Fire & nice... [reviewing Attraction Intense edp, by Avon]

 Ignite temptation

Be irresistible: that's the aim behind our Attraction fragrance range, a collection of perfumes with subtly spiced scents and fragrance notes that aim to please.

Feel the intensity of attraction with the woody, fruity and amber fragrance of Attraction Intense for Her Eau de Parfum. Deepen your attraction with forbidden ginger essence, captivating florals and tantalising coconut essence.

Browsing through the same catalogue that introduced me to Far Away Shine, I came across the information that Attraction Intense has key notes of ginger & coconut and I immediately had to know how Avon managed to partner such an odd sounding pair together. The spicy heat from the ginger, joining with smooth & calm coconut sounds to me to be a pairing that just won't mesh well. 

I'd never really paid much attention to the Attraction line of fragrances before, always skipping to the Far Away and Eve collections. However that could change, depending on how well this impulsive purchase works for me...

Easy as 1, 2, 3; trying the Huda Beauty 3-step Easy routine...

For the most blurred complexion, follow the 1, 2, 3 EASY ROUTINE!

Step 1: Prime with the Easy Blur Primer. Huda recommends using two fingers length worth of product.

Step 2: Apply Easy Blur Foundation and blend & buff into the skin.

Step 3: Set with the Easy Bake Loose Setting & Baking Powder for the ultimate airbrushed finish.

 

The primer is water-based and the matching foundation is oil-based, so it just floats over pores and fine lines as oil and water don't mix. Setting the foundation with powder is a Important step due to combining oil & water.

I got everything a fortnight ago and have been wearing them every day; I have very skin and was very sceptical about a routine involving a matte primer & non-skippable setting powder working for me, but I have large pores that are looking worse because of medication, so I went and bought the 3 products anyway the last time I went to the Trafford Centre...

Purple reign: NYX Buttermelt Blush in All The Butta...

You're about to get a rush with this flush of blush. Meet our new buttermelt blush. Buttery blush that blends like powder & glides like butta! Transfer & fade resistant. Get your blush crushin' for up to 12H of wear.

Butta blush. Butta boom! Buttermelt blush comes in 12 pigmented, buttalicious shades that blends like powder & glide like butta. Infused with mango butter, almond butter, & shea butter, it doesn't get any butta than this. Fade & transfer resistant. Up to 12 hours of wear. Vegan and cruelty free. No animal-derived ingredients or by products.

I wanted to try something slightly different for me as we enter a new season because I feel as though my general makeup look has become very samey since I now go for simaliar shades/tones in everything, so I decided to give a purple toned blush a try to be different but not too different... 

I've heard nothing but good things about the NYX Buttermelt blushes and saw that they have a pinky purple tone in the line-up, so my search for the perfect blush to get was very short.

Does it shine like a star? [reviewing Far Away Shine edp, by Avon]

 FREE YOUR EXTRAORDINARY

Light up the world with exotic Ispahan roses to make your inner sparkle your outer shine.

This oriental and gourmand scent is expertly crafted around Ispahan rose, an ancient and exotic Persian bloom used in beauty for over 2,000 years and celebrated by women as a symbol of inner illumination.

I hadn't known that a new Far Away flanker was coming until I saw it being advertised in a catalogue, with it only being announced on various fragrance websites afterwards. 

Anyway; I ordered it as soon as I saw it being advertised since there hasn't been a single Far Away flanker that I've outright disliked, so it seemed like a sure thing that I'd enjoy this one too. I've now had it for a couple of weeks and have been wearing it every day for that  time, so I now will ready to share my thoughts on it. 

No limits here... [reviewing LIMITLESS edp, by Jennifer Lopez]

 Embrace your power, live without limits, and let the world see the unstoppable force that is you.

#IAMLIMITLESS

Live your most LIMITLESS life with the exceptional new fragrance by Jennifer Lopez.

LIMITLESS eau de parfum is a celebration of strength and sensuality, created using ingredients proven to promote self-esteem and confidence. It is a fearless and captivating signature scent that leaves an unforgettable, powerful trail. Notes of Red Apple, Jasmine and Palo Santo combine to create a luxurious and rich signature scent.

