Product Review | It Really Works Vitamins

Ciao ♥ A few weeks ago I was contacted by the founder of It Really Works who introduced me to her brand and kindly sent me a month's supply of vitamins. These vitamins are targeted at both genders and are designed to give you stronger nails, longer and healthier hair and brighter skin. This is achieved by an extra-strength formulation of micronutrients including Biotin (also known as Vitamin H), Copper, Folic Acid, Inositol, Iodine, Manganese, Rosehip, Selenium, Vitamin B Complex (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9 and B12), Vitamin A, C, D and E and Zinc.

Prior to being sent these vitamins, I was rather intrigued by Perfectil, having spotted them in Holland and Barrett. Despite this curiosity I never got round to making a purchase as there was too much choice to choose from, in the very little browsing time I had, during those times. Thereby, I was delighted when I was introduced to It Really Works as it benefits the three things I just love to look after... my hair, skin and nails.

It's recommended you take two tablets per day with your main meal and a full glass of water. It's important you adhere to these instructions as food supplements are intended to supplement the diet and shouldn't be regarded as a substitute for a varied diet. Lesson learnt as I once made the mistake of taking these on an empty stomach. Ha! Let's just say I didn't make the same mistake twice.

These vitamins are currently sold online as a 28 day supply (£33.79), a 3 month supply (£86.17) and a 6 month supply (£120.84). Understandably, some individuals might be slightly apprehensive about purchasing a product from a brand they're not familiar with. Worry your cotton socks not as It Really Works are so confident their customer's will notice a clear improvement in the health of their hair, skin and nails, that they offer a 90 day money back guarantee. Not only does this guarantee illustrate the likelihood of these improvements occurring but it also highlights how important customer satisfaction is to the company. This is quite unusual, yet rather refreshing, as the majority of companies are more interested in how much revenue they make opposed to how satisfied their customers are.

Upon being introduced to this brand I was particularly drawn to the fact that this product is produced and bottled in Oxford. Now some of you might consider that to be quite a bizarre thing to be drawn to, but having worked for several British companies, I've come to appreciate the importance as to where products are made in regard to authenticity and quality. Trust me, your girl knows what she's talking about ;)

I was also impressed that despite only recently being introduced to the market, It Really Works has already been featured in Men's Health and Men's Fitness due to its successful results amongst customers. Not at all surprising as my hair looked a lot healthier and nourished after I finished my course of vitamins. I also noticed that my nails were a lot stronger and there was less breakage. This is something I tend to struggle with at this time of year due to the seasonal transition period so I was particularly happy with this.

What do you guys think? Does this sound like a product you'd be interested in? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comment box below.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Outfit of the Day (#OOTD)

Ciao ♥ I’ve never quite understood why people look forward to the arrival of autumn. It baffles me. I just don't get it (*looks around confused*). Don't get me wrong, I love sipping on hot cups of pumpkin spice latte, burning autumnal scented candles and rockin' chunky knitwear, just as much as the next person BUT please spare me the colder and darker days/nights. Brrr! I can most certainly do without those.

That's not to say I haven't prepared myself. Call me crazy but I've already bought not one, not two but three seven new coats. Yes! Seven. As in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Gah! Now I've written that down it sounds a little, erm... excessive, especially as they were all bought before autumn had even arrived. Three of those coats are from Hunter Boots who recently pulled off a spectacular show at London Fashion Week. The one I'm wearing in today's outfit post is metallic and puffy. Not something that sounds like it should work but thankfully it does. At least I think so anyway :P

I rocked this outfit last weekend when the girls and I headed to Shoreditch for a spot of chill time and a bite to eat at the French restaurant, Haché. I ordered the Steak Milano which is a Scotch steak burger topped with buffalo mozzarella, Parmesan shavings on sun-dried tomato tapende and a side order of frites. Mmm! It really is as delicious as it looks (*salivating like a dog*).

Nearly all of my jeans, and almost all of those that have been featured on my blog, are the Topshop Joni jeans. If you haven’t yet strutted your stuff in a pair of these badboys, what are you waiting for? They’re super high-waisted, have a spray-on effect and really help to emphasise your body shape (#FYI: I buy mine in a W26L30). I'm utterly obsessed with them so picture my happiness when I saw that the 'New In This Week' section on the Topshop website featured a khaki and burgundy pair. Obviously, this caused me to have a I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE type of moment in which my eager little fingertips typed away my bank details before I could stop myself. Do I feel bad? Hell to the no.

