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Friday 30 May 2014

Burberry Beauty Haul | Covent Garden

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well! Guess what?! I finished university of Tuesday! I must say it feels a little weird not having anything to worry about but i am loving all of the extra time i have. I am off away next week so i can't wait to escape to some sunshine and properly relax and de-stress from everything. 

I thought i would mix it up a little bit and post a haul today. I haven't posted one on my blog in months as i usually tend to post pictures over on my Instagram (@SophiaMeola) of any new purchases. A few weeks ago i headed down to London for a blogger event which i will be writing about really soon. The event was practically in Covent Garden so we saw it as an opportunity to have a little wonder as i have only ever been a few times before. One shop i knew i wanted to stop by was the Burberry Beauty Box which is their first ever beauty store. I had never tried any Burberry beauty goodies before so i was excited to take a browse through the store and see if anything caught my eye. We were greeted by a lovely sales assistant who really made us feel welcome and even gave us lots of advice and some lovely samples to try also!

(Sourced via Google.com - all credits go to the owner of the image)


As this is a first impressions haul post i haven't actually tried the products enough to review them properly for you but if you would like to see full reviews please let me know. Upon arrival we were directed to this fabulous nail polish device which i believe is called a 'Digital Nail Bar'. The picture above of the Digital Nail Bar was located via Google.com as i was too worried to take a picture in store at the time…tut tut bad blogger of me! As you can see from the image you place the display shades at the top of the device and which slot you place it in it is presented on a nail on the screen. Burberry developed this technology to show the customer a more realistic swatch of the shade on different hands and skin tones. I think this technology is incredible and unlike anything i have ever seen before and i believe Burberry are the first to use this technology. 


The iconic colour nail polishes are formulated with patent-pending technology, Burberry nail polish has a protective and long-lasting high-gloss finish with accelerated drying and hardening time. According to Burberry, the formula contains strengthening and moisturising elements, including anti-oxidant pro-vitamin B5 and myrrh extract to help protect and care for nails and prevent breakage. The sales assistant demonstrated the nail polish application for us and it looked completely effortless with the high-precision rounded-end brush design and dried within minutes. Discover saturated hues direct from the Prorsum runway, intense, highly pigmented tones reflecting the British weather and landscape, and subtle hues of nude inspired by the trench coat, the most iconic Burberry garment. 

The iconic colour nail polish in Dusky Mauve instantly stood out to me as it is something i don't have in my collection. I believe it is part of the Burberry Spring / Summer 2014 collection and it is a very classic and sophisticated shade that i feel could be worn throughout the entire year. True to it's name Dusky Mauve is a dusty smokey taupe shade with hues of grey and purple. I literally had so many nail polishes out to try on the Digital Nail Bar and this shade simply looked beautiful. I would love to wear this on it's own but also with a glittery top coat. 


Lipstick wise i believe Burberry offer three different formulations; The 'Lip Velvet' which offers a velvety matte finish, the 'Lip Mist' which offers and sheer wash of colour to the lips and lastly the 'Lip Cover' which is pretty much a typical highly pigmented lipstick with a touch of radiance. The lightweight combination of nourishing oils and gel dispersed pigment ensures intense moisture and long lasting colour. According to Burberry the Lip Cover formulation contains anti-ageing ceramides for fuller lip definition and can be applied like a normal lipstick from the tube or with your finger to be pressed into the lips for a more natural effortless colour. 

Instantly when i think of Tea Rose it reminds me of Burberry and classic English Tea and Roses. I think the name is perfect for a fabulously British brand. I did try this lipstick on in store and i absolutely loved the pretty pink shade it left on my lips…the only thing i was not too keen on was the taste but other than that the lasting power and texture was incredible. It is very much a true pink shade with slight hints of sparkle in the formula but it is not that noticeable or chunky…i think a hint was incorporated to give the lipstick a gorgeous sheen. The bullet itself is a lot darker than the real shade, when swatched it presents a gorgeous baby pink which could be worn all year round. 


The sales assistant was kind enough to give me a couple of samples of the new Burberry Brit Rhythm perfume. According to Burberry it is a free-spirited and feminine scent, where you experience the rush of British lavender, intoxicating orange blossom and deep vetiver. Sounds gorgeous!

Both the nail polish and lipstick packaging is extremely luxurious and i love how the Burberry design is replicated on the packaging and the bullet of the lipsticks. Also, I love how the lipsticks offer a magnetic strip inside the lid so you can never place it on wrong and crush your lipstick…i think we have all done this accidentally at some point so it's a nifty added extra. I just adore how Burberry have incorporated some unique elements within their beauty line with the digital nail bar, packaging and the handy lipstick technology. I am extremely excited to see what else they decide to launch. One thing i think i would love to see is maybe a digital lipstick bar just like the digital nail bar…i think that would be something completely unique and would still incorporate with the Burberry brand and technology they are introducing. Finally, how pretty was the box and bag all packed up beautiful with the golden ribbon? I think the Burberry attention to detail is incredible and i am a sucker for gorgeous packaging! The prices are a little high but i was completely blown away by the quality, packaging and technology that Burberry were offering so i thought I'd have to treat myself. 

