studying and showering nonstop!

I just wanted to quickly show you another of the InStyle Nails Inc polishes today, earlier I picked up 'Bluebell'. Bluebell is a muted pastel blue with the slightest hint of lilac, think Barry M Blueberry with a touch of lilac.

It's a good job InStyle only offer three shades, otherwise my blog would be totally consumed by these NOTDs! Watch this space for the third and final colour, which no doubt I will be unable to resist next time I see it.

What are you wearing on your nails right now?

power

2012-05-20T01:48:00.001-07:00

Hola!

Another nails post today, I hate to do two in a row but I've been slacking lately on C&R due to forthcoming exams (and the return of The Walking Dead!), and this is a limited edition nail polish.

Yesterday I picked up InStyle for a Nails Inc freebie, I'll probably end up getting the other two nail polishes as well, they're all very spring-appropriate but 'Power Pink' was the one I wanted most.

Lilac is always a colour I've felt is just the tiniest bit overrated for nail polish, hence why there hasn't yet been a lilac NOTD on my blog. However, I was instantly intrigued by 'Power Pink'; it's the perfect cross between pink and purple.

As always Nails Inc polishes are a dream, they're so easy to apply and they dry really quickly. Definitely worth £3.80! I'm tempted to get the others just because they're so nice in quality.

It's very pretty and reminds me of Marina and The Diamonds circa 'Electra Heart' (I am in love with that album!).

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend, no doubt revising will be punctuated by trips to the corner shop as it seems to be freebie season, and magazines and freebies are irresistible. Have you bought any of the InStyle Nails Inc polishes?

baby

2012-05-13T04:04:00.002-07:00

Hola, today is just a nails post about Barry M 'Baby Pink' nail paint. This is one of my love-hate polishes, although the result is very Mod About You and chic, it can be such a pain to get there. It's not your usual opaque cream we can expect from Barry M, this one is pretty streaky and requires three coats for an opaque finish - but getting it to an even finish is even harder.

My impatience means I only wear this every once in a blue moon, but it does look good on the nails.
Let me know if you've tried this and your thoughts?

Hope you're all having a great weekend, I've slept for about eleven hours after Drayton Manor yesterday, it was such a crazy and exhausting day! Sadly I didn't take many pictures as the day was just too mad, but during the first hour (the calm before the storm!), we went to the zoo and as it was a beautiful day, I did get a few snaps in there.

Yay for flamingos :)

yankee favourites

2012-05-09T08:36:00.002-07:00

Hola, a slightly different post today - one about candles *mutual yippee*.

I am quite the candle fan, in particular I love a good Yankee Candle. I always associate my Yankees with Christmas time, but due to the horrific weather lately, I have been whipping out the few candles I have left over from winter that aren't too Christmassy and therefore depressing in May.

I've kept this post quite season appropriate, I have many wintry scents that I love to indulge in, but the ones I'll show in this post are much more spring than autumnal or wintry. For the record, Autumn is all about the fresh scents for me, Winter about the festive scents and Spring the delish scents!

I buy my Yankee jars from Clintons or Melbicks, and most of the samplers and tarts I have stashed away are from House of Fraiser - I can't go in there without picking up a tart (hehe)! My wax warmer is also from Yankee.

Onto my Yankee candle favourites!

As I said, these are my favourite spring-time scents, Christmas candles are worthy of their own post later on in the year.

8. Juicy Watermelon

Yankee seem to take the most basic of scents and make them desireble to anyone. This sweet but realistic watermelon is great when you're not looking for a cosy candle but a delicious scent.

7. Macintosh

I adore anything apple-scented, and Macintosh is perfect for all seasons, and for any apple fans.

6. Tutti Frutti

This has quite a unique but still fresh and delicious scent, it smells very familiar but I can never place it.

5. Vanilla Cupcake

I would class this as slightly more wintry, but it's still a sweet and scrumptious cake scent enough to add instant appeal to a room.

4. Strawberry Buttercream

This smells just like it's namesake; sweet and buttery with the perfect strawberry/vanilla balance.

3. Fresh Cut Roses

I am not usually a rose fan, I think the general scent is too perfume-y and heavy, but Yankee have completely reinvented roses with a beautiful aura.

2. Pink Sands

Such a pretty scent, the perfect balance between sweet and fresh. Vanilla hints and a cute pink jar, anyone?

1. Mango Peach Salsa

Words cannot describe my favourite Yankee scent. I must have been through three jars of this, the scent is pretty tricky to describe, I wouldn't even count myself as a mango fan particularly but this is amazing. Do not leave on the shelf!

Yay for candles! I must restock with a Mango Peach Salsa jar, those eight are my top favourites though, they work with any weather really. I didn't include Home Sweet Home as that's definitely a winter scent to me.

Candles are a great pick-me-up, scent is the most evocative sense after all!

I should add it's not just Yankee I covet; I think some of the Jelly Belly ones are lovely, they are much stronger than Yankee scents, the Coconut one is my favourite.

What is your favourite Yankee?

swan lake

2012-05-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hola, I thought I'd make a slightly rambly photo post, just the kind you'd expect off the back of a rainy bank holiday!

I actually spent mine in Stratford, I have mentioned before I only live five minutes away from Stratford, so every now and then it's nice to spend the day there.

The rain wasn't too much of a hindrance, it didn't last all day luckily, although a quick detour to Poundland was in order as I'd forgotten my Cath Kidston umbrella ha.

