Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Giveaway!

I've recently been using a few items from the new Anti-Blemish Solutions range from Burt's Bees and I've been thrilled with the results. If you'd like to hear more about my thoughts on the products check out my recent 'Winter Skincare' video:

As always with Burt's Bees, the products are made using natural alternatives to many skin care ingredients and all smell wonderful. If you are currently on the hunt for an effective, get gentle alternative to other skin clearing products, I would thoroughly recommend this line (especially the cleanser and spot treatment!)

They are priced from £9.99 and are available from Boots.

Burts Bees have also been kind enough to send the full range of Anti-Blemish Solutions products for me to giveaway to one lucky follower this week!

If you'd like the chance to win full sized products of the Daily Cleanser, Targeted Spot Treatment, Pore Refining Scrub and Moisturising Lotion all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of my blog

2. Enter a comment telling me your previous experience (or lack of!) with Burt's Bees products.

3. Don't forget to include your email address so that i can get in touch if you win.

Fleur x

The winner of last week's giveaway for the EcoTools brush set is:

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Imogen

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Meow! Katy Perry's got a Purr-fume

For those of you who have not yet heard, Katy Perry is the latest celeb to jump on the fragrance band wagon. Her very own fragrance 'Purr' was released this month, presented in a bottle that is as unique as Katy herself.

The bottle was apparently designed by Katy, and the fragrance said to embody all that she stands for as a woman, representing her fun personality. My first impression of this new release is that she couldn't have designed a tackier bottle if she tried. As hard as it is for me to admit this, as I'm a big fan of Katy Perry... I'm really not a fan of this cat-shaped creation.

Having said that, the bottle is actually quite nicely made and feels like a nice quality product. Even if the aesthetics aren't quite there (as long as you don't take yourself too seriously!) the bottle is OK.

Or maybe it's because I'm a dog person?

More importantly... the fragrance itself.

At first spray it smells fun and fruity (peach and apple) but nothing about it smells different or more interesting than other fragrances already on the market. Once left to settle, more subtle notes of vanilla and sandalwood start to surface, turning it into a really quite delicious fragrance.

This scent is girly, fun, wearable and right up my street. It would make a great gift (if you can deal with the tacky bottle) as it is somewhat of a 'universal' scent, that would be very hard to dislike. It is not particularly different or interesting, which I have to admit was what I was expecting from Katy Perry but overall if you are a fan of fruity fragrances or are a cat lover, this is definitely worth a sniff!

Katy Perry 'Purr' is available in 50ml (£39.50) and 100ml (57.50) EDP from The Perfume Shop

Has anyone already tried or bought Purr? What do you all think?

Fleur x

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Black Friday Goes Global!

For those of you non-americans out there, you may currently be feeling a little envious of our friends across the pond who are about to experience the biggest shopping (and SALE) day of the year... 'Black Friday'. But have no fear, there are still some great deals around for those of us in the UK and the rest of the world to take advantage of. Whether you're Christmas shopping or just treating yourself, everyone loves a bargain and this weekend is certainly the best time to find one!

Most of the high street shops in the UK are currently undertaking their '20%' off weekends.

In fact, some stores are taking it one step further with Gap offering 30% off in stores and All Saints 25% off in store and online.

My personal favourite is of course Selfridges' annual 20% off Christmas shopping event which runs this weekend also (sign up online here).

I have already taken full advantage of ASOS.com's 20% off offer on all of their own brand items (Just enter 'ASOS20' at checkout) plus they are offering free international delivery at the moment so you really can't go wrong!

One of the better kept offers is however, from Sigma. My favourite brand of brushes are offering free international delivery this Friday (26th November), so if you've been contemplating investing in them for a while now and have been put off by the £10+ delivery charges, now is the time to treat yourself! Their brush kits also make fabulous gifts.

My most recent addition to my Sigma collection was the F25 tapered face brush, the perfect contouring brush (equivalent to MAC's 138 which will set you back £35.50) for under £13!

Another fabulous shopping event is being held by Burt's Bees, who are offering 12 different deals for the 12 days of Christmas! (1st-12th December)

The deals range from 25% off your entire order, 3 for 2 offers and free products with purchase. For more info on the deals each day, check out their Facebook page.

