bloomzy /

Update & Giveaway Winner

First off, I would just like to apologise for the lack of blog posts recently.
I have been suffering with an ongoing medical condition, which has worsened in the last week.
However, after a visit to the hospital I have been put on some new medication and told to relax as much as possible. Therefore I decided to take a long weekend away from the blog – sometimes I stress about getting posts up on time – but now I am feeling a bit better and shall do my best to return to a normal posting schedule.

Now, onto the winner of the Skin79 BB Cream Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Sophia!
I will be sending you an email shortly.

Thank you to everyone that entered.
I hope to host more giveaways in the near future, so please keep an eye out!
bloomzy /

Wish List: EMODA

A selection of items from the EMODA Global Webstore

Emoda is a brand that I have been a fan of for several years.
Based in Japan, they have now opened up their global webstore (in English).
This means that fans outside of Japan, and newcomers can buy and order items to their country.
When the store first launched it was filled with mostly basic items, but since the opening more items have been added. The store still doesn’t feature the full collection that you might see in-store/on the Japanese webstore, but it is slowly building up. It’s likely that more pieces will be added if the team see a market for it.
The webstore also offers members the chance to collect points, much like you would be able to do in-store. After you have accrued over 500 points you can spend them on any future purchase you make – 500 points = 500yen discount.
The reason I choose the items I did is because they were cute basics that I could easily coordinate with my own items. To be honest I already have a necklace exactly like the Emoda one, but I still wouldn’t mind adding it to my collection. My favourite pieces have to be the mixed texture t-shirt and the floral print dress. They both really stood out to me.
You can browse Emoda’s new global webstore here.
bloomzy /

Review: Lush Colour Supplement

First off I’d like to excuse the state of my pot of Jackie Oats.
I was recently asked by some readers to review Lush’s colour supplement, after I mentioned it was one of my favourites in my ‘Basic Make-Up Must Haves‘ post. It is an item I use everyday, hence why mine looks very used. I’ll try to update the post with a nicer picture when I buy my next pot.
Lush’s Colour Supplements are an amazing addition to the natural beauty market.
I went into my local Lush store to try out their supplements, as I’m a fan of natural beauty products and the brand itself. The lovely staff lady helped me pick my shade. We tried out the pale pink and yellow shades, but they didn’t work out and eventually we settled on ‘Jackie Oats‘. Jackie Oats is the palest of the 5 shades that Lush currently offers, and is aimed at ‘English Rose’ complexions. As it is aimed at those with pale skin, it also includes sun block to help those with sensitive skin – it also includes aloe vera and oatmilk to help reduce redness, which is one thing I have found to be very effective.

Swatch

The great thing about Lush’s colour supplements is that you can use them in several different ways:
1. Straight out of the pot, as a foundation.
2. Dabbed onto the skin, as a concealer. 
3. Mixed with your favourite moisturiser, as a tinted moisturiser.

Notes:
Lush’s Jackie Oats is the first ‘foundation’ that has matched my skin tone enough that it isn’t visible.
By this I mean that it isn’t too dark or orange, and it blends well with my natural skin tone.
It covers any red marks I might have, and helps to even out my complexion. I usually pair it with Collection 2000 powder, as it holds it well. Since I started using Jackie Oats as a foundation people have been complimenting my complexion. Someone even said it was flawless a few days ago. 
I’m definitely sold!
You can find Lush’s Colour Supplements in-store and online, here.
bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Tokyo, Old & New

