DIANE VON FURSTENBERG FOR GAP KIDS!

Oh my god how adorable is Diane Von Furstenberg collaboration with Gap Kids!

I received an email from GAP VIP yesterday and was invited for a couple of hours only to shop online the exclusive preview of the collection. 

Known for her signature wrap dresses and prints, this print-friendly collection incorporates bright colours, bold prints and overall it is the epitome of FUN. This collection includes DVF heart logo embellished T-shirts, high-top tennis shoes, shift dresses and bodysuits. She has also designed DVF shorts, leggings, rompers and a change bag which are all absolutely adorable.

"This collection is about celebrating life and colour," Von Furstenberg said. "The minute a little girl is born, she is already the woman she will be. So to empower a little girl is to empower the woman she will become."

I couldn't agree more! 

Here's a couple of items I purchased for my little girls...

For Evie who is nearly 4 this fab blazer along with the sequin heart flip flops for £14.95.

DVF Blazer
£39.95

For Erin who has just turned 1 I got her this lovely sun hat and matching printed leggings for £9.95

DVF Printed Floppy Sun Hat
£10.95

Prices for the collection start at £9.95 and are available online and in selected stores today. If you sign up online for GAP VIP you will receive 15% off your first purchase and receive future notifications of exclusive previews, events and offers. 

Love Jo x

MAKEUP KIT CLEANSERS

After trying many different brands of cleansers I have settled for only two in my kit which I know will suit the majority of skin types & conditions.

BIODERMA CREALINE H2O SOLUTION

Most makeup artists will have this in their kit as it is pleasant to use and suitable for even the most of sensitive skins and with it’s Crealine H2O formula it unblocks pores, soothes and prevents irritations often caused by cleansing. It also naturally provides moisture to skin, and helps to enhance skin transparency and improve skin quality while supporting collagen production.

Direction of use:
Moisten some cotton wool with Crealine H2O and cleanse or remove make-up from the face and eye area. Continue to apply until the cotton wool wipes clean.
Rinsing is not necessary. However, it is very important to dry your face gently. Gently pat your face dry with a towel or some clean cotton wool.
Crealine H2O is to be used daily, in the morning and evening.

In the UK Bioderma is available to purchase from the following pro makeup store:
http://www.gurumakeupemporium.com/buy-Bioderma-Crealine-H2O   £15.50 500ml

But if you go to France it’s half the price! 

SHU UEMURA CLASSIC HIGH PERFORMANCE BALANCING CLEANSING OIL

This I have in my kit as an alternative to remove a real heavy makeup look especially around the eye area.

This mild cleansing oil removes all kinds of makeup, including waterproof mascara, while gently cleansing, moisturising and calming the skin.

Direction of use:
Use 3-4 pumps of the cleansing oil on dry hands and spread gently and thoroughly over a dry face. Add a few drops of lukewarm water to face to emulsify (the oil will turn milky white) then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.  You will literally see the makeup slide away.

This is a little more expensive at £28.00 for 150ml/£56.50 for 450ml and usually I only buy this if I can get a discount!

You can purchase this at the Shu Uemura store in Convent Garden or online:
http://www.shuuemura.co.uk/skincare/cleanser/makeup-remover.aspx

Love Jo x

MY FAVOURITE FASHION ONLINE SHOPPING SITES & RECENT SALE BUYS

It was officially the first day of Spring yesterday and that means summer is just around the corner so i'm starting to think about my transitional and summer wardrobe.

I recently purchased a few items in the sales and fingers crossed I hope we’ll have the weather for me to wear them!

As I have two young children Evie who is nearly four and Erin who has just turned one I no longer can wear my sky scraper heels for the school run etc, so for me now I tend to wear wedges or flats.  So much easier to wear when you’re rushing around all day! (I tend not to use the word practical!)

Being a working Mum I LOVE Internet shopping as I can really view and think about what I’m purchasing for everyday wear or for a special occasion outfit.  This I usually do when the children are in bed. I even do my grocery shopping online!

My favourite online shopping sites I tend to buy from are:

www.asos.com

www.outnet.com

www.net-a-porter.com (usually sale items only)

www.brandalley.com

and most recently www.cocosa.com
www.ebay.com

I’d say I can find pretty much everything I want from these sites and their delivery and returns process is fantastic.

Here are a few of my recent sale purchases…

MELISSA ODABASH Panama hat with leather detail 
RRP £92.00 SALE Price: £40.00 

www.cocosa.com

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON Printed cotton playsuit

RRP £275 SALE Price: £55.00
www.net-a-porter.com

JIMMY CHOO Wish Gladiator Sandals
RRP £295 SALE Price: £120
www.jimmychoo.com

ÉTOILE ISABEL MARANT Warick leopard cotton sweater
RRP: £250 SALE Price: £50.00
www.net-a-porter.com

 

ISABEL MARANT
Pop Color beaded brass bracelet

RRP: £50 each SALE Price: £15.00 each

www.net-a-porter.com

ÉTOILE ISABEL MARANT
Mati mohair-blend sweater

RRP: £205 SALE Price: £41.00
www.net-a-porter.com

J BRAND DENIM
Agnes waxed-denim cropped pants

RRP: £290 SALE Price: £76.00 
www.outnet.com

What's been your best buy in the sales?