The Real Tea Cafe in Stratford town does the best hot chocolate ever, it's so cute too; it has little quotes of what famous people think of tea.

Woohoo for lollipops!

And me with my royal affection could not resist this gem from a charity shop (Stratford charity shops FTW!).

Just a little hello, yay for four-day weeks. I'm actually rather looking forward to next week as it's my younger sister's birthday and a big group of us will be headed to our local theme park Drayton Manor, I was such a thrill seeker in my early teens too, no doubt my inner adrenaline junkie will soon be unleashed!

How was your bank holiday?

PS. Howdy new followers :)

big blue

2012-05-04T11:23:00.002-07:00

Hola! I actually feel as though this week has gone on forever - thank God for bank holiday weekends! I thought I'd show you the bath I had yesterday evening (I couldn't wait until today - I was exhausted!).

I used one of my old favourites from LUSH - Big Blue Bath Bomb (get your tongue around that!).

Big Blue

£3.10

LUSH

"Peer over the side of the boat into the big blue

Watch the seaweed float by and feel the salt on your skin

Who needs a holiday when a bath can be this relaxing and refreshing?!"

I adore Big Blue - everything from the spicy, citrus and distinctive (good old LUSH classic-y) scent to the Mediterranean silky water it creates gets me every time. Although I adore my girly faves like Think Pink and Vanilla Fountain, I always class Big Blue as a 'grown-up' bath bomb, the idyllic relaxing companion, along with a fresh-scented candle.

No doubt the seaweed puts many people off, however it adds to the ocean appeal! I honestly have never found it to be a problem, I actually forget it's there when I'm in the bath. I cannot reccomend Big Blue enough, it's such a lovely bath bomb that is not only luxurious and relaxing, but pretty amazing too.

And the product squad...

Loving all of this right now, Creme Anglaise is the perfect post-bath comfort.

Have you tried Big Blue?

innocent

2012-05-01T11:00:00.001-07:00

Woohoo it's May...oh wait, we forgot to tell the weather.

Just another nails post today...I have recently been relishing the 'simple nail' with my latest ELF purchase Innocent.

Rather innocent-looking, no?

I have to say, ELF seem to come up trumps in the nude department, the only other I've tried is Desert Haze, which is also a winner. Innocent is really great, it's an opaque nude, not dissimilar to my beloved Ciaté Sugared Almonds in terms of consistency, but more My Fair Lady in terms of colour. I find Innocent to be quite a cool mix of pink, peach and grey - it seems unable to decide between warm or cool undertones. Anyway, it makes for a great rainy-day nail polish or simply when you can't really be bothered with your nails but still have to look acceptable. And for £1.50, it beats many other nudes!

Off to soak...

Creamy Candy FTW!

the zara bag

2012-04-29T11:51:00.002-07:00

Hola, just a Sunday shortie today as I'm about to watch Clueless on E4+1 (one of my favourite movies ever!). Today has been pretty slow, the rain is such a hindrance, so I've spent the day eating Lucky Charms and watching The Diana Years, oh the life I do lead! It feels weird not going to the carboot this morning, I don't feel like I've had my Sunday.

Anyway, last weekend I absolutely fell in love with the latest 'it' bag! Well, it's not massively famous but I've seen a few people talking about it, namely the Lily's from What I Heart Today and LLYMLRS (both amazing blogs!). I had been looking for a new bag for a while, as my H&M satchel is a bit AW now, and I was thrilled when I discovered this ZARA one (perhaps the £19.99 price tag being the most thrilling part!). Anyway, I was on the prowl in ZARA but it was sold out, and also online. By chance it came back in stock last Sunday, so I ordered it and it arrived this Thursday.

A little anticipation...

Ta-da! It's so gorgeous, I think I am in love. The super-soft grey faux leather and the rose-gold hardwear contrasts perfectly, whilst the medium size makes it perfect for everyday college. I love how it hangs at the waist, I cannot understand the craze with bags that drag down to your knees, I see so many girls with them and it just annoys me. You can also buy it in red and black, I am seriously considering buying the black version too as it looks so much more luxurious than the price tag, just like the grey - is buying the same bag in different colours overkill!?

LINK

Zara, I salute you.

the elf shelf / haul #24

2012-04-28T04:19:00.001-07:00

Hola! I hope you're all enjoying your Saturday (anyone else categorise Saturdays as 'shopping days'!?), I'm about to head out with my sister to our favourite shopping centre as our weekend ritual, so first I'll show you some ELF goodies that arrived this week.
ELF are currently offering free shipping, and whenever I get an email from ELF telling me about this, it's impossible not to have a browse on the website. Although most of what I wanted wasn't in stock (grr), I did pick up a few things. Although I am in desperate need of a Mineral Infused Face Primer as I am almost out of mine and I go a day without it!
Firstly I bought this nail polish named 'Innocence'. This is from the same family as my other favourite ELF nail polish, 'Desert Haze', both are slightly more interesting neutrals than the norm. I could seriously buy ten ELF nail paints, they're so cheap at £1.50, but I quite proudly restrained myself.

Next I bought one of the lipsticks from the basic ELF range - so an amazing £1.50! I chose 'Seductive', purely because it was the only one in stock (ha), but seriously, it was the best impulsive decision I've made in a long time - I love it! The colour reminds me of LUSH It Started With A Kiss lip tint, which I adore but don't often use as not only is it a bloody pain to get on and it wears off within an hour, but it is intensely drying - think Barry M lip paint x10. So I'm pretty thrilled to have found this gem - and the bonus is the so-fake-we-won't-try-and-deny-it sweetie scent.