I enjoy apple and jasmine in fragrances, but it was learning that LIMITLESS contains Palo Santo that encouraged me to check out Jennifer Lopez's latest perfume release because the other perfume I own which contains it [Kayali LOVEFEST] is a fragrance that I really enjoy - especially during the autumn and winter months as it is smoky on me, with a citrussy bite. 

I don't think that Palo Santo is generally described as being smoky by most people, so I don't know if it's a body chemistry thing, or LOVEFEST used a subtle accord to boost their Palo Santo and I'm barking up the wrong tree here. 

Lets find out...

Speedy review; SJP NYC edp, by Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker NYC Eau de Parfum, the new version of the original SJP NYC Eau de Toilette from 2009, came out at the beginning of 2016. The fragrance is inspired by the character of Carrie Bradshaw from the TV series Sex and the City, played by Sarah Jessica Parker...

This adventurous fragrance thrills the senses with a concentrated cocktail of floral, fruity, musky notes. Energetic, exciting and sexy, SJP NYC is both vivid and vivacious and it is the ultimate style statement in fragrance.

I recently saw that the edp variant of SJP NYC is available at Superdrug [online & app] for only £16, so I wanted to give a short summary of my current thoughts on this past favourite - time for a backup purchase, or time to move on?

Gimme the candy... [reviewing Candied Fantasy edt, by Britney Spears]

Introducing the newest member to the Fantasy line-up! The new Candied Fantasy is a floral, gourmand fragrance made for the elegant yet unique ladies like Spears herself who enjoys the sweet moments in life.

The fragrance begins with Bubblegum Delight and sparkling fruit that add a sweet, refreshing blast, while Pink Hibiscus and Lily of the Valley bring a heady floral dimension to the composition and engulf the wearer in a graceful hug. The coziness of Pink Velvet Cupcake Accord provides a powerful, yet comforting and sensual base that guarantees extra longevity.

I didn't notice any spring or summer Fantasy releases, but heres a new flanker release in time for autumn. Here's hoping that the release schedule has slowed down a bit because more thought & care is being put into the line again, because the quality had been slipping in the past few Fantasy flankers.

I'm hoping that Candied Fantasy will be along the lines of what I wanted Vanilla Candy to be. Fingers crossed...

I want candy... [reviewing Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 edp, by Kayali]

  Sugary. Delightful. Tempting.

 Live your sweetest fantasy with Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 Eau de Parfum! Sugary, delightful, and tempting, this fragrance is a lighter, youthful take on the brand’s cult-fave, Vanilla | 28.

Inspired by Mona’s love for candy and mouthwatering notes, Vanilla Candying so one of the most desired notes in fragrance with its delicious blend of sweet ingredients

I'm a sucker for vanilla & sugary fragrances, so I wanted to buy Vanilla Candy as soon as I heard the name and hearing that it'll be the first time in the announcement video. Plus this is the first release that the brand has used their own signature scent accord for [a blend of tonka, praline & musk], which was created using some of their favourite most‐used individual scent notes. Needless for me to have to say, but as soon as it was launched I was placing my order without bothering to test it beforehand.

I've only ever bought a couple of the tiny 10ml bottles of Kayali's original Vanilla perfume rather than splurging on a full sized one, because it doesn't wear very well on me without being layered with something richer 

Speedy Review; Vanilla Suede edp, by Ariana Grande..

Ariana Grande has launched her new collection of four fragrances called LOVENOTES as a personal endeavor to make scent the ultimate and universal love language. Each edition in this collection represents a love letter from Ariana to a different part of the world, conveying messages of joy, gratitude, and affection.

NThe four releases are Vanilla Suede in the UK, Angels Kiss in Europe, Pink Woods in northern America, and Pressed Petals in Australia. 

