#1London Loves | Make Your Own Magnum at Selfridges #Magnumxselfridges

If you haven't already been to the Magnum pop up in Selfridges I recommend you get your little tooshies down there quick smart! They are celebrating 25 years of Magnum with a special build your own ice cream, amazing eh?!

I love a bit of ice cream and with this little heat wave we are having my house mate and I popped along after work to see what the fuss is all about. Well firstly, be prepared to queue! We waited for about 40 minutes on a Monday evening, so I imagine it must be longer on weekends. You choose your ice cream (vanilla or chocolate), then your chocolate (white, milk or dark) and then three toppings. It was such a fun process and watching the guys dip and sprinkle added to the experience. Apparently they have over 2,200 customers each weekend, that is a whole lotta ice cream. 

Make your own Magnum as Selfridges Oxford Street, £4.50

Stay beautiful

xoxo

Christian Louboutin Launches Beaute

Christian Louboutin website  

I heard a trickle of gossip about this launch back in February and to be honest I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I was pretty excited! Christian Louboutin has launched his very own beauty line with a signature red polish to match his iconic red soles. Having been a little bit of a shoe worshiper for a number of years I had very high hopes for the range. When the first photos of the bottles started popping up on blogs and twitter I felt a wave of disappointment. I really hoped for something classic, refined and beautiful but instead the packaging looks like a Gothic torturing device that wouldn't look out of place on a Twilight movie merchandise stand. 

What they say: Rouge Louboutin. The tall slender cap, inspired by calligraphy, turns the application into a luxurious experience, inviting women to take their time. The custom-designed, patented triangular brush picks up the right amount of formula, without air bubbles, to deliver flawless, chip-resistant coverage. A highly pigmented, super glossy formula delivers in just two coats the effect of 20 layers of traditional lacquer.

What I say: The bottles 8 inch handle was inspired by the tallest heel Christian Louboutin ever made – I don’t think it is actually possible to walk in such a shoe!!! So I’m not a fan of the spike, ok, but I do like the look of the body of the bottle. It has a beautiful red and black ombre effect and I imagine the glass to be fairly heavy and ultra luxe. Let’s just look at the price for a second… £36 big ones! Yeah, I know! For something that will probably chip of your nails in a week!

Currently only the iconic red is available but later there will be an addition of nudes and pop colours. The collection has already sold out online, but you will soon be able to get your hands on it from Christian Louboutin boutiques – shop shoes and nails at the same time!

Christian Louboutin Beaute in Rouge Louboutin, RRP £36.00

Stay beautiful

xoxo

Pixi Picks Is Up To New Tricks! TOM FORD GIVEAWAY

People call me the problem child; I’m either moaning about my flat hair, lumpy stomach or spotty skin or spending a small fortune on products that promise to change my world and make me look like Kendal Jenner. When I started my blog I didn’t really know what I was doing or what to expect. It was just a place for me to occasionally rant or rave about some products I had been trying. I have learnt so much from the world of blogging, met some inspirational people and gained more confidence than I thought possible. 

At the beginning I didn't want my face out there for the world to comment on. But as my confidence has grown taking a 'selfie' with friends, beauty products and the occasional animal has shaped me for the better. Thank you for all the lovely comments you leave on my posts they really mean the world!

After a couple of years of not giving my little project the love it deserves I have given it a little overhaul with the help of Baggle Design. So my lovely, wonderful people out there! Pixi Picks has a new look, isn’t it swish?!

To celebrate I have decided to do a little give away. Fancy adding a little bit of Tom Ford worth £40 to your make up bag? 

Well here is your chance!

Tom Ford Indian Rose is my go to nude lipstick. There is just something super lux about adding a swipe of a Tom F over your lips; it just finishes an outfit perfectly. It is also the ideal companion for a smokey eye! The packaging is beautiful with an art deco feel to it, would you expect anything else from Mr Ford? Being my favourite shade, I wanted to share it with one lucky winner.