I also decided to give the Mineral Lipsticks a whirl, firstly Party Pink. This is another win for me, the name seems so fitting as it's the perfect bright coral without being in-your-face bright. These lipsticks are really buildable and a great consistency - they have a slightly matte finish which I love, but they are in no way drying.

I also picked out Runway Pink, admittedly because it's quite a famous one. This is along the same lines of the ELF 'Natural' Matte Lip Colour, but more moisturising and more purple-based. To be honest, I think the hype of this product had me expecting something more, when in reality it is a very nice lipstick but nothing super-duper.

Next up I got the Studio Eyebrow Lifter & Filler. When it comes to eyebrows, I get the tweezers out when necessary and I brush them into place everyday with a mascara wand, but because they're pretty light considering I'm a brunette and they're never too much grief, I leave them alone a lot of the time. However, lately I've been wanting an fuller brow look (I know the image that pops to mind whenever someone mentions full brows is never a positive one!), so I chose this eyebrow pencil. Mine is in medium, which is perfect for my medium brunette hair. I have to say though, as much as I am liking the 'fill' pencil, the 'lift' is pretty odd. For one it's a very pink-based concealer colour, and it's a thick consistency that drags and refuses to blend. For £3.50, I'm happy to ignore that end and use the 'Fill', though.

I'd heard so much about the Studio Cream Liners, that I had to try one. I went for the classic 'Black', although I really want to try the other colours. This is amazing! I was really impressed with the quality of this, it comes in a teeny plastic jar with a pretty decent (if five centimetres long) tapered eyeliner brush. What can I say, it glides on like a dream, it's a perfect black, it's uber pigmented and so much better for the upper lid than creamy pencils, in my opinion anyway. I have actually worn this every day since Wednesday when it arrived, I love it and cannot wait to add to my collection.

I was in desperate need of some new eyelash curlers after my No7 ones died after being caked in junk after I used them whilst wearing mascara *cringe* (anyone else do this!?), just because I am a bit of an eyelash curling junkie. These ones are the studio eyelash curlers, and they are tiny. The actual curlers are pretty normal sized, but the curling part wouldn't curl half of one set of eyelashes. They're a bit strange to use; they work fine on the corners, but it's pretty difficult to get the middle lashes - I think I'll repurchase some No7 ones, but the ELF ones do come in handy if you're not a fan of the fully curled look and you would prefer a more natural outer curl.

I'm pretty impressed with everything I bought, I did buy a couple of other things, some were gifts. I ended up spending over £30 anyway so I would have had free shipping regardless, the offer is such a lure haha. I wasn't sure whether to include this or not but I bought one of the new Studio Cream Blushes in the shade 'Heartbreaker', which looked coral on the website but is in reality pink. I'm not really a pink blush kind of person, so if anyone is interested in buying this, please message me :)

That's all for ELF, have a wonderful weekend, and tell me if you have tried any of these products and your thoughts on them.

PS. Hello to my new followers!

dollymix

2012-04-24T08:06:00.002-07:00

Hola!

Just a few colourful nails snaps to cheer up your Tuesday...and for me actual work diversion #101.

I know I haven't done a 'NOTD' in a sickening amount of time, but for the most part of this year my nails were hideous - finally they seem to be in recovery and they've resumed their growth so they're not looking too terrible. I have to say I think wearing less nail polish really works, but it's such a vicious cycle because then my nails are lovely so I paint them, then they fall to pieces (ha) and they're hideous and I keep them bare so then they grow and the cycle continues...grrr.

Anyway, this 'look' was 100% inspired by Fleur, even though the colours are slightly different.

Even the left hand got a photo in today as I love this colour combination so much!

The colours were courtesy of two of my favourite Barry M's - Bright Pink and Turquoise. I loved putting a spin on Turquoise, as it is up there with the nail paint greats in my opinion, but there's only a certain amount of times I can rock turquoise nails (especially as I am currently sans tan).

I had forgotten how much I love multi-coloured nails, it certainly adds a little something.

What is your favourite nail paint combination?

lush colour supplement 'light yellow'

2012-04-20T12:20:00.002-07:00

Hola, happy Friday! Tonight I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Colour Supplements from LUSH. Although I'm quite the LUSH fan, when these first came out I wasn't sure if it was a bit of a gimmick, and I didn't cave until last weekend when I finally got around to trying one out in store, and deciding, yes, I could work with this.

As LUSH rather ambiguously describe it, the 'multi-purpose base colour' literally can be used in a variety of ways, the 'multi-purpose' title isn't wasted on this product!

I was surprised to discover quite how pigmented this was - I thought it'd be a tinted-moisturiser type product, but it actually offers medium to high coverage. I find however that it is less effective if it is blended with moisturiser as used as an all-over face base, so I use it more 'concentrated', as a blemish concealer over certain hyper-pigmented areas, after using Garnier BB cream as a foundation. It's wonderful at evening out skin tone and hiding any undesirable blemishes, and it has overtaken my beloved Rimmel Hide The Blemish as my primary concealer.

In terms of shades, the whole pink and yellow thing can be slightly off-putting, but it soon makes sense. The five shades will not cater for everyone, but as far as five shade ranges go, it's not a bad selection. I opted for 'Light Yellow', simply because in store this matched my skin most, and even though I'm quite pale, because it had no orange undertones I was able to go for this over Jackie Oates (the lightest shade). Plus the fact that summer is on it's way which might just herald a slightly more alive-looking complexion, I am a happy bunny.

