Leaving '& Other Stories' without a single purchase. #Impossible.

The awe-inspiring experience left me in a state of reverence; dissuading my attention from the lavish apparel, to the perpendicular, slightly more affordable, products; Beauty.

I did it.  I don’t want to be that person but it seems that I am.  I absolutely, completely and utterly, judged a book (or in this case, product) by its cover…

Secret Haven Hand Soap

Secret Haven Hand Lotion

You must admit, its hard not too. A perfectly executed, collaboration of font and art direction ropes me in every time and this was no exception. The beautifully scribed, monochrome-metallic fusion would stand proud in any minimalist bathroom (and works particularly well, dressing my white, silver and lavender-pink graphic theme, if I do say so myself!)

A floral and fruity aroma that equal appeal for both men and women. A complete winner.  The recipe?

‘Tangy peach and dreamy coconut meet a garden of peonies, lilacs, and dewy violets, with base notes of relaxed sandalwood, vanilla, and soft musk’

Exactly that.  Both products deliver the perfect amount of scent.  Initially, significantly pungent, but soon becomes more subdued, settling to a more established suggestion of its former powerful self. 

FYI, super greasy hand lotions just don’t do it for me and upon application, I feared that this would fall into this category.  After massaging into my hands for 2-4 minutes, the fine cream melted in; beautifully.

Hand Lotion £5 250ml - Purchase Here

Hand Soap £4 250ml - Purchase Here

The ‘& Other Stories’ bath & body range comes in 11 different fragrances, with 7 different products to choose from: hand wash, hand lotion, body wash, body scrub, body mist, body soufflé and body lotion.

ADDED BONUS:  Take back any '& other stories' cosmetics packaging and receive 10% off on your next cosmetics purchase!

(Images taken from www.stores.com)

& Other Stories...Changing the face of shopping

An emporium of Scandinavian minimalist fashion and beauty set in an industrial unit of stripped back beauty.

Sibling to the super brands H&M and COS, & Other Stories has hit upon a fresh and somewhat effortlessly cool way to sell fashion.  A creation of diverse collections and endless styling choices, you most definitely will not walk away empty handed.

Set across two floors, this super sleek, super stylish hub is an eclectic contribution of cultural influence, pulling together all things 20.14.  Whether you are an eBay enthusiast or a street savvy style-ista, there is no doubt you will find a gem.   

style inspiration

stripped back beauty

Cohesive stories feature back-to-back in the impeccably executed store layout, laced with beautifully selected finery: coherent yet marvelously contradictory.  The unexpected mid-floor beauty realm will leave you enraptured.  Own brand beauty lines with packaging that will send your heart a flutter; these uber chic products are destined to be blogged about. 

sleek

& chic

The visual theatre.  A scene only too be witnessed via hash-tag style; a creative concept that dreams are made of.  A profoundly beautiful take on raw, straight up photography, echoes throughout the store.  Inserts of still life styling, injected into the contemporary collections and an internal soundtrack to that lingers on.

simple yet sophisticated

visual delight

This is a shopping experience that inspires and beguiles; one like no other.

See for yourself:

Shop in store at & Other Stories 256—258 Regent Street, W1B 3AF London
Shop online here

YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush No. 5 Rouge Effrontee [Review - Swatch]

Every day I thank the beauty Gods for YSL, and today is no exception. 

Say hello to the latest treat from YSL. 

YSL say that Kiss & Blush is a

2 in 1 ultra blendable air whipped mousse beautifully highlights your lips and cheeks with a sensual soft and luminous matte finish. Colour is easily build-able, from a soft and natural look to a more intense sophisticated look.

And they are not wrong.

No. 5 - Rouge Effrontee is an absolutely gorgeous true coral that is going to be perfect for any and all upcoming Summer engagements. 
On the YSL website the colour appears to be more of a magenta/strong pink, but I can assure you (as I gaze upon its beauty now) that this is most definitely coral. And what a bloody marvellous and show-stopping coral it is. 

Now on to the swatches..

One swipe wonder?

Both swatches show only one swipe, you really get a lot of colour pay off. A little goes a very long way with this bad boy. 
The colour definitely has the ability to be a lot more powerful, but I think it is an absolute dream slightly with just one quick swipe. 
The creamy texture means that it blends beautifully too, this product just ticks all the boxes for me. 

Well played YSL, well played. 

At £27 a pop, these are not the cheapest of products but you can always borrow my reassuring technique and tell yourself that this is a 'hybrid' product and therefore you are in fact saving yourself money by not having to buy two separate items..

Lovelies: Are you a fan of multitasking products?

The full range can be found on the YSL website.