fragrance

Getting Wedding Ready | AD

In collaboration with Cosmetify

Weddings are one of the biggest and most important events you will probably attend, whether this is as a guest, part of the wedding party or it's you that is getting married. Preparing for a wedding involves a number of things, including sorting out everything beauty related. This is where Cosmetify comes in. It's a website that lets you discover all things beauty, be it hair, makeup, skincare, grooming, toiletries or electricals. You can search the site for the items you're wanting, and with nearly 1,500 brands, over 155,000 products across 29 beauty retailers there should be more than enough for you to choose from. Having a user-friendly website makes things nice and easy to find what you are looking for, with the filter option allowing you to compare items by price, ingredients and brand. This time of year signals the start of the most popular time for tying the knot, and with my own wedding being in May next year, I'm starting to look at the various items I'll need for my big day.


I've been thinking for a while about what types of things I'd like for my wedding and what I need to be doing to prepare. Getting my skincare routine sorted will be important to ensure my skin is as good as it can be, so being able to search through the different options would come in very handy to help find something. I've used various skincare products previously and have wanted more choice to ensure that what I find will be best suited to my skin. Nails are another key consideration for the day, and I've already been looking around to see what style and colour options I could go for but have yet to have any luck so I'm keen to see the ranges on Cosmetify. When it comes to makeup for a wedding you can do it a few different ways. Some people will pay to get this done by a makeup artist, and others choose to do it themselves. I'm swaying more towards doing it myself as I know what style I like and don't want to worry about someone else doing it how they think I should have it rather than what I want. It also means I can practice as many times as I like to perfect the look I want.

When it comes to wedding prep it might be easier to overlook what the groom may need. Cosmetify doesn't just cater to the brides, as they have a big range of men's grooming products too. I know my husband-to-be will be wanting to find some items including an aftershave for the day, something to help sort out his facial hair along with some hair wax that he can test out to ensure that his hairstyle will remain in place all day. For doing a wedding party proposal for both the bridesmaids and groomsmen, we made a box and filled it with a mix of products to help them get ready on the day, along with some token gifts, so a website like this allows you to not only search for yourself but to find goodies for others too.




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New From Fragrance Direct: Daisy Love EDT By Marc Jacobs


Marc Jacobs is one of the superior fragrance brands in the UK, and their new fragrance Daisy Love does not disappoint. Like the other scents in the Daisy range, the bottle has an oversized daisy on the bottle which is making my makeup desk really pretty as it's full of flowers now. The pink hue in the fragrance itself is complementary to the bottle design and I love the simplicity of the bottles whilst still making them look dainty and delightful. This scent is perfect for the summertime and isn't overwhelming by any means. Fragrance Direct sent me over the 30ml sized bottle to try out and review and I have to say I'm as just in love with Daisy Love as I am with the other scents in the range.



The scent was created by master perfumer Alberto Morillas and is sweeter than the original Marc Jacobs Daisy. It's a floral and fresh fragrance with top notes of Crystalised Cloudberries to give it that sweet and fruity scent, heart notes of Daisy Tree Petals for floral hints and base notes of Cashmere Musks and Driftwood for a woody, musky tone. The theme around this Eau De Toilette is to fill the air with "a contagious love of life" and is simply irresistible. The entire Daisy range from Marc Jacobs is fruity and floral with different notes depending on your taste but I seem to love them all. I originally started out with Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream as I tried a tester in Sephora in Paris and since then Marc Jacobs as a brand has been far my favourite as I tend to sway towards more light and fruity fragrances.



It lasts all day which is great for an EDT and isn't overpowering which is perfect for me. I spritz a little bit in my hair and I've already had compliments on it even though I've not had it too long. The video for the EDT is set on a beach with the sunset with the 'loves me, loves me not' rhyme which I think works really well for the fragrance as it's a clean and simple scent that is great for this time of year. Fragrance Direct currently have a saving on Daisy Love making it £32.95 from £42.00, and bigger discounts on the 50ml and 100ml bottles. 



