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Saturday 31 December 2016

2016 Reflection & 2017 Goals

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and you have had a wonder Christmas and New Year. I still can't believe how fast Christmas and the festive season just flew by and how it is New Years Eve today...someone pinch me, please! I have been a little quite over on the blog recently purely because I haven't been feeling myself the last few weeks and sometimes I think time away to recuperate is the best thing. I guess we all lack motivation at some point, we are human after all, but I'm ready to jump back in full swing for 2017. I just wanted to write a little post reflecting on some of my high and low milestones this past year and of course, set myself a few blogging goals moving forward into 2017 with some personal ones thrown in for good measure. If you would like to ready last years reflection and goals you can do so by clicking here. This is going to be quite a long post so I suggest you grab a cup of team, sit back, relax and enjoy!
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Friday 30 December 2016

Pushing Yourself Outside Your Comfort Zone | #ChallengeBodyform

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying the last few days of December 2016 before jumping into the brand new year ahead. Now, when you read tomorrow post which is all about my 2016 Reflection and 2017 Goals then you will know that moving into the New Year I want to push myself out of my comfort zone a lot more and ultimately say yes to more adventures and opportunities. So, when Bodyform reached out to me about taking part in their #ChallengeBodyform campaign I jumped at the chance. Let's get real, I want my blog to be a safe place where we can talk about anything and everything...Mother Nature is a natural thing that a lot of us deal with so why not talk about it?!
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Saturday 24 December 2016

A Winter Warmer | Landon Tyler Winter Woods 3-Wick Candle


Hello My Lovelies,

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your weekend. I thought today I would bring you a new discovery, one that I have been absolutely obsessed with ever since it landed on my doorstep. Now, it is no secret that I have a huge love for candles and I couldn't wait to share this one with you. Landon Tyler is a new brand of home fragrances, featuring candles, diffusers and gifts for pretty much every season. The Landon Tyler team have a vast experience of working with only the best home fragrance brands on the market, and with their wealth of knowledge, they felt it was time to develop their own line. They are an affordable and unique brand featuring simple smoked glass bottles for stunning displays in any home.
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Thursday 22 December 2016

13 Things I Love About Winter


Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful festive week so far. So, yesterdays was the first official day of Winter and with only a few days left to go until Christmas I could't be more excited. Back in October I put together a little post all about the '13 Things I Love About Autumn' and I received such a great response from you all that I thought that it was only fitting to continue on through the next season. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I am not really bias when it comes to the different seasons because there are things I absolutely adore about them all, including the beautiful sunshine throughout the summer time, the falling leaves in autumn, layering up with cosy clothes and more! So, in honour of Winter I thought I would put together a few reasons why I love it so much.
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Sunday 11 December 2016

5 Top Tips For Having The Ultimate Girls Night In | #ABowlShared


Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend. I have partnered up with Butterkist to share with you a few of my ultimate tips for the perfect girls night in. These days, our lives are busier than ever, and our chance of downtime is becoming more limited and even though I am pro technology (I even work for a technology company) - much of our contacts with friends and family is on a digital level. Living in a hyper contacted world means it can be difficult to make real time for your favourite people and coming from a workaholic like myself I can definitely holds my hands up and say that I could make more effort! Technology is amazing for keeping in contact, but there is nothing like special moments together. Here are a few of my top tips for hosting the ultimate girls night in!
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Friday 18 November 2016

Top 5 Holiday Beauty Must Haves + Giveaway

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful start to the weekend. Now that my birthday is officially over (cries) I can fully start thinking about Christmas and the holiday season. So, I thought today I would share with you my 'Top 5 Holiday Beauty Must Haves' with a cheekily little giveaway waiting for you at the end...pssstt, don't peak! When I think of the holiday season and beauty items I'm drawn to the classic must haves...something to enhance your eyes, a kissable lip shade, maximum glow, the tools and an iconic flirty scent.
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Sunday 6 November 2016

The Unicorn Gift Guide ft. ASOS

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend so far. I thought today that I would bring you something a little fun. Now, as we are officially heading into the festive season I love nothing more than self-indulging in a few treats, however, I also love indulging in a spot of shopping and treating all the special people in my life. I've had some great feedback on my previous gift guides that I thought I'd put another one together...one with a special twist! I recently signed up to the ASOS Premier Delivery service and I have been completely hooked to the ASOS app ever since. I find myself throwing countless items into my shopping basket and half of which I genuinely don't need! I am developing an ASOS shopping addiction! One evening whilst browsing through the app I stumbled across a few Unicorn items and I instantly became obsessed. If you know me personally then you will know how much I love Unicorns! My cousins were round a few weeks ago and we actually counted how many Unicorn items I had in my room...I think it was something like 9 different things?! So, given my love for all things Unicorn this post has been a long time coming and I really hope you enjoy a few of my picks!
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Monday 31 October 2016

5 Ways To Add A Twist To Your Day

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a great start to the week! A huge thank you to everyone who read, left a comment or messaged me directly about my 13 Thing I Love About Autumn post - I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together and I couldn't wait to start work on the next one. So, here it is! I for one can openly hold my hands up and say that I like routine but sometimes we can get stuck in a rut and we need to switch things up. So, I thought today I would share with you 6 ways to add a twist to your day. All of these steps are super easy yet effective and I've really enjoyed incorporating them into my daily routine.
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Thursday 20 October 2016

