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Introducing: Stranger London (and a purchase)

Handmade ‘London to Japan’ Coasters, and Parisian Pouch from Stranger London
I love handmade items, and I have so much respect for those who are talented enough to create them. Yet I often find that I’m not drawn to most handmade shops due to the style not suiting my own. However when I came across Stranger London (selling handmade & one-off items) I was automatically drawn in. I knew that this is a brand that would fit into my lifestyle, and onto my dresser. I can’t get enough of the prints that Yasumi uses; they’re so perfectly suited to my style and taste. She handpicks every print and turns them into amazing bags, cases, passport sleeves and more. Yes, there is so much more –  she also sells items that she has found (including vintage pieces) and picked lovingly for the site. It really feels as if Yasumi is letting you step into her own secret magical world. 
I happened to come across her ‘London to Japan’ Coasters, which was incredibly well-timed as I happened to be looking for more items for our lounge. As avid tea drinkers I find that a coaster is always needed, but they often seem a bit old fashioned. So when I stumbled upon Yasumi’s creation I knew I had to have them! The Liberty London and traditional Japanese prints are timeless, and speak volumes about mine and Ben’s life – previously living in Tokyo and now in London. So yes, it did seem that it was made especially for me, something which is not easy to come by. The quality is superb and everything was handled professionally and quickly. So when it arrived I didn’t expect that the service could be any better. Well I was wrong. Yasumi had included a little surprise gift of a Parisian style pouch (another city I’ve lived in and loved), along with a beautifully handwritten note. C’était parfait! I will definitely be purchasing items from the store again. In fact I currently have my eye on: Jurmo Marimekko Tote, Mono Unikko Case, Texture Colour Lines Bracelet, and Stranger Forest Patisserie Tote. Hurry up pay day!
You can check out Yasumi’s creations at Stranger London.
bloomzy /

Review: Label M Toni & Guy Powder Colour Hair Spray

I started dying my hair when I was a teenager. I was always looking for something new and amazing that would turn my almost-black hair a cotton candy pink, or a dazzlingly bright blue. Unfortunately no amount of hair mascara or wash-out hair dye would offer me the results I so desperately wanted. Since then I have gone on to have more than my fair share of dye jobs, and now I’m back to something a bit more subtle. Still, I’d love the opportunity to try out something a little different every now and again. Thankfully for me, the new colour makeover set from Label.M (part of the Toni and Guy family) landed on my doormat. 
The Label.M powder sprays come in 4 colours: red, purple, pink and blue. The colours spray in (best done around 20cm away from the hair) and wash out, making them perfect for a quick colour festival fix this Summer.
Pros:
+ Amazing pigmentation
+ Easy to apply
+ Washes out easily

Cons:
– Leaves hair matted after application 
– Difficult to brush through

Notes:

These sprays left me wanting to pull my wonderfully coloured hair out. They are the epitome of a love-hate product, and it’s all down to whether you’re willing to accept the bitter aftertaste of an otherwise delicious product. First off, let me just say that I am amazed at the pigmentation with these sprays. I have dark hair with light tips (ombré) and I can vouch that all of these colours work on both. You can see me with the purple spray above (check out my Instagram for photos of the other colours). Now, the colour may look amazing, but I was more than a little upset with what happened afterwards. As soon as the colour had dried, my hair became matted and I was unable to even comb it. The main reason this bothered me is because I never get knots. I tried putting argan oil on it (as recommended by Poppy D) but my hair felt like a birds nest. The argan oil worked slightly, but my hair was still unmanageable. In fact the only way to bring my hair back to life was to wash it out. I had more success when I used the sprays on my fringe, but my hair was still matted, just less so. This was the same for all of the colours unfortunately. So you can see my problem – great colour outcome, but difficult to work with. If you fancy using this on styled hair, such as a bun or braids, I think this would be great. Maybe even just using it on the tips of your hair would work, but don’t expect to be able to use this on a large amount of hair without having to deal with the aftermath. As for the spray transferring onto clothes and skin, I happened to get some on my top, but I threw it in the wash and it came out as good as new. The colour makeover set costs £15 for 4x50ml sprays in the 4 colours shown above or £9.95 for 1x150ml. I won’t be repurchasing these, purely because I don’t know how to deal with matted hair. If anyone has any tips I’d love to know, as I really would like to get the most out of these.