This is a collaborative post with Fragrance Direct
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Marc Jacobs Decadence At Fragrance Direct | Mother's Day Gifts


At this time of year when approaching Mother's Day, it's the time when you'll be looking for a gift to celebrate your Mum or mother figure in your life. It could be Mum, Auntie, Nan, Stepmum or an older Sister. Maybe even a family friend, it's whoever you see as a maternal figure. Instead of gifting them a box of chocolates or the biggest bunch of flowers you see which will only last a short period of time, why not give them a gift that will last much longer? Every time they wear it, they'll be reminded of what they mean to you. The Marc Jacobs Decadence Eau de Parfum from Fragrance Direct could be a great Mother's Day gift idea. 


The perfume is a sensual woody scent that has an alluring top of golden saffron, fresh Italian plum and velvety iris. The heart note is made up of lavish Bulgarian rose that infuses with "creamy nuances of jasmine sambac". The other notes are heady vetiver, liquid amber and warm papyrus woods. Marc's handbag design inspired by the classic look of the bottle, coloured in an attractive emerald green. To finish the handbag appearance is a black tassel and gold chain attached to the textured cap. 


Full prices for the bottles are £49.00 for the 30ml and £69.00 for the 50ml, but on Fragrance Direct they are currently priced at £41.95 (30ml) and £39.95 (50ml) so it's worth your while picking up the 50ml as it's cheaper. I like this scent as it's a little different to anything I've experienced before, and I particularly love the bottle design. If you are still looking for a Mother's Day idea, then this Decadence perfume from Marc Jacob's could be an ideal gift.




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Valentine's Day Scents with Fragrance Direct | Paco Rabanne Aqua 2018


Valentine's Day is fast approaching and I bet a lot of couples have forgotten to buy their other half a gift. Fragrance Direct are offering some great scents at a good price and I thought I'd mention the new Paco Rabanne Aqua fragrances. The Aqua creations are 'refreshing like the deep sea' with delicacy from the new designs and a touch of sensuality. I hadn't tried any Paco Rabanne perfumes before, so I was intrigued to see whether these fragrances met the high expectations the others around me had set.



The Paco Rabanne Olympéa Aqua EDP is a fresh scent with Calabrian Bergamot, Petitgrain and aquatic accords, that leads to the heart of the Ginger Flower. It's reflected in the base of Salty Vanilla, Cashmere Wood and Ambergris. The idea behind Olympéa Aqua is to tame the desire to conquer everything from Invictus, as Olympéa is for a woman with delicate power. When Invictus and Olympéa are as one, they silence all voices and capture all eyes. I love the bottle, with the colour reflecting the ingredients of Ginger Flower and Cashmere Wood. The almost rose-gold finish is appealing to the eye and goes well with the rest of my perfume collection.


 Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua EDP is a fresh scent blended with the 'energetic combination' of Grapefruit, Pink Pepper and Yuzu, with marine notes in the heart wrapped in a 'Herbal Violet Leaf accord. The intense scent of Guaiac Wood is paired with Ambergris and Woody Amber in the base. The fragrance is created upon the image of a man who has an athletic body, with every moment showing precision and power. The bottle definitely reflects what Paco Rabanne are doing when describing the scent, with the ombré blue an nice added touch to mimic the picture around 'Aqua'.

Fragrance Direct are offering up to 65% off for Valentine's Day, including up to £11 off the new Paco Rabanne Olympéa Aqua and Invictus Aqua fragrances. #BuyFragranceNot Flowers
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Landon Tyler Candle and Diffuser Review


The New Year can often be the time when you spend a bit of time cleaning up your home after the busy Christmas period. Sometimes it can be nice to add some new aromas to help spruce up your rooms and get it feeling fresh and clean. I've always enjoyed trying out different home pieces and different scents throughout the seasons. Being able to mix things up a little is always good as I tend to find that I either bored of a scent or don't really notice anymore as I've got too used to it. 


Landon Tyler have a good variety of reed diffusers and candles that are available in various scents. The ones I've got are both in the Tuscan Garden which is delicate leafy scent which is a blend of violet and geranium with lemon, ginger and musk and tuberose. It gives off a fresh scent that will enhance the room and the diffuser can last up to 12 weeks. The diffuser comes as a frosted glass bottle that gives a luxurious look and feel to it even though it's only priced at £12.00. 


