Sunday Pamper Hero #1 Aromatherapy Associates 'Inner Strength' Bath & Shower Oil

Aromatherapy Associates 'Inner Strength' Bath & Shower Oil (55ml) £39 (link)

After a busy or stressful week, I really love my Sunday evening pamper session.  It always begins the same way - with a relaxing soak in the bath.  It's essential to fill the bath with gorgeous bubbles, heady oils or fun/moisturising bath bombs (LUSH I'm looking at you!).  Tonight, after a particularly stressful week, I decided to opt for an oil by one of my favourite brands - Aromatherapy Associates.  These oils are often blogged about, much raved about and totally and utterly amazing.

Recently I heard about the new addition to Aromatherapy Associates marvellous range of uplifting relaxing bath-time treats, the 'Inner Strength' oil.  This particular oil has a very special story.  It was created during Aromatherapy Associates Co-Founder & President Geraldine Howard's treatment for cancer  as a way to support her through the stressful & traumatic experience by offering an uplifting scent which helped to balance emotions and encourage a positive frame of mind.   10% of the proceeds of this product will be given to The Foundation for Defence Against Cancer.

The oil itself contains Clary Sage (uplifting), Frankincense (calming), Cardamom & Rosemary (fortifying), Rose & Vertivert (healing) and Geranium (balancing emotions & stimulate circulation).  This blend of oils contains all the ingredients to support and uplift during any challenging time or just as a relaxing treat.

I used a capful of this oil in the bath and it certainly transformed my lowly bathroom into a spa-like zone.  The great thing about this oil is that it's not designed strictly for use in the bath - if you are more of a shower lover you can apply it all over your body and then wash it off in a hot shower to provoke the same steamy relaxation experience. 

I found that this product left my skin beautifully scented, moisturised and did not cause any adverse reactions.  It's quite heavily scented so I was concerned that I might have some kind of allergic reaction, but fortunately I didn't!  It did leave me feeling very uplifted, relaxed and ready to face the coming week once more!

Have you ever tried an Aromatherapy Associates Oil? What's your favourite way to pamper yourself? 

Dont forget to enter my GIVEAWAY here! 

Review: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

Revlon 'Nearly Naked Foundation' Shade 130 Shell - £8.99 Boots (link)

I bought the new Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in the lightest shade I could find in my tiny local Superdrug, got it home and realised there were TWO lighter shades that my store didn't stock.  There were no testers to be seen and I just picked it up on a whim so this discovery set alarm bells ringing in my head! I'm normally Ivory/Porcelain in everything and I had picked up the Nearly Naked Foundation in the shade 130 - Shell!  I therefore vowed to save it until spring/summer (when the fake tan gets cracked open) and not break the seal, but the sadistic make-up fiend in me decided to rear its head and I applied it this morning (dubiously).

Before Blending

After Blending

OH MY LORD! It blends in absolutely seamlessly into the PERFECT colour for my skin.  It's not too orange, not too pink, not too yellow it's just straight up PERFECT.  I was absolutely flabbergasted.  (Gotta love that word!)

I applied it using my trusty ol' Real Techniques Buffing Brush, stuck some Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  over any redness/blemishes and patted a bit of Clarins Ever Matte Powder onto my problem areas (nose and chin) and found myself looking at the very base I've been trying for so long to create.  It just really does even out my complexion so nicely, without looking like I'm wearing a lot of makeup.  I'm so surprised -  as because my skin isn't always great I tend to gravitate towards high coverage foundation to conceal the acne scarring and redness that I am left with from my teens.  This foundation is natural, on the dewy side and really lightweight.  It feels nice on the skin too!  Usually 5 hours into any foundation I've tried before I'm itching to wipe it all off and start again as it feels greasy & uncomfortable, but not with this one.  I've been wearing it all day and haven't even given it a second thought!

I have also found that it's lasted amazingly well on my combination skin, I've been wearing it for a good 7 hours now and it's still looking good and I haven't powdered once since I put it on!  I've always wanted to be able to wear something this light!  Layering on a load of heavy foundation isn't great for already problematic skin, but I just wasn't confident enough to step away from Full Coverage.  I think times have just changed...

Have you tried this foundation yet? What do you think?

Review: John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo & Conditoner

John Frieda 'Full Repair Shampoo' £5.89* &  John Frieda 'Full Repair Conditioner' £5.89* - Boots

*Firstly, apologies for the awful image, my flash died and the lighting was terrible!*

So I have been growing my hair for the past year(ish) and I've managed to get it pretty long now.  It's been through a lot though as I dye it regularly, straighten the living daylights out of it/curl it with tongs and blow dry it!  Suffice to say it's not in the best of condition!  So when I got the opportunity to try out the new Full Repair range from John Frieda, I jumped at the chance.  Anything to help repair the damage I've inflicted on my poor tresses sounds like a good idea!

This range is especially formulated to repair the look and feel of overworked hair and add body, containing 'Inca Inchi Oil' which is a lightweight micro-oil rich in Omega-3.  It smells absolutely lovely (classic 'salon' style scent) and the combination of both the shampoo and conditioner have really seemed to put a bit of moisture back into my hair.  

