Fragrant Friday - Freak by Illmasqua (Week 4 2017)

Evening Sparkles! 


Picking up from the heady theme of last Friday, this week I'm going to surround myself in a floral extravaganza!!! Old time favourite which has been a little hidden in my perfume case of late, I'm revisiting Illamasqua's Freak. It's a dark scent which is still light enough to wear as a daytime scent, albeit it is a fairly dramatic option. 

My lovely friend E had bought me a Davana scented cream from Molton Brown some years ago, which I absolutely adored - although when I bought the matching perfume actually the lasting power was disappointing for the price. 

Fragrant Friday - Jo Malone Cologne Intense Velvet Rose and Oud (Week 3 2017)

Jo Malone Cologne Intense: Velvet Rose & Oud

Evening Sparkles

Tomorrow, to celebrate the end of my first week back in work I'll be wearing something special! Definitely not an every day scent, this is a heady rose and oud combination which stands alone. It also lasts much better than any of the other Jo Malone (intense or standard) colognes I have.

Harry Potter theme #3 Prisoner of Azkaban - the Patronus Charm (Clarins Tonic Body Polisher)

Hi Sparkles!!

The third Harry Potter book is my personal favourite but I wouldn't say that Dementors and Wizard prison Azkaban necessarily lend themselves easily to any vision of beauty a gal would willingly put on herself day in day out.

Rescued by the Patronus Charm - the shimmering vision of your internal spirit that can protect you from the soul sucking misery of Dementors....or, you know, the daily commute. One of the things that makes me feel sparkling clean and ready to face the world again is a lovely body scrub. I especially like one with a high oil for silky pins post shower - but wouldn't recommend those ones if you're planning to fake tan immediately afterwards!

Fragrant Friday - Narciso Rodriguez for Her (Week 2 2017)

Narciso Rodriguez For Her - EdP 100ml and scented body lotion

Evening Sparkles

For tomorrow's delectation I'm sticking with a rose based theme, spritzing on the Narciso Rodriguez. Introduced to me by a former roommate, I absolutely love the smell of this perfume.

Like the Rosie perfume mentioned last week, this is a rose based scent but much more evening type scent given the sandalwood and patchouli base notes. This is less "everyday" scent but still light enough to be able to wear all day while feeling a little more dressed up.

Bookish Beauty: Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets (Theme: Killer Glance) - Illamasqua Pigments

Hi Sparkles!!

Continuing on our Harry Potter adventure under the Bookish Beauty theme we're now entering the Chamber of Secrets, home to the basilisk which can kill by its mere glance. So naturally this got me thinking about killer eye products which stop me in my tracks.

Long time favourite of mine are the Illamasqua pigments, these are messy little creatures but the sparkle is well worth the effort (and glittery home which will ensue!)

Sunday styling - Sebastian clutch by Danielle Nicole

Morning Sparkles!!

Today the middle sister and hubby come to London town for a visit and to celebrate we'll be hitting up a champagne brunch to kick off proceedings and general merriment. Fear not - in keeping with the dry January theme it'll be Brut Champagne ;)

I'm enjoying the black outfits at the moment - I think an overdose of looking at Charlotte Tilbury and Pixiwoo means I'm attempting to eek out some make up artist chic in real life - but this colourful little number caught my eye with its combination of colour, Disney and accessories!

Fragrant Friday - Rosie by M&S Autograph (Week 1 2017)

Evening Sparkles!

Rosie by Autograph - 75ml EdP and travel votive candle

Tomorrow I'll be smelling like a bed of roses....literally, thanks to this little number from the Autograph range at M&S. Based on Rose Centifolia (basically, rose from Provence) this combines both my love of beauty and my Francofilia.

I'm hoping spraying this liberally will inspire me to head back to the books of my French language course from last year's lengthy resolution list ;)

Bookish Beauty - Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone (Theme: Youth) - Vita Liberata Fabulous Tinted Self Tanning Mousse (Medium)

Greetings Sparkles,

Vita Liberata Fabulous Self Tanning Mousse - Medium

Back in 1997 the first of J.K. Rowling's amazing Harry Potter series was published (although I didn't actually start reading the books until 1999 with the release of the third book - still a personal favourite - go Sirius Black!)

The Philospher's Stone was an object of alchemy - possessing the power to turn any metal into gold but also to produce the Elixir of Life which would grant the bearer immortality.

This got me thinking of my favourite skin care which lets you achieve a smooth, glowing, youthful complexion. As a firmly pale and interesting girl I have to say one thing which I turn to to feel healthier looking is definitely fake tan...although arguably I should hit the bottle a bit more often!

Back to the Blog with a Bang (well, a theme at least...)

Hello Sparkles,

It's been a while, lacking time, energy and inspiration to blog about beauty products for perhaps the last few months but realistically a much longer time!

Thanks to the proactive interwebbing of my friend Liv I recently managed to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End in previews last summer. Stretching two nights and telling a tale that happens some fifteen years after we last saw Harry & Co it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had...potentially due to the proliferation of references to the book with which J.K. Rowling delights her eager and appreciative audiences.

You likely won't be able to see it for a while given the sell out status of the production, but I'd really encourage you to take a look - although I won't be letting you in on any of the specifics (#KeepTheSecrets) what it did get me thinking was that perhaps a Harry Potter themed series of posts might re-engage me and prove a challenge to the mind and the make-up closet to come up with products encapsulating some of the key themes or people in each of the seven books.

The series will be published over the next nine weeks - as each of the Deathly Hallows components will get their own week - and hopefully whet my appetite to get back into blogging, in addition to exciting the known and undeclared Potterheads in my reader group.

Til next time - love, hugs and well lit reading corners to you all

xx Josephine xx