When I sashayed over to the LUSH website to read up about the colour supplements (I cannot not say 'sashay' when describing a visit - I blame Miranda entirely), I was pleased to see this product had actually lived up to all of LUSH's claims; it covered blemishes, evened my skin tone and added quite the healthy glow (as much of a healthy glow as concealer can add - this was probably more meant in terms of foundation use). I was also pleased to see that Red Rose Petal Infusion is added to calm redness and Glycerine to help your skin absorb moisture, which is always helpful. It's rare to find any make-up that is not only animal-testing free but also beneficial for your skin (we've all had that odd concealer that's worsened the problem!).

These retail for £7.95, which is very reasonable for what they offer, although the pot is pretty small (the same size as a lip scrub), but LUSH products aren't exactly designed to last forever. You can read more about the colour supplements here at LUSH, I would definitely recommend them! The only downfall I noticed was the smell; it wasn't very LUSH but more Dulux. Although it is not unbearable, and if you do mix this with moisturiser (much recommended if you have dry skin - even if you are using it as a concealer), the smell makes way for a lovely moisturiser scent. Also I guess the DIY mix-job (which isn't exactly necessary but you might want to) can be a bug-bear, but I am kind of used to mixing up face base, whether it be a tinted moisturiser or a foundation, as my skin colour rarely comes ready made.

If you have tried this, please tell me what you think of them as they seem to have mixed reviews!

lilac skies / ellie's edit

2012-04-09T06:16:00.002-07:00

Hey guys, I hope you're all having a lovely April/Easter!

I'm sat at home feeling a bit sick after chocolate OD, also slightly woozy from a lot of travelling in a busy weekend! I apologise profusely for missing a few weeks on the blogosphere, I'm going to have my first 'lazy Monday' of the year today haha - isn't Easter great!?

It's proving hard to even online window shop with this temperamental weather, but I've picked a few pieces out that have caught my eye recently, and mostly styles I want to try out and all that jazz.

Here's a fleeting seaside snap from yesterday - the sky was a gorgeous colour over in the west by the evening, even if it was bloody freezing!

And a little owly friend I made :)

Anyway, back to the point...

(L-R) 1 £39,2 £39,3 £20

Even though I'm not really a Miss Selfridge kind of girl (for starters I'm not a size 6), I am indeed obsessed with anything cosmic (entirely Mr Kane's fault), and this maxi dress is beautiful (admittedly I have never been much of a maxi or even dress kind of person before though!). Secondly, after my recent declaration of love for playsuits, I desperately want this gorgeous zip-up black number. I think anything black and gold is 99% of the time always classy, and this playsuit does seem like it could be tirelessly styled a million times over. And finally, although I do not often feature accessories on my EEs (we'd probably be here all day if I did!), I am wholly in love with this clutch from Topshop! I love anything remotely resplendent or monochrome, and I have always coveted the classic AA clutches (in every colour, let's be honest!), so I love Topshop just a little more for making this beauty (oh, and for describing it as a 'mermaid's').

(L-R) 1 £25, 2 £22, 3 £13, 4 £14

Trousers are always an odd one in Spring - it seems the rest of my outfit cannot turn pastel and still go with my favourite navy skinnies or my classic black tights without looking like a half-baked Spring cookie. I think pale blue trousers are no longer the work of the devil for slightly bigger legs (or carrot-shapes, as I like to think of mine), especially if they don't come under 'stonewash jeans'. I am liking River Island's offering, slightly retro and recently I have been loving rolling up the ends of my jeans with my navy suede loafers. Onto the jacket, finding a spring jacket KILLS me. It has to be waterproof, applicable for the soaring or freezing Spring temperatures that God delights us with, and of course it has to go with your newest Spring offerings. I love this very retro and fitted one from River Island, although prim and proper has never been my style (not even necessarily through choice!), I definitely want to check it out in store, and for the price it could be worn sparingly. Although I am equally tempted to nod to the 90s with this! Finally, the sunshine releases my inner sunglasses obsessive. This year, I am eager to try both the sultry cat-eye frames and pretty, retro round eyes. Bring on the sunnies!

1 £24.99, 2 £22.99, 3 £25.99, 4 £24.99

Finally, after having a trawl on my favourite online store (after ASOS, royalty of online shopping, obvs), I found some Missguided gems. Firstly, the jumper is purely for the LDR rip-off factor. I am loving skinny trousers for Spring too, it's nice to give the winter jeans a rest. I have been quite keen to try high-waisted too lately, even though this will no doubt prove a problem as I am pretty tall but my legs are by no means in proportion, haha. I like these ones because of the foldover waist and the skinny fit, plus they are ever so slightly ankle-grazing. The dress is something I'd love to try, mainly because I don't own any sleeveless denim shirts or stripy skirts so I think it'd be quite the unique piece! And finally, I am in love with these loafers. My own beloved navy suede loafers from ASOS have not been left alone since I bought them, I think I have found my favourite type of shoes! I wanted another pair, preferably black but not leather, and the contrasting pink sole of these ones have given them that 'me' factor that instantly marks out a piece I must own.

