A trip to Gunwharf Quays...

Hi! Todays post features a little selection of items I purchased in Gunwharf this week - technically in two separate trips but we'll overlook that little fact. So, Gunwharf Quays is a really great place for lunching and shopping, especially in the current climate. This mostly outdoor shopping centre contains outlet stores from some of the most popular stores in the UK from Cath Kidston to Swarovski.

As my last two posts have been beauty orientated I thought Id start with the non-beauty items I acquired. Now I'm not usually a big trainer wearer, you're more likely to find me sporting pumps or sandals, but these pastel green 'Authentic Shoes' from the Vans Outlet I was practically drooling over. I absolutely love the mint shade and think these would look great with anything from denim shorts to sun dresses. Plus, at £31.00 in the sale I just couldn't resist. (also, in store if you buy two pairs of sale shoes, you get the cheapest half price - unfortunately not something they offer online) but if you don't live too far from portsmouth it may well be worth a little visit.
Check out the sale here for yourselves.

The second of my non-beauty offerings is a the most adorable little bento box from Cath Kidston. I thought this would be ideal for lunches at work and university. It's the perfect size for handbags and just £4.50 - unfortunately I couldn't find this on their online site but there are some full price alternatives here.

Possibly my favourite shop in Gunwharf is the Cosmetics Company Store, not really surprising as it's actually part of the Estee Lauder group. This incredible outlet offers products from most of the company's sub-brand's including MAC, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox, Origins and Bumble &Bumble. I first tried the Estee Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme (£40.00) as a trial sample size a number of months ago and almost instantly fell in love. I used this religiously everyday for about 2 weeks and the difference it made in the texture of my skin was phenomenal, so much smoother, brighter and generally healthier looking. The scent also is really refreshing and the fact that it gives me some SPF protection throughout the day is fantastic. I managed to pick this up for just £30 which is a whole £10 cheaper than the counter price, so I was pretty chuffed to say the least! I was also pleasantly surprised to find a teeny sample of the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator tucked inside (£43.00/£65.00).

Finally, the Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent 100ml (£47.00) is actually an item I still have at least 50% remaining of. But again, the Cosmetics Company Store were selling this for an incredible £33.75, which is a fantastic reduction of over £10. This is probably my all time favourite perfume, it has such a warm, summery scent that when I saw it standing proud on the first set of shelves, I just had to stock up!

So that rounds up my little spending spree from my trip to Gunwharf Quays this week, I hope you've enjoyed the warm weather as much as I have and would love to hear where you've been spending you're hard earned cash :)

Lottie
x

Heatwave Must-Haves!

As I'm sure many of you are aware the weather over the last week or so has been fabulous! Overlooking a few overcast days, it's been pretty baking! I have to admit throughout my younger years I was the type of person who would be the first to seek out the nearest spot of shade once the sun decided to shine. However, in more recent years I have become much more of a sun worshipper. 

But with all this fantastic weather, Im still very much concerned with the effects of over exposure to the sun. So, from my hoard of beauty products, I dug out these two gems.

First is the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Lotion SPF 15 (£15.00). When it comes to sun lotion, I will return to this one again and again. The smell is insatiable and the texture is beautifully velvety. I generally hate having to top up sun cream throughout the day but when i apply this it doesn't feel like such a chore. Containing 'creme ribbons' infused with silk proteins and glycerin to keep the skin hydrated in the sun for 12 hours - now that sounds pretty nifty to me.

The second of the two I originally had difficulty getting my hands on. Last year I spent a few days in magaluf with a friend and i was looking for a product that would provide some coverage but keep my all important skin protected from the rays! I actually managed to pick up the Clinque Super City Block SPF 40 (£17.00) at the airport before boarding my flight, as all local stockists were completely out - clearly everyone was having the same idea as me. What I like most about the product is light coverage it gives, the formula provides just enough so that if the postman were to knock at the door whilst I was sunbathing in the garden I wouldn't be ashamed to answer the door. Plus the fact that it provides a whopping SPF of 40 is big game changer for me. However, with this high factor there does come a slight drawback, the scent of the City Block is just a tad on the clinical side, so this is one I reserve for the hottest of afternoons. 