I hope you all enjoyed this post, i would love to know what you think about the new Burberry Beauty Box in Covent Garden and the goodies i picked up. If you would like to give some Burberry beauty goodies a try you can browse and purchase them online at Burberry.com and JohnLewis.com plus you can browse in store at the Burberry Beauty Box in Covent Garden! Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests or if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and i make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!

Lots of Love
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Saturday 24 May 2014

Primark Deluxe Candles #2

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a fabulous weekend so far. I am so glad it's finally the weekend, even though i won't have much of one. I have a load of university revision to do for my last exam i have next week. On the bright side, being it's my final exam and my dissertation is handed in means i would have finished university, yay! 

Being in my final year at university means i have a load more added stress piled on amongst everything else. There is nothing i love more than after a stressful week or whilst revising than to light a few candles, de-stress, throw in a bit of revision with a handful of my favourite beauty products. I have rather a large candle collection with brands such a Yankee Candles, Bath and Body Works, Lily-Flame, Neom Organics, Primark and so on. A few months ago i wrote a post about some of Primark's Deluxe Candles and i had such a great response to it. Last week my Mum was browsing through Primark whilst i was in an exam and she picked me up a new scent which we had never seen before. We literally have these candles dotted around the house now so one more to add to the collection wouldn't hurt haha. I believe now i only have the Coconut and Vanilla scent to try…unless Primark have brought out a new summer collection. Like i mentioned in my previous post, i have used endless amounts of candles in the past and they are a favourite of mine as they are super affordable, smell great and look pretty…what more could you ask for?!

Primark Deluxe Candles | £2

As you can see from the pictures above, the new scent i would like to introduce you to is Fresh Citrus and Ginger. Just like all of the other scent i love how the scent is reflecting in the colour of the packaging. As i use these candles religiously i had a slight inkling above what to expect with this new scent. Once lit it literally filled the room with a fresh summery aroma which instantly reminded me of summer and relaxing in the garden with the family.

Fresh Citrus and Ginger

Just like the name it is a true citrus scent with hints of warming ginger. It is a perfect scent for the summer time that might even keep those pesky bugs away with the citrus notes.

There is not a precise size on the jar but you can tell they are pretty large. Comparison wise they come in bigger than the mini Yankee Candle jars you can get so you are getting a good amount of product and great value for money. The packaging is very simplistic and pretty to look at with shabby chic labels on the front. I have managed to save some of the jars to depot and do a little DIY with for storage in my new beauty closet when the building and extension business is finished at the Meola household. I think with a pretty ribbon, some diamonds and sparkly pieces they would make gorgeous makeup and brush holders! What do you think?

They claim to have a 30 hour burning time which i think is pretty spot on. In my previous post i mentioned how i burnt my White Jasmin and Lily candle pretty much over an entire weekend and there was still plenty of product left in the bottom of the jar so give or take the burning time is pretty incredible for a £2 candle. What i really like is how the flame burns the entire product from the sides as it gradually goes down the jar, so you are not left with a big whole in the middle with wasted product. A little disclaimer thought, i noticed this varies from candle to candle so some will burn differently. For £2 i think this is a great little product and i will definitely be repurchasing more in the future.

I think it's safe to say i have a little obsession with these candles. I think i need to get my hands on the last Coconut and Vanilla scent and give it a try. I hope you all enjoyed this post, i would love to know your thoughts on the candles. Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests or if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and i make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!

What do you think of these candles? Would you give them a try?

Lots of Love
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Friday 23 May 2014

Resultime Microdermabrasion Scrub

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well? I have had the most stressful week at university packed full of exams! I have one more left to go next week and then i am officially finished, yay! I think everything has caught up to me from my dissertation and revision stress and i seem to have come down with a pretty nasty cold with the added bonus of hay fever…yay me! I know especially on days when i am not feeling too chirpy i like to revitalise my skin to make sure i get rid of any nasties that might cause breakouts. Lets face it university for me has taken a complete toll on my body the last few months so i cannot wait to finish and relax over the summer time! #StudentLife and all that jazz haha! 

Something i am looking into doing once i finish university is booking a professional microdermabrasion treatment for my skin to revitalise and remove all the nasties before my vacations this summer. I kind of want it to be almost a fresh start for my skin, if that makes any sense at all. So, when i was contacted about the Resultime microdermabrasion scrub i literally jumped at the chance to give it a try and review it on my blog because it is a more affordable do it yourself treatment that you can do at home. I am still planning on having a microdermabrasion treatment done soon, however, it will be amazing to see how they compare…so keep an eye for that up coming post if you are interested! 


