bloomzy /

Teeny Tiny Haul: Lisa Angel

Lisa Angel Rose Gold Stack Rings & Lapis Necklace*
You may remember my last post on Lisa Angel.
Well since then the brand has been growing and growing.
I’m always so proud to see local brands do well, so it means a lot to me.
I’ve known the brand since they first started up, which was quite a while ago.
My friend who works for them was kind enough to send me a couple of items recently.
I’m a big fan of rose gold lately, and after my rings from Whistles turned sour I needed some new ones.
I was lucky enough to spot these rose gold stack rings on the website, which were exactly what I wanted.
I thought the little ‘Live, Love, Dance, Sing’ motifs written around the individual rings was a lovely touch.
I’ll probably be wearing these altogether as a set, as I like to overindulge like that.
The second item was this beautifully petite semi-precious Lapis necklace.
A lot of the semi-precious jewellery I own are statement pieces, which means I don’t really layer them.
That may sound odd but I’ve been after something delicate, that I could layer with other necklaces.
Lapis is probably one of my favourite stones for this as the deep blue really stands out, especially against gold.
This may soon become my ‘go-to’ everyday necklace.
I had a lot of fun photographing these as the times and packaging were so cute.
Can I just be a jewellery photographer now please?!
You can receive 20% off at Lisa Angel until 31st March with code: ‘bloomzy’.
Shop online here.
bloomzy /

My Tatty Devine Name Necklace

Two weeks ago I finally took the plunge and ordered a name necklace from Tatty Devine.

Partly because I had a lil extra suttin’ suttin’ in my bank account, and because I’d finally decided on a name/word.
Of course you don’t have to have your name on the necklace, and as you can see I didn’t.
Well, kind of…
When I ordered it I was expecting a lot of people to say “Err why does it say Bloomzy?”
But actually my friends & family agreed with me that it was a nice idea to get my alter-ego (pfft yeah right, I’m not exciting enough to have an alter-ego) etched out for my shiny necklace. I wanted to celebrate my blog – it’s a big part of my life, which has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, and has taken me on a number of very amazing adventures – so it only seemed natural. Well that, and ‘Emma’ just seemed a little bit boring to me.
I guess it will also work as a handy name tag at future events.

I had mine made from the new ‘Shimmer’ iridescent option.
It’s a special Spring addition to the colour chart, which was added a few weeks ago.
It looks like a clear plastic, but it’s a whole lot more than that because it acts like a prism.
I absolutely adore the way it changes colour according to the light and it’s backdrop.
The whole process was simple and easy, well, once I’d finally decided the colour, font, charm etc.
It does take about 2 weeks if you order online or at the Brick Lane store, however if you head to their Selfridges concession you can get it done within the hour! How amazing is that?! It’s perfect if you’re in a rush or need one for a present asap.

Fancy seeing what your name would look like on a Tatty Devine necklace?
Have a go at designing your own on their interactive page here.

ETA: My photos/name necklace were featured in the Tatty Devine newsletter!

bloomzy /

Review: L’Occitane Hydration Cream

L’Occitane Creme Radieuse Hydration Cream*
It seemed that my search for a moisturiser fit for using on my face was forever ongoing.
That was until I found this little gem – the L’Occitane Creme Radieuse Hydration Cream.
I received this sample size in a Birchbox last November and wasn’t sure what to think of it.
In fact, I was pretty convinced that I would never use it, in fear that it would make my skin breakout.
I have combination skin that is too dry for certain products and breaks out with other rich ones.
That in a nutshell is why I don’t like to use a lot of facial moisturisers as part of my routine.
So I was delighted when I took a chance and started using this.
Pros:
+ Not too rich
+ Smells lovely
+ Works well as a primer
+ Moisturising & Hydrating
+ Only a tiny amount is needed
Cons:
– Scent isn’t for everyone
– May not be rich enough for some skin types
Notes:
Ok, I think you can see that I was stretching with the cons there.
Personally I have no cons for this product, but I tried to think of others.
I’m just happy to finally find a moisturiser that is moisturising enough and not too rich.
The sample size of this is perfect, as I only need to apply a little every morning and evening.
The full size is a little pricey at £30 and honestly I don’t think I’d be able to use it all before it goes out of date. That said, L’Occitane also feature the sample size in a travel set with the cleanser & toner, so I’ll definitely be taking advantage of that when I run out of this one.
You can purchase the full size version online here.
Or you can find the travel kit in L’Occitane stores.
bloomzy /

