Heavenly hotels. .

A short but very sweet stay at The Maslow in Sandton. Impeccable style and gracious hospitality, always a good combination when travelling. Until we meet next time..♥♥

Luxury overdose..

After a magical few hours spent with Chanel, tingling toes and all...but still happily prancing over to the next Grazia Sa event at Jo Borkett. Jozi's finest came out to play and mingle and what can only be described as amazing. Floating cocktails and Ferraro Rochers..what's a girl got to complain about. Treated to the latest styles and colour trend forecasts from Clarins, new style showings from Jo Borkett, who was right there talking to her guests. It was an evening filled with laughter and so much fun. The air was also infused with Swarovski fragrance which had the girls oohing and aahing with glee and excitement. Once again I had pleasure of meeting some great girls in the fashion and beauty industry so it was 'GlamChats' all night long. The social networks were going crazy with all the uploading, texting and tweeting. Intoxicated by all the style and glam I had been indulging in all evening, I left with another goodie bag filled with delish gifts from all the sponsors. Huge thanks to all the sponsors and to the City of Gold who sparkled just as brightly.

Chanel ooh laa laa..

I'm convinced I died and went to Chanel heaven last night. After a mad dash of being late, serious wardrobe malfunctions I finally made it to the Chanel event in Sandton. From the amazing sushi and decadent red velvet cupcakes, to the white roses in beautiful mirror boxes, the installation was beautiful and every bit of sheer class and magic like only Chanel can deliver. We were treated to mini manicures in the newest shades and mini makeovers. Fashionistas and beauty bloggers in their finest Chanel interpretations floated around testing new colours and indulged in heavenly scents. The lovely Chanel ladies were polite and had the best tips and advice as to what's HOT this festive season. A big thanks to Grazia Sa who hosted such an amazing evening. After two hours of being spoilt, we left with over the top amazing goodie bags filled with so much Chanel I may just overdose..

Miss Bloom

Lancome Breakfast. .

I had the great pleasure of being invited to the Lancome beauty breakfast at Tribakery Cavendish this morning, and if I must say..what a lovely morning. Spoilt by the Lancome crew, Sharon, Fagmeeda and Denia. A delightful way of re-introducing products and new fragrances while being in such a relaxed environment.Yummy breakfast was served as we indulged in all the products and friendly chats. Spot prizes of products and perfume made it more exciting. A big thank you to the Lancome team for a job well done.

Lashes of too much lashes..

Today I feel somewhat compelled to write this piece regarding my beauty observations of late, and I pray the beauty Gods bless me with abundant Chanel make-up just for it. 

False eyelashes also known as 'falsies' are a wonderful addition to a make-up look and can enhance your features and look dramatically. Best reserved for special occasions or if you in the 'GLAM' industry, then by all means its become standard. However, the local supermarket isles on your daily milk and bread run, does not warrant this look. If you had them professionally applied and they look natural, then I'm all for a bit of everyday indulgence, if you can pull it off of course. But if you look like your lashes could take off when the next south easter blows through town, you or your beautician are doing something horribly wrong. Lashes need to be applied meticulously, and with an expert hand initially, up until you are comfortable enough to try it on your own. The size and length needs to be appropriate so that it blends in with your own lashes and is not easily recognizable as false. Ideally, it's best to remove at night so not to irritate the eyes. Not to be confused with eyelash extensions, this is a different application, although the end result is the same, thicker fuller lashes. Opt for the application that suits your lifestyle and is easy to maintain. More importantly, choose the one which is going to have you looking like a chic stylish princess and not the local drag queen.

The views and opinions in this post are my own and I reserve the right to express them.

From a very, very windy Cape Town

Miss Bloom

Coming up roses..

Roses will forever remain a symbol of pure indulgence and romance, and has been a part of beauty regimes for centuries by woman all over the world.

Rosewater is made by steaming the freshly picked petals of roses, with distilled water until it takes on the colour of the petals. It has to be free from chemicals and pesticides of course, as that will ultimately end upon your skin. Just give it a quick rinse before immersing it in the pot. The precious oils separate and float to the top of the water, strain and dispense into a sterilised container and store in the fridge until needed. It’s as simple as that.