Resultime was a completely new brand for me to give a try and i was excited see how it would work for my skin. My skincare routine is something i like to mix up every now and again because i find products can stop working on my skin…so weird i know! Resultime are one of the best kept beauty secrets and is a results-driven sophisticated skincare brand who offer a complete salon treatment range and homecare line. A focus on constant innovation allows them to offer a comprehensive array of high-performance treatments and products to give you the means to achieve better skin for life. They are in the process of creating patented active ingredients such as Vectorised Micro-Collagen, to offer treatments and products that correct and maintain your skin. Their mission is to offer the mean to achieve beautiful skin for life; through products and treatments and through education. I haven't heard much about the brand previously but doesn't the above sound pretty incredible?! Whilst doing some research i stumbled across some dermatologists who actually recommend using Resultime products…knowing that a professional is recommending them makes me want to try a load more! 

This intense smoothing scrub is inspired by a microdermabrasion treatment as you can probably tell by the name. Something that really caught my eye was the fact that it uses Pink Quartz Micro-Particles, Bamboo Powder and Vitamin C to remove dead skin cells and enzymes to renew the skin. It leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and luminous. According to Resultime it is suitable for most skin types and is ideal for dull skin and those who like a 'scrub' sensation. I personally have a true combination skin type which is prone to the occasional breakout. I find if i over use exfoliating products on my skin it can dry it out and cause intense breakouts, so i prefer to use these types of products once or twice a week. On the Resultime website it mentions you can use it morning and evening, however, i preferred to use it only in the evenings to remove all of the left over residue from removing my makeup. I would apply a pea sized amount of the product over my damp face and let it sit and work into my skin for a few minutes before wetting my hands with warm water and gently massaging the scrub in small circular movements over my face and neck to emulsify the product. The formula has a super fine grain like texture that you can feel working your skin when massaging it in. As you can see from the swatches above you can see that it is a white consistency, I think because it has the Pink Quartz in the formula i would have liked to see a pink products haha!

The exfoliater uses innovative technology to offer a remarkable 'good-as-new skin' effect. It's Pink Quartz Microcrystals act like a microdermabrasion treatment that rids the epidermis of the dead skin cells that dull the complexion and smooths the skins surface texture. In support, an enzyme is used to complete the exfoliating action and the formula is enriched in Vitamin C to brighten the complexion. After using the exfoliater i did notice my skin felt completely different and was incredible smooth and soft to the touch, however, i did not notice the brightening effects straight away. It wasn't until i woke up the following morning that my skin looked different and more alive. 

The Resultime Microdermabrasion Scrub is a product i don't incorporate into my skincare routine everyday but it is more of a special pampering product that i prefer to use at the end of the week to give my skin a little pick me up. For £27 i think it is a little on the pricey side, however, when you think of similar brands such as Elemis and Origins you are paying around the same amount and in the long run it is totally worth it because the product has longevity and does what it is going to do for your skin. 

Overall, I have been really enjoying this special product and i would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something very pampering or an at home microdermabrasion treatment. If you have a specific skin concern then you can check out other products that Resultime have to offer here. I hope you all enjoyed this skincare post, i would love to know your thoughts on the Resultime Microdermabrasion Scrub. Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests or if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and i make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!

Lots of Love

*PR Sample
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Thursday 15 May 2014

Love Me Beauty Box | May 2014

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a great week so far. Even before starting my blog back in 2012 i had always been so intrigued by subscription boxes. Even though i personally never subscribed to any, which i still find incredibly weird because i really wanted to give them a try, I have always loved their concept and the idea behind them. I was recently contacted by the lovely team at Love Me Beauty Box who informed me about their new May 2014 box and if i would love to give it a try. Given my love for subscription boxes, i literally jumped at the chance…I would finally be able to give a subscription box a try, yay! 

If you are unsure who Love Me Beauty are, they are a monthly subscription box priced at only £10 per box and every month they contain five products from various beauty and lifestyle brands which can be seen on their website here. Each month, you'll receive an email to let you know that the boutique is open and that is when the fun begins. You can head straight there and choose between the beauty box menus available. Each menu will have 1 to 2 star products and 3 travel sized samples. You can sign up for one month, 3 months, 9 months or 12 months and can cancel your subscription at any time. You even have the option to skip a month with no charge if nothing in that months box takes your fancy. Pretty cool right?!

I believe there were three menus to choose from this month and i decided to go for menu 1 which can be seen from the leaflet enclosed within the box below. This being my first month trying out the box i was excited to see what the products would be like. I love how there is a mixture of beauty, stationary and food products in this box so there would be something everyone would enjoy. 

