Get In Touch With Your Wild Side

This next post is about a new skincare brand called Wild. It is a natural, fairly traded brand which currently has a range of body butters and soaps. I found out about this brand after interning with them for the past few months and honestly, the products are to die for!
I am a bit of a sucker for essential oils anyway, but the combinations that Valerie (Wild's founder) has put together are spot on!

I think I'll begin by listing the body butter/soap combinations and a brief description of what they do:

•  Baobab with Frankincense and Vanilla- Baobab oil is actually very similar to the current beauty must have Argan Oil, it is actually higher in anti oxidants and vitamins, which makes it an excellent anti-aging product. Combined with the added frankincense and Vanilla, which gives it a warm, spicy scent, it regenerates skin cells and stimulates adrenalin which reduces wrinkles and plumps the skin.
• Marula with Ylang Ylang, Lavender and Patchouli- Marula is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants going. Combined with the balancing Ylang Ylang, soothing Lavender and relaxing Patchouli, it has a beautiful floral scent.
• Kalahari Watermelon with Grapefruit and Lime- This is particularly good for oily skin, it is easily absorbed. the Grapefruit and Lime are great for unclogging pores and healing acne.
• Cape Chestnut with Rose Geranium and Chamomile- This is a particularly interesting one because the Cape Chestnut oil has natural UVB absorbers in it, so it is great to guard your skin from the weather. The Rose Geranium and Chamomile are known for their soothing properties and the added Aloe is great for healing, as it is an anti inflammatory. 
• Avocado and Aloe- This one is fragrance free and great for sensitive skin; healing and soothing, it is a gentle, extra nourishing cream.

The creams and soap all have Shea Butter in them, which is obtained from an African charity called Afrikids. This adds to the amazing moisturising qualities that they have. Since using the cream my skin has become silky smooth, and not just for a few hours after application...there is a noticeable, long term difference.

They are all light creams that don't make you feel as though you have literally just put a knife in to a tub of anchor and slathered it across your body. The baobab cream is slightly richer than the rest, but this doesn't make it any less easily absorbed; just more luxurious. My personal favourites at the moment are the Cape Chestnut and the Marula. But I also love the Watermelon soap which is so zingy and refreshing, perfect to wake me up on those mornings when I want to destroy my alarm clock!

As you can see from the images, the packaging is great. They are inspired by West African fabrics and are the perfect way to brighten up your bathroom or bedroom! And what's even better is they really do evoke Africa, which is the whole point of the brand.

The body butters start at £15.25 and the soaps from £6.25...and they are a fab investment because the products last such a long time. Perfect for all that leg prep us girls will be doing for the summer!

Little Miss Pradatini

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Let's Enjoy The Lighting...

For a woman, putting your face on is often just as important as accessorising an evening dress with diamonds and a beautiful clutch bag. It can often provide a much needed confidence boost on those mornings when you wake up with a horrible spot and tired looking skin, which leads me to my product review of the day; MAC Strobe Cream.

Image courtesy of www.maccosmetics.co.uk/

This is genuinely the life saver in my make up bag now, its pearly, creamy texture peps up the most worn out looking face and adds an instant radiant glow. The best thing is that a little goes a long way. I have had this bottle since June last year and, despite using it on a daily basis, I still have half left.
I simply put a little on my cheeks, forehead and around my eyes to provide a little glow, or pep-me-up, if you were to my skin.
It is a light cream which I think is essential if you are going to be applying foundation or tinted moisturiser over the top of it. For me, I just added a little pressed powder (I currently use MAC's Studio Careblend in Light or Rimmel's Stay Matte in 001) and some blusher, which I tend to keep matte during the day to avoid looking like I've just been to a disco in the 70's. Glitter overload isn't cool when you are 22...

It comes in two sizes and is priced at £12 for 30 ml or £21 for 50ml, so really, in these hard economic times we find ourselves in, the 50ml makes sense to purchase...even if it is only a small saving. It really will last for ages. I'm beginning to wonder whether mine will ever run out. That really would be something wouldn't it; a never ending brightening cream....