An Oh-So-Sweet Clinique Gift With Purchase

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful week so far. I thought today I would talk to you about an oh-so-sweet bonus time gift with purchase that Debenhams are currently running. I just love everything about gift with purchases and I always enjoy trying out the products and sharing my thoughts with you all. Firstly, who doesn't just love receiving a free gift when you have treated yourself at the beauty halls? I know I definitely do haha. Secondly, I honestly think they are a fantastic way to try, trial and test a new product before committing to the full sized versions. Also, how handy dandy are the mini sized product - they are perfect for a girl on the go like me and they are ideal for travel! Clinique is a brand I absolutely adore, however, I put my hands up and say that I have tried more of their skincare than makeup products - funny how thats worked out considering I am a complete makeup junkie. I don't even have a valid reason why or some kind of excuse to share with you because I have worked on a Chanel counter in Debenhams with copious of wonderful makeup and beauty brands around me...Clinique being one of them.
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Saturday 8 October 2016

13 Things I Love About Autumn

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend so far. This week it felt as if we had finally started to transition into the Autumn season and it honestly started to make me feel so excited for the final few months of 2016. I'm not really season bias because there are things I absolutely love about them all, including the beautiful sunshine through summer, however, there is just something so satisfying about crisp Autumn mornings, the change in the colour palette, layering up with cosy clothes, copious amounts of hot drinks and more. So, in honour of Autumn I thought I would put together a few reasons why I love it so much!
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Sunday 2 October 2016

Win Autumn Beauty Goodies with Cohorted

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend so far!

So, we have officially jumped into Autumn and I'm kicking off the season with an exciting collaboration with Cohorted. For those of you who don't know who Cohorted are, they been on the beauty scene for a little while now and they originally started off as an exclusive website where you could find the best cult beauty products at the best prices. Since then they now also offer exclusive beauty boxes which are packed full of luxury products. For example, their recent August Black Edition Beauty Box included a limited edition Nars palette, two deluxe Lancôme samples, Smith & Cult Nail polish, a brush from their own Ovali Collection and more! The value of the box was £118 and the subscription is £35 per month including postage. Sounds pretty amazing right?!
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Sunday 25 September 2016

Viktor & Rolf BONBON Couture

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and you are having a wonderful weekend so far. I thought today I would  share with you one of the newest fragrances to my collection and one that I have absolutely been loving. Now, I have been a Viktor & Rolf fan for as long as I can remember and a few years ago when my blog was pretty much starting out I was invited to my local Debenhams store for the Exclusive Original BONBON launch. Since then I have always felt a strong connection to the fragrance and fast forward two years Viktor & Rolf have created a sister fragrance that is equally as beautiful.
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Sunday 18 September 2016

A Festival Lookbook ft. SOLETRADER

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your weekend so far. I thought today I would bring you the second instalment to my South West Four Festival Series in collaboration with SOLETRADER. If you haven't done so already you can read the first post hereIn preparation for the festival SOLETRADER sent me the ultimate survival package which consisted of some beauty goodies (you can see these over on my Instagram @SophiaMeola), a few pairs of shoes and also a snazzy waterproof poncho. So, I thought today I would share with you the outfit I wore on the actual day of the festival and also a few other outfit ideas that could work for future festivals or for any occasion you see fit.

Please note, even though I am a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger I am still pretty new to outfit posts but they are definitely something I want to post more - at the moment all outfit posts go straight to my Instagram (@SophiaMeola). A huge thank you to my lovely friend Priya who came with me to the festival and helped take some photos and also Papa Meola who helped take some outfit shots too!


Outfit #1: This is the outfit I decided to wear on the day of the festival and the main focus were these gorgeous Adidas Superstars* in a crisp white with snake print. I am a huge Superstar fan and also have the Original Foundation Supestars with the gold tongue detailing and will know doubt purchase more in the future - Adidas are killing it in the shoe department. I paired these with one of my favourite aline button detailed skirts, a basic grey knot crop and mauve bomber all from Missguided. For accessories I used my Barbour Bronson Backpack* (which is no longer available to purchase *cries*), New Look Choker and my GoodieRush Reflective Sunglasses*. These are currently on pre-order but if you are interested in a pair you can contact them directly. 

Outfit #2: This is pretty much the same outfit as #1, however, I had a top change on the day and switched to this Floral Bardot number from Missguided. I have loved pairing cropped tops with skirts this summer and I think this is the perfect look for any festival - given it's not pouring it down with rain!


Outfit #3: This outfit definitely has more of a comfortable and casual vibes to it. The main focal point to this outfit was the wellies and we all know that your not prepared for a festival unless you have a pair of wellies on hand. These super girly navy, pink and white polka dot wellies* are from Joules and they are incredible comfortable. I paired these with my favourite Topshop Joni Jeans, another basic white knot crop and my mauve bomber from Missguided. For accessories I have on one of my favourite chokers from Pretty Little Thing and a pair of Vans Sunglasses* in a Tortoise Shell Wayfarer style. 