Go Stationary Pocket Notebook Set in Vintage Daisy | RRP £5

When opening the box these little beauties were the first thing that caught my eye. I am a sucker when it comes to cute stationary and i am constantly making lists throughout my day to day life. These cute pocket notebooks will come in super handy for University, wish lists and of course blogging ideas. This print caught my eye in menu 1 as it instantly reminded me of something i would purchase in Cath Kindston - even though the designed were gorgeous in each box!

Nail Girls Nail Polish in Nude Pink | RRP £13.50

I have personally never tried this brand before but at first glance the product looks of great quality and i think the light pink shade is beautiful, i am a sucker for anything pastel. I am very sure i will be rocking this shade during the summer months, perhaps even with a glittery top coat! Considering this nail polish alone costs £13.50 (most expensive product in the box) you are getting a huge bargain for a £10 beauty box! 

Raw Skincare Natural Lip Balm in Hint of Mint | RRP £1.98

A product i was rather excited to try this month was this Hint of Mint lip balm by Raw Skincare. I have seen a mixture of bloggers and youtubers use this brand and rave about it so i am intrigued to give it a try myself. I know Shaaanxo swears by these lip balms over on her Youtube channel so my excitement about this product is her doing haha! I have used it a couple of times so far and even without tacking the lid off you can smell the fresh scent of mint…so far i think its great and for £1.98 a complete bargain if you ever wanted to re-purchase it. 

Tea Pigs Tea in Chocolate Flake Tea - 3 packs | RRP 65p Per Tea Bag


I must say i was completely torn between two boxes when it came down tot he Tea Pigs Tea. Even though that was the case i opted for the Chocolate Flake version as i was more partical to the ingredients used. I was lucky enough to be sent some Tea Pigs Tea back in December to try and i absolutely loved it, so i think these will be a hit also. This tea is described as a 'Choccie Biscuit Dunked in Tea' - how perfect does that sound?!

Suti Trial Pack in Cleanse Balm, Purity Balm and Fabulous Foot Balm | RRP £6.50

This is another brand i haven't heard much about but never the less i am intrigued to give it a try and i love the idea of a little trial pack. The pack contains three different products, a cleansing balm, purity balm and a foot balm. I haven't tried many balms before but i love the idea of the cleanse and purity balms as a double cleanse in my skincare routine. I am looking forward to giving them a proper try soon as my skincare routine is every where at the moment!

Those are the goodies included in this months box, what do you think? I have to say i do really love the concept of the box and the way it arrived to me all packaged and colourful was really lovely. For £10 i think you can't go wrong for a box full of goodies to try, you might just find your next holy grail product! I already can't wait for next months box to be released! If you like the look of this months box you can still get hold of one for yourself to try here

Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests or if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and i make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!

Lots of Love
*PR Sample
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Wednesday 14 May 2014

MAC Candy Yum Yum Lipstick

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well! The weather is looking absolutely gorgeous today so i thought i would post something really bright, fun and girly! I was having a little rummage through my makeup collection and came across one of my all time favourite MAC lipsticks. MAC's Candy Yum Yum is an ultimate favourite in the Meola household as you can see from the packaging and worn away lipstick bullet haha. When MAC decided to bring it back and make it permanent i was literally over the moon. It was a shade that i featured in my Top 5 Summer 2013 Lipsticks and i have all the confidence that it will be returning for Summer 2014 also.


Candy Yum Yum is one of those dare-to-wear shades but i feel it is a shade that everyone can pull off. I never thought i would see the day where i would be comfortable wearing a lipstick this bright. I love how the bbloggersphere has really helped me step outside my comfort zone. Anyone else the same? In a nutshell it is a neon fluorescent pink shade with blue undertones with a matte finish. As a matte shade it does leave a lovely opaque application to the lips and surprisingly of the few matte MAC lipsticks i have in my collection is very comfortable to wear and not at all drying on the lips.

It is definitely a shade which warrants a steady hand and preferably a lip brush to apply unless you are uber confident at applying bright shades like this straight from the bullet. I love wearing it with an array of makeup looks but i think something classic like a cat eye flick and lightly bronzed skin with dashing of rose gold highlighter would work beautifully together. It is definitely one of the more bright, fun and colourful shades in my makeup collection.

I hope you all enjoyed this lipstick post, i feel i should do more as MAC lipsticks are my guilty pleasure. Let me know if there are any shades you would like to see and i will have a rummage through my collection or chances are i will go out and purchase it haha. I did a MAC lipstick collection post back in 2012 when i first started blogging here - since then my collection has expanded slightly so i might write an updated post. Other than that i have only reviewed two other MAC lipsticks on my blog which are Speak Louder and Show Orchid…I was literally so shocked because i thought i had done a few more than that…tut tut haha! 

Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests or if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and i make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!

Have you tried Candy Yum Yum? What is your favourite bright lipstick shade?

Lots of Love
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