The idea of making your own is lovely yes, but I don’t always have the luxury of time so if you’re like me, you can just dash down to the local spice shop to pick some up. There are some good brands that have been around for many years, and at R9.90 for a 375ml bottle, it’s a beauty steal.

My love affair with rosewater is one that just intensifies the more I use it. I literally use it from the moment I open my eyes, throughout the day and before I go to sleep at night. I have a very simple skincare routine, but I love to include products that are no fuss and easy to use. It leaves my skin sweetly scented, dewy and even toned.

It’s a fragrant mood enhancer and relieves feelings of anxiety and stress. Yes it’s a happy pill for your skin, making you look and feel relaxed.

It has anti-inflammatory properties and can calm your skinafter irritation. I used it after a bad reaction with a skin product a while back and it just settled my skin quite quickly.

It can be used as a refreshing mist throughout the day and even set your make-up. Get yourself a little spray container and pop into your bag on your way out. It’s a treat during the long hot summer days.

Used as a cleanser and toner it removes impurities andabsorbs excess oils from the skin. Dab onto your cotton discs, I prefer the discs to the cotton balls and work in small circular movements, not forgetting the delicate eye area, as it helps to reduce the puffiness after a long night out. It’s gently moisturising and can you believe, even has anti-ageing properties. No wonder Cleopatra soaked in a tub infused with rose petals.

Beauty secrets out the bag..who cares I’m GLOWING!

Miss Bloom

 

Social duties..

Seen at the House & Leisure House of the Year Awards 2013.  Pictured with Quanita Rinquest, Greer Krige and Stacey-Dee Morris

It's spring..are you cleaning?

While the idea of spring cleaning your beauty bag, or drawer on a Friday night might not sound like the most exciting thing to do, the thought of making way for some fresh new colours and 'beauty 'treats' may just be the sweetener to this awfully boring task.

I personally like to keep my make-up & skincare routine simple, so it helps when deciding what to keep and what to toss. I must admit its not easy as I'm always at the 'GLAM' counters browsing for the latest trends and products.

Winters done and fairy dusted, so start with your basics. Foundation has a shelf life of not more than eighteen months so that can be saved until next winter, depending on how long you've had it of course. I try to make a mental note of the dates when I buy new products, it never helps as my brain is filled with so many things at the same time, but I'm thinking about writing the dates on the bottom or back of the packaging, let me know how that works for you. Do store away from direct sunlight though . It's also best to opt for a lighter tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation for the warmer summer months ahead.

Mascara generally lasts about four months and this is one item I know I am guilty of holding onto a bit longer than I should, I do however monitor when applying. The more you use it the more air gets pumped into the container increasing the risk of bacteria getting inside. You can tell when it starts to go 'off', it gets drier and clumpier than usual and may also have a bit of an odd odor. Toss it out! You are setting yourself up for a serious eye infection.

As for the eye shadows you just had to buy at the last clearance sale three years ago, if you not using it get rid of it. In fact you should be throwing it out the window. Powder shadows and blushes last about two years and the gel and creme counterparts usually less, about six months to a year because of the moisture content, making it a great bacteria playground. Opt for natural matte shades for the day and a bit of shimmer to dazzle your date nights.

To clean pencil eyeliners all you need to do is sharpen before every application. That's not so difficult. Their liquid cousins however I would classify with the mascara family, if its dry and smelly, toss it out.

Now for my love of lipstick, this little darling has been put to test and it has been noted that if you apply your lipstick three times a day, you would get about 293 swipes of colour, and that would equate to about three months of usage. Wow?!? It lasts about two years but mine seldom does.

Brushes and sponges I wash with warm soapy water and leave to dry in the sun. I prefer not to wash sponges more than once, I just replace as needed. Do not forget your make-up bag or box on wheels in my case, I use wet wipes to give it a good old wipe down, and they actually good for any make-up spills.

So there you have it, all clean and fresh as a daisy and ready to welcome the seasons new sparkles. I'm thinking of dashing over to the Chanel counter in the morning to pick up a lipstick or two just to spoil myself for all the hard work.

Remember, keep your make-up simple and do what works for you.

Until next week..much love

Miss Bloom