The bottle design is more adult than the past Ariana Grande fragrances, so fingers crossed for a new approach to the juice.  Vanilla Suede is described as "a richly sensorial fragrance that delivers an incredibly edible and delectable, almost veil-like sensuality. The top teases with sparkling notes, ¡while the heart reveals intimate warmth. The base further enhances the cocooning sensuality and skin-like appeal."

Wetter is better... [reviewing Toy 2 Pearl edp, by Moschino]

 The iconic Moschino teddy bear has had an ethereal makeover! A distinctively fresh new fragrance!

Inspired by Tahitian mother of pearl, Toy 2 Pearl is a fragrance of simultaneous whimsy and opulence. Its scents are familiar yet fantastical and the citrus accord emerges in two forms as the initial wave of sharp lemon is followed by sweet sherbet which gently bubbles to the surface.

The zesty opening is followed by elegant heart notes of jasmine, sand and freesia reminiscent of an island paradise surrounded by crystal blue waters before rounding off with sweet vetiver and invigorating cypress.

I'd been looking forward to .thisfragrance ever since I first read about it, but it took a while to show up and I'd stopped looking. I came across it in Superdrug when I intended to rebuy the regular edition of Toy 2, but my original intention was instantly forgotten in favour of getting my hands on a bottle of Pearl since my first impressions of it were positive.

How will I feel about it after a month's worth of all day wear.   o

A curious look back... [reviewing Curious edp, by Britney Spears]

 

 Bringing back Britney Spears iconic first perfume for Superdrug's 60th Birthday with an exclusive packaging.

 

This exhilarating white floral fragrance celebrates Britney's birthplace with Louisiana magnolia, and is wrapped in the sensuality of vanilla-infused musk. 

A Curious perfume, for the inquisitive at heart.

I remember liking Curious but not but being a huge fan of it or anything because I wasn't really into floral fragrances at the time but I'm a huge Britney spears fan & wore it any anyway, but once Fantasy was released I never looked back at Curious [though the limited-edition flanker Curious: In Control was enjoyable enough for me to had gone through two bottles].

My tastes in fragrances has changed a lot during those (almost) two decades & I've always planned to revisit Curious at some point, and when I saw that Superdrug have released a 100ml bottle in limited edition packaging for the company's 60th anniversary I decided that now is the time 

Oh, I do like to be by the seaside... [reviewing Bombshell Isle edp, by Victoria's Secret]

 Inspired by sun-kissed waters, this fragrance transports you to the perfect paradise...

Tropical and fresh, Bombshell Isle is a transportive blend of island coconut and sea-sprayed florals.

 Summer is creeping up on us, and a new Bombshell flanker has arrived to help us transition into the season...

Like I've said before, it's hard to keep up with Victoria's Secret fragrance releases; most of the time there's a lengthy delay between any announcements and any UK releases, but then there are releases like most of the summer ones, which are usually released at pretty much around the same time everywhere, so I end up with multiple new fragrances close together and then seem to wait forever for anything else. 

Anyway; it's time to say hello to the summer 2024 Bombshell flanker... 

 

EasyQuick to dry and style hair? [reviewing the Shark SmoothStyle heated brush & comb, by Shark Beauty]

DRY, VOLUMISE, SHAPE & SMOOTH: Shark SmoothStyle is an all-in-one smoothing hot brush and comb for wet and dry hair. Create voluminous styles with a smooth, soft finish. Perfect for all hair types.

WET HAIR MODE: Dry, volumise and style with no heat damage. In Wet Hair mode, SmoothStyle never reaches heat-damaging temperatures. Twist to select between 3 air temperatures.

DRY HAIR MODE: Smooth, align and shape your hair for weightless bounce. Perfect for refreshing second-day hair, taming unruly bedhead, smoothing out ponytail creases and more.

HEATED SMOOTHING COMB: Integrated ceramic-coated comb smooths dry hair with lower hair temperatures* for a soft, bouncy, healthy-looking finish. (*Vs traditional flat irons.)

My sister adores the Shark flexstyle, but despite being tempted by her rave review & fabulous blow-dry, I decided to wait and see if a less pricy version would follow. Naturally I was very excited to see if the more affordable SmoothStyle is just as good, after it was launched.