Happy shopping!

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The Results are in! Olay's Big British Beauty Poll Part 2

Back in September I let you all know about Olay's Big British Beauty Poll. Their attempt to find out what you, as customers, really want from your beauty products. Well the results are in!

I just thought I'd let you all know a few of their interesting finds from the 20,000 women that shared their thoughts.

No surprises on the 'Beauty Icon' front, as Audrey Hepburn came out on top. More interestingly, Cheryl Cole, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Anniston were the three modern day beauties in the top ten (along with Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Twiggy, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor.)

50% of women voted 'youthful looking skin' as the most important beauty attribute, with less than 10% listing a toned body, shiny-looking hair, bright eyes or good teeth as top of their list.

Most importantly for Olay, 98% of women who took part and tried out their Regenerist 3 Point Super Serum said that they would recommend the product to their friends. A pretty impressive statistic!

As an extension of their beauty poll, Olay are conducting their first ever live wavecast, giving you all the chance to have your say on all things beauty (again!) and to interact with a panel of leading beauty experts. To take part in the wavecast, visit the Olay Big British Beauty Poll Website this Thursday, the 25th November at 4pm GMT.

See you there!

Fleur x

*This is a sponsored post*

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Maybelline Colour Sensational Pearl Lipsticks

I am ashamed to say that the fab advert for the new Maybelline Colour Sensational Pearl lipsticks sucked me in, having me instantly running out to pick up two of the shades: Delicate Pearl and Rosewood Pearl.

I'm not normally drawn to frosted lipsticks but something about these made me want to try them out. I love the original colour sensational formulation, it smells great and is nice and moisturising. The pearl additions to the range are no exception, and I would even stretch to say that they are more moisturising. Sadly moisturising lipsticks rarely last more than 10 minutes on the lips and these are no exception.

They do look pretty though. Delicate pearl leaves a very subtle, yet pretty sheen to the lips but I'm not sure it's worth shelling out over £7 for a similar effect to Nivea's 'pearl and shine' lipbalm.

Having said that, I definitely think Rosewood Pearl is worth a look. It comes across very nude and quite plumping on the lips. I wasn't drawn in by the other colours in the range. In my opinion you can get away with having a frosted finish on the lips as long as it's not a bright colour, so I definitely wouldn't go for the brighter pinks or coral in the range.

Overall, I'm impressed (and pleased that the advert wasn't misleading... for once!)

Definitely worth checking out next time you're in Boots (and if you're quick, they're currently included in the '3 for 2' deal!)

Fleur x

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New Must Have Nails: Avon Violetta

I was lucky enough to be given a bottle (well I was actually given a few, but this is the only one truly worth a note!) of Avon's upcoming Matte Nail Polish in Violetta at a press event yesterday and I have to say, this has already secured it's place amongst my 'must have' nail polishes.

This beautiful metallic-matte purple really is an eye catcher. I normally don't go for Matte finish polishes, choosing to use a Matte top coat instead to save a few pennies, but this really is worth shelling out for. The consistency is thick and applies really well. It dries in a flash, but (as with many Avon polishes) isn't great on the chipping front but this can be avoided by finishing it off with a decent top coat. I'd recommend Rimmel's Pro Matte Top Coat, as used in these photos (along with OPI Ridge filler and two coats of Violetta!)

The one downside? It is a nightmare to photograph. I think the first snap (with flash) captures it the best, showing it's slight metallic quality.

The other colours in the range include a pretty navy ('Inky Blue') and a plain grey ('Cement Grey'), but this is the only colour that really stands out as a must have to me. The Matte Nail Enamel collection is available from the 23rd December, priced at £6 each.

What's the verdict girls? Will any of you be picking this up at Christmas?

Fleur x

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Stocking Stuffer Giveaway: Ecotools Brush Set

I have another fabulous little giveaway for you all today! In the run up to Christmas I've been on the hunt for great stocking filler ideas for you all and I've come accross this cute little brush set from EcoTools!

If you don't already know about Ecotools, all their brushes are cruelty free and made from all natural or recycled materials - a perfect present for the eco-concious!