I started off using them every time I washed my hair (about 3/4 times a week) but I now have cut it down as I found that regular use on my hair weighed it down slightly and created a bit of build-up around my hairline.  I find that using them both together once a week or so is sufficient to leave my hair soft, shiny and feeling healthier - the rest of the time I use the Naked Care Gentle Shampoo & Mild Conditioner (review here) as I find they don't irritate my scalp.  I usually use Full Repair Shampoo & Conditioner when I plan to go wild with the styling products/heat so that I feel like I'm reinforcing the protection for my hair.  I find when I use these and get the ghds' on my hair afterwards its SO sleek and I don't have to restyle at all for the next couple of days which is ideal! 

I don't think they have necessarily 'repaired' any damage to my hair, but I wasn't really expecting them to.  I think they are perfect as a quick-fix though, for example if your going on an evening out or you plan to use heat-styling tools on your hair after washing. 

All in all, I'm really impressed with both the shampoo & conditioner.  I don't usually use many products from John Frieda, but I might be a new convert! 

Have you ever used any of the Full Repair range?  What did you think?

P.S Don't forget to enter my Giveaway (here) x

Wearing Today #2 MeMeMe/Topshop & GIVEAWAY!

MeMeMe 'FatCat Mascara' £7.99 (link)  Topshop Nail Polish 'Dark Knight' £6.00 

I recently purchased the MeMeMe FatCat Mascara and I've been reaching for it ever since I got it. I love the packaging of this little tube, it's got a matte finish which makes it feel more high-end (it feels like NARS packaging to the touch) and the embossed design on the lid is quite funky too! 

I'm so fussy with mascaras, I have weird (annoying) eyelashes and nearly EVERY mascara I try makes them go clumpy.  Not this this one! It's such a great mascara, it really does fan out lashes beautifully leaving them looking separated but still full of volume.  The wand is a bristle one, which I actually prefer as I find it helps to separate lashes better and I feel like I can coat almost every one.  It's quite a big wand, but it's tapered toward the end so you can get into the outer corners properly. 

I also find that if I use eyelash curlers, the formulation of FatCat really does help to keep the curl intact throughout the day.  I like to use this as my 'everyday' mascara as it's not 'too much' but still leaves eyes defined and your lashes looking thick and black.  I haven't noticed any flaking with it either - it does seem to stay put really well all day! 

The second product I'm sporting today is my Topshop Nail Polish in 'Dark Knight' which is a beautiful navy blue glitter.  I thought at first that I would have to use a layer of an opaque polish in a similar shade, but the formula already has a blue base so it's not strictly necessary!  It's such a gorgeous shade and really compliments the monochrome look which is just about everywhere at the moment.  I'm wearing mine with a black/white striped dress, black tights and black suede ankle boots and I find it really gives a nice splash of colour to the look.  

It wears surprisingly well as long as you use a good top & base coat, mine hasn't chipped yet and I've been wearing it for a few days now! 

Giveaway!

If you would like to win BOTH of the above products (new ones of course, you can't have my ones -lol) then here are the entry rules!

1. Follow this blog on GFC & comment below with your name & email address!

2.  Follow @fashboxblog on Twitter & Tweet about the giveaway for a bonus entry!  example: 'I've just entered Kate's giveaway for Topshop & MeMeMe at www.fashboxstyle.blogspot.co.uk'

The giveaway closes at midnight on Sunday 17th March

I will email the winner!

Good luck everyone! :)

Love Kate x

Liz Earle Healthy Glow Powder Blush - 01 Camellia

Liz Earle 'Healthy Glow Powder Blush' 01 Camellia - £16.50 (link)

I've been lusting after these Liz Earle blushes since they first came out but never actually got round to picking one up.  But recently it was my Mum's birthday and she loves the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - so I made a little order for her and included this blush for myself.  

There are so many gorgeous shades to choose from, but I settled on Camellia - which is a muted pale pink colour.  I don't have any similar shades in my current blush collection, even though my skin tone is very fair, so I thought that this one would be a lovely subtle shade for spring.  

It comes in sleek dark blue packaging, with tiny specks of blue glitter through it which is very fancy!  As you can see from the image above, there's a decent sized mirror included too which makes it handy on the go.  

The blush itself is really soft, finely milled and super pigmented!  It's matte, but because its so soft it doesn't appear 'too much' (as long as you tap off any excess product!) and it gives a beautiful natural flush to the cheeks.  You can add more colour to make it a little bit more vibrant, but I think that the beauty of this shade is that it's so natural - so I tend to wear it lightly applied to the apples of my cheeks.

I can see myself wearing this so much over the next few months (until I crack open the false-tan!) as I've already been wearing it non-stop since I got it!  It has also started a little obsession with Liz Earle Make-Up, I have already spotted at least a dozen other things I want to try!  My bank balance will not be amused!  

Have you tried any of these blushes?  What shades do you recommend?