Outfit #4: This is another comfortable outfit but still stylish none the less. I decided to whip out my cobalt blue Barbour Waterproof Poncho* - if this doesn't keep you dry during a festival then I don't know what will! These waterproof ponchos are great for camping and travelling, they are incredibly lightweight and fold away into it's own little storage bag - perfect for on the go! Also, you can't really go missing in a crowd when you're wearing this super bright and fun shade! Alongside the waterproof poncho I opted to wear my beloved Topshop Joni Jeans once again then underneath the poncho I have another basic black knot crop on - I have them in pretty much every colour and I absolutely love them! For shoes I wore these Sole Toucan Glitter Sandals* and my Pretty Little Thing choker. 

I hope you all enjoyed this festival lookbook inspired post - I would love to hear your thoughts about the outfits and if you would like to see more outfit posts on my blog. If you are looking for a pair of shoes for any occasion then I would highly recommend you check out SOLETRADER - they stock a wide range of different brands and styles. 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!

Which outfit is your favourite? What shoes are currently on your wish list? 

Lots of Love


*A huge thank you to SOLETRADER for collaborating with me on this post

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Saturday 17 September 2016

Cosmopolitan Influencer Awards 2016

Hello My Lovelies, 

I hope you are all doing well and you have had a wonderful weekend so far. I thought today I would post something a little more personal. When 2016 came around I set myself a range of different New Year resolutions and you can read all about my 2015 reflection and 2016 blogging goals here. Every year I always set myself a goal to widen my writing and I want to be able to post more lifestyle content. So, I thought today I would post about something a little more personal and about something that recently hit the blogging community, again...the 2016 Cosmopolitan Influencer Awards, previously also know as the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards.

I think I can vouch for a lot of people within this community when I say that I honestly thought the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards were not going to happen this year, due to the fact that the usual timings were  a little off for announcements but also because Cosmopolitan kept hush hush about it all this year - literally leaving us all on the edge of our seats! Thinking they were not going to happen I took my mind away from the awards and started planning out some exciting blogging projects for the rest of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. Then out of no where...POOF! Cosmopolitan surprised us and launched this year's awards. Things are a little different this year as the awards are now called 'The Cosmopolitan Influencer Awards' but there are a lot more ways to get involved, whether you are a blogger, vlogger, Instagrammer or Snapchatter  - yay!

When I noticed the awards had launched I kept it to myself for a few days, purely because I really wanted to think long and hard before putting myself forward for the awards again this year. I lack so much confidence in myself that I didn't know whether I was even worthy. I have been incredibly blessed during the past few years and have been shortlisted for 2013 (Best New Beauty Blog), 2014 (Best Established Beauty Blog & Best Social Media Blog), 2015 (Best for Beauty & Best Use of Photography) and I actually won highly commended for my photography last year! To this day I still can't believe it actually happened. Last year was the first time I had placed in one of my categories and honestly, it was the best feeling and I was not expecting it at all. You can read my full post on the night here. I still feel totally blessed that I was even shortlisted and was able to experience going to the awards and meeting so many incredible people within this industry. Every year I always walk away feeling so incredibly motivated and determined to work even harder on my blog - it has grown into such a huge part of my life and I can't imagine it not being part of my life now. I always wonder what I would be doing right now if I never started my blog haha! Blogging has helped me in so many ways and some of which I have not even shared with my readers before...and it has been a creative outlet for myself to express my love for all things beauty, fashion, lifestyle and everything else in-between without the fear of being judged. I started my blog during my first year at University and I still can't believe how far we have grown since then...I always remember that Rome was not built in a day so being able to grow personally alongside my blog has been such an emotional and unforgettable journey. It has opened my eyes, inspired me to be a better person and I have met so many incredible friends within this community!

I can imagine that there will be a few posts like this popping up within the bloggerssphere but I wanted to add my two cents also. I know it may seem like a complete longshot and there are so many amazing bloggers, vloggers, Instagrammers and Snapchatters out there so I don't expect to be shortlisted again...but I would kick myself if I didn't try...at least one last time, it is worth a shot right?! If you have followed my blogging journey so far and you enjoy stopping by my blog and taking some time out to read, interact on social and everything else in-between then I would love you forever if you would consider nominating my blog under 'Best Beauty Influencer' in this year's awards or if there is any other category you think I would fit under then fire away haha. To nominate you can click the  link HERE and it should direct you step by step on what you need to do - it literally takes 2 minutes! If you do nominate me then THANK YOU so much for taking the time to do so. Please let me know in the comments or by Tweeting, Instagramming or Facebooking me as I would like to thank everyone individually and send you a great big cyber hug! It would literally mean the world to me.

Finally, I want to say a huge Good Luck to everyone who is taking part in this year's awards too! Being a blogger myself I understand how much hard work and dedication goes into writing and creating a blog plus everything else in-between so I really wish everyone the best luck - I really hope we all make it! Us bloggers have to stick together, right! #BloggerPower

Lots of Love
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Sunday 11 September 2016

Clearer Looking Skin With Garnier Pure Active

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend so far. It feels great to be back in my blogging routine and thank you so much for all the positive responses to yesterday post which you can see here. I thought today I would talk to you about a skincare range that I have been testing out recently that I have really enjoyed using. I have mentioned a few times on my blog how my skin has been a real issues for me in the past so I am still on the hunt for my ultimate skincare routine and product line up.