Have a lovely Easter Monday, I will probably end up tidying/pottering whilst watching Hollyoaks and listening to the new Nicki Minaj and Marina and the Diamonds albums :)

Kisses from

PS. My little eBay venture is still going; basically a load of makeup, jewellery, books rescued from the clutter going to a good home!

spring selling

2012-03-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

Hi girls, just a shortie today to tell you I have had a few manic spring-cleaning sessions lately, and as I managed to compile quite the mixed bag of things that still deserve a home, I decided I'd sell them on eBay. I've never sold before online, although the amount of online spending I indulge in is unholy!

I decided against a blog sale as not all is makeup, and it's basically simpler having a nice neat list on eBay. Please feel free to have a mosy, I am a rather lonely newbie! As I am just dipping my toes, I have listed a few bits and pieces, mostly neglected and new makeup, I will probably end up adding more in dribs and drabs. All is on BIN, I had no idea about pricing but I think they are all pretty reasonable, ha.

Anyway, to make this post just a bit interesting!

My first 'summer' read of 2012! Rescued from a carboot stall for a mere 50p, a nice light read which I almost consumed entirely under the sun on my balcony on Sunday afternoon!

A LUSH tower for bathtime :)

cutesuits

2012-03-22T12:37:00.002-07:00

Hey girls!

This Thursday evening, I thought I'd post about my latest obsession. I have been embracing the playsuit this past week! Obviously playsuits have been around for a while, but I've never really loved them before, I always thought they were a bit too fussy, and jumpsuits I just found plain weird. I'm not a skirts or dresses person, in summertime I live in shorts and t-shirts. However, in one very busy week I've managed to accumulate two gorgeous new playsuits. Obviously finding a new love for a type of clothing you have very much neglected is not the most bank-friendly fun you'll ever have, but it is indeed a lot of fun!

Last weekend, I was browsing the River Island sale (which normally I would not hold in high regard) when I found this.

I apologise for it's rather rumply appearance here, I had worn it the previous day!

The material is quite lightweight but not sheer, and I love the casual style mixed with the lapels and buttons (which are also polka dot!). The little bow is also adorable, I love the fit of this and no doubt it will get lots of use throughout spring and summer! I found it wearable with black sheer tights and a small cardigan last weekend, it's pretty versatile.

Sadly I cannot find this on the RI website, seriously most things in the store sales are not listed. This was brilliant at only £15, from £28.

Although I had no intention to, I was soon musing the (amazing and never ending) ASOS sale that keeps on drawing me back in (see my previous ASOS haul here). I couldn't resist this 60s inspired cherry-red playsuit!

I adore the sleeves, they're a perfect 'fit' and they sit very nicely. The buttons are also a nice touch, and the waist is perfect. It also comes with pockets, which is practically essential for me!

I may have restrained myself (may) had it not been for the £17.50 price tag! It was down from £35 - it would've only been added to the 'Ones That Got Away' fashion list (we all have one!) had I not succumbed. You can still buy this - it is also available in a gorgeous violet colour that I almost had, but my brain countered that seeing as blue is my most worn colour and I do not own one red garment, I should be a bit wild and go for the cherry, which I do not regret! In my experience of ASOS sizing, they always make clothes bigger (I have a massive size 8 vest from ASOS - it is an odd moment in your life when an '8' is too big for you, I tell you!). I ordered this in a 10, and luckily it fits nicely, although the legs are a bit wide.

That's all for now, I think I will wear my red playsuit to the cinema tommorow (THE HUNGER GAMES!) - does it remind anyone else of Jess from New Girl?

garnier bb cream

2012-03-18T07:04:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,
I'm so sorry for being a bit AWOL this past week, so I thought I'd post a review today of my newest beauty product - especially because you can actually try it for free! This is the Garnier BB cream, and as I ordered a sample via Facebook last weekend, and it arrived on Friday, I bought the full-sized product yesterday. Here is the link - simply like the Facebook page and order a free sample.

It seems that every British brand has jumped onto the BB trend this year - but there hasn't really been that 'one' that everyone has clamoured to and adored. I personally trust Garnier as a skincare brand; in recent years their products have become much more natural and they do not test on animals.

A while ago they launched their BB cream, although I had not been particularly interested in any BB creams as I didn't think the British companies would put the same effects in as the Asian origins are famous for.

However, when I saw the sample offer, I snapped it up as make-up samples are always a treat to receive in the post. I also remembered that Garnier are very generous with their samples, and soon enough it arrived.

It actually came with three samples, all nicely concealed in a small Garnier paper box. Here is a swatch blended into the back of my hand:

I hadn't expected to be impressed, especially as the shade 'Light' (from a very limited shade range), looked a bit too dark initially. However, after using it, I was pleasantly surprised by it's fresh scent and the low to medium coverage and consistency. After blending on newly-cleansed skin, it gave a luminous finish without shine or that 'foundation face' look. The tint gave my skin a much healthier glow, and before I'd even finished my ample samples (ha), I'd spotted the product in Boots and I couldn't resist.

It was £9.99, which is my usual foundation price so I found it quite reasonable for the 50ml, I find it to be quite similar to the effects of my favourites 10 Hour Sleep and Healthy Mix from Bourjois. It is available here.

Have a lovely Sunday!

hair flair

2012-03-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Hi girls, tonight I thought I'd have a quick chat about haircare, because I have only touched on it briefly before and it's something I love to harp on about.

