Tuesday 13 August 2013

Berlin, du bist so wunderbar!

I have just returned home to Scotland after an amazing summer in Berlin.  I mentioned in this post that I was moving there for 6 weeks, to do a writing internship with a travel guide company.  I learnt so much and it really confirmed that I want to pursue working abroad/in Europe once I graduate.  I also went to German classes every morning, met so many amazing people, did lots of vintage shopping, went to see Devendra Banhart in concert, partied every weekend, went to outdoor cinemas and some crazy flat parties, ate lots of cake and currywurst and basically fell in love with Berlin.  I'm hoping to write some posts about what to do if you ever visit Berlin as it's a wonderful city, and I already miss it.

Thursday 4 July 2013

June favourites

June favourites
Skincare
Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Face Gel – Very gentle on my 
sensitive skin so I’ve been using this face scrub 2/3 times 
a week.  I bought this in France but I found thisebay seller 
sells in the UK too.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat - I use this as a moisturiser/primer.  
I was watching a Sally Hughes video a while ago where she 
said you have to pat it onto the top of your skin rather than 
rubbing it in like a moisturiser.  This method works so well 
before I apply my foundation.
Origins Super Spot Remover - I think I'm now on my third 
little bottle but nothing else helps my spots quite like this.
Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub – Ohemgee, this stuff 
smells amazing and leaves my skin baby soft.

Makeup
Benefit They're Real mascara - Last month I raved about 
the Lush Eyes Right mascara but I'm a fickle girl.  Believe 
what you hear, this stuff is amazing.
Mac Patisserie - I finally got round to buying this and I 
think I've worn it basically everyday since then! 
The perfect glossy 'my lips but better' shade.
Benefit Hervana blusher - The perfect summer blusher, 
and I'm really impressed with the lasting power.

What have you guys been loving this month?

Sunday 30 June 2013

Update: Berlin Living

I'm so excited to share this news ... I'll be spending six weeks working in Berlin this summer!  I'm flying out tomorrow and can't wait to blog about my German adventures.  If you have any tips on things to do, nice bars or shops to visit I'm all ears :)

Wednesday 26 June 2013

New In: Neal's Yard Remedies

If you follow me on Instagram (floralteaparty) you may have noticed I had a little Neal's Yard Remedies, COS and Boots splurge the other week.  Here's my Neal's Yard goodies.  This month InStyle magazine are giving away a free Power Berry moisturiser plus there's a 20% discount voucher inside the magazine.


I decided to put the voucher to good use, and bought the Palmarosa Skincare Essential's Kit, which is aimed at oily skin.  Although in winter my skin can be dry/dehydrated I find in summer it goes a bit oily, haywire really.  This trial kit contains a 50ml facial wash, 50ml moisturiser and a 10ml mattifier and was £25.  I also picked up the Palmaroser which was £15.50 for 200ml.  The woman was so helpful and was very generous with the samples.  She gave me three samples of the Palmarosa mattifier and three of the White Tea eye gel. The only thing I've tried out so far is the mattifier, which is ah-mazing.  I use this on my forehead and chin, over my moisturiser and under foundation and it really helps keep shine at bay.  I can't wait to try out my other products! Have you tried anything from Neal's Yard recently? 

Sunday 23 June 2013

Leaving Blues




Hi everyone, sorry I've not updated this blog in a while.  As I've mentioned before, I've just returned home to Scotland from an amazing year abroad in France.  After the initial buzz of seeing my friends and family I'm definitely now experiencing a bit of a comedown and a bad case of the 'Year Abroad Blues.'  I really do miss living in France, hearing and speaking French everyday and all the people I met during my time there.  Luckily I've not had too much time to mope about though, as last week I did a media work placement .  I learned so much and really enjoyed myself and with 9-5 days I was kept very busy.  I also fit in seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert (amazing) and brainstorming attempts for my dissertation (not so amazing)  As you might imagine with all this, I've been doing minimal makeup and practical outfits but I've still got lots of ideas for posts though so I can't wait to write them up for you.  What have you all been upto?

