Kindred Fashion

What a surprise, I’m wearing Stripes again! I’m pretty sure it’s against the law not to wear stripes in France. I’m just following the rules. I absolutely love this striped off the shoulder top from Zara, as soon as I saw it in store I knew it would be perfect for the South of France. I also paired it with this beautiful metallic tote from Jacques Vert which is perfect for carrying around my beach essentials.

After doing a bit of research online, I found a beach in Nice called Blue Beach which serves food and drink daily until 7pm. You could also make a day of it as you could hire sun loungers and umbrella’s. After wandering along the Promenade de Anglais and stopping by the gardens of Museum Massena. We went along to Blue Beach to catch some rays to eat some yummy crepes and just relaxing in the sunshine.

Off The Shoulder Top – Zara

Denim Shorts – Topshop

Metallic Tote* – Jacques Vert

Sandals – Warehouse

Sunglasses* – Bloc Eyewear

So, I also need to mention the hat. If you are travelling abroad this Summer I would highly recommend picking up this sun hat from Primark. It’s got to be my biggest bargain of the Summer so far！

It’s that time of the year again, It’s Christmas! I’ve got some very exciting Festive Gift Guides coming up this week which I hope will fill you with lot’s of ideas on what to buy your loved ones this Christmas. Buying the right gift can get tricky but I’ve got you covered with some of my top picks for 2024. I’m starting the Festive Gift Guides off with what to buy the ladies in your life. Whether that’s your Mum, Grandma, Auntie or Best Friend – there should be something for everyone in this Festive Gift Guide.

Starting off with one of my favourite luxury brands; L’Occitane. They have just released their ‘Le Grande Voyage’ collection in time for Christmas with some amazing gifts. I am obsessed with their Festive Crackers Collection! Not only would the make an excellent gift but they would also be a great alternative to the traditional crackers! The Festive crackers include a duo of beauty must haves per cracker.

I also want to mention the Nourishing Shea Butter Collection. This would work for both the ladies and gentlemen in your life. The collection features four products infused with the rich goodness of Shea Butter. These products are must haves for the colder months. I am also in love with the packaging, it’s gorgeous!

Another brand who have the most amazing range of pamper goodies is Temple Spa. They are a huge favourite of mine and always knock it out of the park when it comes to their gifting offerings. Whether you are looking for stocking fillers or collections featuring the brands must haves, there is something for everyone.

Temple Spa sell a range of skincare, bodycare and even home fragrance! The Joyful Moments Giftset includes a candle and diffuser and promises to boost your mood with it’s blend of essential oils. For the bodycare lovers, The Recharge Spa giftset includes products to restore, energise or relax, there’s something for whatever mood you are feeling.

Currently for Black Friday, If you spend over £40 on Christmas Gifts, You can pick up the All is Bright giftset for just £5! This set is an excellent stocking filler and includes the deep cleansing melt and cleansing cloth.

Another perfect gift for those who love a pamper would be a candle. The Copenhagen Company have a range of lovely candles including some scents excellent for the festive season. The Copenhagen Company have candles of all sizes including cute tin candles! The Scandi Christmas Candle is literally Christmas in a tin with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, sandalwood and mandarin.

Let’s be honest, Freixenet Sparkling Rosé is more than certainly on my Christmas wishlist. Nothing beats a little bit of fizz at Christmas and you can actually pick up a bottle Freixenet Sparkling Rosé in a gift set with a Rose Reed diffuser from Moon Pig. This would be make a great gift for any of the girls in your life.

Another top choice for a tipple this Christmas is of course, Tequila Rose. The original strawberry cream liquor is an excellent gift. I don’t really drink the typical cream liquors but I do drink Tequila Rose. I love it! I can’t wait to have a little play around and make some festive cocktails with Tequila Rose. Keep an eye out on my socials for those videos! Tequila Rose is available at Morrsions, Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s Co-op and online at amazon.co.uk and drinkssupermarket.com.

For those who don’t or can’t drink, I’ve got the bottle for you! CleanCo which is actually Spencer Matthew’s brand is a range of alcohol free spirits. They have Gin, Tequila and Whiskey! I’ve got the Rhubarb flavoured “gin” and it’s great for those who are mindful drinking and still want the G&T feeling. You can use them to make some excellent mocktails and the bottles are also very fancy too! You can pick up CleanCo directly from their website or at places like Sainsbury’s, Asda and Waitrose.