To supplement the diffuser is the candle (£10.00) in the same scent that is hand poured into the same contempory frosted glass. It could be perfect for another room in the house and will burn for up to 40 hours. I found these to be a nice addition to the bedroom and living room and look much more expensive than they actually are. I actually bought someone quite close to me the reed diffuser for Christmas as I don't think it's got an aged attached to it. It's an all round great scent that I think most people would enjoy. I hadn't heard of Landon Tyler before being sent these to review but I'm really impressed which I don't say lightly about home-based fragrances and I'd definitely try out more of their products in the future. 



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Christmas Scents From Fragrance Direct & A Giveaway


I love shopping for Christmas gifts, and fragrances are something a lot of people love receiving. Choosing a scent can be difficult at times, but it can be fuss-free if you know what the person likes. I usually create a wishlist that people can choose from, and Fragrance Direct has made it even easier for you with their thoughtful gift section. For me, floral and fruity scents are my go-to, so it was quite easy to pick a few perfumes to go on to my wishlist. I chose one from Chloé, and one from Hugo Boss in 50ml bottles as they will last quite a long time but they're not too expensive as to make you shy away from selecting them.


 Boss The Scent Intense For Her Eau De Parfum 50ml is a seductive scent for women, with a higher oil concentration and 'amplified aphrodisiac ingredients' to enhance the sensual journey. There are notes of freesia blossom and honeyed peach, heart notes of oriental osmanthus with a rich base of dark roasted cocoa, strengthened by vanilla.  The bottle is sleek and sophisticated with the diamond-shaped flacon flowing upwards to the precious jewel cap. It is a pretty bottle with more structure than the Chloé perfume and would be great for someone with a strong personality.



Chloé Signature Eau De Parfum 50ml is a perfume that makes me feel classy. It's a unique bottle with that timeless design that makes you feel more expensive when it's on and when it's sat at your beauty desk. The fragrance is a combination of floral powder notes, with uplifting hints of lychee and peony with a drop of springtime freesia. It's a flirtatious and feminine perfume, with lily of the valley, magnolia and subtle notes of elegant cedarwood and warm amber. It would suit anyone from the early 20s onwards and now has a permanent place in my perfume collection.



If you love floral, feminine and fruity fragrances, these are the ones for you. There are some other amazing fragrances to pick from on the Fragrance Direct website, such as Marc Jacobs Daisy, Marc Jacobs Decadence and Lacoste L12 12 which would be amazing gifts for your loved ones. I tend to get fragrances as my main presents as it's something that I wear all year round and it means a lot to know someone would appreciate something I like as a huge beauty lover. 

If you'd like to have a chance at winning the Chloé Signature EDP, make sure to enter my giveaway below!


T&C's
UK entries only. Chloé Signature EDP Giveaway ends 3rd December 2017 at 10pm. Must follow @laurahadleyx and @fragrancedirect and still be following by the time the giveaway ends. To enter, follow @laurahadleyx and @fragrancedirect on Twitter and retweet the tweet to qualify, quote retweets are not permitted. Winner will be notified via Twitter. No cash alternative.


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Prepping For Summer With Fragrance Direct


Summer is one of my favourite seasons; you can sip cocktails in the sun, wear bright colours and switch up your beauty routine. Aside from shopping for new clothes, I love changing what makeup and fragrances I wear to more fruity and bright beauty items. Fragrance Direct have sent over some items to help me get ready for summer to get my glam on. The items included are the Givenchy Live Irrésistible Délicieuse Eau De Parfum (£55.95), Nars Illuminator in Super Orgasm (£23.00) and the Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment (£20.50).


