Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies

Now, you may remember, about this time last year, I was here in NYC on holiday and fell head over heels in love with the Harajuku Lovers fragrance range. And I do mean the range, as in every single one of them. Happily, a couple of months later, the range launched in the UK and you all fell in love with them too - I know this to be true because a) you told me and b) I saw them EVERYWHERE I WENT. On people's desks, in their bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, everywhere.


Well, as if that wasn't enough, I am currently being tempted with a limited edition Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies line. They're SO CUTE! Actually, kawaii would be the appropriate word, I suppose? Check out Love's Vivienne Westwood boots!

Most importantly, the new scents are just as delicious as the originals - seriously, I don't know how they do it. I just want to eat them all - and I even like a couple of the Snow Bunny variants better than the originals. Baby has been wafting around my office for the last few days and I've had so many compliments. Delish.

Tragically, (although we've all heard this before, right?) they're limited edition at Sephora and Sephora.com so I'm going to have to stock up.

Getting the Snip: Blackstones NYC

So I did it.
I finally did it.
After almost two months of umming, ahhing and cutting my own fringe, I went to a salon that was Not Lee Stafford and got a haircut from someone that was Not Johnny. And even though it was scary to put myself in someone else's hands after almost three years with Johnny (sob), I had to suck it up and get it done because quite honestly, my hair was a bloody mess.

Anyway, after discussing my options with EVERYONE I'VE EVER MET for the past month, I settled on Blackstones NYC. Recommendation from a lady with super cool hair? Check. Suitable downtown location? Check. Awesome taxidermy on the walls? Not entirely necessary but check, check and double check. So I made my after work appointment with Clara and oh my, but she's pretty. And funny. And nice. And really, really talented with a pair of scissors. Before I knew what I was doing, I was chatting, laughing, joking and generally enjoying myself. Bad BeautyLover, totally cheating on Johnny.

But he's not here, is he? I'm in New York, all alone and without my favourite stylist in the world ever. What is a girl to do?

Well, apparently, a girl is to get a great haircut for a really reasonable price. I love Blackstones. I love my hair and I feel like Clara and I are at the beginning of something beautiful.
Even if I did tell my friend my fringe looked a bit Superman 2 just after I got it cut. I have now grown to love it - who knew I had such good eyebrows?

If you're in New York, head to Blackstones. If you're in London, go and tell Johnny I still love him. And, you know, stop in for a haircut while you're there, he's ever so good.

Me Me Me Light Up Lip Gloss

I think we're close enough to admit to each other that I am a sucker for a gadget.
And lip gloss.
And a gadgety lip gloss.

But how do you go about making a gadgety lip gloss? I hear you cry? Well, bugger me backwards if there isn't a new and really rather wonderful Light Up Lip Gloss from Me Me Me. Now, I know what you're thinking, 'when will I ever need to use a lip gloss with it's own mini torch in the cap? I can apply lip gloss blindfolded and with one hand tied behind my back!' That may be true but let me tell you this. The light-up in the cap and handy mirror on the tube also come in very handy should you need to check for eye make up smudging, impress boys* or find your keys in the bottom of your bag at four in the morning. That's probably the most important one actually. If they could work a mace spray into the bottom, I'd say this was actually a self-defence must-have.



I also wowed some lovely Polish bar staff at a Soho bar (Londinium, pre-Big Apple) with this bad boy who begged me to tell them where it was from. 6.99 from Superdrug ladies, knock yourselves out.

Oh, and the gloss isn't half bad either. LOVES this.

*I know it doesn't sound like something that would impress boys but really, the ones I showed it to - hot, straight - were fascinated by the little light in the cap and how it switched on and off. Bless them.

Clarins Multi Active Day Cream

I had the pleasure of attending a Clarins event at their swanky 1 Park Avenue offices in NYC earlier this week and well, I was really quite impressed. I can't exactly tell you why but I've always had this impression that Clarins is for older people. That it's old fashion and that you would buy it in the chemist. This is based on absolutely nothing and I am, as most of you are, a slave to my Beauty Flash Balm. Also, the two people I know who are SLAVES to Clarins, have the most wonderful skin of anyone I know and they are seven years apart in age, live on different continents and have completely different skin tones, types and needs.


So how come I haven't been won over to their general skincare range?
Funnily enough, this is a question Clarins has been asking itself too and I am happy to report that they came up with an answer. Actually, they came up with a product range.
Clarins Multi Active. The range of day creams (one for each major skin group) are designed to correct, protect and perfect - doing away with early wrinkles, avoiding new ones and giving an immediate, visible radiance to the skin. I loved the cream gel texture, it reminded me of my preferred formulation of Creme de la Mer and is similar to Elemis' Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (and I think you all know how warm and fuzzy I am about that).

The cream is full of all sorts of good things but I know you're not incredibly interested in the science bit - just that it feels great, has tested really well with review panels and smells divine. Seriously, I couldn't stop sniffing the back of my hand on the subway. I'm fairy certain the man opposite me was convinced I had some sort of fetish. I'm sort of excited to finish my Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and give this baby a trial run. Which is saying something.

Probably the most exciting thing about the Multi Active creams are the prices. They're not crazy expensive, well out of the range of La Mer and Elemis. Oh, and they're pimping it with a video (which I'm not convinced by) with music by Au Revoir Simone (who I am - they're amazing, get their album Still Night, Still Light now) on Facebook and Twitter. The pages are actually really good compared to a lot of beauty companies - two thumbs up to Clarins!

So if you're looking for a new skincare regime, pop down to your nearest Clarins counter, get a free 20 minutes facial (at any counter! Without appointment!) and talk to the consultant about what cream is right for you. And they'll even put your make up back on for you after the facial.
Dream. Come. True.