21 Aug 2017

Peony Season with Klorane

The season of infiltrating our Instagram feeds with incessant photos of peonies has (to our despair; what are we going to photograph, now?!) come to an end; bouquets of pink have been replaced with vase-fulls of sunflowers and other botanical arrays. The pink has well and truly had it's moment (for this year, at least). You can always rely on a colourful bunch of petals to brighten up your space - and your camera roll - and now that's just as accurate for bathrooms shelves, too. 

Peony Shampoo and Conditioner
A haircare brand you've most definitely seen lining the shelves of French pharmacies, Klorane have harnessed the goodness of, probably the most photogenic, flower and used it's soothing and anti-irritant properties in their newest haircare offering. And, even better, it's not just about the end result. Yes, it leaves your hair beautifully soft and silky, but the scent of peony gives you that moment of relaxation (something I can definitely get on board with). The brand pride's itself on it's use of botanicals in haircare, encapturing the uses of nature in beauty. The first gel conditioner I've used, the duo* really do smell as lovely as they sound, making the everyday things like washing your hair, just that bit more enjoyable. 


Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
A millennial must-have, dry shampoo has become a saviour in time-saving practises, and I'm guessing that most of us use it in the same way; to put off that time-consuming hair wash just one more day (lie-ins and social escapades take priority, always). One of Klorane's most popular products (and accredited by Vogue's beauty editor, nonetheless) is their Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk*. One of their cult buys, this particular dry shampoo boasts a unique serum-reducing formula to build volume and texture, whilst putting that second-day-hair look at bay for the time being. It's one of those essentials that you won't want to leave the house without again. 



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All photos taken by myself.


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12 Aug 2017

Postcards from Pula

A few weeks' back now, I flew out to Croatia with family for a much-needed break in the sunshine. I say much-needed lightly; it's been a hectic year and moving out in less than a month now (very exciting times), it doesn't seem like it's going to slow down anytime soon, so a break to re-charge was sweet relief, if just for a week. Croatia is somewhere I've been before and hold many happy and silly memories; island hopping around the Dalmatian Coast is something I couldn't recommend more to let loose and relax that's just on the doorstep from the UK. Going back was just as lovely - perhaps a slightly different vibe and a lot more slow-paced (for instance, staying in the same place for more than three nights was a welcome change). It was also an opportunity to see the country from a different perspective - more wandering and less marching with backpacks - and it really is a beautiful country. History, food and photogenic cobbled streets, what more could you want out of a summer break.

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In the north of Croatia, bordering Slovenia and Italy, Pula reminds me of a lot of places I've been before. The ampitheatre resembling a (much smaller) Roman colluseum, piazzas from it's European neighbours, habours like Portugal and an old town district that reminded me of Alfama, Lisbon (if only for it's gradiant and inescapable steps reaching further parts of the town). I came here about four years ago, staying in a hostel while at Outlook festival, and there's something nostalgic in me that gets a kick out of going back to places I've been before. The down-scaled ampitheater is definitely the place to visit first, with not only shorter queues than you'll find in Rome, but also a lot more going on inside. While I was there, Sting and Tom Jones were performing (separate) intimate concerts, whilst there was a Gladiators-style thing going on during other nights. There's a shopping district (which I wouldn't particularly rate and it was uncomfortably busy whilst I was there), an Old Town (which I most certainly would) and monuments dotted around to look at. 

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The Forum (named after it's Roman origins) is a bustling piazza, the idyllic spot to get an (iced) caffeine fix, take in the surroundings and people-watch. Yes, its a little touristy (show me somewhere in Europe that isn't, now), but has a local feel that's refreshing, authentic and very chilled. There's history to take in if you want it - old churches, Roman ruins and the like - or if you prefer to simply wander, it's pretty good for that, too. Oh, and there's a lot of unbelievable sweet shops (the smell alone will get you), as well as spices, olive oil and lavender, so if you've got a sweet-tooth then make sure you have hold luggage... 

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Dress | ASOS
Sunglasses | RayBan
Shoes | Topshop (similar here and in the sale!)
Straw Hat | ASOS (similar here)


All photos taken by myself.




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3 Aug 2017

Hydration Three Ways

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Whether you travel light (let's face it, money is better spent in Zara than on hold-luggage), or take on the low-maintenance beauty mantra whilst you're away, there's all the more reason to cherry-pick the hardest workers when it comes to hydration, meaning that you're spending more time by the pool, rather than in front of the mirror, en vacances. It's difficult to know what takes the hardest hit when it comes to hot temperatures; our skin being dehydrated by the humidity or hair, in a likewise condition (think Monica on holiday and you've got me in foreign countries, but blonde), so covering all basis', you really only need a couple or so double duty heroes to get you through. Hydration is the season's buzzword in beauty, year after year, so how do you know what's going to work the hardest? 

DAY
Always the first thing to start showing signs of deterioration is skin. Whether it's an early start to catch a flight (this is always me, and I always regret it), or a prolonged duration in a moisture-lacking flight cabin, this translated onto your complexion is less than desirable. Quick fix? Flash Hydro-Boost is an emulsion charged with water, packed with active ingredients to visibly plump skin. 

NIGHT
Letting your skincare work through the night seems like the solution to (temporarily) letting the beauty routine become a little lax while you're on holiday; because lounging by the pool takes priority over just about anything. Decleor's White Petal Mask is formulated to refine, hydrate and essentially give you that dewy glow (skincare cliche, yes, but what else are you meant to call it..). 

HAIR
So you're skin is back to it's usual radiance, but what happens to your hair when it's being dried up day-in day-out by the sun, chlorine and whatever else. Things to go are usually the texture, colour and shine, so a serum that can boost all three at once is something that's worthy of a place in your hand luggage. Davines' MINU Hair Serum does just that, enhancing where you want it but it's so lightweight in texture that you can barely feel it.

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All photos were taken by myself.
     

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