We've all been there; that sudden spot panic accompanied by tenderness and an irritating tingle beneath the skin that flares up when a spot is prepared to break through. You can bet it's also just before a big life event, night out, or somewhere you'll be photographed - yup sounds about right! However, instead of getting ahead of the issues only 7% of women are using a cleanser specifically designed to help fight spots and blemishes on a daily basis, instead they're resorting to harsh 'quick fixers' once a spot has already put in an appearance. Spots can take up to three weeks to appear on the surface of your skin. So, if you are prone to surprise breakouts it's important to follow a daily skincare routine. This is something I have found out recently and it's something I will definitely consider in my skincare routine moving forward.

Now, I have been using Garnier products on and off for as long as I can remember and one product in particular is their Micellar water which I have probably gone through 30+ bottles since it launched. For 25 years, Garnier has developed its knowledge of different skin problems and as a leading brand in the skincare industry, Garnier uses its expertise to find efficient solutions to improve your skin quality day after day. Spots, blackheads and all kind of imperfections can play on both your skin and your mood and the more they vanish, the more they'll vanish from your mind! Growing up (and occasionally now too) my skin was one of my biggest insecurities so trust me when I say that I've been there and when my skin looks and feels it's best it's almost as if I am a completely new person because I have some added confidence back. It's a virtuous circle that takes the right routine and the right tools. So, Garnier has created Pure Active which consists of 4 different ranges to answer each particular and individual skincare need. There is Pure Active which is the range I will be reviewing today, Pure Active Intense, Pure Active Fruit Energy and Pure Active Wasabi Powder. Their only mission is to provide you with efficient and affordable product solutions, smart services and everyday skin care tips so you can really see the changes that you want.

The Pure Active range is designed for combination to oily skin prone to imperfections, with a range of effective everyday solutions and regimes to help you make and see a difference. Each product is carefully formulated with ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Zinc and Eucalyptus extract with each designed to help target the look of oily skin, blemishes, blocked pores and shine with a drying action.

Step 1 - Pure Active Micellar Cleansing Water (£4.99*). I am a huge fan of Micellar Cleansing Water and like I mentioned earlier I have gone through countless bottles of the original version. They are an easy way to remove makeup, cleanse and purify the skin, eye area and lips in one step without rinsing. I like to apply a generous amount to two cotton pads and then hold them on my eyes for a good 20 seconds to help breakdown any stubborn mascara and then I swipe away at my face, eyes and lips to remove all trace of makeup. For £4.99 you are receiving a generous 400ml bottle that should see you to around 200 uses.

Step 2 - The Multi-Tasking Pure Active 3-in-1 (£3.79*). Garnier designed this 3-in-1 product to ensure you give your skin the attention it deserves. This multi-tasking products can be used as a wash, scrub and mask which works to mattify the skin, unclog pores, reduce marks and perfect skin tone. As a Wash you can use this product everyday on wet skin to help intensely cleanse and purify the skin, remove excess sebum and protect against the appearance of spots. As a Scrub you can use this when needed paying special attention to your forehead, chin and nose to help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Finally, as a Mask you can use 1-2 times a week to help even skin tone and mattify. Apply to dry skin and leave to work it's magic for 3 or so minutes before washing off.

Step 3 - Pure Active Matte Control Moisturiser (£6.99*). Finally, step 3 is a matte control moisturise with new innovative care which has been formulated for skin that is prone to shine or blemishes. The combination of Airlicium derives from natural ultra-absorbing mineral silice and purifying Salicylic Acid delivers 8 hours of protection from shine, while reducing the appearance of blemishes, pores, uneven skin and texture. I love the texture of this product an after application it almost feels like i've applied a thin layer of primer to my skin - some mornings I feel like I can solely use this before foundation and it has really helps my combination t-zone.

Overall, I have really enjoyed using this range and it has been so easy to incorporate into my morning and evening routine. When first starting the routine give your skin around a week to adjust to the new products before you start seeing results because essentially even though we would love to see instant results you won't start seeing them until a week or so after. I will definitely be repurchasing the range once I have finished and it is great to see products that actually work that are so affordable - £15 and I can use the whole line! Sometimes it's not always about the amount of products you have in your routine or even how fancy they are - for me, sometimes less is more and if thats what it takes to see results then i'll stick to it.

Thank you so much for stopping by tonights post. 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 the Garnier Pure Active range? Would you give it a try?
Join the conversation with @GarnierUK using #PureActive, #MyLoveForMicellar and #MeTimeMoment

Lots of Love

*PR Sample
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Saturday 10 September 2016

Primark Deluxe Candles


Hello My lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a fabulous weekend so far. I've been a little absent from the blog recently and it feels great to be back into the swing of things. I'll be talking more in depth around how I've been feeling the last few weeks, however, I think some time away has done me good. We are all human and sometimes we need some time out away from everything. Even though I have been quiet on the blog you'll always find me posting on Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat so I'd love you to pop over and say hello if you ever get the chance. You'll find me all over social as @SophiaMeola.