Buy it here: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/178/364/Products/Skincare/Moisturisers/Strobe-Cream/index.tmpl

Little Miss Pradatini

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My Beauty Staple

For me, there is nothing more important than cleansing my face. My skincare regime is an investment for the future; insurance, if you like, against the dreaded old age and wrinkles. There is no point in attempting to beautify myself with cosmetics if I’m working with a terrible base in the beginning. I have waded through a large and varied amount of cleansers before I reached for my saviour product of Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish. 

Image courtesy of http://uk.lizearle.com/

What I, and a whole host of other men and women alike, love about the Cleanse and Polish is its ability to give you a healthy glow as well as smooth, clean skin. It does what it says on its oh-so-attractive duck egg blue jar without making you feel like you have rubbed your face with a sheet of extra course sandpaper. Granted the natural element to Liz Earle’s range adds to the gentle feel in her skincare products  but there is always a real feeling from some synthetic products, that you have just removed your day’s make up with paint stripper. Whilst I love make up, I don’t cake it on thickly enough to want to feel as though my skin is dissolving at the mere wipe of a cotton pad or muslin cloth.

The delicious scent and creamy texture make the Cleanse and Polish a dream to apply; it is almost a disappointment to take it off. That is until you see the result; which is beautifully dewy, clean looking skin. What more could a girl want?

Clothes Haul

Being an unemployed graduate means that shopping trips just aren't as frequent as they once were. The termly student loans seem such a distant memory away now. Anyway, having worked pretty hard last month with my two part time jobs, I decided to treat myself. I was all geared up to push the boat out in Topshop and River Island which, given the state of my bank balance, are practically Chanel and Dior in my world. Walking in, I got that glorious waft of brand new fabrics, that are yet to be worn and are just begging to come home and grace my wardrobe. Little do they know, I actually have no room left in my wardrobe and so they would have to be hung on the outside of it...but hey, its not like I'm rehousing a dog or something.
I walked around both shops, literally praying that something would jump out and grab me, alas it did not happen. I was genuinely disappointed with the selection in Topshop; it was well past January sale season but they still had a large, messy sale rail near the front of the store and there were very few of the SS12 trends I would expect to see in a store that prides itself on bringing high end fashion to the high street in record times.
River Island's clothes were a lot better than the last few seasons. I actually love RI and think it is the place to go if you want something a little more unique and less generic than Topshop...it is heartbreaking when you see twenty other girls and sometimes guys wearing the jacket you bought last week in the same town and, heaven forbid, wearing it better than you. What I am also pleased to see in RI is that the prices appear to have dropped dramatically. I really feel that Topshop has become so overpriced what it is as of late, almost as if it has become a little too big for its boots. A high street leader it may be, but I don't want to pay for champagne when I'm actually getting sparkling wine. That's not to say that the products in Topshop aren't great; they are. And the quality is also excellent. But if RI can reduce its prices without compromising its quality then I don't see why Topshop cannot do the same.

A selection of jewellery from New Look and Primark

Anyway, I have digressed. I ended up in New Look, a shop I have overlooked in recent years as somewhere more appropriate for 12 year olds looking to emulate their favourite trend setting icons but I cannot resist a bargain and couldn't resist when I saw that they had a BOGOF on jewellery. I managed to purchase some beautiful rings, with a real vintagey, antique feel to them, as well as some coral heart earrings, and a chunky beaded charm bracelet. The best thing of all was that I only paid £8 for the lot!
The next stop was Primarni. My issue with Primark is that I always see such gorgeous things in magazines from the store, but I go in there and I can never find anything. I was again, a little disappointed. My least favourite trait within a store is when mannequins are dressed in an item and it is nowhere to be seen. In theory, the item is supposed to be right next to the mannequin, yet in Primark this wasn't the case and they definitely lost themselves a few sales because, in all honesty, I couldn't be bothered to traipse around trying to locate the top I wanted, mainly because it was probably hidden underneath a pile of leggings. I did manage to pick up a few sleeveless blouses from Primarni...you know the ones with the cute collars? One was in the gorgeous mint gelato colour which has been so big at the SS12 shows such as Prada and Jonathan Saunders.

