Such cute little numbers from Madison Footwear!

Recently I was sent these cute shoes by Madison Footwear. They are affordable, super trendy and so comfortable!It’s all in the way you walk and nothing shouts confidence quite like stepping out in a great pair of shoes.  Taking its inspiration from the streets of New York, Madison has created a range of footwear that has the style and quality seen on the hottest catwalks. But these shoes come with affordable price tags - putting even more spring in your step. 


Have a look at their site and be prepared to have mild heart attacks from beginning to end!
http://www.madisonfootwear.co.za/

Love is precious....Azzaro Duo for Him and Her

Azzaro introduces Azzaro Duo Women and Azzaro Duo Men fragrances in shades of gold to celebrate lovers merging as one.

Two fragrances linked by the freshness of grapefruit and the sensuality of musk: 

Azzaro Duo Women 

An oriental fruity chypre creation that reveals its seductive power through two precious and intense accords.

An addictive and radiant fruity-floral accord: 

The delicious notes of red apple and sparkling pink grapefruit bring a lively glow to the composition. The fruity accents of passion flower blend with the rich aromas of gardenia flower, revealing an unsuspected power of attraction. 

A sensual and comforting oriental-woody accord:

The heady vibrations of patchouli and cedar wood intoxicate the senses. The smooth, sensual notes of musk and vanilla orchid reveal their extraordinary seductive powers. 

Azzaro Duo Men

A green woody oriental fragrance structured around two precious and contrasting accords.

A spicy green citrus accord: 

The sparkling freshness of grapefruit and galbanum exhilarates the senses with its radiant glow. The bold aromas of purple ginger and juniper berry work their seductive effect. 

A woody and musky oriental accord:

Vetiver and tonka bean create a swirl of sensuality. Musk and myrrh form a warm harmony, developing an irresistible magnetism in Azzaro Duo Men’s trail.  

Complementary bottles, symbols of eternal love

Born of molten metal, the two sensually tactile pebbles are in perfect harmony; their smooth curves are lacquered with a yellow gold effect for her and white gold for him, symbolising the strength of their feelings and the preciousness of their love. Two new bottles so closely associated that they become inseparable.

Look good naked with Tan Towel

Ever tried a self-tanning towelette? I did. Working with the proteins and amino acids with your own skin, there is no dyes and stains involved. Each towel is individually wrapped for super fresh application.

Now I must mention that when it comes to self tanning products I am beyond sceptical. Either the smell is enough to put you off or the results are disastrous. So here goes...

After following instructions carefully, I started easy. I started with the "On the Glow" Daily face moisturizer. You can of course use the towelettes on the face also, but I wanted to see the result of the cream on it's own. The first thing that struck me was the absence of that horrible smell. It smelled clean and not at all unwelcome. The light brown liquid smoothed on evenly over my face and I blended down my neck onto my chest, taking care not to leave streaks. My skin had a lovely moisturized feeling, no bad smell and I could swear I saw a hint of colour already! The best results is of course to use daily and in 7 days you'll have your barbados tan! RSP R253 for 200ml.

Also included in my test kit was the Tan Towel Bronzer. A very pretty compact powder bronzer with a totally natural, non-shimmering bronzer inside. It had a slightly mattifying effect and it made the tan look completely natural. RSP R275.

When it came to body tanning, first up was the Exfoliating Towelettes. These towelettes exfoliate the skin, acts as a buffer and moisturizes the skin to prepare for 'tanning'. This is only to be used on the body. What was nice is that I used it in the shower and it still had the same great effect than outside cause there was no granules making a mess. The towelette has a coarse side for exfoliating and a smoother side to buff and moisturize the skin. Brilliant thinking! RSP R140 for a 5-pack.


After that step I started with the self tan towelettes. What's nice is that I could use it on my face also. Each little towel is concentrated with the product to give you a even tan with no streaks. It really gave my skin a great natural glow within about 2 hours after developing, once again without the smell. RSP R340 for 10 towelettes.

If you wanted a deeper tan, you can use the Express Tan self tanning mist. Simply spray this on a towelette evenly and use circular movements when applying it to the skin. RSP R279.
What is important to remember is that the product does not have a sun protection factor, so please still use that additionally.

All in all a great experience which really made me believe there is such a think as beautiful sunless tanning.

YSL New Blacks - SHOCKING Blacks

YSL has brought us back to black. And a variation of black. Powerful, seductive, mysterious, dangerous even...

