F.B.L Quick Tip #26

Cover your lips in foundation before applying lipstick

You will get the full effect of the colour and it will help it last longer

 

 

 



Catwalk Killa Launch Party

It's always nice to see a new fashion boutique being launched and I was lucky enough to attend Catwalk Killa's launch party along with fellow Manchester bloggers. It is always so nice to put a face to the name that you might only otherwise seen on screen and in this case it was the lovely Lauren (aka Fashion Panic) and Vicky. They are 2 best friends whose love for fashion inspired them to have their own online shop: Catwalk Killa!

 

 

Taking place in the Northan quarter, aka the tending part of Manchester in Lammars (you have to check this place out if you get the chance!), it was the perfect setting in my opinion! It gave the relaxed atmosphere you would want with everyone chatting and taking a peek at a selection of gorgeous fashion pieces, in between having drink and some treats from the sweetie bar and the yummy homemade cakes. Also, can't forget the selfie wall! One of the first garments I spotted was the gorgeous body con dress with the lace neckline. I just fell in love with it! After looking at their website I also fell in love with the white skater dress - it would be perfect for a day at the races.

We also got the cutest little goody bags which had a bottle of water (a fashion essential!), a lipstick, bracelet and a bag of sweets along side a leaflet for the online shop.

Despite only having a small collection, I can imagine this soon expanding due to the enthusiasm of both the girls. Make sure you go and check out their website and keep an eye on it!
Thank you to both Lauren and Vicky for such a good evening and of course for the invite - looking forward to treating myself from your boutique!

Love Laura x

Wrap.me Instagram Paper

 

Everybody uses wrapping paper and also uses Instagram but how about combining the two? This is exactly what Wrap.me do! On their website you can connect your Instagram account and pick as many of your photos as you wish to create your own bespoke paper. 

 

I chose to use some of the photos I have taken of my horse Bonnie, as I thought it was something different and after receiving it, I am so happy and it literally looks amazing! The paper itself feels really good quality and the images are super clear, making this something so amazing and unique. I got a small roll, but it seems like there is quite a lot of paper on it so it would probably wrap a few presents up - meaning that it is value for money as it is £9.99 for the small roll. It is slightly more expensive than regular wrapping paper but you are getting something bespoke using your very own images.

 

It also came within 2 days and in a triangle shaped box (like a Toblarone) wrapped in a bag and with a small paper band so it was well protected. Also, everything has the wrap.me logo on without it looking to much and I personally really like it. 

I would defiantly recommend Wrap.me to anyone who wants to make a present completely unique and even more special.

Love Laura x

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Exclusive Reds - Eva

Everyone loves a red lip and I am defiantly not exception to this! L'Oreal always do amazing shades of lipstick and they are one of my favourite brands to go to when I am on the lookout for something a little different. This is why I was so excited to try one of their new Colour Riche Exclusive Reds lipsticks.

 

I did a quick swatch of the 4 shades and, although they were all lovely, I decided on Eva. This is because I felt it looked the best against my skin tone without it being too much, as some reds can be. It is easy to apply with it's creamy texture and leaves your lips moisturized, even though it is a matte formula - which is bang on trend right now! It is strongly pigmented, so you get the bold red lip you want which also makes it perfect to wear for both day and night. It is also long-lasting - I had this on all day and only had to touch up slightly after lunch - which is perfect and it also means that one tube of lipstick lasts a lot longer and you get more wear for your money. The packaging makes this lipstick look a lot more expensive than it actually is and I love the gold tube.

 

To apply, I outlined and completely filled my lips with lip liner which was a similar shade to the lipstick. Then, using the lipstick from the tube, I applied starting from the cupid's bow outwards. Then simply blot with a tissue and go!

I would defiantly recommend this, as it is one of the best red lipsticks I have worn in a long time and I would also say that it rivals - and beats - some of the more expensive, luxury makeup brands. The L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Exclusive Reds are something every girl should have in her makeup bag!

Love Laura x

Cooper & Hill - Crowd&Co

I have had a involvement with Cooper & Hill since their launch, including having a say in their first crowd design process for the purse. For those of you who may not have heard of Cooper & Hill, they are a luxury bespoke bag and purse brand and they bridge the gap between manufacturer and consumer to make their gorgeous items affordable, but still have the luxury label and quality.

Their newest venture is Crowd & Co. Now this is a new concept to me but a genius one! Basically it is the idea of bringing their luxury brand products to a wide audience at an affordable price.
How Crowd & Co works is that the more people who commit to buying a product or just register their interest the more the price will decrease until it reaches its lowest. This means that customers are getting the product at a much lower trade price rather than the retail price, where there is normally a significant rise. This means that you can get something that should be £125 for as low as £32. Think of that saving for a well made and beautiful bag/purse! There are clear tables on each page which show the breakdown of the progress of the price drop depending on the amount of commitments.