Saturday 15 June 2013

Middle of the Bed

I can't get enough of rose-scented products at the moment, so here's a selection of my favourites!  The title is inspired by the English singer, jam-maker and all round lovely girl Lucy Rose


REN Moroccan Rose Body Cream - I got this free with Harper's Bazaar last month, gorgeous scent and very moisturising.  It does take a while to absorb though, so I'm often left in that awkward 'zombie in a towel' position waiting for this to dry!  
Korres Japanese Rose Body Butter - I picked this up in TKMaxx.  Lovely scent and it's so light on the skin that I sometimes even use this during the day as a handcream.
Anatomicals You Need a Bloomin' Shower Rose Shower Gel - I got this in the supermarket on offer a while back and it's so nice to start my day with this.  The scent could be a bit stronger but for the price (about £1.30 I think!) I really can't complain.
The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream + Hand Wash - I absolutely love these two! My mum always buys the hand wash and it makes your hands feel so clean and silky soft, and the hand cream is lovely and luxurious too.
Zara Woman Rose Perfume - The town I lived in in France didn't have a Zara, so when we visited the nearby big town we used to go a bit crazy there.  One day I was so excited to visit Zara then didn't find any nice clothes so picked up this perfume, refusing to leave without buying anything.  I didn't really expect to even like it but I love it!  It's become my daily go to scent, and was under ten euros.

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Pukka Cleanse Tea


When I was home for Christmas, I picked up this Pukka 'cleanse' tea in my local Jan de Vries health shop.  I then went back to France for the rest of my year abroad and forgot all about it.  When I came home last month I found it languishing at the back of the kitchen cupboard and decided to use it up.  In the description, it claims to 'purify your skin and maintain a healthy, glowing complexion' and it contains nettle, fennel, peppermint and dandelion.  First things first, I don't really appreciate the taste of this. It contains licorice, which I think is a bit love or hate.  However, it's not too strong, so if I drink this quickly I don't find the taste too offensive.  I usually drink this before bed and it really helps me to sleep.

Now for the most important bit, does it actually help your skin? I've been drinking this about three times a week for five or six weeks now and I do think my skin is less clogged and has a bit more radiance.  The problem is, and I'm sure this is the case for most people, it's hard to know if this is down to the tea or other factors like my diet or skincare routine.  I do think this doesn't do any harm to your skin, and if I drink this during my er, hormonal times, it helps a lot.  To be honest I think this does the same job as any other type/flavour of herbal tea.  As I prefer the taste of peppermint or camomile tea, I think I'll go back to them once I've used these teabags up.  Have you tried this tea before?

Sunday 9 June 2013

Current Skincare Wants

Skincare Wishlist

Origins Zero Oil Cleanser - With the hot weather my skin is a lot oilier, even though it's usually on the drier side.  I visited the Origins counter on Friday and the woman suggested their Zero Oil cleanser, which is now first on my wishlist.  
Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil - I've just finished up my Nuxe Dry Oil which I absolutely love.  I can't decide whether to repurchase this or try out the Trilogy one, which I've heard so many good things about.  Decisions decisions.  
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - I'm nearing the end of my Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream, and have itchy feet to try something new.  I think it was on Suzie's blog I first read about this Balance Me eye cream which sounds really impressive.  
Origins Ginzing Moisturiser - Finally a newer product, I've never tried the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream but I'm really tempted by the new moisturiser.  I think £23 for an Origins moisturiser is fairly affordable, but I might wait till winter to pick this up when my skin needs more of an energy boost.  


Saturday 1 June 2013

May Favourites

Here's my May favourites, I didn't even have to think what to include as these products have been getting so much love from me recently!
Skincare
Superfacialist Tea Flower Clay Mask - I leave this face mask on for five minutes and can see instant results when I wash it off.  I've been using this once or twice a week recently and it's a lovely product.
Nuxe Dry Oil - This is just amazing! I apply a thin layer before my moisturiser at night and in the morning my skin is glowing.  It helps to even out both dry patches and combat oiliness.
Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream - This is my favourite eye cream, it's very gentle and really helps soothe tired eyes.
Makeup
No 7 BB Cream - This is the first BB cream I've ever got along with.  As it's designed for oily skin, it doesn't make my face look like an oilslick like most other BB creams I've tried.  I've been wearing this on its own with concealer most days this month and I'm really not missing my usual heavy foundations!
Kiko Blusher - This is the perfect bright pink blusher for summer.  I just need a tiny amount and it lasts all day too.
Lush Eyes Right Mascara - This is the only mascara I've ever re-purchased!  The small brush means it's great for corner lashes, and it's good for volume too.
Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 01 - This is my new wonder product, I even made my sister buy it!  It's great for undereyes, redness and blemishes, such an all-rounder.
EcoTools Concealer brush - I use this to apply the Benefit concealer, it's the perfect size for concealing the undereye area.

Have you tried any of these products?  What are you favourite products this month? 