You can purchase the Label M Colour Makeover Set or the separate sprays at Label M.

bloomzy /

Make-up from Muji, Japan

Last week my lovely friend Renka sent me some Muji goodies all the way from Tokyo, Japan.
Admittedly I went a little Muji crazy after I attended the press event for their new Islington store, and I ended up on their Japanese site. I only visited Muji a couple of times in Japan, but it’s safe to say that the UK stores still have a lot to live up to. The Japanese stores boast snacks, skincare, plants and even make-up (amongst other things). Yes, make-up! As a dedicated beauty blogger I knew that I had to get my hands on some of the products. Renka was amazing and sent me a small parcel before I’d even got the chance to see her enthusiastic reply (to my cry for help). 
I really wanted to try out the basics first, and so I asked for the highlighter (in my experience Japanese highlighters are the best), an eye colour base (to use before applying eyeshadow), and one of their foundations (in light natural, with spf). Everything I would need for a simple base. The packaging is also simple, fitting in perfectly with Muji’s ‘no brand’ aesthetic. The addition of helpful application tips on the back allow you to get the best out of your product. I would have loved to try some of their skincare/hair products but I’m a bit cautious when it comes to liquids/creams, due to the Royal Mail suddenly deciding that we’re not allowed to send or receive anything of interest anymore (slight dramatisation).
All 3 products came to just under £11.50, with the foundation being the most expensive product at 900円 (£5.20). Comparing it to UK prices, that’s more than reasonable. Muji may not be a well known beauty brand in Europe, but they’re a trusted company with a loyal fan base in Japan, so I’m really looking forward to trying these and reviewing them on the blog.
Browse Muji Japan‘s make-up section, or take a peek at Muji UK (sadly, sans make-up).
bloomzy /

Review: Birchbox ‘World Cup’ June 2014 Beauty Box

Birchbox ‘World Cup – Brazil’ June 2014 Beauty Box

This month’s box had a lot to live up to after last month’s Harper’s Bazaar collaboration box. 
I was actually surprised when the ever enthusiastic delivery guy (can you feel the sarcasm leaking through you screen?) turned up with my box, due to a lack of correspondence from Birchbox themselves. Still, I’m not going to complain about a box turning up without a dispatch email when it could have easily been the other way round. Opening up my box I didn’t really know what to expect. I hadn’t seen any mention of a theme, and honestly, my heart dropped a little when I saw the green and yellow. I’m not a football fan and lately every brand out there is trying to be included in the World Cup glory. 
The branding was clever with this box, but I wasn’t drawn in by the theme.
Inside my box was…
Embryolisse – Lait Crème Concentre
Silk + Honey – Shea Butter Hair Mask
OPI Nail Polish – Next Stop…The Bikini Zone (The Brazil Collection)
Yves Rocher – Sheer Botanical Lipstick in #21 Litchi
Naobay – Body Radiance Lotion
Birchbox – Brazil Inspired Keyring
Thoughts?
I’m not one to judge a book by it’s cover, however my dismay at the month’s theme did translate to the products slightly. I don’t really know where to start. Maybe I should talk about the products I’m happy with first. The reasonably sized Silk + Honey Shea Butter Hair Mask is certainly something I will use and enjoy, so I’m more than happy to have it in my box. I was excited by the Yves Rocher Lipstick, but when I tried it on it was no different than a lip balm, as the ‘tint’ of colour wasn’t present. I was also a bit sad that the YR logo had scratched off my tube slightly, making me think these were seconds. The OPI polish is a lovely shade, and certainly something I’d wear, but I have a love hate relationship with OPI. I’ve found some of their polishes to be poor quality, but I have high hopes for this one. The Naobay lotion, and the Embryolisse moisturiser are items I could take or leave. I already have a bunch of moisturisers and sample size lotions, so these will just go into my ever-evergrowing pile. Finally, the keyring. Maybe I’m a buzzkill but it reminds me of the tacky souvenirs found at so many British seaside resorts. I do see the fun in it though so I can’t hate on it, I just won’t be using it.
Overall I’m a bit disappointed in this month’s box, and if it wasn’t for the quality of the
previous boxes I’ve received I would be unsubscribing. Here’s hoping next month’s Birchbox gets back to form!
You can subscribe or buy the ‘World Cup’ box at Birchbox.
Using my link will give you (and me) £5 worth of points to spend in the store.
bloomzy /

Review: Cuticura Skin + Balance Soothing Facial Cleanser, for Sensitive Skin

Cuticura Skin Balance Soothing Facial Cleanser, for Sensitive Skin*

Honestly, I was a little surprised when the package from Cuticura, featuring their new skincare range, turned up at my door. I know the brand for their anti-bacterial gel and hand washes (which are a staple in my household). That doesn’t mean that I was unhappy to see a selection of cleansers, toners and moisturisers though (all in a gorgeously personalised travel case). In fact I was very pleased to see that the brand was branching out into something more appealing – to me anyway. 
The range offers cleansers, toners, wipes and moisturisers (hand, body and face) for several types of skin: combination/oily, dry, and sensitive skin. Due to having the most awkward skin in the world (or so it seems at times), I decided to test out the sensitive skin range first. First up was the facial cleanser, which is specially formulated with aloe vera and chamomile, to gently cleanse the skin and remove impurities/make-up. 
Pros:
+ Amazing price point
+ Simple, but nice packaging
+ No soap, no fragrance
+ Gentle on skin