All you have to do is make sure you are following me on Bloglovin and my social channels (I am lonely!) and Tweet about the giveaway! Simples…..! Oh also, it is open internationally for the readers across the pond -YAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

for T&C's please check the RaffleCopter widget

My Hand Luggage Holiday Essentials

I am exhausted and I have just got back from a four day holiday. How is this possible? I did nothing.....apart from lazing by the pool and slapping on the SPF, I spent the 4 days eating my weight in paella and drinking like a fish late into the night. My family have been holidaying in the same Spanish resort for nearly 25 years and not being one to break tradition I hopped on a flight and spent a long weekend in the sun. 

In preparation I tipped the entire contents of my beauty stash onto my bed and starfished in them for a while. My house mates think I am crazy to have so much! As any beauty addict will know it is often painful to decide what to take on holiday, you never know what may be thrown at you and the warm weather requires extra strength products to stop you face looking like you have slapped on a melting mask. 

So these are my top picks for hand luggage holiday essentials -

1. Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 6 Effect Serum

I try really hard to look after my hair. Highlighting it every few months had left is really dry and damaged. The effects of chlorine and intense sunlight on holiday do nothing to help banish the candy floss fuzz. I discovered a new hair hero in the Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 6 Effect Serum and I am obsessed. After washing my hair I rub a pea size amount in to the ends of my hair, where most of the breakage is. It seals the cuticles and nourishes the split ends to prevent breakage, leaving it silky smooth and soft. I can't live with out this product and it saves my holiday hair.

3. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 Oil Free - Shade: Blush

If there is one product that you need this summer it is this one! I have never been much of a fan of tinted moisturiser, having struggled with acne I find they do not give enough coverage. Having been on Roacutane for a couple of months now my skin has cleared up considerably and so I can now get away with slightly less coverage. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 Oil Free gives the exact amount of coverage that you would want pool side. It blurs imperfections and evens out skin tone, but it gives a lovely natural dewiness to the skin that you don't get from thick foundations. It also has the added benefit of SPF and the tube lasts for ages. 

2. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Defense SPF45 

My natural skin colour matches that of a cold chicken you find in a supermarket. Pale, slightly yellow and you can see every thread vein or skin follicle; so sexy. Because of this I need to protect the skin on my face with a relatively high SPF. The Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Defense SPF45  is so light it can be used under your moisturiser or foundation. It comes out slightly tinted but once it is rubbed onto the skin the colour disappears. I love this product because it doesn't leave the thick greasy feeling on your face that some other facial SPF's leave. I am pleased to say my face was the only part of me that did not burn, the rest of the supermarket chicken got cooked! Ouch!

4. Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara - Shade: Black Onyx

I am having a bit of a Clinique fan girl moment. When I first tried this mascara I really wasn't keen. It dries up very quickly and you do need to add a few layers to get the lashes looking nice. But after taking it on holiday with me I am now obsessed! It coats each lash making them appear longer and fuller. The best part is that with even an excessive amount of sweat and pool time there was not a panda eye in sight.

Goldwel DualSenses Rich Repair 6 Effect Serum, RRP £9.60

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 Oil Free, RRP £34.00

Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Defense SPF45, RRP £26.00
Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara, RRP £18.00

Do you have any holiday essentials?

Stay beautiful

xoxo

Shine Bright Like a Diamond | Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Review

Beautifully highlighted cheek bones are having a moment. You only have to look at the Instagram's of Kendal Jenner and Kim Kardashian to see that luminosity just radiates from them. What I often have to remind myself when I look at theses photos and feel a little down is that it is all fake. Clever makeup skills and filters help these celebs to achieve flawless skin or perfect cheek bones. So I wanted to try it for myself.