Central Shibuya and Ichigaya Fishing Centre – Tokyo, Japan

I wanted to do another photo diary post from Japan as it seems like I haven’t done one for a while.
As I was looking through my photos from my time living in Tokyo, I was reminded of one of the reasons I love the capital city so much – the mixture of old and new. It might seem a bit cliche or it may not even make sense, but to me Tokyo manages to perfectly mix traditional (or ‘old’) and modern culture. Of course there are times when the two don’t match, but it’s surprising how harmoniously they get on in such a bustling city.
The new
Shibuya is arguably one of the most modern districts in Tokyo, known as a mecca for young people.
In the photos I included you can see Shibuya station, which is constantly packed full of commuters.
I also included photos of popular shopping malls Shibuya 109 (aimed at young women), and Shibuya 109-2 (the male equivalent of 109, which also has a few women’s stores). The adverts on the sides of the buildings change constantly, keeping you up-to-date with the music, food and tv you should be partaking in.
The Old
Ichigaya Fishing Centre may not seem that ‘old’ but the past-time of fishing goes back a long way in Japan.
As you exit the highly modern commuter train (Chuo/Sobu line) and look out across from the platform you will spot the fishing centre hidden amongst skyscrapers, and high-rise office buildings/apartments – the set-up definitely stands out against its backdrop. The customers who frequent the centre use traditonal methods to catch the fish.
Don’t worry though, all the fish are put back in the pond after being caught and weighed.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Formal Floral

(Blouse: H&M, Dress: Primark, Earrings: Topshop)

As some of you may know through my Twitter, I am currently in Wales staying with the fiancé.
Well unfortunately the weather hasn’t been wonderful so I’ve reverted back to my old ways.
That means black on black, with black tights. To think, I was doing so well!
Anyway, this outfit was for a dinner event we were invited to last night.
It wasn’t anything too formal, but I felt the need to wear something slightly demure for the occasion.
The blouse is sheer, so I popped one of my little black dresses underneath, so I wasn’t flashing everyone.
On other occasions that would have been fine, but I decided otherwise for this one. 
I really love the print on this top, it’s so beautiful and the colours just pop!
The faux-leather collar adds a little something extra to the look so you can easily dress it up or down.
As for the dress…well it was awkward as I had to keep adjusting it so it wouldn’t crease. I hate that material.
So what do you think? Did I manage to look presentable?
bloomzy /

Review: Avon Nailwear Pro+ ‘Star’

Avon 12ml Nailwear Pro+ in ‘Star’
A few weeks ago I entered a nail art contest with Avon, and I was luckily one of the first 200 entrants.
This meant that I was sent one of the polishes from their new Nailwear Pro+ collection.
The Avon Nailwear Pro+ collection comes in 10 shades and is fortified with acrylic gel – to add extra strength, and Dura-Plus Complex – I have no idea what this is and when I googled it I only got results for Avon. Anyone? 
Anyway the product claims “12 days of lasting colour, 10 days of shine and nick-resistant finish.”
Avon Nailwear Pro+ in ‘Star’  – 2 Coats

Pros:
+ Nice big bottle
+ Easy application
+ Only needed 2 coats
+ Can be worn sheer or opaque
Cons:
– Started to chip after 3 days
– Colour was a little lacklustre 
– Didn’t live up to the hype
Notes:
For a polish that claims to be strong and chip resistant I felt a little let down.
I don’t do anything where I use my hands more than the average person so I felt a bit sad when it started to chip after only 3 days. I have used other brands of polish that lasted longer and they haven’t been ones to claim long-lasting ability. Even so I really liked that the polish was opaque after only 2 coats and that I could also wear it sheer, or layer it over other polishes. The colour wasn’t something I would choose myself, but maybe that’s a good thing as it has let me try something different.
All in all, it was good for a free polish and at [currently] £2.49 you can’t really complain.
You can buy Avon Nailwear Pro+ polishes here.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Givenchy-Inspired

Top: Oasap* | Shorts: H&M | Shoes: Urban Outfitters | Necklace: Topshop

How gorgeous is this Givenchy inspired top from Oasap? I instantly fell in love with the Givenchy Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection, so when I found this on Oasap I had to grab it straight away! I love the clash of black, gold and purple, the irises (flower) add a touch of femininity which contrasts amazingly with the black and gold rock vibe of the top.
Thanks to having a larger chest, it was difficult to get the shirt to sit straight as you can probably see. However it still fit fine, with some room to move around in. It did originally come with shoulder pads attached, but I felt that they didn’t add anything to the top so I took them off (easily). I have a similar top/dress arriving soon from another brand and I can’t wait to add it to my own Givenchy inspired (knock-off sounds so harsh) collection.
I think next time I’d like to pair this with a more daring outfit. 
I’ll also try and take a photo in better lighting next time, so you can really see how gorgeous it is.
Don’t forget to visit Oasap and use discount code: ‘bloomzy’ for 35% off!