As I'm sure people are aware, there is always power in numbers and in this is a perfect example of this. The more commitment = a lower price for everyone. The control really is in the customers hands! Such a unique concept and I could honestly see other brands following in Cooper & Hill's footsteps.

I honestly can't recommend taking a least a look at this exciting new platform and also getting the chance to buy one of Cooper & Hill's amazing bags or purses. Also, make sure you share, as the more people commit and show interest the lower the price for you!

Let me know what you think and more importantly, what you buy!

Love Laura x

Ted Baker Wishlist

Oh how I love Ted Baker! Their stores are always so welcoming - from the layout of the store to the helpful assistants and of course the amazing collections they have which is the best of British style but still has a quirky twist. Did you know, in their very first stores they offered a laundry service for every shirt bought and gained the title ‘No Ordinary Designer Label’? One thing I am always drawn to at Ted Baker is their gorgeous dresses which, not only beautiful, but fit amazingly to you. These are the types of dresses you could wear on both a night out and also for a day at the races depending on how you styled them. Also Ted Baker is well known for their huge collection of bags in all shapes and sizes and are easily recognisable by the printing of the brand name either on the side or on gold plaques.
Ted Baker is up there as quintessentially British along side other brands such as Burberry and Mulberry and defiantly worth a visit to one of their stores - you wont be disappointed!

Love Laura x

It's 'Bean' A Pleasure Mr.Bean

Instagram is one place I always look for new products and it defiantly hasn't failed me with this one! Mr Bean Body Care* is a 100% organic coffee scrub for your skin which is made from premium ingredients including organic fair trade coffee beans, Himalayan pink rock salt, Demerara sugar, cold pressed coconut and vitamin E oils. It also comes in 3 different variations - coconut, mandarin, and Mr. Bean Man. The one I have been using is Mandarin.

First off, the packaging. It came in a big padded envelope and inside a brown box, so it was defiantly well protected while it was being delivered - thumbs for that! The bag itself is simple and sophisticated. It has everything on it you need to know (ingredients etc) without a loads of text and silly images you don't need - it's straight to the point. Also, black and white is so chic, making it look amazing in your bathroom. I would also like to mention that they are excellent is replying to emails and also delivery, as mine was delivered within a few days. Their website is full of tips on how to use and any other information you might require. In my mind, this makes them a company which actually cares about both their product and their customers.

 

It is very rare that I find a skincare product - let alone a scrub - that I love but this defiantly hits the spot. After just one use I could feel the difference in my skin. It is so smooth and soft - think better than the just saved legs feel, its that good! The added bonus which isn't actually mentioned by Mr.Bean on their website is the glow it leaves behind. With these cold winter months and skin being covered up so much, my skin can get quite dull but this defiantly helped to 'perk' it right up and left it feeling bright and healthy. Also, after using it on my face, I noticed that I needed to use less concealer/foundation and my pores seemed smaller and acne scars a lot less obvious. With spending so much time outside in all weathers and being around horses my hands are always in need of a bit of nourishment. After scrubbing it into my body to exfoliate, it got rid of all the dry skin on my hands too. Result! As I have quite sensitive skin which is prone to breakouts I was wondering if this would effect it, but it honestly didn't - well did but in a good way! My back is defiantly a problem area but after using Mr.Bean, I have had the clearest skin I think I have ever had without it being weighed down with different products.

 

Now, the smell. Absolutely amazing! The coffee mixed with the mandarin is gorgeous - think chocolate orange but coffee instead. It is quite strong at first but you soon get used to it - especially if your a coffee lover. I don't actually like coffee to drink but the smell YUM!
The most common question you ask yourself with a new product is if it is worth the money. I can tell you there is a whole lot of scrubbin' in this little bag, I have used it about 3 times and still have over half a bag left. This is because a little defiantly goes a long way with this body scrub. A lot of companies charge a lot for a miracle product but its not the care here and after trying it I would happily go out and spend £13.95 on this.

Directions for use: get wet, rub a large handful of scrub in circular massage motions focusing on your problem areas. Leave to dry for 5 minutes and finish with a rinse. Simple enough! I have been using this about once a week, as I feel this is best for me but it is gentle enough to use every day of you wish. I know some people might find the mess it makes of putting but doesn't bother me in the slightest - you are in the shower/bath so it is easy to wash away. Mr.Bean certainly wasn't kidding when they say you get 'down and dirty' with it!

I would defiantly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good exfoliator, as it does exactly what it is suppose to do. It is also completely different to anything I have ever seen before and I genuinely look forward to using it.

Love Laura x

F.B.L Quick Tip #25

 

 

Help your freshly bruised skin from developing into a massive deal by patting on mouthwash to the affected area.

Use a cotton pad soaked in the mouthwash for maximum results.