Naked Bodycare: Coco de Mer Body Butter.

Since discovering Naked Bodycare last year it's fairly safe to say I've become infatuated with the brand. I was perusing the shampoo aisle in Boots when I came across their volumising shampoo and conditioner. Always looking for products that volumise I picked them up & noticed that there was no parabens or petrochemicals in the product, it's 97% natural and they don't test on animals. That's it - I was sold!
Once I was back home I looked online at their website and saw the wide range of products that they do. The website is super cute with little facts about the ingredients they use and sweet little doodles representing the different product areas. I was hooked, I immediately wanted to try everything but lack of funds at the time stopped me from adding every single item to my basket. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the following week they had a MASSIVE 50% off discount code. i took that as a sign and picked up £80 worth of products for £40. Bargain! 

 These are some of the products I absolutely love! ♥

Now don't get me wrong, there are products in the range that don't work for me, the hairspray for example, but I honestly really do love the majority of the range.
One of my favourite products is the Coco de Mer body butter. They say

"Creamy coconut extract, enriching shea butter and passion flower oil veil your skin in an intoxicating scent, so you can be sure your skin feels caressed day and night."

I absolutely agree. As you can see it's quite a thick formula but it spreads and sinks in really nicely without leaving an oily film over the skin. I'd say I have normal skin, maybe a little dry at times on my legs and it works beautifully for me. I've got my mum to try this as she has much dryer skin that I do and she says that it moisturises really well and leaves her skin soft for hours. All good stuff!

 A little definitely goes a long way. I've had this pot for a long time and I still have a lot left. If you're not a fan of scents lingering on the skin then this probably isn't for you. I put some on my hand this morning and I can still smell it 7 hours later. I can't decide quite how to describe the scent other than it reminds me of summer. It's coconut based yet slightly floral, delicate and girly. I really like it.

Here are the ingredients:

 How cute is that little bunny rabbit doodle?!

The body butter retails at £4.99 for 300ml. You can buy online at nakedbodycare.co.uk & boots.com and in Boots stores.


For Valentines Day Naked are offering another 50% discount code. Valid until February 14th at nakedbodycare.co.uk just enter the code face09 at the checkout. This is definitely an excuse to drop some hints to a certain someone or to treat yourself to some new goodies.


Have you ever tried any Naked Bodycare products?
xoxo
It's a shame that I feel the need to say that this review contains only my own honest opinions, but I do. I bought these products with my own money and would never do a review solely because I was being paid for it. There would be no point in that. I've written this purely because I love the products. ♥

The no make-up make-up look.

It's safe to say I'm fairly obsessed with the whole natural face look at the moment. I would love to be able to wake up, moisturise and just apply a coat of mascara and lip balm and be out of the door. Old acne scarring and my lack of self confidence because of that makes that fairly impossible for me. Maybe it's shallow, but I have to have a least a light dusting of mineral foundation before I can leave the house. So I have to be not so natural in achieving that natural look I crave.

Lily Lolo mineral foundation has been my go-to foundation for a year or so now. I didn't believe that a powder could give me the coverage I needed until I saw some video's on YouTube and photos on blogs. I got myself some samples and my love for minerals started there. I firmly believe that it really helped my skin as well.

I cheated on Lily Lolo a few times with other mineral companies. I tried Bare Minerals and reacted horribly to it. The same thing happened with the Eyes Lips Face mineral line. I don't think my skin likes bismuth at all. So back to Lily Lolo I went, and luckily she took me back!
I find mineral concealer to be a bit rubbish on covering my rosacea, under eye circles & acne scarring. To be fair I do have a lot to conceal, so I reach for my Benefit Boi-ing and erase paste every day without fail. The fair shade in both of those matches me perfectly so I guess I'm lucky that I'm one of the 3 shades that they do.

After some major concealing and a light dusting of lily lolo I find I've created that fresh faced look I love. With a dusting of a peachy toned blush on my cheeks, a few coats of mascara to open up my eyes & a bit of lip balm I'm good to go.


Do you ladies like the natural look or do you prefer something a little bit more?
xoxo

My Bedroom.

During my brief stint at University last year my mum took the opportunity to re-decorate my bedroom while it was (relatively) empty; I have SO much stuff it's actually ridiculous! After spending three months in student halls, which aren't great no matter how much they're costing you, I can honestly say I am in love with my bedroom. I think my mum's managed to do a pretty good job!

My room is fairly tiny so plain white walls really makes it feel light, simple and pretty which is just how I like it. It also means pretty accessories are a must - YAY! ♥ butterflies & detailed mirrors.

I love love love photographs. There's lots of memories in those! and hehe at the little penguin that found it's way into the top photo!

Yay for fairy lights and soft light bulbs. I don't like bright lighting in my bedroom at all. Normally I just have lots of candles dotted around.

Although not always entirely practical, pretty storage is a must! I was so happy when I saw these in TK Maxx. That shop is amazing sometimes.

Lastly we have animals - real and not. My hamster is called bear and he's the naughtiest animal I've ever owned. He's getting quite old now and I thought he'd calm down a little maybe.. but nope.
The stripey animals are from muji & were presents from my boyfriend. He used give them to me when I was getting on the train to go back home so I'd have something to remind me of that visit!

What are your favourite things in your rooms?
xoxo

Long Distance Love.

People often ask how I 'manage to cope' with a long distance relationship and I'm never quite sure how to answer because I don't really; it's an adjustment. There are times (like now) when I think they're rubbish and I'd give anything to have a 'normal' relationship with my mister, but all I know is I'd rather have what we have rather than not have him in my life at all.

 Photo.