I also bought three ribbed crop tops in a size 8 but found them to be quite an awkward fit; the arms too long, the shoulders too big. I then reordered four more in a size 6 hoping they would be a better fit. They weren't so I've now returned all of them but the camel coloured one I'm wearing below. Finally, knowing there would be lots of walking around involved I slid my feet into my dusty pink Superga flatforms which are super comfortable. What do you guys think?

       

(Jacket: Hunter Boots // Top: Topshop // Jeans: Topshop // Trainers: Superga // Necklace: Greenwich Market)

Are you guys following me on Instagram and Twitter? Get following if you’d like to be updated with my day-to-day thoughts and adventures.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Product Review | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Ciao ♥ It's been a hot minute or so since I came at you guys with a product review, which is a tad surprising, as I've really enjoyed using an array of products these past few months. In today's post I will be discussing a product you're likely to have heard of before, or even currently use, as it's constantly being raved about. It's none other than Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water.

Up until a few months ago, my skin used to be super sensitive. This meant I was always cautious as to what products I'd apply to my face, especially around my eye area, as I didn't want to cause any sort of reaction. Due to this sensitivity I was constantly on the hunt for a range of products that were not going to irritate my skin. This certainly proved to be a lot harder than I thought. The majority of products I tried out were not 'suitable for sensitive skin' despite claiming to be so as they'd cause my skin to flare up in red patches, become very itchy and leave me with a burning sensation. Not the most pleasant of experiences I tell you.

Thankfully, I can happily say (*wipes forehead*) that I've experienced none of the irritable-ness mentioned above when using this product. No siree! I'm sure this is massively helped by the fact it is fragrance free and cleanses your skin, lifting away any dirt. I'm also super impressed at how light this feels on my skin as I dislike lathering my face in rich substances. Furthermore, this comes in a generous bottle size of 400ml and retails for an affordable price of £4.99. Better yet, this product is currently on offer at Superdrug for the reduced price of £3.29 (click here to view/purchase).

Another great thing about this product is that you're able to remove impurities and make-up without rinsing. Yes, really. This is perfect if you're on the go and conveniently have their travel size bottle (125ml) at hand. Ooo! Did I mention it's non-oily? Nope. Well now you know :)

Finally, to those who are intrigued as to how I use this product... I apply a liberal amount of product onto three or four cotton pads ensuring that at least three-quarters of each pad is moist. I then gently rub the product into my skin in circular motions, until all traces of make-up is removed. This procedure is super quick and takes no more than two or three minutes. Please keep in mind that when it comes to foundation, I opt for a light-medium coverage. Thereby, what might be enough product for me might not be for you.

What do you guys use to remove your make-up? I'd also love to know if you guys enjoy reading these type of posts. If so, let me know in the comment box below so that I can produce similar content on a more regular basis.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Wish List | September

MOTO Ripped Cain Premium Jeans - £45 from Topshop (click here to view)

Atlettis Clutch Bag In Suede - £190 from Coccinelle (click here to view)

Stripe Ribbed Lurex - £40 from Warehouse (click here to view)

Taylor Morris Vredefort Round-Frame Sunglasses - £150 from Harvey Nichols (click here to view)

Leather Studded Hem Mini Skirt - £90 from Topshop (click here to view)

Wool Hat - £24.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Eye Palette - £38 from Feelunique (click here to view)

Agent Provocateur Saskia Non Padded Plunge Navy Bra - £60 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Agent Provocateur Saskia Mini Navy Briefs - £30 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Boucle Check Scarf - £49 from Hobbs (click here to view)

Winter Birch Faux Fur Coat - £185 from French Connection (click here to view)

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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AW15 Fashion Trend #1

Ciao ♥ Much to my dismay autumn is menacingly creeping up on our doorsteps. Its official arrival will unwelcomingly be taking place in exactly 11 days' time. Although I am deeply (allow me to emphasise this by making it bold) saddened by summer’s nearing departure, I am somewhat relieved that I still have a fair bit of time to get you ladies fashionably prepared for the upcoming season.

Over the new few weeks I will be showcasing a selection of the hottest fashion trends in an ‘AW15 Fashion Trends’ blog post series. In today’s instalment I will be focusing upon the 70s trend. This revival kick-started off last season, which you can read about here: SS15 Fashion Trend – The 70s, and has been back in fashion ever since. Before I begin, a little word of advice… grab yourself a cuppa and some biscuits as there’s lots of fashionable advice and tips to soak in.