Primark Blouses

I seemed to have a small jewellery fetish on this shopping spree because I also bought a gorgeous vintage inspired necklace with a floral pattern printed on to a ceramic-esque heart as well as a floral bow ring with matching necklace. The last stop was H&M where I purchased a beautifully feminine boucle jacket. The tweed style fabric was reminiscent of Chanel's infamous suits and for £29.99, the quality and cut was incredible. The shape the jacket creates is great and definitetly value for money. The great thing about it is, that it can be dressed up or down. It will look great with some jeans. There is also a bright orange thread running through the dusty pink colour of the jacket which brings a modern edge to a classic style.

H&M Boucle Jacket

Close up of jacket fabric

Overall, despite the shaky start, it was a remarkably successful trip which has eased my shopping urges. Better get back to work so I can fund the habit as I don't suppose Mr Pradatini will be splashing out any time soon.

Little Miss Pradatini

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Loungelover- A Review

My first experience of Loungelover came after a few drinks in Brick Lane (an excellent night out if you haven't already been). After walking around East London for a while, me and a friend stumbled, quite literally, across this cocktail bar.

Image courtesy of eatdrinksleepshop.com

Round the corner from its sister restaurant, Les Trois Garcons, the two could not differ anymore. On arrival, I honestly thought my drink may have been spiked. Its exterior was not all too disimilar to the sort of place an Essex Girl might frequent in Benidorm...a sort of neon paradise. Yet I am not one to judge a book by its cover and steeled by the presence of alcohol, I entered. 

Inside, I felt as though I had been transported in to another world...certainly not a back street in the East End. The interior decor was truly mesmerising and an altogether different experience to the one I had just had on arrival. With its subtle and elegant Japanese theme, (although please do ignore the giant "Ming Dynasty" vase on arrival, we all make mistakes) it truly is a stunning place to take people if you are looking to impress.

Image courtesy of little-birds.net

Simply sit back in one of the oh-so-comfy chairs, you know the sort of seating that you never want to get out of, and peruse the menu for a cocktail that suits. Believe me, there is something for even the fussiest of tastes. Once you have chosen, an eagle eyed waiter/ess will take your order and within minutes of placing it, your cocktail will be delivered. The table service is an excellent touch, it makes you feel that you are somewhere which is far more exclusive and expensive than it actually is. There is never someone more than a metre from you, yet for some reason it doesn't feel at all intrusive. And whilst you are paying for it (a service charge is included in the bill) you certainly don't begrudge it. It adds to the whole atmosphere.

The cocktails really are beautifully crafted by skilled barmen. Many continue with the Japanese flavours but don't be alarmed by the use of ingredients such as sake because, as a good cocktail should be, they really are only subtle hints of flavour which create a whole new taste upon mixing with its other ingredients. There are many cocktails that remain on the menu, but also some seasonal ones, which provides even more reason to visit on a regular basis. 

My personal favourite is the Punk Passion, a simply delightful concotion of vodka, passion fruit, red currants and lemon juice topped off with Prosecco. It slips down a little two easy for my liking but really is quite delicious. Another one to try is the Black Diamond Sour, a mixture of Disaronno, blackberries, lime and violet liquer. It came out decorated with an edible flower and looked a little like that liquid spell made by the Wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which seems rather apt considering the potent nature of the drink. 

It really is a great discovery, one which I have taken several friends back to now and I am yet to hear anything remotely bad about it. The cocktails are great, as is the atmosphere. If I have one downside to it, it is possibly the price. But to be honest, it is no differently priced to any other bar in London and is far better than some others I have been to so it is well worth it, but have a few drinks in a pub first! It is also important to note that it gets pretty busy on Fridays and Saturdays and, being a small venue, you may want to consider booking ahead.  

Little Miss Pradatini

Loungelover

No. 1 Whitby Street

London E1 6JU

Tel: 0207 0121 234

www.loungelover.uk.com