These next two offerings are a tad more indulgent. For summer nail colour, there is no shade I love more than Essie 'Cute as a button' (£7.99). This is a juicy watermelon pink that seems to go with just about anything and looks great in a pair of stroppy sandals! If I can't decide on a shade, this one is generally my 'go-to' colour, which is kind of a shame cos I really don't try enough variety as I should do. But theres plenty of summer months ahead! The Essie brush is nicely tapered to give a really easy application and your first coat dries in seconds.

Last but not least is the Elemis Skincare Soothing Apricot Toner (£22.00). This product works great as a final step in your skincare routine, specifically for those with sensitive skin. I, however, have found an equally great use for this product... a summer spritz! The formula is so refreshing and whilst I've been sat in the garden the last few afternoons, its really come in handy as a little 'pick-me-up' when I start to feel a little too warm.

So that concludes some of my top picks for sunny days.
You may have noticed a little surprise appearance in some of the photos and this would be Ginny, my springer spaniel, and she loves the sun just as much as me. Here's a few extras of her, she likes the camera too.

Happy Sunning!
Lottie x

Welcome to Beauty Gabble! First up... My Summer Body Routine

Hello and Welcome to Beauty Gabble's first ever blog post!

I thought Id give you a little insight in to who I am and what the blog is about before I dive in to the world of reviewing and product sampling. 

My name is Lottie and I'm currently a Student in the UK, living in the south of England. I have an astonishing love of all things beauty and fashion related. Having followed beauty bloggers for a number of years, Ive finally plucked up the courage to start my own, an idea I've been toying with for quite a while now. Ive previously worked on beauty counters and in fashion retail, I don't proclaim to be a professional make up artist but I reckon I know my way around a dressing table pretty well by now. My initial ideas for the blog include talking about some of my favourite products, general make up and skincare routines, new releases and possibly the occasional fashion or lifestyle post just for some refreshing content.

So for my first post I thought Id talk about something thats been playing on my mind for a while now and that's summertime! Yes, it's soon to be that time of year when we don our sunglasses and pull out the shorts and skirts that have been hibernating in our wardrobes for the last 6 months.

But Im sure Im not alone when I say that this change of season brings with it woeful concerns of whether our bodies are quite ready to be flashed in the summer sun. 

So in preparation for this time of year I have adopted a new body care routine that will (hopefully) have me summer wardrobe ready! Ive been on a weightless journey for a number of weeks now and that's all well and good but the idea of getting my legs out is still a daunting prospect. I do unfortunately have the dreaded 'orange-peel' affect on my upper thighs. So as I headed to my local Boots I was determined to find some remedies for my little cellulite problem.

The first in this little summer haul is the Nivea Good-bye Cellulite Gel-Cream (£10.89) which claims to firm and reduce the appearance of cellulite without the need to massage the product in. I have to admit before my trip to Boots, I did do a little pre-shop research and was impressed by this products reviews and was already set upon purchasing. Overall, Im pleased to say that I don't regret doing so! The formula is absorbed effortlessly and immediately leaves my skin feeling slightly taught and very soft. It does however, have that almost clinical generic cellulite cream smell. 

However, my second cellulite busting product more than makes up for this. The Sanctuary Sculpt & Smooth Anti-cellulite Treatment (£12.50) has the most heavenly scent on earth. The aroma is reminiscent of lemon meringue pie and for me provides an incredibly relaxing effect for bedtime. The formula requires more work than the Nivea offering but I would say that both deliver the same results. I have taken to using these two products in conjunction the first as a morning body cream and the latter as part of my pre-bedtime routine. In the last two weeks of using these products I have genuinely noticed a difference in the appearance of my cellulite, the simples seem less prominent and my legs seem just a little less wobbly in areas. 

So all in all, a successful shopping trip!

Now a post about summer skin would not be complete without a mention to one of my all time favourite body products and that is Soap And Glory's Breakfast Scrub (£8.00). Ive been repurchasing this product for years, I find it to be an incredibly effective pre-shave scrub leaving my legs super smooth. This sugar scrub is only needed once a week, the sugar and oatmeal granules buff away dead skin and unwanted little surface bumps easily. Now, the best feature of this product is without doubt the mouth-watering smell. Breakfast Scrub contains banana, almond, honey and best of all maple fragrance which just leaves me longing to taste it. So far, Ive managed to resist. 

So thus concludes my round up of my summer skin essentials, I hope i haven't waffled on too much for a first time post!

Id love to hear your thoughts and any body care products you couldn't live without.

Lottie x