Fashion in the 1970s, famously known as the “Me Decade”, has continued to be the biggest source of style inspiration this year. Some of the biggest names in the fashion industry including Anna Sui, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Chloe and Jonathan Saunders have all incorporated the 70s trend into their AW15 RTW collection. Featured below are some of my favourite looks from their catwalk shows.

Fashion in the early 70s was a continuation of the bohemian hippy culture that was popular in the mid-to-late 60s. An everyday go-to outfit consisted of a pair of bell-bottoms, otherwise known as flares, which were worn by both men and women. Personally, I feel that these look best when worn with a tight-fitting top such as a metallic, ribbed jumper featuring a chevron or stripe pattern or a silk pussybow blouse. I'd also suggest you finish off your outfit by draping on a suede or leather trench coat, an oversize faux-fur coat or a suede sherling or fringed coat. Remember, coats and jackets are the ultimate finishing touch to any outfit so invest in at least one statement piece as it can instantly give you the "I want her outfit" factor.

• #FashionTrendFact: Last season the high-street stores were overflowing with denim flares. This season these have been surpassed with an array of fabrics including corduroy, wool and suede.
• #FashionTrendTip: A tight-fitting top helps to compliment the structured silhouette of flares.

Moreover, a great thing about this trend is that it won't leave you penniless halfway through the month, desperately waiting for payday, because you've naughtily overspent trying to update your wardrobe. No siree! In fact, as this trend oozes an effortless retro vibe you're probably better off having a good rummage through your wardrobe, and making use of what you already have. Ha! As if people think they have to splash a load of cash to be bang-on-trend (you really don't). I feel that this idea stems from people failing to realise that trends are constantly being recycled and often come back into fashion every few seasons. I'm sure that's a massive relief to hear, especially for those ladies who heavily invest in the seasonal trends. If it makes you feel better, consider your spending a smart move ;)

I'd also suggest you invest in a few accessories that can be worn with an array of different outfits. These can include a felt floppy hat, skinny scarf, faux-fur stole, turban style headband or a suede fringed handbag. All are relatively affordable and are available to purchase from the majority of the high-street and online stores. This is also perfect for those ladies who only want to incorporate a subtly hint of the 70s trend opposed to rockin' it full-on.

• #FashionTrendFact: Outwear garments in the 70s mostly consisted of a suede or faux-fur composition and included detailing such as laser cutting, tassels and patchwork.
• #FashionTrendTip: Textures are a great way of adding some character and dimension to an outfit. It's also quite fun to stroke (LOL). 

Below is a selection of my favourite 70s find from the high-street and online stores, all of which are currently available to purchase. What are you favourite pieces? Mine has to be the leather high-heel courts and Miu Miu sunglasses ♥

Striped Funnel Neck Top - £18 from Topshop (click here to view)

Wool Hat - £19.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Leather High Heel Courts by Unique - £135 from Topshop (click here to view)

Mango Zipped Suede Jacket - £89.99 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

Floral Embroidered A-Line Skirt - £55 from Topshop (click here to view)

Fish Drop Earrings by Patricia Nicolas - £40 from Topshop (click here to view)

Brown Swirl Print Roll Neck Top - £20 from River Island (click here to view)

High-Waisted Cord Flares by Topshop Archive - £65 from Topshop (click here to view)

The Regent Bag - £190 from Karen Millen (click here to view)

Miu Miu 13NS 49 Gold & Brown Sunglasses - £205/£137 from Sunglass Hut (click here to view)

Over The Knee High Heel Leather Boot - £79.99 from Zara (click here to view)

Leather Clutch Bag - £39.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Casio Unisex Gold LCD Bracelet Watch - £35.99 from Argos (click here to view)

Bronze Circle Pendant Collar - £12.50 from Dorothy Perkins (click here to view)

Brown Laser Cut Suede Fringed Cape - £95 from River Island (click here to view)

Limited Edition Floral Midi Shift Dress - £45 from M&S (click here to view)

Faux Fur Scarf - £19.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Felt Floppy Hat - £25 from Oasis (click here to view)

Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in Sweet Spot - £38 from Selfridges (click here to view)

Are you guys following me on Instagram and Twitter? Get following if you’d like to be updated with my day-to-day thoughts and adventures.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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