For reference; I have a medical condition which causes nerve damage, so holding and maneuvering a dryer & brush, and then a hot brush and/or straighteners for around an hour is very difficult and leaves my arms very achy.

A beachside bakery... [reviewing SOL Cheirosa '62 edp, by SOL DE JANEIRO]

...extraordinarily crisp, sultry and delicious; like an exquisite patisserie, the sweetest smelling candy shop and a mouth-watering exotic fruit market...

Be immersed in the warmth of Rio sunshine all year round with this potent, concentrated version of our iconic warm gourmand Sol de Janeiro fragrance. A cheerful and inviting summer crush of an Eau de Parfum with delicious, irresistible gourmand notes grounded with soft florals and creamy sandalwood. A scent that everyone falls in love with, and no one can resist.

One of Brazilians’ essential beauty secrets is being cheirosa (sheh-ro-zah), which means to always smell incredibly delicious from sunrise to sundown. Cheirosa '62 instantly transports you to the sultry beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Inspired by the addictive pistachio and caramel scented Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. 

The scent of the popular Bum Bum cream is amazing and I had a travel sized body spray in the '62 fragrance, which I merrily marinaded myself, my clothes and my bedding in - I couldn't get enough of it. Therefore it's not a surprise that I'd get around to getting my hands on the Cheirosa '62 edp at some point.

We already know that I'm most likely going to love it scent-wise as it has the same fragrance as the Bum Bum cream & the '62 body spray, but how does the parfum formula affect the scent notes? Just how wearable is the summery fragrance outside of the summer months? Most importantly; is the longevity worth the price?

Mine is still MIA: [reviewing Bombshell edp, by Victoria's Secret]...

There’s a Bombshell in everyone

Confident and bold, America’s No.1 Fragrance opens with the bright sparkle of Brazilian purple passion fruit.

The heart of the fragrance blooms with Bombshell’s signature floral, the peony. Here, the varietal is clean, petally Shangri-la peony from Tibet. Madagascan vanilla orchid adds a creamy sweetness. But it’s Italian sunstruck pine that gives Bombshell its inimitable aromatic twist.

After my Speedy Review post for Bombshell Intense I took a step back and realised that despite having reviewed multiple Bombshell flankers now, I'd never gotten around to reviewing the best-selling original Bombshell. Actually I'd forgotten that I own Bombshell and hadn't worn it for a long while, because my bottle of the original had become lost behind all of the bottles of the Bombshell flankers and the fragrances that I reach for on a more regular basis.

To be fair; I remembered that there's absolutely nothing that I dislike about Bombshell, so I moved my bottle to my dresser and have been rediscovering it...

Speedy review: Keep Dreaming edp, by Ghost.

 This scent serves as a reminder that the most enchanting dreams are the ones you create... 

GHOST Fragrances and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) have joined forces to create a special fragrance called 'Keep Dreaming'. This collaborative project incorporates patient illustrations, designs, and a scent chosen by some of the wonderful young people at Great Ormond Street Hospital. And the great news is, every bottle sold contributes £1.50 to GOSH Charity. So, spritz away and make a difference for a brilliant cause.

More than just a fragrance, GHOST Keep Dreaming takes you on an immersive journey. Spritz on the magical blend of raspberry, magnolia, and sandalwood and let it transport you beyond your wildest dreams. 

Getting this fragrance took a bit more effort than usual; it is exclusive to Superdrug and they currently have a special offer on [this perfume is currently £15!], so it's been sold out everywhere.

I'd tried the tester a couple of times and I really enjoyed the scent and was also impressed by the 7/8 hour longevity & moderate projection considering the more affordable price-point, so I quickly decided that I needed to hunt Keep Dreaming down. I checked the website & app with no success and signed up for restock notifications. However I then ended up going to four different stores looking for it, because I wanted a bottle to give as a birthday gift to a GHOST Fragrance-loving friend, and anyway, (based on my personal experiences) the store checker on the site is not very accurate. However it was working this time & was indeed out of stock in every store near-by. Then I checked the app again despite not receiving any restock notifications and there it was.