It's 7am and I haven't been to sleep yet, so please forgive any silly blogging mistakes. My boy left seven hours ago. I'm a bit of a compulsive worrier and so I always stay awake to make sure he gets home safe, which he did, four hours ago! Being alone now seems awfully strange and I don't think I want to fall asleep. I'm just being silly but I don't want to have to wake up without him there for morning cuddles.

  Photo.

In May of this year we will have been together for two years and I can honestly say it's been the best two years of my life. He makes it all worth it. After all, what's a few years of distance when we've got the rest of our lives to be together? /soppyness!

xoxo.

Favourite Photographers: Rinko Kawauchi.

Rinko Kawauchi is a Japanese fine art photographer who captures those every day moments that are so often overlooked in a beautiful and poetic way. Focusing on themes including family, the cycle of life and nature she uses natural light to create these magical looking photographs.

  'Aila.' (c) Rinko Kawauchi. photo credit.

She predominantly photographs using a medium format film camera which is also one of my favourite mediums to work within. She says that ‘for a photographer, it's a necessity that you can shoot stuff magically. Accidents are necessary" and I completely agree. Many photographers insist that every single image was intended to turn out the way it did, but we all love a happy accident at times!

 'The Eyes and The Ears.' (c) Rinko Kawauchi. photo credit.

 (c) Rinko Kawauchi.

I just adore delicate imagery like this. This is definitely the sort of art work that I dream about having in my future home. It's so simple yet so beautifully detailed and the colours are just divine. I'm in love!

 (c) Rinko Kawauchi.

What do you think about this type of photography?
xoxo

Style Crush: Lauren Conrad.

I must admit I was very late catching on to the whole Hills thing, but I'm glad I finally did even if it has resulted in a teeny tiny obsession. Lauren is my kinda girl style wise; cute skirts and dresses & long wavy hair. Simple but chic.

She's my current hair inspiration. I desperately want my hair to grow again so I can perfect those beach waves and lighten my colour a little. Perfect excuse to lounge on the beach once summer comes back I think! I hope it's a good'un sun-wise.

Photos from google/laurenconrad.com.

Who are your style crushes?

xoxo

Thoughts of a Summer Breeze.

Winter is my favourite season; I love the cold, lighting the fires and snuggling up in front of them with a huge mug of hot chocolate with cream and extra marshmallows. Today is just one of those days where I have longed for the warmth of the summer sunshine. That being impossible with it being January and me being in England I hurried over to polyvore to look at pretty summer clothes.

Summer Breeze by sailorjennie featuring TopShop

Always one to mix and match various styles/themes this is something I shall be wearing once the weather here finally does warm up. Garden parties with a glass of white wine? Yes please.

For now though, I shall go back to snuggling with my hot chocolate under my duvet. ♥

xoxo

Favourite Photographers: Tim Walker.

Photography is one of those things that interests a lot of people because it encompasses so many things; fashion, portraiture, fine art, still life etc. Having studied photography for a long time now it's very much a part of my life. I hope to blog about my favourite photographers every once in a while and I hope that some people find it interesting. :)

Tim Walker is probably most known for his shoots featured in the British, American and Italian editions of Vogue. Using elaborate sets he photographs dramatic images that incorporate both the ordinary and the extravagant. Every photograph has so many small details which when put together create this unique and beautiful narrative that has made his work so recognisable.






All photographs Copyright Tim Walker.

Who are your favourite photographers?

xoxo

A new year, a new start.

Making resolutions or goals for the start of a new year; has never been something I have done. Perhaps that’s where I’ve been going wrong. Too many times I have just sat back and expected the good things to happen when I should have been out there searching for them and making them happen.

2010 needs to be the year I figure some things out but also a year full of happy and exciting times. I’ve thought of a few things I’d like to achieve, or at least make a good start on. Time will tell if I’m headstrong enough to make them happen. New year, new start.


One
Keep taking photographs.

 (c) Jennie Lawson.

Although I have decided to stop studying photography at university doesn’t mean I have lost my love for it.

Two.
Start to read more books.

 (c) Mark Cunnington.

I used to be an avid reader and for reasons unknown to me, one day I just stopped. I need to fix this!


Three.
Find a job, pay off my student debts and save save save! 

 Image source.

My finances are one thing on my very long list of reasons as to why I dropped out of University. There are so many things I want to do and I want to make the most of life. Life is short after all and there are many places I want to see at some point.


Four.
Write more!

 (c) Mark Cunnington.

I remember as I child I used to spend hours and hours writing stories and reading them to anyone who would listen. It used to make me so happy; I think it’s time to take that up again.

Five.
Get a guinea pig or two.

 Image Source.

I miss having guinea pigs so much. Whenever I go into pet shops I spend ages looking at the little piggies. They’re too cute ♥

Six.
See the sunrise as much as possible.

 (c) Jennie Lawson.

Seven.
Finally learn to drive! I’m overcoming the nerves that I feel when thinking about learning driving and craving that freedom. 

 (c) Jennie Lawson.

I’d love to just be able to jump in the car with the dog in the back and take her down to the beach for a walk along the sea front.

Eight.
Figure out what I want to do with my life. 

(c) Jennie Lawson.

I’ve never been super ambitious, I’d just like to find something that I really love to do so I can put everything into it. I have a few ideas in mind and a possible opportunity opening up to me soon. I hope I’m good enough. I’d like to think would be good at it. I may begin some courses with the Open University later on in the year, maybe literature. I’m an uber geek and just love to learn.

Nine.
Visit my boyfriend as much as possible.

 (c) Jennie Lawson.

It’s my fault we’re going back into a long distance relationship again so I feel like I have to make up for that. We’ve done it before and I’m confident that we’ll be able to make it work again. That thought doesn’t make the prospect any easier to deal with. I have a good feeling about the future with regards to our relationship.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and new year. Here’s to 2010; make it better than ’09.
xoxo.