Love Jo x

MY ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN QUARTZ LIFT FACIAL AT CHAMPNEYS DAY SPA

I’ve been so busy lately with work and making others look glamorous I decided it was my time to enjoy a little pampering.  With the change of weather lately my skin has become so dehydrated and quite sensitive causing it to look rather red in some areas on my face. So I went along to my local Champneys Day Spa for my favourite Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial.

My love of Elemis products started on my first trip to Dubai several years ago where I enjoyed a few of their face and body treatments at the spa in the hotel where we were staying.

After purchasing a FEW of the products used in the treatments I was totally addicted to their Pro Collagen range and have been using it ever since. I find it works very well with my skin type and people do regularly compliment me on my skins appearance. 

Elemis successful combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled Elemis to bring to market some of the most influential anti-ageing products and professional spa-therapies the beauty industry has ever seen.

WHAT ELEMIS SAY ABOUT THE ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN QUARTZ LIFT FACIAL
ONE Anti-Wrinkle Facial - Proven Results
This anti-wrinkle facial is clinically proven to reduce the number of wrinkles by up to 94%* and improve skin firmness by up to 57%*, after just one treatment. 

The power of Padina Pavonica is accelerated by the electrical energy of precious minerals Quartz, Tourmaline, Rhodochrosite and Malachite to re-energise cell communication, whilst Laminaria Digitata and Red Coral optimises cellular respiration and regeneration for a firmer, uplifted, more youthful looking appearance. 

Winner! Best Anti-Ageing Facial – Grazia 

WHAT'S INVOLVED?
What I’ve always loved about Elemis facials is that they tend to incorporate so much more than just your face and eyes. And, true to form, this 75-minute treatment started off with a hot foot cleanse and a gentle stretching of my legs and hips to help me relax. 

After thoroughly cleansing my skin and removing any last traces of make-up, my therapist, Jenny, then spent a great deal of time massaging wonderful oils and lotions to my face, neck and shoulders. 

Next, a thick peel-off mask was applied and while that set, I was treated to a fabulous head and neck massage.

Once the mask was peeled away, my dead skin cells were gone and then when you think it’s nearly time the facial was over ANOTHER extremely nourishing mask was applied and my hands and arms were treated to a soft massage.  Total heaven!

These facials always leave me feeling so relaxed that for around 10 minutes after I literally can't string a sentence together! As for my skin, it felt radiant, bright and smoother than it has done in months.

The only negative I can say about this treatment is I NEVER WANTED IT TO END!

MY LOVELY THERAPIST JENNY 

ME AFTER - HYDRATED & OILED!

The Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial costs £80 at the Champneys Day Spa’s and they currently have eight-Day Spa’s in the UK - Bath, Brighton, Chichester, Enfield, Guildford, Milton Keynes, St Albans & Tunbridge Wells. For more information, visit http://www.champneys.com/Day-Spas


Have you tried this facial or any other Elemis Face or Body treatment?

Love Jo x

PRODUCT REVIEW: RIMMEL PRO MATTE FINISH MATTIFYING TOPCOAT

It's Mothers Day today in the UK and I enjoyed a lovely couple of hours to myself so I thought I would try out a new product I recently purchased.

The product is called Rimmel Pro Matte Top Coat and it claims to Give a velvety 'Matte Finish' over your nail polish!

I love any kind of nail design so I’ve decided to include a real quick easy tutorial to demonstrate the use of this product and whether it stands up to that claim!

All you will need is the following products plus your favourite base and glossy top coat.

Firstly paint your nails as normal.  Base Coat + Colour + Glossy Top Coat

For my colour I have chosen to use one of my favourite Reds by Chanel Le Varnis Nail Colour in 159 FIRE

For the next step - With the Perfect nail tip stickers place a sticker carefully across the end of each nail covering this area entirely. Your nails must be fully dry before doing this!

Once the stickers are in place, paint the visible part of the nail with the Rimmel Matte Topcoat.

Don’t worry if you paint over the stickers as these are there to prevent the product to cover that area as all will hopefully be revealed when the stickers are removed!

As you paint with the topcoat you will see it still looks glossy until it starts to dry when it becomes that velvety matte finish.

Wait for it to dry thoroughly and then carefully remove the stickers 

There you go! Lovely glossy Red French Tips just what I hoped for...

This product and the stickers could be used for a number of designs with all different colours.

The only slight problem I found is the matte topcoat is quite thick and really you only need a very thin layer as although it looked and felt quite dry when I removed the stickers it did lift the varnish a little. My advice is to really leave it to dry for a while to prevent any scuffs or dents.

Let me know if you've tried this brand or any others similar?

Love Jo
x