You should probably know before you read on that my sole haircare aim is to have shiny locks. That's all.
For a brief background on my hair, it's medium-length, brunette, and most of the time I am a legit bedhead. Because my hair is naturally wavy, I am a big fan of letting it dry naturally, hairspray-ing it and I'm good to go. I rarely straighten it, although sometimes it's a nice change. I don't mind it straightened, but I find it easier curly/wavy, and plus my hair cannot stay straight for the life of me, so after an hour of being straight it's desperate to revert to it's wavy ways and it just looks odd. Occasionally I go for actual curls using my Jose Eber curler, but the barrel is 13mm, so recently I have been on the hunt for a big barrelled curler to achieve Lana Del Rey perfection (I have tried rollers previously, and it was a disaster. Disaster!). Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

Here's a classic 'me' - this is how my hair looks most days when I have to have acceptable hair (well, it's only college), so I usually confine wily waves to the weekends.

I thought I'd have a little chat about my favourite haircare products, almost like a jumbo review.

BTW, I took these pictures in a rush so I could post this this evening, so I didn't think to clear my dresser. Sorry if having a background annoys you, I realise my photos are usually borderline clinical!

My favourite shampoo and conditioner has to be this iridescent pink pair. I have been using L'OReal Elvive for as long as I care to remember as these are the closest I have come to the perfect glossy-lock advocates. Aussie Miracle Moist is definitely a close favourite, but Elvive pips those to the post because it also comes in a 'Light' version, which is perfect for my hair which gets greasy quickly, and my scalp which is pretty temperamental. Somehow, the words 'miracle moist' do not spring to mind when you think of greasy hair help, so as lovely as those are in terms of shine, I slightly prefer Elvive.

The next winner on my quest for shine is from Tigi, this is the Catwalk Biggie Fast Fixx, which in English is a leave-in conditioner. I'm not sure what the rules for leave-in conditiner are, but to me this is much lighter than that, and I use it whenever my hair is down, straight or curly, as a shine enhancer. It smells amazing and it's very light and glossy. Also, in this picture the bottle looks like it's two litres or something, it's just rather tall.

This is the shiny squad! (Oh wow that is my favourite pun ever!) S&G Hair Supply I have been using for years, it is meant to be a radiance mask but I use it like a deep conditioner every week. Paired with Elvive or Miracle Moist, it leaves my locks uber-shiny, swishy and perfect. It smells oddly nostalgic too, it reminds me of LO'Real's No Tears range which is the epitome of my childhood, ha. Dove Nourishing Oil Care is a swirly gold and white cream that I use occasionally as a conditioner - I have to be sure not to use it if I'm going to put my hair up the following day though as it leaves it too silky (oh the dilemma!).

This here is the newest addition to my haircare family, I bought it based on the excellent reviews it receives and the fab price (£1.50 or something amazing like that!). It's definitely one to use immediately after showering and wringing your hair - it defines my curls much more and it's got me eager to try more curl-enhancing products.

Finally my hairspray. My favourite has to be this Boots one - it smells fantastic and it holds my hair without me being able to feel it. It's also amazingly cheap, which is a must as I get through hairspray uber quickly.

I think that summarises most of my haircare; what with the sheer amount of hair products out there it can be quite overwhelming, so I like to keep my routine simple and as I am very comfortable with my hair, I often have to prioritise skincare so haircare is often a treat.

A mention must go to my beloved doughnut ring from Boots, a true saviour for up-dos!

I hope that was fun to read, I find all things haircare rather interesting! Have a wonderful weekend too, I have had the best Friday in ages after receiving a good exam result after a scary science one I did straight after Christmas in my January depression - shocked is an understatement!

magic lipstick

2012-03-06T12:37:00.000-08:00

Hi girls, I thought I'd try something a little different tonight and do a beauty review, although these aren't my usual bag I figured what with the amount of beauty blogs I read and the cosmetics knocking around, I should dip my toes.
I thought I'd start off with a fun little product I've been loving lately.

This swatch has appeared a bit lighter than the actual product, because this was before the 'rubbing in'!

Barry M 'Touch of Magic' Lip Paint
£4.49
Superdrug/Boots/barrym.com

At some point you've probably all had a play with this at the testers stall - the green bullet transforms depending on the alkali level of your lips. I had always been curious about this because my lips are naturally quite pigmented, so I love colourful lipsticks as it's not too much of a jump (opposed to something as scary as green eyeshadow!).

Although the idea of this lipstick is pretty cool, I have to admit when I bought it I was fully prepared to come to accept the gimmick and soon move on. However, my lips have surprised me, as the colour this makes is gorgeous and I really love it. My shade is quite a bright, cool pink - literally perfect for my colouring. Something to note is that if you're not a fan of bright lips, this may not be for you, because most lips won't produce a 'nude' colour as it's meant to match your skintone, and it is Barry M after all!

I have forced swatches of this upon my friends, so I can confirm each colour does actually vary and it's not just the same bright pink for every lip colour. I was really lusting after my sister's colour, she is very olive-skinned next to my pale entirety and her colour was closer to coral. Oddly enough, on one of my friends the colour actually stayed a pale green until she rubbed it in, whereas with most it's instantly a different colour, although never as bright until it's rubbed.

I love dabbing this on and watching it get slightly brighter as it rubs in (that sounds quite scary - I promise that is just my awful description!) - the formula is much nicer than most Barry M lip paints. It has aloe vera in, and as you can see from my pictures, it's almost got a sheen to it, even though the colour is matte. It's definitely not drying (if you can stand usual Barry M this will be fine) but sometimes I slather some Carmex on anyway. It's pretty long-lasting, I don't apply it full on like I would a normal lipstick anyway but I only need to re-apply every few hours. It does claim to be waterproof, which I think is fair because although it comes off when I cleanse before bed, it's a very good longevity formula which stains the lips.