It comes with five short-handled brushes including a powder/blush brush, concealer brush, basic eye shadow brush, slanted liner brush and a lash and brow grooming brush. They all come in a little brush roll, and although they don't really compare to professional brushes for everyday use, they are fab for traveling or keeping in your bag for on-the-go make up application!

The brush sets are priced at £14.99 and are available from Boots.com

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning one of these sets all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of my blog

2. Leave me a comment letting me know your email address so I can get in touch if you win

It's as easy as that!

Best of luck ladies!

Fleur x

The Winner of last weeks Clippy bag giveaway is:

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Joy

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Win a prize worth £1,000 just for looking Radiant?! Get in there girls!

Excuse me for the influx of bargain and contest related posts, but you all know I just can't resist these things!

Superdrug have teamed up with one of my fave new fragrances of 2010: Britney Spears Radiance to give away three prizes worth up to £1,000! All you have to do is enter a photo of yourself looking your most radiant to the special Flickr group by the 26th November. If you win you get the choice of £1,000 vouchers for New Look, Last Minute or Apple!

So far there are only 30 photos uploaded, so with such great chances of winning, I'd get in there girls!

On a side note... If you haven't already gotten a whiff of the latest addition to Britneys huge perfume empire, I would thoroughly recommend doing so! It's a little more 'grown up' than her previous releases (which I also love) but still has enough of a sugar hit for those of you who love those super sweet scents. Prices start from £22.

Fleur x

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The Perfect Christmas Gift No.2: New CID

When these exquisitely packaged beauties arrived on my doorstep this weekend, I was in love at first sight! New CID is not a cosmetics brand you hear a lot about, and I don't own any other products from their range so I had no idea what to expect.

The the packaging is gorgeous: sturdy, clean and ultra-modern. The two products I recieved were the i-shadow quad in Aspen and the i-glow highlighting/blush powder in Coral Crush.

The eyeshadow palette is what stood out to me the most, spurring me to include it in the 'perfect gift' series. It really is the perfect smokey eye kit that everyone could, and would use. It even comes with applicators that are less useless than the usual, including a mini angled liner brush (perfect for traveling or keeping in your bag for a day-to-night make up transition!)

They don't come cheap at £21 but are competitively priced for their quality. They do an amazing range of truly wearable palettes, which can be hard to find (Isn't there just always one colour that's a bit dodgey and never gets used?!)

The Highlighter is equally as beautiful, a pretty coral pink colour with gold veining. It leaves a beautiful sheen to the skin but for the price (£23.50) I really think you are paying for the packaging (MAC's almost identical Mineralize Skin Finishes are £19.50 so I find it hard to justify paying that much). Having said that - if you didn't manage to get your hands on a limited edition MAC MSF, New CID may do some great alternatives for just a few pounds more.

Overall I'm really impressed with these products, and I'll definitely be picking up more of the eye shadow palettes for Christmas gifts this year!

Has anyone else tried New CID? Opinions Please!

Fleur x

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The Perfect Christmas Gift No.1: Clippy Bags

Hello lovelies!

This post is going to be the first in a series entitled 'The Perfect Christmas Gift?' (hence the 'No.1') Hope you like the idea! I just get so overly excited at this time of year, I thought I would give you all a 'running commentary' of sorts following my Christmas shopping adventures.

If you watch my YouTube videos, you may have already caught a glimpse of my new favourite make up bag from Clippy.

If you have never seen Clippy bags before, you're in for a treat! These ingenious yet super simple designs allow you to get your creative juices flowing and design your own favourite bag!

I had such fun choosing the photos to put in my make up bag and although the final product wasn't the most original... I LOVE it! They are double sided, but due to one side having a picture of the boyfriend (who refuses to be put online) you'll have to use your imagination!

I absolutely love the idea and with Christmas approaching, these bags really do make the perfect gift! I've already customised one for each of my best friends as I think they make a really unusual, yet thoughtful and most importantly affordable gift.

Here's a slightly more fabulous example, taken from the Clippy website:

They start at just £10 and are available online at ClippyKitLondon.co.uk and in selected Boots stores. What's more, the lovely ladies at Clippy have been kind enough to create a voucher code for you all!