So, I thought I would throw things back and talk about some candles that I have raved about on my blog before. Back in 2014 (yup, 2014!) I wrote not one but two reviews on the Primark Deluxe Candle range and my love for them continues to grow. Since then I have also featured the candles in a selection of different gift guides and honestly for £2 I don't think you can wrong. There is nothing I love more than lighting a few candles after a stressful few days to de-stress or even light up when I am having a good ol' pampering session. I have tried so many different candles on the market from real luxurious splurges and to affordable hughstreet brands but honestly, I always turn back to these ones from Primark and I make sure to always have a stash on hand. The Pink Grapefruit and the Sea Salt and Lavender candles are my latest editions and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. Pink Grapefruit has a fresh fruity scent whereas Sea Salt and Lavender has more of a calming therapeutic scent - both gorgeous fragrances that I would repurchase both again. These candles are super affordable, smell beautiful and look cute...what more could you want?!

There is no precise size on the jars, however, just by looking at them you can tell that you are receiving a very generous amount of product. They claim to have a 30 hour burning time which I think is pretty spot on. I have continuously burnt these candles over a weekend period and there still seems to be product left over. However, t will vary from candle to candle but for £2 I think the burn time is incredible. Also, the great thing is you never waste with these candles. The flame itself burns the entire product evenly so you are not left with a big hole in the middle with wax that doesn't melt around the edges! The packaging is very simplistic but I think that with these candles less is definitely more. They have a shabby chic feel and there are so many different colours and fragrances to choose from so there is something for everyone. I have gone through so many of these candles now and I actually depot and DIY them into some pretty new beauty storage for my blogging office. I add some ribbon and sparkly pieces and they transform into the perfect brush holders and storage. If you ever have any candle jars left over I would definitely recommend you give a little DIY a try.

I think it is safe to say that I have a teeny tiny obsession with these candles and I can't wait to see which scents they release over Autumn and Winter. I hope you all enjoyed talking candles with me this evening - I would love to hear your thoughts on them. 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 are your thoughts on these candles? Would you give them a try?

Lots of Love
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Saturday 20 August 2016

I'm Going To South West Four Festival!

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and you are having an amazing weekend so far. I thought today I would finally update you on something I have been working on the last few weeks. I am excited to reveal that I have teamed up with SOLETRADER and South West Four Festival!

When an opportunity arose for me to attend South West Four (SW4) over the August bank holiday weekend I literally jumped at the chance. Even though summer is almost over I don’t want it to end! I work full time outside of my blog which means I don’t have as much free time on my hands, however, it doesn’t mean I still can’t have the time of my life – you just need to find that balance! If you are a regular reader of my blog (or if your new, hello!) then you will know that I primarily write about beauty, fashion and lifestyle topics, however, something you might not know about me is that I also love to travel, explore new places and try new things. I’ll put my hands up and say that this is my first time attending SW4, however, I am super excited to be sharing this experience with my blog and readers. The festival itself has been running for 12 years and they welcome only the best of the best world DJs and live electronic acts.

I’ve been to a few raves this year already but I can’t wait to see what SW4 has in store. They are welcoming even more talent than ever before and unveiling a colossal 10,000 capacity indoor main stage, the biggest ever indoor structure in Clapham Common (where the festival is held). This year is set to outshine previous years, especially with the biggest headliners in South West Four history including; Rudimental, Dizzee Rascal, DJ Ez, Cirez D, The Chemical Brothers and more. You can see the full line-up here.

I’ve been to a few weekend festivals in the past, however, I’ll only be attending one of the two days next weekend. So, to get us festival ready I thought I would share some of my top one-day only festival essentials! 

1. Cute outfit // 2. Sunglasses // 3. Waterproof Mac // 4. Wellies // 5. Portable Phone Charger //
6. Hand Sanitiser // 7.  Dry Shampoo // 8. Body spray // 9. Makeup setting spray // 10. Sweet treats (keep those energy levels up haha) // 11. Comfortable bag / ruck sack // 12. Water bottle


This will be my first time attending SW4 and I will be snap vlogging my entire day so make sure you stop by @SophiaMeola to see all behind the scenes. If you have attended before please leave any tips and advice in the comments section, as I would love to hear them.

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! Make sure you check back soon for my post SW4 roundup including a look book ft. SOLETRADER!

Weekend tickets are now sold out but you can still get hold of Saturday and Sunday individual tickets. You can view ticket details here.

Lots of Love


* A collaboration with SOLETRADER & South West Four Festival
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Saturday 23 July 2016

New Launches To The Lee Stafford Coco Loco Coconut Range

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and you are having a wonderful sunny Saturday so far! I thought today I would write up a hair related post as it's been a little while since my last one. When these new Lee Stafford 'Coco Loco' launches landed on my doorstep I was extremely intrigued to give them a try as I have been obsessed with coconut recently and ultimately I love trying new products on my hair. I have been a huge fan of Lee Stafford's Flexible Hold Hairspray since I first tried it back in 2013 and I can confirm that these are just as incredible! This collection is one of Lee Stafford's latest and he recently added a handful of new products to the lineup - two of them being the Coconut Dry Shampoo* and Coconut Hairspray* (two of my most used and most loved product types). The whole range is inspired by everything coconut and I have been loco for it! Not only am I really enjoying the summer esque coconut scent but each product really has made a different to my hair routine. I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with you all!