This is a great lipstick for under a fiver if you're willing to give it a go and try something a little different - I think it's great for Barry M fans as well as those less enthusiastic, as it's definitely quite different to their other lip paints.

PS. How was that for a beauty review!? Let me know if you want to see more ;)

avobath

2012-03-02T10:47:00.002-08:00

HAPPY FRIDAY.
I have had a seriously busy time this week, but still I laughed, had fun, and saw friends which is always the most important thing to get you through! After an exam at college today, there was seriously nothing more celebratory I wanted to do than listen to music, read (Catching Fire, obv) and of course, have a LUSH bath!

Before I have a relaxing soak, I wanted to share with you my bath from last week, and with it herald a LUSH review.

Enter Avobath, a good old classic from LUSH.

£3.10/180g

LUSH says:

Use this when your skin is thirsty and your mind is blocked. If you haven’t got a friend to tell you to pull your socks up and get back up and out there, then this ballistic will do the job for you!
Avocado and olive oil is great for the skin and will leave you feeling your best on the outside.
The lemongrass, rosewood and bergamot essential oils banish negative thoughts, bring clarity and uplift to leave you standing tall and proud.
It’s not easy to get wet ingredients like fresh fruit and olive oil into a ballistic without it turning to mush – so we were very excited when Mo pulled this one out of the bag.
The green lustre in Avobath gives a lovely swirling, shimmery effect in the water, but doesn’t leave you sparkling when you step out.

This fragrance is what Mark calls a tower of fruit. He wanted to create a fragrance that was like the bar of chocolate you could buy when he was a boy; that had five different fruit fondants in it. So he made a perfume of layers upon layers of fruit notes that reveal themselves one after the other.

Although obviously LUSH want to sell their product, they always seem to get the description spot on! Avobath in three words: lime, soft, citrus.

Although the words 'uplifting' and 'refreshing' create an image of myself turning hyperactive after a bath (anyone else!?), the softer take on citrus is actually very soothing and cleansing. It's the perfect spring ballistic.

Talking of spring, LUSH have their Easter range in stores now, which always calls for a purchase of Fluffy Egg, the most perfect Easter egg after chocolate!

Have a fab weekend guys, I hope March is a great month :)

post 101

2012-02-27T08:18:00.001-08:00

Hi girls, this is not some sort of odd blog-version of things I would like to ban, haha, but it is indeed my 101st post!

On this rather rainy Monday evening, I thought I'd share with you some cute pictures to mark ciento posts on Coffee & Roses.

Tiki is surprisingly easy to take pictures of, seriously he is the most relaxed cat ever.

PS. Blooper!

This picture made me laugh so much, Tiki looks like an alien.

coming SSoon / ellie's edit

2012-02-24T11:07:00.001-08:00

(L-R) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Another eclectic mix this weekend!

Inspiration was rife when putting this post together; the first shirt is totally Lana Del Rey's Born To Die cover look, the red dress Zooey Deschanel, and the final top Chistopher Kane. Some of these are more season transition, whereas the pink dress is a glimpse of what's to come.

Happy weekend!

may the odds be ever in your favour

2012-02-22T11:34:00.001-08:00

I know, I know - everyone is obsessed with the Hunger Games!

I am currently midway between the saga, and I literally cannot reccomend them enough, nor can I tear myself away from the pages. I won't go into detail, as quite frankly I could not do it justice, but I am totally caught up in the hype of the Hunger Games!

I also cannot wait for the film, although I doubt it will exactly live up to the books, I don't doubt it will send the Hunger Games's popularity through the roof, enough so to rival Twilight and Harry Potter (although I think those comparisons are unfair, as it is clearly a story in it's own league with no real plot similaries at all).

I just wanted to express my love for the books, tell me your thoughts!

duty free, guilt free / haul #24

2012-02-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the terrible title, I am so tired my puns have deteriorated! Please humour me, I hope you’re all having a lovely Sunday, I’ve had an uber stressful day, but I’m looking forward to blogging, eating and enjoying the rest of my evening now!

I thought I’d show you a couple of items I picked up on Tuesday (yes, a singleton’s treat for Valentines’ – tell me you’ve never done it!). You may have already seen my previous post, I spent the day in Amsterdam and on the way home I couldn’t resist a trip to Duty Free on the ship.

Even though Amsterdam is such a great shopping location, many of the shopping districts are the same as the cities back here, give or take a few European fashion stores. On an unrelated note, I saw a Vila store, which is the brand I recently purchased some coating trousers from via ASOS, and it was the first Vila store I’d ever seen, so I’m guessing it is indeed a European designer (just putting it out there!).

Anyway, as there was no point buying things when in Holland that I could get at home, I saved my holiday pennies for the lure of Duty Free’s prices. The Duty Free on a ship is obviously much more compact than that of an airport, but I was surprised to find something I’d coveted a couple of Christmas’s ago; the Urban Decay Book of Shadows III (also known more simply as ‘the NYC palette’). This was limited edition, and although I really wanted it at the time (I love Urban Decay, I love NYC, the list could go on!), I unwillingly skipped it as it disappeared off the shelves very quickly. When I saw it again I knew I had to have it, however late and unplanned!