Anyway; I want to share the essential details about this lovely fragrance while the fantastic offer is on. I do think that it is well worth the full retail price, but who doesn't love a bargain?

Speedy review: Bombshell Intense edp, by Victoria's Secret...

 A provocative sister to Bombshell, America's No. 1 Fragrance... 

 

Inspired by the perfect red, Bombshell Intense embodies all the colour implies. Lush Cherry, creamy and bright. Velvety Red Peony for a rich, saturated take on Bombshell's signature, petally floral.

Sultry Vanilla wraps the fragrance in decadent warmth for a powerful finish.

I've recently bought my second bottle of Bombshell Intense and have realised that I've never reviewed it on the blog before. Since it is still readily available both in-store and online and I enjoy it enough to be on my second bottle, I wanted to give it a shout-out.

If you have been looking for a fragrance with a deliciously realistic cherry, then please read on...

 

No passport required... [reviewing Bombshell London edp, by Victoria's Secret]

Enchanted by the botanical charm of London, this floral fragrance features luminous garden lace peony at its heart. 

It looks like Bombshell is going on a international tour; in addition to Bombshell London, another three LE Bombshell flankers [Bombshell Lagos, Bombshell Bogota & Bombshell Tokyo] named after capital cities in countries where Victoria's Secret is sold.

I don't know if other countries are going to have their own perfume editions in the foreseeable future, or even if they'll ever be available to buy in other countries outside of their own [Bombshell Bogota in particular appeals to me], but as of right now, we can only buy Bombshell London in the UK. 

Getting lippy: That's Swell XXXL Extreme Lip Plumper, by Barry M.

Dare to turn up the heat with Barry M's That's Swell XXXL in Flames! Formulated for intense, extra-hot, plumped lips... can you handle the heat?

Caution... extra hot! Turn up the temperature with That’s Swell XXXL Extreme Lip Plumper! Infused with Sichuan Pepper and Ginger Root Extracts to stimulate your lips natural collagen for an off the scale, maximum volume plumping effect! The only question is: can you handle the heat? Warning: Contains tingling sensation to plump lips! 

I'm a fan of lip plumping glosses - I've never noticed any real plumping results [except for one], but I love the tingling/faint burn sensation they have on the lips. Therefore when I stumbled across this when looking for the NYX Duck Pout glosses, I had to give it a go....

The great bake off.. [reviewing Easy Bake edp, by Huda Beauty]

 Bold, extremely sensual, and delicious, we took the iconic fragrance from our Easy Bake Loose Setting Powder and bottled it!

Capturing the seductive, creamy floral bouquet from our cult-fave powder, our limited-edition Easy Bake Eau de Parfum is a signature perfume that leaves an irresistible scent trail wherever you go.

Bursting with juicy pear, this sexy opening develops into a heart of an iconic tuberoseli infusion. A sensual base of vanilla & amber creates a powerfully irresistible fragrance with the staying power of our O.G. loose powder!

Today we're taking a dip into another perfume that I had no idea was in the works, until I just happened to randomly stumble across an online announcement about it being available. As it is labelled as there only being a limited amount available, I'm guessing then when it's sold out it's not coming back, so I wanted to get my review up ASAP to hopefully help people make their minds on if they want it or not. 

It's certainly not a secret that I really enjoy enjoy Kayali fragrances and since Kayali is attached to Huda Beauty & Huds's sister is the CEO for Kayali,  I was instantly curious about just how well Huda can do in comparison - my bench mark is set high.

Needless to say; I couldn't resist making a purchase...

Cocoa: The Gathering [reviewing Tease Cocoa Soirée edp, by Victoria's Secret]

 Indulge your desires

 Tease Cocoa Soiree opens with the alluring vibrancy of lush wildberry.

The ripe fruit blend mixes with delicate freesia petals, adding a bright floral quality. Finally, a whipped mocha creates the most irresistibly tempting gourmand base.