The first product I wanted to try was the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, I brought it from Sephora in the shade Moonstone. I really liked the sound of the product, it contains skin benefits (not sure what these are :s) and a splash of helpful SPF25, great because I have very pasty skin. SpaceNK has this product in back order, it is that popular that us UK kids are having to resort to Ebay and Sephora to get our beauty mitts on it. 

What they say: A shimmering tinted moisturiser designed to even-out skin tone and give your face a healthy, natural glow. Antioxidant vitamins A, B, D and E aid skin cell repair and increase collagen renewal, whilst simultaneously protecting against free radical damage. SPF 20+ filters 96% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, fortifying your face against the elements.

What I say: The packaging is very simple and elegant. I guess the price you pay is for the contents. Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector is very sheer, with a crème-liquid feel. I was worried it would be a bit sparkly, but actually the particles are ultra-fine and really reflect the light in a beautiful way. When I applied it to my face it felt a little thick but once I buffed it in using my Real Techniques Stippling Brush it really sank in and didn't affect the foundation underneath. I really like that it contains vitamins, however unless I use it all over my face I don't think I will get the full benefit, at least I will have healthy cheek bones! I am not sure I would use it as a moisturiser, I think I moved on from the glittery face post the year 2000 and school discos. But I do think using it as a subtle highlighter is perfect, the skin almost glows. Plus using so little product means it will last longer, making the hefty price tag easier to bear. 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone, Space NK & Sephora, £33.00

Let me know if you want to see what it looks like on my face. Have any of you used it?

Stay Beautiful

xoxo

Brow Wow | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Review

Everyone knows I love a good brow! I have followed the ever changing trends with such dedication that when the no eyebrow look started being adopted a weird part of me fancied trying it.

It seems I am not alone in this thought with sales in eyebrow makeup sky rocketing! Some of this hype is down to a little lady called Cara. According to the american research group NPD the top products come from MAC, Clinique and Benefit. But a new brand born in America and made famous by Cara is Anastasia Beverly Hills and it is taking the market by storm. 

I first heard of Anastasia Beverly Hills when I worked on the beauty desk at Vogue. At the time I was doing some research for a feature on Cara Delevingne and her famous brows; I wonder if she has them insured? The woman behind the brand is legendary eye brow guru Anastasia Soare. 

Cara swore by the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade, a product that catapulted the brand to cult status. Sadly, back then there was no way to get the products in the UK and my little feature was scrapped. But now with the amazing techno behind Cult Beauty and Sephora now shipping to the UK, it is possible to get your hands on the suff!

I opted for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz *puts tongue back in mouth* in Medium Brown, a pencil with a retractible nib, very similar to the Clinique Brow Pencil which was my go to brow product. 

What they say: Sometimes brows need a little magic. Long wearing pencil feature an ultra fine nib to easily fill in gaps and mimic brow hair.

Before (*I tint my eyebrows)

After using Brow Wiz

What I say: The AB Brow Wiz's fine nib means you can individually draw hairs onto the skin, great if you have the time and patients to watch paint dry- I do not. I found that I had to really layer the product to get some depth of colour, but it meant I made less mistakes and the brows looked a lot more natural. I can't imagine the nib would last very long with the amount you have to use, which is a shame seeing as it costs £15.50. But I do love that it comes with a little synthetic brow brush to tame unruly hairs.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, RRP £15.50, Cult Beauty

Stay Beautiful

xoxo

What's in my Sephora Haul

It is often said that America is the land of dreams, certainly for me it is the land of my beauty dreams. I recently took a trip to America but stupidly missed every Sephora store over the two weeks I was there. I was clawing to go! I was sneakily directing my friends so we walked past stores and casually hinted that I wanted to ‘pop’ in. What I should have done was scream and jump up and down until I was in the Mecca of beauty heaven. But I didn’t and the two weeks past without a visit. 

For those of you who don’t know what a Sephora store is I will explain…. Imagine a Boots, but not just any kind of Boots, one that holds only makeup and from brands that hold a cult status. I recently heard that you can order from Sephora online and get it shipped over; jumping on my laptop I placed an order straight away! 