Celebrating Women: My Idol, Frida Kahlo

This may be a tad late, but in celebration of International Women’s Day I wanted to do a special post.
Of course IWD was all about celebrating women, so I decided that I wanted to celebrate one woman in particular.
A lot of you may already know this as I often tweet/tumblr about it, but my idol is Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter who is well known worldwide for her self-portraits.
Described as surrealist, her work heavily features artefacts of her personal struggles, life in Mexico & Mexican culture.
Frida had a troubled life as she suffered from several health problems, most of which stem from a bus accident she was in as a teenager. She later went on to marry Diego Rivera, a man whom she loved deeply, but unfortunately their marriage was not stable. Diego and the affairs that occurred between the two of them are also heavily featured in her art. 
To me, Frida and her work are exceptionally beautiful.
Her paintings show the physical and psychological wounds she suffered from.
Not only that but they represent how proud she was to be a Mexican woman living through the revolution.
Even though her art is bright, bold and wonderful that isn’t the only reason she has become my idol.
She suffered greatly through her life; miscarriages, health issues, marital difficulties and yet she still remained a strong woman. She provoked what was mainstream and often discussed taboo subjects. Even though her art didn’t truly become popular until the 1980s, she was a representative of Mexico and feminists worldwide. I respect her for the decisions she made during her life, and the way she handled love and lose. 
For me, Frida is a role model; someone to admire and learn from.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Frida Kahlo I would recommend the movie ‘Frida‘.
Or the biography, which the film is based on: Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo.
Did you celebrate International Women’s Day?
Who is your idol?
Source; 1, 2, 3, 4
bloomzy /

Review: Imperial Leather Oriental Calm



Imperial Leather Oriental Calm Shower Cream*

As Spring arrives I feel my love for lighter floral scents growing.
The new Imperial Leather Shower Cream in Oriental Calm is a prime example.
As far as shower creams go, Imperial Leather are one of the most well known brands.
Recently I held a giveaway to win the new collection, and I was also given one to try for myself.

“A luxurious and indulgent shower cream combining cherry blossom and vanilla bean. 
Whilst the lather is rich, thick and twice as creamy, the aroma is comforting and promises to relax you.”


Pros:
+ Soft on skin
+ Lathers well
+ Reasonably priced
+ Lovely ‘Spring-y’ scent
+ A little goes a long way


Cons:
– Non-natural ingredients
– Not as moisturising as I’d hoped


Notes:
The application was soft on my skin and lathered extremely well, meaning I didn’t need to use much.
The scent was also pleasant and not overpowering, which meant I could layer with a perfume afterwards.
However the lack of natural ingredients (something that is prominent in my showergel & skincare collection) was a let down for me. I also look for creams that are moisturising but kind to my sensitive skin, but this made my dry skin itch and didn’t moisturise as I’d hoped. Unfortunately I wasn’t overwhelmed by the product. I wouldn’t purchase it myself but I would recommend it to someone who doesn’t suffer from sensitive skin or doesn’t mind the use of non-natural ingredients.

Prices start at £1.89 for 300ml and go up to £2.89 for 750ml.
You can purchase Imperial Leather’s new range of shower creams on the high street and in supermarkets.

bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Neon, Nails… & Cake

Last week I caught the nasty stomach bug that’s been going around.
So when the weekend came I was pretty excited to go out and enjoy myself.
I didn’t go too crazy as I was still feeling a bit gross, but I did indulge a little bit.
I stopped by both Fika and Kahaila, two amazing foodie gems right on Brick Lane.
I also popped up to Tatty Devine to order my first name necklace.
I can’t wait for it to be finished so I can show you all!
As for loves right now, I’ve hopped on the neon bandwagon.
It’s bright, it makes me happy, and I’ve covered myself in it.
I’ve even added a few neon pieces to my home decor.
I also did a bit of nail art last week, which I’ll be posting tutorials for soon.
Unfortunately that lead to me organising my nail polish collection, something I’ve needed to do for a while. 
It meant saying goodbye to old polishes, but also welcoming new ones that had started popping up on my dresser.
The polishes have been reproducing by themselves, honest.
You can follow me on Instagram @bloomzy
bloomzy /

Review: Angelica Nail Polish in Crystal

Angelica Nail Polish in Crystal
 
I haven’t done many nail polish reviews as of late.
So it might be a shock to see that my latest one is of a polish bought from Primark.
Angelica is a UK nail polish brand that sells their polishes to Primark, and also online.
I’d never paid much attention to their stands in Primark stores, as I was probably being a bit of a snob.
I’m all for buying high street make-up as well as high-end but because of my sensitive skin I have to be careful.
Hopefully that will help you understand as to why I’ve never paid much attention to the make-up sold in Primark.
Anyway, as I was waiting in the queue to make a purchase at Primark, this little beauty caught my eye.
I can’t get enough of iridescent everything lately, and this was on sale for only £1 (usually £2.50)!
The polishes themselves are at a good price anyway, but I had to snap up this bargain.

 

Glitter polish is always so awkward to photograph
Pros:
+ Gorgeous iridescent glitter shade
+ Only needed one coat
+ Great coverage
+ Easy to apply
 
Cons:
– Consistency is slightly gloopy
 
Notes:
I’m really impressed with this polish!
I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest I thought I was taking a gamble.
The cheaper brands of polish I have used usually don’t cover well or the shade doesn’t pay out. However this polish applied easily, even if the consistency was slightly gloopy. I just had to make sure that the cover was even and it wasn’t difficult. The iridescent glitter catches the light wonderfully and really you only need one coat – although I did two as I will be wearing it alongside a darker colour (more on that later). I will admit when I’m wrong and I was wrong to misjudge Angelica Nail Polish. This really impressed me and I would definitely try other shades in the range – I’ve been converted.
You can purchase Angelica Polish in Primark stores across the UK.