I won’t harp on about it too much; as I’m sure many of you remember the hype, but yes, it is indeed very pretty to look at. I’m having lots of fun playing around with the shadows, I feel just a bit embarrassed to admit I love Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, which many beauty gurus class as the work of the devil (I am indeed a sparkle enthusiast).

This is the 'wow' factor!

Those pictures were pretty bad, I took them in my excitement on the my onboard cabin, so I couldn't bear to retake them at home.

Secondly, rather impulsively, I picked up Jimmy Choo’s fragrance, rather originally named Jimmy Choo. I won’t murder the description of the scent, but it’s a very distinct smell, quite strong, as many high-end perfumes are, and the perfect anecdote to my beloved eau des Jardins. I’m not really one for statement scents, I prefer much more natural and less ooh-do-you-like-my-perfume scents. Hence anything slightly stronger than my favourites such a Harajuku Lovers G (eternal summer holiday staple), or eau des Jardins, is immediately daubed an ‘evening/event scent’ (ho ho that rhymes). To conclude, it definitely seems to be one to turn heads (in a good way!).

Although I don't typically embrace the 'perfume scent' if you know what I mean (basically the collective scent of the perfume counters, or a roomful of perfumed women!), and prefer things a bit lighter and more distinctive, I am definitely a fan of this one!

The bottle is so pretty and it looks very sophisticated and elegant on my dresser.

On a side note, earlier today I picked up Elle magazine to give the new Soap & Glory cosmetics range a whirl, with the free mascara.

I haven't tried it yet but it's a decent size, and as for a magazine freebie, you can never go wrong.

And if you do pick up Elle, have a wonder at Jimmy Choo and tell me what you think!

That's all for tonight, have a fun evening :)

when in amsterdam

2012-02-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

...get snap-happy, obviously!
Amsterdam is such a wonderful city, it's a bit like a European version of London, but much more liberated. Full of birds and bicycles, it was a lot of fun to explore on the trams (the main kind of vehicles around), and I thought I'd share my day with you.

I took so many photos of the quaint canals and the townhouses!

Most of the canals had thawed, but there were still a few iced over.

If you ever wanted inspiration to get a bicycle, go to Holland!

Even LUSH had it's own bicycle! In terms of shopping, Amsterdam was wonderful. There were brilliant highstreets and also a few shopping centres, such as the stunning Magna Plaza.

Those were just a few of the photos I took, and I think they speak for themselves. I had a great day, and I wouldn't hesitate to return to Amsterdam.

Happy Thursday!

off to the netherlands

2012-02-13T03:18:00.000-08:00

Hey hey,

This is a quick hello (and goodbye!) as I am heading down to Dover in a few hours to take a ferry to Amsterdam, so I can spend Valentines' Day with my family in Europe.

Although snow is a thing of the past here, apparently in Amsterdam it is currently a winter wonderland, and the historic canals have frozen over for the first time since 1997, and they're being used as ice rinks! I found a video on YouTube, uploaded over the weekend, where you can see the iceskaters.

At the weekend there was even an ice skating race held on the Keizersgracht canal, a distance of 150 metres.

I am totally in awe of Holland, and as it is my first trip there (every year I plan to visit one European country), I am so excited to experience it.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines' Day, as soon as I am back I'm sure I'll be giddy to share my experience with you all. I plan to take loads of photos!

PS. I have reached over 350 followers and I am SO thrilled! Thank you everyone, you have made my week :)

What's a post without a little handmade something from me!?

crown of flowers / haul #23

2012-02-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

Two posts in two days - look at me being the reformed blogger, haha.

This Friday evening (hurrah), I'll show you a few things I ordered this week - beware, photographing clothes is not my forte.

ASOS is by far my favourite online store, there's always something I want from there. They stock a variety of fab brands, and their own collection is gorgeous too. Currently they are having an AMAZING sale on loads and loads of great clothes and accesories.

Firstly, I don't actually own anything too outrageously girly, so I can completely justify this top!

It's definitely not everyone's thing, with the 80s print or the cold shoulder cut, but I adore it. Lana Del Rey has totally brought back 'floral' for me!

This is the gorgeous ASOS model with it on.

It really is that bright in real life, although the flash of my camera has brought out the colours more harshly. This is a no flash shot:
My camera struggles to focus without flash (grrr), but in reality it's very pretty and quite a romantic floral.
This was in the sale at a fab £10! You can buy it here, although it's only available in a size 8. I'm a size 8 on top, but this top is actually massive and I'd say it's at least more of a size 10. I think it's meant to be a 'swing' design, so don't let the size 8 put you off.

The next thing I got was from Vila. I'd never heard of Vila before ASOS, but they have a truly gorgeous range. These are coating trousers, reduced from £30 to £20. I got a size M, which fit quite snugly but I'm sure after a few wears they'll shape well.

They're stretchy but tight - I think it's because of the material mix (it's something like denim and polyester).

My final ASOS purchase were these gorgeous loafers.

I had wanted loafers for ages, but most were too 'overdone' for my casual style. When I found these on ASOS, with their contrast sole and navy, suede appearance, I knew they were perfect.

They fit perfectly and cover a decent amount of my foot - I cannot bear toe cleavage.

I guess this is what I will wear for Valentines' Day, which I am spending in Holland with family (not family from Holland, sadly my family are very British).

How will you be spending Valentines'?

PS. Hello and thank you to my new followers! I have had a recent influx and I am so over the moon about it - remember to introduce yourself if you are a new follower so I can say hi!