The One I Should Have Liked | Ren Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser

8/26/2014 08:47:00 pm
On paper, I thought I'd love it.. Even on first sniff. I loved it. First touch - the same. But on the face? Not so much. I love a bit of rose - the sweet, soft, fresh smell of real roses, which this one hundred per cent delivers on. Again, hot cloth cleaner - something I love. 
But then it all goes a little pear-shaped. Something about the texture when on my face feels like it is suffocating me - there is no obvious reason why, it isn't sticky or super thick, in fact for a hot cloth cleanser it's pretty loose in texture. I don't dispute it's cleansing prowess, the gentleness of the formula, but I can't stand the cloying feel on my face. I'm a little bit of a lover of Ren, of roses, of hot cloth cleansers, so I tried again, but with no luck. Unfortunately, this is a no for me, but I know pleeeeeeeeeenty of people who love it.
Much love,
Ani x

Life | Stoke Place | Tea in the Afternoon

8/16/2014 06:00:00 am
I love a little afternoon tea - I love the fanciness of it, the yummy food, and the stunning views. This week I took my buddy for her birthday, and Stoke Place did not disappoint. My faves were the scones and the sandwiches, the tea, and of course the champagne :)
I hope you liked a little insight into my life.
Much love,
Ani x

The Acessories | Gogo Philip & Walt Disney Logo Bracelet

8/11/2014 07:00:00 am
I have a thing about Disney. I adore it. I wrote my first Dissertation on Disney and Literature, and my Masters on on Children's Literature. Now, I'm not really one for expensive handbags and shoes - in fact I try solely to buy in the sales - but I am one for Mickey things. I love a Mickey jumper - I have quite the collection, and I just could not resist when it came to this beauty.
I'm a little bit of a magpie crossed with a gypsy when it comes to bracelets - I love adding them onto my wrist, but I also love to make sure they are simple bracelets, and this one really fit the bill. It adds a touch of silver to my otherwise gold arm: a contrast that I really appreciate, and adds a little mix of both classicism and modernity.
Much love,
Ani x

Sunday's Stories | Five

8/10/2014 07:00:00 am
And so we're here, on another Sunday, with a sneak peek into my life. I quite like these posts - what a lovely way to document my life!
Much love,
Ani x

The Singular Review | La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+

8/06/2014 07:00:00 am
It's been a little bit of a little while since I've done any singular reviews - I don't know if it's because trends seem to be leading away from this, or because nothing' has really wow'ed me lately, but dagnammit I've been wow'ed!
La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo+ is the bomb. As in the bomb diggy. It does everything. It has bells and whistles, and if I had one of those high-up Parisian rooftops, I would be on top of it, screaming about the prowess of Duo+. Judging from that, it's fair to say that I kinda love it a little - some may say a lot - anddddd this time round, I have tangible, justifiable reasons for the love-in, not just my usual wishy-washy "I like it for some reason that I can't really put my finger on."
Reasons:
Lightweight gel-serum texture that both hydrates and mattifies in the short-term, but also in the long-term.
Long-term reduction of visible oil production on the skin - this leads to make up looking better, staying on the face all day.
Visible reduction of blemishes and scars, which is amazing. The last time I saw results like this was thanks to the Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector (which is muchos more dinero than the Duo+).
Less frequent breakouts, lets angry spots, and generally fasting healing time.
That is Effaclar Duo+ in a nutshell, but between us, you need to try it - it kind of does everything for the skin, leaving it in brilliant condition.
Much love,
Ani.

The Beauty Fave Files | July

8/05/2014 07:00:00 am
So July has been wonderful, hasn't it? My perfect kind of weather - hot, hot, hot! For a coooold snow girl like me, summer fills me with joy and happiness and all the good feels. Today as I sit here typing (it is Saturday 2nd of Aug), the weather has turned a little moody, but sticky moody.  The sun has disappeared, but the heat remains, and I have decided to share my July Faves with you.
First of all, complete hero product of the month - the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+. I have used the original Duo on and off for quite a while, but the Duo+ is quite the skincare revelation. When I picked this up, I made a bit of a skincare promise to myself: to not over complicate my skincare routine - so for a while, the Duo+ was both my serum and moisturiser. After a solid 2 weeks of this single-skin-product-routine, I started adding bits and pieces back in to complement and enhance the effects. In the most basic terms, this has turned my super-oily skin into something much more controlled and even - my foundation can now stay on all day without re-powdering, which is something that I have never achieved before. My skin tone is much more even, clearer and just generally more healthy-looking. I have already purchased, and am using a second tube of this!
Now, onto a little bit of foundation chemistry: Becca Luminous Skin in Toast, Maybelline Better Skin in Golden, and No7 Beautifully Matte in Deeply Beige. The combo of the Becca, with either, or both of the Maybelline and No7 creates the most beautifully natural flawless base that, combined with my Max Factor Facefinity Primer, lasts alllllllllllllllllllll day.
Finally, my forever product, the one that hardly ever fails to be on my cheeks - the Bourjois Blush Exclusif. I've raved about this a million and one times, I've hit pan, finished and repurchased, and I think that speaks for itself.
And that is that for another month - a much more streamlined look at my favourites!
Let me know what you've been enjoying this month.
Much love,
Ani x

Sunday's Stories | Four

8/03/2014 09:27:00 pm
The stories of the week:
Much Love,
Ani x

How to | Relax - Epsom Salts

8/02/2014 07:00:00 am
I love a bath. I hated the idea of them for a good 10 years - I would always shower, and never bathe, but after a couple of operations for kidney stones and ovarian cyst, I was in so much pain one day that the only comforting thought was that of a bath. And that is the beginning of a story that hasn't ended - a story where I just love a bath. I find baths to be soothing in times of anxiety - so much so that they can stave off an attack - calming in times of stress, the place where I watch Youtube beauty videos, and where I can read an entire book in a go. There is something about the hot water that I just adore. But I don't like bubbles anymore. Because I literally tend to wallow in the bath - just lie still - the bubbles don't tend to dissipate, and annoy me when I wash my hair, and when I drain the water they just remain! I love a good Lush Bath melt or Ballistic, but my latest non-bubble love is Epsom Salts.
These mainly magnesium-based salts are amazing. Hidden in what looks like just large salt flakes is an elixir that cures everything - skin conditions, stress, and helps to give me a wonderful night's sleep. My current choice is the Dead Sea Spa Magik (one of my fave brands) Dead Sea Bath Salts. I adore these, and will always keep a little stash for my bathing happiness.
Much love,
Ani x

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