I've mentioned before that I don't keep up with Victoria's Secret qfragrance launches closely, because the difference in the launch dates between America & the UK tend to be lengthy and they don't bother announcing the launches again when they do eventually come over here. 

I happened to see a in-store poster for Cocoa Soiree when I was in a Victoraia's Secret store last month, but there where no bottles left apart from the tester, which I  instantly fell for. I revisited  the store a week later in hopes of a restock, but still nothing. However the SA searched through all of the drawers in the beauty hall for me and found a single bottle, so I got my fix.

Seeing that Cocoa Soiree is still available to buy on the Victoria's Secret website today, I thought that I'd give it a little spotlight...

 

Is it from another galaxy? [reviewing Cosmic edp, by Kylie Cosmetics]

A magnetic, skin-inspired scent that smells out of this world.

cosmic kylie jenner is a sweet, warm floral, elevated scent that is perfect for day and night. an ambery floral eau de parfum, the scent is magnetic, addictive, and out of this world. 

the sculptural bottle was designed to look like a piece of art from another world and is formed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. 

Oops a daisy; I was just browsing social media to cheer myself up with cute animal videos and I stumbled across the announcement that the first perfume from Kylie Cosmetics was now available, so I went to the brand site just to read more information about the fragrance, but then I somehow ended up buying a bottle.

 I'd not known that kylie cosmetics was going to be launching a perfume, but reading the description & key scent notes brings Fame to mind, which is a perfume I've been enjoying immensely. Plus i vaguely remember a kkw fragrance & kylie collection and the fragrance in it that interested me the most had similar key scent notes, so since I never got that one & my enjoyment of Fame, I couldn't resist trying cosmic...

[Music Minute] Eternal Sunshine, by Ariana Grande

 Eternal Sunshine is the seventh album by Ariana Grande, which was released in March 2024 through Republic records.

The lead single [Yes, And?] had geat retro urban/pop music, a strong hook and was delivered with a strong & confident attitude, so I was excited for this album as (based on the single) it seems that we're getting a mash-up of the Dangerous Woman & Thank U Next eras.

Dangerous Woman and Thank U Next are my favourite Ariana Grande albums, so I pre-ordered a digital copy of Eternal Sunshine as soon as it became available on Amazon - would the wait & suspense pay off on release aday?

The power of the plush? [reviewing the Power Plush foundation, by Kylie Cosmetics]

 "my power plush longwear foundation is a hydrating, instantly smoothing foundation with medium, buildable coverage and up to 12 hours of comfortable wear. this weightless formula seamlessly blends into the skin to blur fine lines, pores, and texture. 

it leaves a soft, cushiony feel with an airbrushed, satin finish that’s not too dewy, not too matte, but the perfect in between"

medium, buildable coverage - creamy texture blends seamlessly into the skin.

Natural, satin finish - feels weightless and skin breathable.

Up to 12 hours of comfortable wear - doesn't cake or crease, and is sweat, humidity and waterproof.

Hydrating and non-comedogenic - doesn’t clog pores, settle into fine lines or cling to dry patches.

Contains flex form properties - for highly comfortable, flexible wear.

I'd tried various things from Kylie Cosmetics back when it was owned by Seed Beauty, because everyone would always rave about how fantastic it was and I'd suffer from FOMO. However I was underwhelmed with almost everything I tried, and I didn't even bother reviewing some of it here, because I couldn't scrape enough words for a useful review. 

Last year I was curious to see if the quality had improved since Coty now owns the brand, so I used some of my Boots points on the Bronze [eyeshadow] Palette from them - I really liked it and ended up buying the Classic Matte palette soon after. I then got a LE set of products while  Christmas shopping [Boots still stocks it], and I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I like those products too - especially the mascara. Since I've gained confidence in the brand, I recently decided to take the plunge and try their new foundation which I'd been noticing loads of rave reviews for...

... I have very dry skin, so if I bother with a base I wear Huda Beauty GloWish Skin Tint, or every now and then I'll go for a BB cream - it's been several years since I've actually bought a medium+ foundation base before this.

Wish me luck 🙏