Coconut Oil has become such a key trend throughout the beauty industry and there are so many incredible benefits to using it. If you follow me on snapchat (@SophiaMeola) then you would know that I am a huge fan of coconut oil hair masks, so trying out a hair range which incorporates coconut oil into the formulation really grasped my attention. Coconut oil can be used for so many different benefits, whether it's for your hair, skin, nails or used in cooking there is so much potential. Never-the-less, this range has offered some unbeatable nourishing properties and I have been using the Dry Shampoo and Hairspray ever since they landed on my doorstep. There are a total of 10 products within this range including, Shampoo and Conditioner, Coconut Mask, Light Serum Spray, Coconut Balm, Coconut Spritz, Blow and Go Genius Lotion, Mouse, Dry Shampoo and Hairspray.

First up we have the Coco Loco Coconut Dry Shampoo* (£3.33) which has now become one of my top five favourite dry shampoo products. When your hair is feeling a little worse for wear, call in the Coconut Cavalry! The Coco Loco Dry Shampoo contains a delicate powder that is gentle on the scalp yet extremely absorbent to help combat oily roots. As well as using dry shampoo on oily roots, I also enjoy using dry shampoo on freshly washed hair (when my hair is so clean that it clings to my face and it won't behave haha) as well as on second-day and sometimes third-day hair too (shhh). This product helps add the perfect amount of volume whilst combating oil without making your hair feel crunchy, powdery or like you need to wash it all over again. I have super long and thick hair so finding a product like this that helps add that volume I need is incredible. One thing I would note with this product is you really have to give it a good shake before use to ensure everything inside the packaging is distributed evenly, however, other than that you are good to go. This is the perfect product for big, fresh and gorgeous hair that smells deliciously coconutty.

The second product I had the opportunity to try was the Coco Loco Coconut Hairspray* (£3.99) and we all know how hairspray is such a staple product in any hair routine. This deliciously coconutty hairspray creates natural long-lasting hold whilst leaving hair soft to the touch and flexible for styling. This hairspray has been formulated with silk proteins and UV absorbers to ensure hair is conditioned and has maximum protection for the brightest sunlight - we have to keep our hair protected from the sun too! I use hairspray pretty much daily to ensure my hair is looking it's best (well, hoping it is haha) all day and everyday. Just like dry shampoo I love using hairspray to give my hair that added volume it needs which I sometimes lose due to my hairs length and thickness. I usually flip my hair upside down, spray the hairspray, shake my roots and flip my hair back to create some va va voom volume haha. The great thing about this hairspray is it has an incredible hold with long lasting effects but without that crunchy texture or stiffness that some hairsprays cause. I would say it has a similar formulation to the Flexible Hold Hairspray just with the added bonus of coconut! What more could you need?!

Overall, I am incredibly impressed with both of these products and I think the new Lee Stafford Coco Loco range is going to become a new favourite. The packaging on each product is super cute with the pink hues and with both products coming in under £4 I think they are a complete bargain. If you would like to give this new Lee Stafford range a try you can take a peek at the full lineup on Boots.com.

I hope you all enjoyed today's post and taking a closer look at these fabulous new products! 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 are your thoughts on the Lee Stafford Coco Loco Coconut range? Would you give any of the products a try?

Lots of Love

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Sunday 17 July 2016

Glossybox | July 2016

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a wonderful weekend so far. I have been backwards and forwards the last few weeks with being out the country on a few occasions, work commitments and overall daily life but I am excited to be back and I have so much to share with you all. If things are a little quiet over on my blog you can always follow my daily snap vlogs over on Snapchat (@SophiaMeola) as I'm always posting behind the scenes snaps and rambling on about something or other haha. I took to Twitter not too long ago and create a poll to see what you all wanted to see on the blog next and you all chose July's Glossybox! I have been a fan of Glossybox for as long as I can remember and I always light up with joy when a new one lands on my doorstep each month!


It's official, summer has finally arrived and Glossybox is celebrating with an edit of seaside inspired beauty products. The 'Life's a Beach' July Glossybox features an exclusive 'glow-giving' juice recipe from Wendy Rowe's new book, Eat Beautiful, as well as a collection of SPF beauty products, waterproof wonders, tanning treats and tools that will take you from beach to chic in seconds!

Utan and Tone Nourishing Night Creme | £12.50

As life gets busier, our beauty routines are getting easier with innovative products that work while you sleep. This clever concoction combines all your needs from a night cream (think hydrating hyaluronic acid, a cocktail of vitamins and potent anti-oxidants to help skin repair) with the golden colour you'd expect from a gradual tan. Plus, it won't stain your pillow (bonus!) and the odourless formula means you won't wake up to a biscuity-tan smell in the morning. This is a completely new brand to me but I can tell I am going to enjoy using this product more and trying out other products from the line already!