I will be doing another Gift Guide all for the Beauty Lovers which is coming soon. However, if you are looking for a gift for those who love looking after their luscious locks then look no further. Alterna offers the most luxury products which even include caviar in their shampoo and conditioner. The Caviar Anti Ageing Shampoo & Conditioner is a luxurious duo that replenishes and seals in moisture whilst adding shine and improving the overall look and feel of hair. A full review of these products will also be coming soon!

For those who love their haircare tools, Revlon have got a 5-in-1 hair multi styler. Basically, it does everything you could want! The tool allows you to dry, curl, smooth, shape & volumise without extreme heat, creating shiny, healthy-looking styles with less damage. It comes with 5 interchangeable attachments where you can create a range of different looks including a curly blow dry! You can find the Revlon 5-in-1 hair multi styler from a range of retailers such as Boots, Curry’s, Argos & Asda.

I know the Summer of the Barbie movie is long gone but it’s just so iconic. There will always be a special place in my heart for Barbie! The store Miniso has a range of Barbie goodies including this iconic hot pink insulated bottle. The colour is stunning and it’s great bottle for carrying water about without worrying about leaking! They have a number of different Barbie bottles and cups – alongside loads of other products such as umbrellas, towels, slippers and cosmetic bags.

Fans of the Barbie Movie would love to receive the Barbie: The World Tour By Margot Robbie & Andrew Mukamal. Not only is this the ultimate coffee table book, it’s a fabulous book looking at all the incredible outfits from the movie. The book can be bought online at places like Urban Outfitters, Amazon and Waterstones.

Another item firmly on my Christmas wishlist is silk scrunchies. They make a great stocking filler and also are just such a lovely luxe gift to receive. By using silk scrunchies you are minimising damage to your hair.

For the Grandma’s, Aunties or I guess anyone who loves a good chocolate chip biscuit, you need to get to know Grandma Wild’s biscuits. At Christmas, the biscuits come in the most lovely packaging or pottery. I’m a big fan of this Robin biscuit ceramic jar which comes complete with a pack of mini chocolate chip bites. I picked this one up at my local garden centre but you can find some lovely Grandma Wild festive gifts from Lakeland, Amazon & most likely your local Garden Centre!

Hopefully this guide has given you some ideas of gifts on what to buy the ladies in your life! Stay tuned for the next Fesitve Gift Guide – I’ll be posting six this year!

I’m back with another beauty related past and this time we’re talking all about fragrances. I’m currently obsessed with these luxury discovery boxes which you can buy on Notino. These luxury boxes include three fragrances from different brands. I thought I would show you the Summer luxury heavenly good fragrance box which I recently ordered.

These boxes are not only ideal to try out a few new fragrances. They also make a great gifts for women as they come wrapped in a luxury box. The box also comes with a fragrance guide so the recipient finds out a little bit about each fragrance and what sort of notes are in the scent. Obviously, I wanted to test out a few new fragrances and I loved that these were actual miniatures of the bottles. This meant they look mega cute on your dressing table!

The first fragrance in the summer luxury heavenly good box is the Burberry Goddess fragrance. This was a teeny 5ml bottle but it looked so cute! This scent has a trio of vanilla extracts, lavender and a few woody notes. It’s actually quite different to anything I own so I can’t wait to wear it and see if it’s something I could get on board with.

The second fragrance in the box is an absolute favourite of mine. It is the Carolina Herrera Good Girl fragrance. This comes in a 7ml bottle. Of course, it’s the famous stiletto bottle which I’m obsessed that I have a mini version! I absolutely adore this oriental style fragrance. Good Girl carries notes of sweet almond, precious tuberose, warm tonka bean and cocoa. If you’ve not tried this fragrance yet, I urge you to do so!

Finally the third fragrance in the box is the Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Fragrance. This is another classic scent and comes in a cute little 7.5ml. I am also a big fan of this perfume. Black Opium is a more refined and lighter version of the brands famous Opium scent and carried the notes of Orange Blossom, Jasmine and Pachouli.