The range offers Shocking Mascaras in 6 colours, same as the cream pot liners in 6 colours to compliment and add extra punch.

Fantastic is the 3 nail varnishes in Black Bronze, Black Lapis and Black Indigo.

Even a stunning felt tip precision liquid line pen?

Black has never been this bewitching...

Now Swarovski does not only offer jewels...

Fragrance... make-up... Aura by Swarovski is much more than this: it is a new masterpiece of femininity and light, signed by Swarovski, the master of crystal.

The name Swarovski is synonymous with an enigmatic substance and a mysterious savoir-faire: cut and faceted crystal.

With unparalleled talent that is preserved and enriched with every passing year, Swarovski transforms crystal into adorn- ments of pure light: jewels, accessories, infinitely small, faceted pieces that add sparkle to cloth used for haute couture garments, and much more...

a dazzling, ever-changing universe whose watchwords are creation, innovation and perfection.

Designs by Swarovski illuminate women like a hidden spotlight, showcasing their natural beauty through the magic of crystal. Now, through fragrance and make-up jewels, a new story emerges, more mysterious than ever before, and more sensuous.

This project was born of a close partner- ship between Swarovski and the perfume experts of Clarins Fragrance Group. The fruit of this collaboration is a new scent signature, with a totally innovative texture and design; a fresh, contemporary reinter- pretation of Swarovski’s legendary heritage. A new seduction, a new sensation.

The goal: to translate into the language of fragrance the aura of light that Swarovski creates through crystal; to add a new dimension of femininity and emotion to the brand universe.

The starting point: the crystal, cut and faceted with Swarovski’s exclusive know- how, captures light, diffracts it and sheds it in a thousand and one luminous vibrations. The scent signature of Aura by Swarovski was directly inspired by this magic.

At the heart of the fragrance is a prism of energy, a fusion of amber, benzoin, and white musk. Three pure and noble olfacto- ry vibrations become charged with energy, transforming into more intense, luminous rays of clear light.

A fruity ray with notes of juicy lychee: connecting to the prism of energy, the ray transforms into intense and rosy vibrations of sensual femininity.

A floral ray with notes of pure white tuberose: connecting to the prism of energy, the ray transforms into voluptuous vibrations of majestic femininity.

A spicy ray with notes of subtly vibrant pink pepper: connecting to the prism of energy, the ray transforms into warm and woody vibrations of mysterious femininity.

A luminous fragrance that surrounds every woman’s beauty in a dazzling, unique aura.

Aura Eau de Parfum by Swarovski allies contemporary fragrance of exceptional quality with the extraordinary raw mate- rials that are the hallmark of France’s long tradition of fine fragrances. It is an incan- descent, fruity, floral creation.

Need a new take on exfoliating?

Garnier PureActive ExfoBrusher is a revolutionary exfoliating brush cleanser that combines an innovative micro-bristle brush head with a concentrated purifying formula to remove dead skin cells and eliminate the most hard-to-reach impurities.

PureActive ExfoBrusher’s ultra–soft flexi-bristle head has been designed to provide gentle yet effective cleansing without irritating the skin. Proven to be more effective on hard-to-reach areas than washing with hands alone, its concentrated anti-bacterial formula contains 2% Salicylic Acid to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, dislodging blackheads and impurities in its path. Together with HerbaRepair, a natural skin-repairing ingredient, ExfoBrusher helps fight and fade imperfections and controls spot-causing sebum production to prevent the re-appearance of pimples and marks.

I thought the bristles were going to be too hard on my skin, but it felt great!

Two new TOM FORD fragrances to totally distract me...

Violet Blonde is one of the latest in the Tom Ford fragrance empire. It offers powdery notes of iris and violet. It's glamorous and sophisticated, opens with violet leaf, Italian mandarin and pink pepper. The centerpiece of the composition consists of Tuscan iris absolute, Tuscan orris butter, Sambac jasmine and sampaquita. The base is home to elegant and sophisticated tones of musk, suede, cedar, vetiver and benzoin. A very very sexy fragrance...


Santal Blush is an enchanting, mysterious, glamorous and exotic woody - spicy scent. It is ruled by creamy notes of sandalwood and spices, with rich floral and woody tones. Also a very sexy fragrance, this one has more innocent tones to it and a perfect day wear for me personally.


I may be biast, but in my eyes Tom Ford cannot go wrong. Ever.

