The Perfume Edit

Perfume is one of those things that are totally personal to each person. scent can evoke strong memories in you in a way that none of the other senses can.

The first designer perfume I owned was Jean-Paul Gaultier classique. It was fresh and young, but made me feel oh-so sophisticated. I wore it all the time, and the smell still takes me back to being 16 and trying to sneak into bars, and spending time with friends.

Since then, my perfume collection has grown, and I no longer need to wear the same fragrance everyday, but i can still remember the situations that brought each beautiful bottle to my dressing table.

Lacoste - Touch of Pink £19.99-£29.99
I first got a bottle of touch of pink when I was about 17, and to my minimum wage self, it was a more purse friendly addition to my collection. I was able to feel like I had a designer input into my wardrobe, and it felt good to not have to sport a cheap celeb fragrance. (Who knew I was a snob even back then!)

Marc Jacobs - Daisy £23.50-£63.50
I bought this exact bottle of Daisy in the duty free section of the ferry on my way to uni for the first time. it has lasted me pretty well considering I wore it a lot over the last 3 years, but there is something slightly depressing about the fact that it's pretty empty now, just as uni comes to an end, as if it marks the end of my studenthood or something. but this is one of my favourites, and will forever remind me of student antics, and the amazing time I've had over the last three years.

Balmain - Extatic £36-£46
This little mini bottle is so handy to have, and perfect for carrying around in your handbag. The smell is distinctive and has a slight rock chick edge, in the kind of style you would expect from Balmain. I got this in a beauty bag when I worked at Star magazine back in March, which has definitely been one of my favourite placements so far.

Vivienne Westwood - Mon Boudoir £19.99-£38
This was also in my beauty bag from Star, and I didn't use it much at first, but now I have come to love it. It's the perfect spring/summer scent, as it's light and airy, and has some beautiful floral tones. It's one of those scents that's light enough to wear everyday and doesn't get too overwhelming.

Lancôme - La Vie Est Belle £43.50-£69.50
When this perfume came out it was one of those things where I didn't want to buy too much into the hype that it had created. I hate when bloggers and magazines big up a new release so much that I wait to buy it, and then I'm sorely disappointed and left with a big boots-shaped hole in bank balance. However, my mum wanted it, so being the generous daughter that I am I treated her to it, you know, so I could 'borrow' it. I loved it so much I went out and bought my own. Mum still has her own bottle so she's happy I haven't totally stolen her belongings.


All prices: theperfumeshop.com
Images: Niamh Stewart

My Fave Five!

Soap and Glory 'Scrub of your life'// Percy and Reed Finishing Polish// Vera Wang 'Princess'// Benefit 'Big Beautiful Eyes' Palette// Topshop Cream Highlighters

I love beauty Products, but I don't often do beauty posts, so I decided to do a post on My five favourite beauty products at the moment.

1. Soap & Glory 'Scrub of Your Life' Body Scrub

I have a literal addiction to Soap & Glory scrubs, as I feel they are the best ones on very dry skin. I do suffer from extremely dry skin, and this one makes my skin amazingly soft and smooth. It comes with the signature Soap & Glory scent as well, which is definitely a bonus.

2. Percy & Reed 'Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish'

I got this free with Glamour Magazine a few months ago, relegated it to the bottom of my beauty box, and totally forgot about it until I moved back home. I am now totally and officially in love with it. Is it possible to marry a hair product? because I need this to be in my life forever! (and I'll have the hottest wedding hair ever!) It is perfect for helping to control those annoying stray hairs, without making my hair look too neat, as I prefer to wear it slightly messy.

3. Vera Wang 'Princess'

This perfume is so summery and floral, that I have been wearing it constantly in the recent bout of sunshine. I bought it in the airport as a little present for finishing 2nd year of uni, and because Princess is my and my friends pet name for each other, and I won't see her for three months, so it cheers me up seeing it everyday. It is also a cute addition to my perfume shelf as the bottle is gorgeous.

4. Benefit 'Big Beautiful Eyes' Palette

This eye palette is in my everyday makeup routine, and definitely one of my makeup staples. it contains three eyeshadows, a base shadow, a shadow for contouring, and a liner shadow, in different shades of brown and nude, in order to highlight your eyes. It also comes with Benefits 'Boi-ing' Concealer, which I will be purchasing as a full product once I finish this, as I have yet to find another concealer which covers my under eye bags as well as it does.

5. Topshop Cream Highlighters

I never used highlighters, and didn't really know much about how to use them or what they did, as I never noticed much difference with or without them, but this is a product I got given on my last day at Company Magazine, and since then I have used these most days, and I can see the difference they make to the outlines of my face. I wish the packaging was as cute as other Topshop makeup, but at least these are a quality product, and not just based around the packaging.

                                    

Christmas Gift Ideas.

So Christmas is almost upon us. The cold, frosty weather has set in, and the mad rush for Christmas shopping has arrived. I can't wait to go home and spend the run up to Christmas with my family. Here's a few ideas to help you along with the shopping. You could buy me any of these things for Christmas. I seriously love them all.

1. Ted Baker Makeup Brushes- £20.00 Boots
These are adorable. They come in their own little wrap, which is especially handy for me as I fly home when not at uni, and my makeup brushes tend to suffer. the set includes, Powder Brush, Eyebrow brush, Eye shadow brush, sponge applicator and lip brush. Such good value, and its on boots 3 for 2 offer.

2. Leather panel leggings - £25.99 Zara
These are a lot thicker than leggings and they're acceptable as trousers I think! My sister has a pair from Mango that I love, but we can't get the same ones, so I'll go with these instead.

3. Book Clutch - $325 Kate Spade
This is so nice! Pity about the excessive price tag though. I love a bit of Shakespeare and turning the books into colourful clutches is a genius idea. There are some cheaper alternative ones on the internet though.

4. Stone Ring - £14 Love Hearts and Crosses
I love chunky rings, in fact I have a whole bowl of them on my windowsill. They just transform outfits and make them a bit classier I think. This one is such an unusual style, and the mint green colour is lovely.

5.Miss Dior Perfume - £42 Debenhams
I love this perfume. It smells nice and the bottle is so cute!

6. The Sartorialist book -£13 Amazon
My favourite blog is now in book form! I love books that just look pretty when they aren't being read. Coffee table books and Fashion related books usually.