Givenchy Live Irresésistible Délicieuse EDP was created in mind of a woman who makes her own rules, bringing her spirit to life with a new creation that is as sassy as it is sweet. The theme around it is to live intensely without constraints or rules and I love the tone around it, being free and independent. It has an accord from the merging of a Madeleine with touches of cherry and vanilla, heart notes of a caramel-coated Rose, with a highlighting touch of sensual Tonka bean. The combination of orange and rose blossom create an ultra-feminine character before the Tonka bean creates a tempting warmth. The bottle is studded and an ombré pink which screams summer. The face of the scent is Amanda Seyfried who is beautiful and glamorous who is known for roles where she is empowering, emotive and feminine. The sweet fragrance brings to mind a summer romance in Paris and this is exactly what I go for when it comes to choosing a perfume. I'm all about sweet, fruity scents. The perfume ranges from £39.50 for 30ml, to £66.95 for 75ml.


The Nars Illuminator in Super Orgasm is one product that really makes me think of summer. I've previously reviewed the Nars Illuminator in Hot Sand which is a firm favourite. It's essentially a liquid highlighter that glides on to enhance your complexion with 'shimmering incandescence. It can be applied under, over or mixed in with foundation and since it's more of a pink toned highlighter it can be worn as a blush too. It's lovely mixed in with your foundation for a dewy finish or on top of your base to make your cheekbones glow, both of which is made for the summer months.


The Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment pretty much does as it says in the name. It's a gel-based lip treatment that helps minimise the look of wrinkles on and around the lips, supports the skin's natural collagen and replenishes the natural moisture barrier to ensure lips stay hydrated. It's smooth and is essential during the hot months when your lips can dry out, especially when using matte lipsticks. The only thing that would make this better is if it had an SPF in to protect your lips in the bright sun. This will be carried everywhere with me so I can ensure my lips are soft and nourished.



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Katie Price Purple Heart Perfume Review


I'm a huge fragrance lover, my desk filled with such stunning bottles and scents. This time I'm reviewing the Katie Price Purple Heart Fragrance (£20.00)* which is a limited edition feminine fragrance designed for younger women with a bright purple bottle to catch the eye at first glance. It's a sweet fragrance with strong notes which makes it different to most fragrances on the market.

I believed this is a more evening fragrance, with notes of raspberry, bitter orange, patchouli, and honey which reflects the name and packaging well. At first it's sweet but it evolves on the skin to develop into a strong, bittersweet scent. Although it's not my go-to scent, it's definitely growing on me over time. The bottle is what stands out most, with an ombré effect clear to purple colour in an imperfect shape which represents the human heart in my eyes, not being the symmetrical <3 shape you see on designs. I wish the box packaging was as stunning as the bottle as they don't match up to me, with the box making it look less expensive than the bottle. Other than that, it's a lovely fragrance and is available online at Tam Beauty. 
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Accessorize LoveLily Eau De Parfum Review


Perfumes are a personal thing, whether you wear those by your favourite brands, you love the packaging or you really enjoy the scent. When it comes to picking a fragrance I usually go for all three, so when Accessorize released their Love Lily Fragrance* (£19) I knew instantly that it would be something I would be drawn to. It's a sweet fragrance with bright and beautiful packaging, and from reviewing other perfumes such as the Monsoon Rose Gold fragrance, I had faith that it would be one for me.


The fragrance is vibrant, with juicy top notes of orange raspberry, zesty accord of bergamot, heart note of Muguet (the lily of the valley) combined with jasmine and sweet vanilla for a delicious combination. Accessorize are confident that it could become your future signature scent or a beautiful gift for others due to its fresh scent and stunning bottle design. Since the scent is very sweet and floral it's suited to me as a twenty-something and is not a mature scent in any way, so it would suit a large audience.


The outer packaging is hot pink with bright flowers and leaves, which in itself screams spring and summer. It's eye catching and would for sure make me want to see awhat was inside, and it did scream to the hoarder in me to keep the box. The bottle is hexagon-shaped with a flower cap that looks almost like a real flower is inside it. The packaging overall fits the scent so well and even when it runs out I'll be keeping the bottle just for the design.


For 75ml, it's an affordable fragrance that most people will love. It's not sickly sweet and makes for the perfect Instagram photos, I must say! The name LoveLily is a lovely way to round off the perfume is worth trying out of yourself. It's a great fragrance for everyday use and I only use a few spritz which lasts all day, which is great as I've been looking for something to replace a Kate Moss perfume that I can no longer find to repurchase.

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