They are a little bit funny about what you can and can’t order. Nail polish, aerosols and perfume are a no no. But weirdly so are a lot of eye shadow pallets, like the Urban Decay Naked Pallet. So after an hour of going through I chose some of my favourites and paid the postage (not cheap, but better than paying double the price in the UK) Note: the prices on the website do not include tax, this is added on at the end, so make sure you think of that when you are purchasing anything. 

I was so excited for my parcel to arrive! Here is my excited face! 

Wanna see what I brought? 

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Contor Palette - Kim Kardasian's answer to perfect cheek bones 

2. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - The cult blogger favourite for highlighting – fakers way to luminous skin (Review)

3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Another cult hero product for getting the Cara brow! (Review)

4. Too Faced Natural Eyes Shadow Pallet  - The perfect combination of colours for day and night looks I am going to review these products separately, so look out for the posts. 

5. Free Samples!!!

Have you ever brought anything from Sephora? I would love to know your favourites!

Stay beautiful! xoxo

Rapunzel's secret colourist: LGD Twist Hair Salon Review - Cardiff

Taking a trip to Cardiff or are you a welsh lady?? Then this post is for you!

Pre warning: This post contains no makeup selfies!! 

I am very particular about my hair. It is a love affair I have strung out for some 10 years. Having mousey hair that was neither brown nor blonde I begged my mum until I was blue in the face to let me have highlights for my school prom. I turned up all podgy and wedged into a tacky Jane Morgan dress but my hair was a hit. Since then I haven't looked back. 

I have constantly changed from platinum blonde, during my student days, to a more demure natural blonde in my now late 20s, apparently I needed to grow up. But through out this constant change of colour there has only ever been one hair stylist, apart from when I once cheated and visited Toni & Guy.

But Janine knows hair better than any Toni and Guy colourist and every time she gets it right. She knows what colour I am after without getting her little book of hair swatches out and I always leave loving my new do. Last year she opened a small salon, LGD Twist, in the heart of Cardiff to teach the new generation of stylists and colourists the ropes and I want to share it with you.

As I am writing this I am sat with delicate foils threaded through my hair with the same excitement I have done for the last 10 years. You are provided with a constant supply of tea and the occasional cheeky doughnut in a relaxed environment. Unlike the larger salons LGD Twist is small and more intimate, it feels like a family run establishment where clients are friends and there is the obvious lack of blasting hairdryers and people shouting – often got from larger chains.

This is my little secret that I want to share with you, so much so that every 8weeks I get on a train to come back to Cardiff just to have my hair done. The best part is the price! To have the owner, Janine, work her magic on your hair it is £45.00….yes fall off your chair, its that good! This is for a FULL HEAD of highlights mind. You heard right! In Toni & Guy I paid over £130 for exactly the same thing. LGD Twist also run special offers, recently you could get a full head on a Thursday for just £30! Don’t be fooled by the price, the service is top notch, the colours are the same as the pricey salons and the finish is even better!

Janine starts by using a mixture of Matrix highlights and low lights which are brushed onto the hair and sealed in foils. Once they are all in you leave them to work their stuff for 20mins and then wash the colour out. I like to have a Matrix Fiber Strong treatment on my hair every time I have highlights, constant colouring can damage the hair so keeping it in silky condition is a must – condom head!

It is slightly cheaper to have one of the stylists do your hair, if you do I recommend you ask for Jodie. She recently came third in a Welsh competition and you can see why!

Taken from Jodie's Twitter

So give them a call to book your appointment! Say Charlotte sent you, ;) to get extra cups of tea and the special biscuits!

Finished Result - added makeup

e: lgdtwist@gmail.com

t: 02920 363137

They are new to social media and I know it would mean the world to them to get a follow on Twitter!

@LGDTwist

https://www.facebook.com/LgdTwistSalon