Thursday 30 May 2013

FOTN #1


 I went out for a few drinks last night, here is the makeup look I went for.  I tried out the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation and I quite liked it.  It's pretty sheer coverage, but with a good primer and a bit of concealer I think my skin looked pretty nice.  I wore my favourite eyeshadow of the moment too, Lhasa by Nars.  My dress was just £5 in the New Look sale, such a bargain.  Lacy dresses like this are a bit of a wardrobe staple for me!  Sorry for the blurry phone picture of it.  This photo also made me realise how long my hair is right now!
Face - Clarins Instant Smooth primer Revlon Nearly Naked foundation 
 in Vanilla, Benefit concealer in 001, Benefit Posietint, Rimmel Stay Matte 
powder
Eyes - Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, Nars Lhasa eyeshadow, Urban Decay Verve
eyeshadow, Mac Vex eyeshadow, L'Oreal Superliner in Black, Lush Eyes Right 
mascara, Sleek Brow Kit
 Lips - Nuxe Reve de Miel lipbalm, Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Nude Delight

Monday 27 May 2013

New in: Ren, Essie & Revlon

                                           Essie nail varnish in Maximilien Strasse Hier 
                                           Revlon Nearly Naked foundation in 120 Vanilla
                                           Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey
                                          REN glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask

So I went into Superdrug the other day meaning to treat myself to a new Essie nail varnish.   Once in Superdrug I realised they had a 3 for 2 on, and somehow ended up buying the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, a Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey (never tried these before but I like it so far!) and the Essie varnish (please don't make me type out the name again!).  THEN I remembered that my mum had given me a 20% off voucher for Marks & Spencer.  A few months ago, the Marks & Spencer's on Argyle St Glasgow opened a new beauty hall with brands such as Nuxe, Ren, Apivita and Pur Minerals.  It is incredible and I could happily spend all day perusing the aisles of skincare, makeup, hair products and body care.  I've read so many amazing things recently about the Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask but at £30 I couldn't quite justify it.  Getting it at £24 is still expensive but I tried it out last night -worth every penny.  Now please don't let me buy anything else for the foreseeable future, this is ridiculous.

PS. I've also made a bloglovin' page so you can follow me over there too if you like! :)

Tuesday 21 May 2013

What’s In My Makeup Bag

 Bourjois brow pencil – I use a brow kit from Sleek to fill in my eyebrows in the mornings but keep a pencil handy for touch-ups throughout the day.
 Mac Mineralise Skinfinish in Medium – This is so good for any shiny forehead problems.
 Lush Eyes Right mascara – Such a good mascara, and the bottle is the perfect size to carry about.
Topshop lipstick in Innocent –  A nice bright pink, and I love the formula of this.  Well done Topshop.
Benefit Boi-ing concealer - I bought this a few months ago on a complete whim and I love it.  Shade 01 is perfect for my pale Scottish skin and it lasts all day.

What's in your makeup bag?

Sunday 19 May 2013

I can see clearly now …


Sorry for the cheesy title, I couldn’t help myself.  Today’s post is about some of my favourite eye care products.  I wear contact lenses, and sometimes worry incase I pull or drag at the skin under my eyes when putting them in or removing them.  Lovely image for you there.  So here's a few products I use to help with this.
1.   Simple Revitalising Eye Roll-On - I only bought this a few weeks ago but I really like it so far.  I apply in the mornings and it really brightens up my eyes.
2.   Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream – I bought this in a French pharmacy a few months ago and use it most nights before bed.  It’s soothing on my eyes and I wake up to smooth skin around my eyes in the morning. 
3.   Clinique All About Eyes Rich – I use this a few times a month.  It’s much thicker than the Avene cream, and is a good pamper product.  At £24 for 15ml, this is a bit much for my student budget.  I probably won't be repurchasing this, but a lovely product nonetheless.
4.   Liz Earle Eyebright – I’ve been using this for years, both to soothe tired eyes and to remove makeup.  Since discovering Bioderma I’ve stopped using this for the latter, but I still like to swoosh some of this on a cotton pad over my eyes if they’re a bit red or puffy.  I always have a bottle of this for emergencies.  Ahem, it’s also nice and soothing on hungover eyes too.

Have you tried any of these products before? What do you use on your eyes? 

Thursday 16 May 2013

New In: Ollie & Nic necklace















   I first saw this necklace a few weeks ago, and it was love at first sight.  I was initially put off by the rather hefty £18 price tag, but it’s no exaggeration to say it’s been on my mind constantly since the day I saw it.  So today I took the plunge and now, it’s all mine. 

I can’t wait to wear this, it will jazz up so many outfits!  Would you wear this necklace? Are you a fan of Ollie & Nic? X

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Introductions


Hello everyone, my name is Angela and welcome to floral tea party.  I’m a 22 year old Scottish student who has just returned from a year abroad in France.  I absolutely loved this experience, I can’t stop telling people ‘it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.’  Not just a space for writing about my travels and adventures, floral tea party will also document my makeup and skincare addiction, and who knows, maybe the odd outfit post if I’m feeling wild.  Happy reading! X