If you enter the code FLEUR20 at the checkout you'll get 20% off your entire order. They also sell a range of stationary and lots of stickers to help you customise your bag.

Clippy were also lovely enough to send me one of the Jumbo Wash Bags (shown above, worth £16) to give away to one lucky follower this week. It's got 12 pockets for you to fill and is large enough to fit all your overnight essentials! (shown below next to mine for comparison)

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of my blog

2. 'Like' my facebook link (below the follower box to your right!)

3. Write a comment telling me what's top of your Christmas wish list this year

4. Don't forget to include your email address so I can get in touch if you win!

Good luck!

Fleur x

The winner of last weeks giveaway for the Barry M lip gloss is:

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Mystery Beauty Blogger

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Dainty Doll Déjà Vu!

I'm sure you all remember 'The Passions of Girls Aloud' TV series a few years back that saw Cheryl Cole learning how to street dance and Nicola Roberts traveling to Taiwan to put together her very own make up line especially for the palest of skin tones (for obvious reasons, my personal favourite in the series!)

Nicola's resulting make up line 'Dainty Doll' made a small splash, but I personally never picked anything up from the range and after a while it seemed to disappear. Well she's back!

The updated Dainty Doll line, which was previously linked to Jelly Pong Pong is now being distributed by Original Additions. The re-launch spurred a few mildly confusing news reports in August about the 'new' make up line, which is now stocked in Harrods and online at ASOS.com

Although I don't have the super-pale skin that the brand was designed for, I couldn't resist trying out a few of the newly formulated products, especially Nicola's 'favourite' Wonderbalm.

My initial thoughts on the products were that the packaging is very impressive. Lovely quality, sleek looking casing is always an important factor in my eyes. Generously sized mirrors are also a plus point.

Firstly the Wonderbalm, which from what I can understand is an '8 Hour' wannabe. Containing mango seed oil, natural plant wax, beeswax and vitamin E it claims to be perfect for lips, elbows, knees, cheekbones. It's not cheap at £20 and considering that is more expensive than the Elizabeth Arden cult classic I find it a little hard to justify the price tag.

Having said that the smell is lovely (8 hour is sometimes a tiny bit overpowering), it is less greasy and the packaging is much more convenient (though not as sanitary I must admit). Overall I really am impressed with this product. It will definitely replace the mini tube of 8 Hour Cream in my handbag, but I think it would be better priced around the £15 mark.

The second product I picked out was a Blush in the shade 'Hippy Shake' (01). This is a really unusual, super pale lilac which adds more of a sheen to the face than the traditional pigmentation you would expect from a blush. It's more akin to MAC's Beauty Powder blushes, only the formulation is much nicer.

It's super soft, and glides onto the skin beautifully. Overall a really unusual colour and I'd love to try the more traditional shades in the line as the formulation really is lovely. At £13 it's reasonably priced in comparison to other high end products too.

Overall I was very impressed with the products and I will definitely have a look over a few others next time I'm in Harrods!

Has anyone else tried out any Dainty Doll goodies? What's the verdict?

Fleur x

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No Harsh Chemicals?

I posted a video today with the controversial title 'Do NOT Buy This!'

It is a review of the seemingly popular John Frieda 'Go Blonder' Shampoo. Take a peek if you fancy it:

After posting this I was not surprised to find that I was not alone in my experience, either of allergic/adverse skin reactions or bedsheet and towel bleaching! I thought I'd post the (gross!) snaps of what this product did to me on here as well as on YouTube, as I really think John Frieda have not only released a poor product, but a poorly labeled product.

I was also greatly disappointed with the way that their customer services department treated me when I got in touch with them.

I think when companies get so big, sometimes they lose sight of their customers. Maybe this will catch their attention.

After 5 days of using the products:

1 month after stopping using the products:

My towel after using the products:

My friend's bed sheets after using the product:

Interesting results for a product that has 'No harsh chemicals', 'gently lightens' your hair and is 'gentle enough to use everyday'!

Would love to hear all your opinions on this, and your experiences with this product.

Fleur x

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