Skincare range review: SPIEZIA

I reviewed this range a little while ago and was totally surprized. It's effective, 100% organic, totally funky looking, home spa type ritual and I loved it!

Bottles and jars are made from recycled glass and caps are from aluminium. Product is so effective and concentrated, a 50ml jar should last you about 4-6 months and this also makes sure there is no waste and that product stays fresh right down to the bottom of the jar. All products are 100% organic and certified by the Soil Association.

I used the following:

Facial Cleanser: This amazing cleanser can even be left on the skin as a deep cleansing mask. It is of balm consistency and I loved the richness of it. Eucalyptus, Clary Sage and Clove essential oils decongest the pores and even helps remove waterproof makeup. It regulates sebum levels and feeds and soothes the skin. Even sensitive skin tones will love this.

It gets better...

Rose and Chamomile Gentle Face Scrub:  This is the most 'organic' looking exfoliator you'll see in your life. The actual little plant particles and oils makes for a ultra amazing exfoliation. Wonderfully softening, healing and astringent, I found this a pleasure to use.

Floral Skin Toner:  Is a pure blend of natural flower waters and essential oils. Now you can imagine how wonderful it feels on the skin! Us makeup artists love toners like this, as it removes left over cleanser, leaves the skin fed and not dry, so I can apply makeup right after if I need to. This toner will even help the moisturizer sink deeper into the skin. Smells of a bunch of flowers!


Nourishing Moisturizer:  An amazing balm like moisturizer rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and E. Loved using this during the day time, didn't feel too heavy.

Rose and Vanilla Face Oil:  Now this was phenomenal. I love oils on my skin, right? So this was pure euphoria for me. It hydrates deeply and I had a great time massaging this into my skin at night before bedtime. Heat the oil up in the palm of your hands to unlock the active ingredients and waft over your face before you start massaging. You'll love!

I truly had the most amazing time using this range!

La Mer launches Reparative Body Lotion in March 2012

From Accident to Miracle

The story of the Miracle Broth™ and the legendary Crème de la Mer is one of hope and perseverance, meticulous science and the restorative powers of the sea. Half a century ago, aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber suffered burns in a laboratory accident and began a personal quest to transform the look of his skin.  He believed the sea was a miraculous resource and sea kelp, in particular, captured his imagination. With its endless ability to regenerate itself, its nourishing properties and the powerful way it retained moisture, it held promise and hope.

The Miracle Broth

Dr. Huber harvested kelp and fermented it gently with the simplest and purest ingredients until they became something greater than the sum of their parts. After 12 years and 6,000 experiments, he perfected the precious, nutrient-rich Miracle Broth™. Miracle Broth, source of La Mer’s profound powers of transformation, lies at the heart of every La Mer product, including the new Reparative Body Lotion.

The Reparative Body Lotion 

A truly transformative treatment, The Reparative Body Lotion delivers the anti-aging power of a serum to the body, renewing and smoothing on contact. The nutrient-rich Miracle Broth, ™ along with The Reparative Ferment and a unique Marine Ferment help visibly firm and revitalize skin.  Skin is instantly hydrated and luminous as dryness is healed.  Visible damage is repaired and irritation soothed. Over time, age spots are brightened, texture is smoothed, and lines and wrinkles appear diminished. Continuously comforted, moisturized and deeply conditioned through high performance skincare technology, skin looks firmer and more radiant for a more youthful look. 

Powerful Restorative Ingredients

The Miracle Broth™: The nutrient-rich, precious Miracle Broth™ is born from the sea and lies at the heart of La Mer’s profound powers of transformation. It helps soothe irritation and calm the look of redness while hydrating and softening. Skin is immersed in moisture, sensitivities are soothed and radiance is restored.

The Reparative Ferment: This powerful healing agent is a careful bio-fermentation of clarifying algae (Asparagopsis Armata and Ascophyllum Nodosum), Marine Peptides, and Rock Samphire to accelerate skin’s natural renewal while helping erase the signs of damage and age. The clarifying algae helps brighten the skin, even tone and diminish the look of age spots. Marine Peptides help repair the look of lines and wrinkles. Rock Samphire, a seashore plant known for its retinoid-like exfoliating benefits, increases cell turnover for exceptional smoothness.  These ingredients work together to create a firmer and more youthful look.  