Cons:
– Slightly drying

Notes:
I should start by saying that I’m not a massive fan of facial washes, which this is. I can be pretty lazy, so I tend to just pour my cleanser on a cotton pad and have it over and done with. So a product like this is a change to my routine, which doesn’t usually involve water as it dries out my skin. So yes, this did mean that I found it to be drying on my skin, however once it was paired with a toner and moisturiser, that problem was solved. Therefore it’s not a massive con for me. Even though it was slightly drying, it was gentle on my skin, if that makes sense. No adverse reactions, irritation or reddening. If you suffer from sensitive skin, you’ll know that this can be quite a bother when it comes to skincare. That’s a big pro right there, and it tells me that they’ve done their research properly. The packaging of the product is pretty simple, but it tells you everything you need to know, and what to expect. Now, onto the biggest pro of them all – the price! This facial cleanser is only £1.79! Yes, you heard me correctly, it’s less than £2. I think that’s pretty amazing. It means that those who don’t want to spend much money on skincare/or those who just can’t afford to, can purchase a decent product at an affordable price. Will I be purchasing this again? Probably not, but that’s because of my dislike for facial washes.
You can purchase Cuticura‘s Soothing Facial Cleanser at Savers, Bodycare and independent pharmacies.
bloomzy /

Introducing Vivid Drinks: A Matcha a Day…

I don’t usually do posts like this, but I figured it went hand-in-hand with the blog. You might be wondering why that is, and I say, shame on you! If you don’t know of my love of matcha by now, then, well…you’ve probably been doing something productive with your life. Anyway, I do love matcha and I do like to mention it a lot, on the blog, my Twitter, and to anyone who will listen. So when Vivid sent me a crate of their matcha based drinks, I did a little happy dance. 
Vivid Drinks was set up by a fellow matcha lover – James Shillcock.
He decided that it was about time that matcha made it’s big break in the UK. Up until now, it has only been available to health addicts, and those who have the money to afford it – most places that sell matcha have raised the price to extortionate levels. However James wanted it to be available to everyone, in a convenient way. Vivid Drinks was born. Thanks to his expertise in the tea industry, and time travelling in China, he’s the perfect candidate.
So why do I love matcha (green tea powder) so much? 
Not only is it super delicious, but it is full of amazing benefits. It contains a lot less caffeine (only 0.01mg) than coffee, and regular tea. That means it’s a lot better for your body, but don’t fret because it does also give you a healthy boost. I can’t drink highly caffeinated drinks like coffee or coca cola, so this is a great way for me to enjoy it. More importantly though, it is full of antioxidants (130x more than regular green tea), which are wonderfully good for you. Vivid Drinks have managed to keep all of those amazing benefits inside their drinks, whilst adding some healthy tasty flavours to the matcha. Matcha is quite bitter by itself, so pairing it with something sweet, like honey or pear is a really good idea. My personal favourite from the collection is the Lime, Ginger & Honey. In fact it was also the first one I tried when I ordered it at a tea room on Church Street. I didn’t know what to expect, but left with a happy tummy and my matcha craving satisfied. I make sure to drink a matcha a day, why don’t you try doing the same?
You can purchase Vivid Drinks in stores such as WH Smith, Waitrose, Selfridges & Whole Foods for £1.85 each. You may also find them in your local cafe, so keep an eye out, and visit Vivid for more information.
bloomzy /

OOTD: All White on the Night

Shawl* – Oasap | Playsuit – Rare London | Sandals* – Fitflop | Sunglasses* – Ray-Ban | Bracelet – Marc by Marc Jacobs
 
The rainy spell that was cast on England has been lifted…well, for now anyway. The sun shone gloriously this weekend, and I made the most of it by tackling hoards of tourists in Central on Saturday. Thankfully Sunday was much more chilled, and a lot hotter! I knew the time had come to bring out my new playsuit from Rare London.
If you saw my Instagram last week, you’ll know that I find it hard to wear all white. So you’d be surprised that I fell for this lovely little playsuit. The layered top half means it will be flattering for most body shapes, and it gives it a little something extra. Admittedly I still felt slightly awkward when I wore it solo, but I resolved that problem quickly, by wearing my new shawl over top. Which is also good for keeping the sun off my skin (take care of your skin this Summer kids)! I went slightly overboard with accessories on this one – obviously the plain base frightened me slightly and sent my styling skills a little crazy.  Still, I love accessorising with this shawl and I think the simple silver and turquoise necklace goes together perfectly with the rest of the outfit. I threw on one too many rings, and my Marc Jacobs bracelet. My reasoning? I’ve barely worn it and I didn’t want it to feel left out. Finally I put on my favourite sandals, so it didn’t seem too dressy. It wasn’t my intention this time but I think this playsuit would also work well dressed up for the evening. That’s super handy if you’re lazy busy like me, and you don’t have the time to change during the day. Just bring a pair of heels and some statement earrings – boom, you’re done!
Did you make it to the end of this post without being blinded by my pasty white legs?
Well done to you, you get bonus points!