Soft & Gentle Hair Minimising Anti Perspirant | £2.99

As well as keeping you fresh in the heat, this anti-perspirant from Soft & Gentle works double duty by helping combat unwanted underarm hair. It contains a hair growth minimiser called Keliosoft, a natural plant molecule that reduces the protein that stimulates hair growth. The result? Pesky underarm hairs become thinner and grow at a slower rate, leaving skin smoother after just eight weeks. Simply use this product like a normal anti-perspirant, however, be careful not to apply to any sore or broken skin. Soft & Gentle have been a brand that I have know for quite some time so it is great to see them take the next step and create this innovative product.

Hawaiian Tropic Island Berry Lip Gloss | £6.99

Hawaiian Tropic is a brand I have known of for quite some time now and I swear by their After Sun Creme is Island Mango - it nourishes the skin amazingly and smells good enough to eat! Be warned: the tropical scent of this lip gloss instantly transports you to a tropical paradise! While the non-stick formula provides 12-hour moisturisation, advanced UVA and UVB protection means this is all you need to perfect, and more importantly, protect lips from the sun's rays - which is why it comes with the Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendation! The shade looks quite intense in the tube, however, once applied it does become a lot sheerer - it just adds that perfect amount of colour to enhance your natural look.

Hairon De-tangle Brush | £6.99

This ergonomically designed brush fits into the palm of your hand (and in your handbag!) to carefully detangle wet hair without snagging and tugging which in turn causes damage. It is also great when taming natural hair or extensions that need a gentle touch. I just love the pastel blue / turquoise shade as it screams summer and it is the perfect size for a girl like me who is always on the go! It is also slightly cheaper than the Original Tangle Teazer, so if you wanted to give a different brand a try then this is the perfect alternative for you.

Blank Canvas F20 Flat Brush | £11.95

I am a huge fan of buffing style face brushes and they have been my go to for applying foundation for as long as I can remember (apart from when I am using my beauty blender). The short, dense synthetic fibres make this brush ideal for applying liquid, cream or powder makeup - the perfect multi-tasking brush! Blank Canvas is a brand I have never personally tried before but I have heard so much about them throughout the beauty community. The brush itself is beautifully designed and I love the gold accents and pink contrasts!

I hope you all enjoyed taking a peek inside this month's Glossybox. Overall, this month's box has been one of my favourites and I was so pleased to see 5 full-size products in the box itself. I love how you have everything you need to get summer ready and I don't think there was one product that I was disappointed with. In total this months box works out around £34.43 and for a £12.95* (including p&p) you are definitely getting your money's worth. After diving into this month's box I am now super excited to see what Glossbox have in store for us next month. It is their 5th Birthday and they have been working on a special collaboration! I have seen a sneak peek and I think you are all going to LOVE it so keep your eyes peeled!

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!

If you would like to try out a Glossybox for yourself you can use the code SOPHIAJULY30 and receive an exclusive 30% discount off your first box!

Lots of Love

*PR Sample
* Glossybox offer ends 31st July 2016. Enjoy 30% off your first Glossybox only. Offer valid with all UK subscription plans. Limited availability, single use code. Full terms and conditions apply at the http://www.glossybox.co.uk/beauty checkout
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Sunday 26 June 2016

New In // Too Faced Hangover Primer

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and you are having a wonderful weekend so far. I am enjoying a wonderful lazy Sunday with Tea on tap and my little Yorkshire Terrier Bella by my side. I've had a wonderful morning snap vlogging (@SophiaMeola) and blogging, which will shortly be followed by some baking! I am feeling super chirpy today so I thought I would grab my laptop and get back into blogging mode! I thought today I would share with you a beauty product that I have been head over heels in love with ever since I purchased it around a month or so ago. It was part of a huge pre-holiday haul that I forgot to share with you all but I will slowly make my way through as I have some reviews coming your way and also some snaps for Instagram (@SophiaMeola).

Too Faced have grown to become one of my favourite beauty brands and I still remember the day I purchased my first ever Too Faced product. I am pretty sure this was my Too Faced Leopard Love Perfection Complexion Kit and I have an old school review on my blog that you can see here. There is just something so special about their product range and I love that they are so quirky and fun with some pretty spectacular product names. When I heard that Too Faced were releasing a brand new Hangover Primer I was instantly intrigued to know more. I have seen countless bloggers and vloggers using it and giving it such rave reviews and flash forward a few months and I finally decided to bite the bullet and give it a try for myself. I am a huge fan of primers because ultimately they have so many benefits. I enjoy using them alone and also under makeup to ensure my makeup lasts longer, looks smoother or adds that matte or dewy look that I am after.

The Too Faced Hangover Primer has been designed to cure your skin after long days of work and late nights of play. This is a revolutionary makeup primer which is infused with coconut water, probiotics and skin revivers that work together to boost skin's radiance, promote elasticity and help hydrate whilst locking down makeup for a fresher, longer and more flawless wear. Too Faced harnessed the science of hydration to create a creamy, penetrating primer that acts like an energy drink for the skin by replenishing moisture levels - it's basically skincare too! When I used this primer for the first time I was honestly blown away because it did everything it said it was going to do and I felt so content using it, as if it had instantly lifted my mood. The formulation feels incredible and the coconut scent instantly whisks you away to a tropical destination. Like I mentioned earlier, I love using primers alone and with makeup and you can do the same with the Too Faced Hangover Primer also. It can be worn alone for a dewy, healthy looking finish or under bronzers, foundations and powders to help you create the perfect base.