The Marine Ferment: A deeply nourishing ferment that helps prevent dehydration, this lipid-rich supplement helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. Derived from marine microorganisms found in the hydrothermal vents of volcanoes at the bottom of the sea which survive extreme temperature changes, the Marine Ferment helps create a comforting protective shield for the skin while improving skin’s integrity.

The Replenishing Water: The proprietary Deconstructed Waters™ are embedded with calcified brown algae (Padina Pavonica) and deeply penetrate the skin’s surface to replenish cells with a wave of hydration. Calcium ions stimulate the regeneration of Aquaporins, which optimize skin’s moisture supply and facilitate the free distribution of water in the skin.

Usage: Smooth and massage over body daily a.m. and p.m. to renew and hydrate skin. 

ICE WATCH makes this the month of love...

Because I appreciate my readers, and it's the month of love, I'm giving away this stunning red watch from the Ice Love Collection to one of my readers. Just leave your name under comments and I'll contact you next week!

Have fun my darlings, celebrate love, celebrate life and celebrate yourself. You deserve it. Love you all xxx

DKNY Pure, with a drop of Verbena

Pure Verbena launches to us 12 February! I'm so excited, this fragrance is enriched with refreshing and citrusy aromas. Its composition is bright and refreshing citrus - floral - green. The main ingredients are basil and verbena from Africa (Togo, to be precise). Donna Karan supports Togo by purchasing all Verbena resources for this fragrance from them. Pure DKNY Verbena is opening with notes of verbena and basil, which are gradually softened with floral heart of jasmine, peony and honeysuckle, while the base notes include tender white amber, sea moss and vetiver.

Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE

La Prairie Cellular Power Charge Night

Last year La Prairie introduced a potent elixir to help awaken the power of the skin—Cellular Power Infusion. Now, to add to this revolutionary anti-aging line, the brand is launching a nighttime treatment—Cellular Power Charge Night—that combines Retinol, a skin renewal peptide, oxygen and more to recharge the skin’s cells and reduce lines, wrinkles and age spots during sleep.


“During the night, our body is in repair, renew and replenish mode; this is true for the skin as well,” said Lynne Florio, president of La Prairie. “Our scientists have created Cellular Power Charge Night to take advantage of this resting status to help our customers fight aging around the clock. After all, there’s no rest for the weary. . . or the skin.”


According to La Prairie, although Retinol has been used in many products over the years, the use of an oxygen carrier with it is new. The brand’s scientists knew that an optimum level of oxygen in the skin would enhance the cell turnover process stimulated by Retinol, but stability issues between the oxygen and Retinol have prevented the merging of the two in past formulas. Now, these same scientists have resolved the issue by placing the two ingredients in separate chambers, side by side, which allows the consumer to control the release of each and blend them together before application.

“The skin needs oxygen to look and perform at its youngest and its best, and it’s known that oxygellevels drop as the skin ages,” said Holly Genovese, vice president of training and retail marketing for La Prairie. “One of the mechanisms for recharging the skin is enhancing the oxygen level, which in turn supports the cell turnover process. This is accomplished in Cellular Power Charge Night via an oxygen transfer agent called Perfluorodecalin (PFD), which secures oxygen from the atmosphere, stores it and delivers it to the skin as needed, therefore supporting the skin’s self-regulation.”


The formula also includes a hydration system to address the possibility of the skin becoming drier as a result of the stimulating effect of Retinol. Other ingredients such as grapefruit cell extract and Vitamin E offer anti-oxidant protection, and sunflower seed oil helps to maintain the skin’s lipid barrier overnight.


I have been using my product so sparingly and I realised a little does go a long way. No need to slather it on, the formula itself is pretty powerful, rest assured.

Chocomania from The Body Shop is taking over!

Just in time for Valentines day, The Body Shop is lavishing us in Chocolate! How much more indulgent and decadent can you get?

The first in the range is the BODY BUTTER. Soft and luxurious as we know The Body Shop Body Butters to be, this one positively makes me melt and melt into my skin. Start your ritual with the SHOWER CREAM or the HEART SHAPED SOAP BARS. Both amazing and smooth. Follow with the BODY SCRUB with it's not too over the top abrasiveness, after all, we do still want skin to let the BODY LOTION work it's soft and liquidy magic! As an added bonus, you'll also find the range has  a LIP BUTTER BALM! (For those sweet seductive Valentines kisses, you know...)

What I honestly love about this range is that it has a chocolate scent, but it is not a sweet, sickly overpowering smell. Definite bonus. Well done to The Body Shop gods!