As I said, this would make an excellent gift for someone or it’s ideal for someone wanting to try out a few different scents. These are also ideal sizes to take away with you on holiday too! There are a few other fragrance boxes you can get from Notino featuring a range of brands and scents for both men and women. I’m currently eyeing up one which includes the Marc Jacobs Perfect scent as I’m desperate to try that!

As we head into the colder winter months, the drop in temperature and humidity can take a toll on your skin. It can leave it feeling and looking dry, flaky and sometimes irritated. It’s essential to adjust your skincare routine to provide extra care and protection during this season. In particular it is key that you take care of dry lips and dry hands. Here are some of my tips on how to take care of your skin in the winter months:

Hydration is Key

Cold air and indoor heating systems can strip your skin of its natural moisture. To combat this, hydrate your skin from both the inside and outside. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated internally and use a rich moisturiser. Look for products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin for added hydration. I currently use the Avène Cold Cream which includes the iconic Avène thermal water and white beeswax leaving my skin velvety smooth, soft and hydrated.

Use a Gentle Cleanser

Harsh cleansers can further dry out your skin, so opt for a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Consider using a creamy or oil-based cleanser that can help retain moisture while effectively removing impurities. Limit the use of hot water during cleansing, as hot water can strip away natural oils from your skin. Bioderma have some great cleansers and micellar waters which work well with sensitive skin and help hydrate the skin.

Moisturise Regularly

Applying a moisturiser is crucial in the winter months (and in any time of the year really) to create a protective barrier against the elements. Choose a thicker, more emollient moisturiser to lock in moisture and prevent dryness. Pay extra attention to areas that are prone to dryness, such as elbows, knees, and hands.

Protect Your Hands

The winter months can be particularly harsh on your hands, leading to dryness, cracking, and discomfort. Keep your hands soft and supple during this season with frequently moisturising, gentle soaps and sanitisers and avoiding harsh chemicals.

Protect Your Lips

Another huge problem area which can be hugely affected by the cold weather is the lips. Dry and cracked lips are a common occurrence during the winter months and it’s key to use a lip balm with moisturising ingredients such as shea butter or coconut oil. A favourite of mine is the Nuxe Rêve de Miel which I’ve been using for over a decade. It’s one of the good old skincare staples which never fail you. Apply it regularly throughout the day and before going to bed to keep your lips soft and supple.

adapting your skincare routine to the winter months involves prioritising hydration, adjusting your cleansing and moisturising routine, and protecting your skin from harsh environmental conditions. By following these tips, you can maintain healthy, glowing skin even in the coldest months of the year.

Do you have any favourite products which you use during the cooler months?

It’s no secret that I am a huge Sol De Janeiro fan. When it comes to Christmas, it’s a great time to pick up some gift sets as it gives you a great chance to try out some different products and it’s usually at a bargain price. Trying a few different Sol De Janeiro gift sets is how I fell in love with so many of the brands products. I thought I’d share a couple of Sol De Janeiro gift sets worth picking up this festive season to try out some of their amazing scented luxurious products.

The iconic Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set is a gift set which is available all year round. It’s an affordable little set which includes the classic Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, 4Play Shower Gel and the Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’62 perfumed body mist. These three are arguably the three most popular products from Sol de Janeiro and ones which I use over and over again. The well loved Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is the hero product from the brand and promised to firm and smooth your thighs, hips and of course, bum. It smells absolutely insane. The Bum Bum Jet Set is great for those who haven’t tried anything from the brand and want a little taster.

The Sol De Janeiro Body Besties are great for those who are a fan of the original Brazilian Bum Bum Cream as it gives you a chance to try the super moisturising Coco Cabana™ Cream and visibly retexturising Bom Dia Bright Cream. They are travel sized pots but I think it’s an excellent set to give each cream a try and maybe even pick out a new favourite.

Finally, we’ve got the Bum Bum Body Delights which is slightly different to the first one I shared. This focuses on their three main body products with the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, 4Play Shower Gel and the Brazillian Bum Bum Body Scrub. I’ve not actually used the Body Scrub before so this gift set will give me a chance to use something new! These products are travel size so it’s a great chance to try them before you buy a full version and also to take them abroad on your new year travels!

Are you a fan of Sol De Janeiro like myself? Which gift set would you like to see under your Christmas tree this year?