Now, let's take a closer look at the packaging. The design of this primer is super cute and I adore the white and pink hues and gold accents used - it looks so Instagram and Pinterest worthy! The functionality of the packaging is also amazing as it comes with a handy dandy pump which makes distribution and application of the product so much easier and mess free. The primer itself costs £27 and can be purchased from most department stores online and in-store. £27 is on the pricey side for a primer, however, I am 100% willing to spend that kind of money on a product that I know is going to work with my skin and ultimately make my makeup look good which makes me feel good haha.

Overall, I am completely in love with this primer and I have already added it to my next beauty wish list to ensure I have some backups in my makeup collection. You literally receive all the priming benefits you love while looking like you have received eight hours of sleep and drank your duly dose of H20 - sounds pretty spectacular to me.

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 11 June 2016

Fathers Day Gift Guide with Debenhams


Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and are having a great start to the weekend. I've been out and about all day and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous - so let's hope it stays like this! I thought today I would share with you a Fathers Day Gift Guide in collaboration with Debenhams. I don't think I have ever posted a Fathers Day gift guide before so I was very excited when Debenhams wanted to collaborate on this post and with Fathers Day just around the corner I thought this would be the perfect time to share this post with you all. I love putting gift guides together and I would love to do more moving forward (for all occasions) - buying gifts for all the special people in my life just brings me so much joy! Plus, all of my previous gift guides have always had such lovely feedback from you all so that motivates me even more to create them.

June is a pretty good month in terms of gifts for my Dad! His Birthday falls on the 12th June, my Dad is called Antonio (every calls him Tony) and he celebrates St Antonio Day on 13th June and then Fathers Day is always the week after - Papa Meola gets spoilt haha.

For this years Fathers Day Gift Guide I have teamed up with Debenhams to bring you a few of my favourite pieces from their online gift ideas section and my theme was focused all around that 'dapper dad' in your life. Debenhams are always one of my go-to shopping destinations because there is literally everything you could possibly need under one roof (or online of course!)...plus, I just LOVE their Beauty Card and collecting points in the beauty department...it helps justify those cheeky splurges haha.


A shaver on Fathers Day is one of those typical yet super necessary gifts that I know a tonne of Dads are going to love. Get a refreshing, close yet gentle shave with the Philips AquaTouch which also has a super sleek design. This is for the dapper dad who enjoys the comfort of a wet shave, with the convenience of a quick dry shave. The AquaTouch offers 10x more protection than a regular blade, while still giving you the closeness of a refreshing wet shave. It has a 5-direction flexing head which corporates AquaTec which makes it completely waterproof and the compact design makes it perfect for travel. Philips is one of the most unbeatable shaving brands around and I know my Dad is going to absolutely love this. 


Colognes and Aftershaves are another gift that will always go down a treat and this one by Vince Camuto smells absolutely incredible! Admitantly, I have never tried or gifted any Vince Camuto products before but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. This scent literally transports you to a European paradise and for an Eau de Toilette it packs a punch with parts of woody notes of cedar and pine alongside comforting lavender and just-sweet-enough juniper. The gift set includes a 100ml Eau de Toilette, a deodorant and a travel-sized fragrance also - all presented in this luxurious and distinctive blue box with silver accents. 
    RR.John Rocha Large Watch Box - £49*

    Now, this is probably the gift I was most excited about because I know it is something my Dad has wanted for quite some time. This Large Watch Box is part of the RR.John Rocha exclusive range and is perfect for keeping valuables safe and organised. The box itself has a brown leather-effect with a rich red lining which features 10 compartments and watch cushions. If you want to use the box for more than storing just watches you could even remove the cushions and use the compartments to store some of your favourite pieces of jewellery, for example, rings, bracelets and so on.

    I hope you all enjoyed my Fathers Day Gift Guide in collaboration with Debenhams. If you are still thinking of that special gift, I hope you found some inspiration in this post. Everything featured is easily accessible in-store or online, just make sure you give yourself enough time for delivery. So, we've covered grooming and accessories, however, I would also like to mention the Hammond & Co by Patrick Grant clothing line that Debenhams stock. Established in 1776 the line consists of beautifully cut suits, formal clothing and stylish casual wear; bringing the essence of Savile Row - the epitome of men's tailoring to their own menswear collection. I could literally browse the collection online for hours - next time I am at my local Debenhams I am definitely taking my Dad in to preview the collection, I know he will absolutely love it! If you have any additional gift ideas pretty please share them in the comments below as I would love to hear them.

    I am actually heading to Dubai today and we will be celebrating my Dad's Birthday, Parents Wedding Anniversary and Fathers Day whilst we are away - I am sooo excited! If you would like to see what I get up to on my travels make sure you are following me on Snapchat (@SophiaMeola) as I will definitely try to snap vlog as much as I can! 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 Samples
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