Monday 30 September 2013

Sephora September

One bonus of living here in Paris (one of many) is that I can shop in Sephora. Love this shop dedicated to beauty with brands of differing prices and for various tastes. C'est parfait!
Recently I bought a few products and now that I have used them for a few weeks I have decided to review them.

I bought a 'Head to toe hydrator' which, for 8.50 for 125ml, is great value. It literally can be used everywhere so it's very practical for travelling around! I use it on my face at night, regularly for my body and hands and I use it in my hair if I run out of conditioner or I'm staying away from home. It moisturises well, smells nice but not too strongly of perfume and does the job. Completely recommend this if you can get a chance.

I also purchased a new Waterproof eye makeup remover for 5.90 for 125 ml. You use with cotton wool pads and wipe across your eyes to remove mascara, eyeliner and eyeshadow. You need to shake it gently to mix the formula and it is slightly greasy but it performs well and takes maybe 30 seconds for it all to be gone!

Lastly I bought a new blusher as my Benefit Bella Bamba had ran out. I love Benefit but wanted to try something new and a little cheaper. I then bought a Sephora branded powder blusher in Coral Flush. I love the colour and it's perfect for me. It seems as though it will last me a long time too as I don't need lots to get the correct colouring! Excellent news for my face and my purse!


Let me know if you have any recommendations or questions on Sephora products. 

Bonne lecture!





Sunday 29 September 2013

Essex girl in Paris continues...

6 months!!! I have been living in Paris for 6 months! It seems so unreal, but the good sort of unreal. I am starting to realise how much I have done, and what I have achieved since I've been here and also how difficult it has been. 

I've managed to find an apartment, 2 jobs and many friends. I've visited a variety of places. Eaten and drunk alot! Had a shitty time and an incredible time. Begun to learn a language which six months ago I could say nothing and now I can have conversations. I'm probably more confident but definitely none the wiser!

Here are some pictures to show you some of my life in the past few months...

Difficult to see but this is me and 2 girls in the Galerie des Glaces  at the Chateau de Versaille. It is beautiful there and I really recommend going! It is the room used when the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end WW1 and also in the J'adore Dior advert with Charlize Theron.
Outside view from the Pompidou Centre. Interesting art and a back drop of the city!

The Eiffel Tower by Delaunay at the Pompidou

Me as 'art' at the Pompidou

Another Delaunay at the Pompidou

Eiffel Tower from Pompidou

Sculpture outside the Pompidou

From Pont Bir Hakeim


A street carnival near Nation in July - lots of noise, music, dancing and people!

Fun fair in the tuileries!

Me and my friend outside Odeon for Fete de la Musique - It's a free musical event all over the city where people fill the streets play music and drink! It is packed and I recommend attending one year. A city full of partying!

Cocktails were needed at Fete de la Musique!

Relaxing in the Luxembourg Gardens

An almost beautiful view... If only I could see where I work!

Luxembourg

Me and my friend in the Luxembourg

Sunbathing at Paris Plage!

Many people at Paris Plage and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Great idea but not so good for relaxing!

Work aka Montparnasse Tower - The tallest and ugliest building in Paris!

Me at Paris Plage

The Arc de Triomphe on my way to work!

Night out with work colleagues!

Dancing and drinking at Tino Rossi by the Seine - Perfect

I had been drinking!


Crazy dancing man!
 So... there you go. A few pictures of the many things I have done so far in my little adventure. Who knows what the next 6 months will bring...?

Sunday 22 September 2013

Summer Nail Art

Orange and gold tips
Hi, here are some of my nail art ideas that I used throughout the summer. Hope you enjoy them! I managed to get my nails really long in the summer so was really happy with the shape, unfortunately now I have managed to break the lot so back to square one ... This is however what happens when you grow your own nails instead of having falsies. Although I have spells where my nails break, I still believe my nails are healthier than if I had ever had fake nails.

Pink Leopard Print

3 colour split (Taken in the Jardin de Luxembourg)

Pink and Blue Mismatch

Gold with pink polka dots.

Red with one 'heart'. These were my nails as a bridesmaid in August!

Pink Matte with glitter

Thursday 12 September 2013

Parisians - observations on a different culture!

I've been thinking about writing this for a while now and I'm sure I'll add more to it in the future. Making observations, listening to conversations and having conversations with the Parisians. I've noticed a few things that the Parisians have in common and seem to be considerably different to England. Here we go...

  • Scooters - To be more precise adults on scooters. Not the motorized ones, the push style ones. They seriously consider it to be a useful transportation method. Serious business men in suits, mothers and children, young, not so young. So many people use them! Anyone above the age of 9 should reconsider unless severely drunk or playing with children!

  • Black - so much black!! The clothes are so safe here with lots of neutral tones and black, classic dressing in black, summer clothes in black. I may be over exaggerating a little but it is definitely common to be neutrally dressed. Many French have commented that my clothes are very colourful and different. However in England I would consider myself a 'safe' dresser. But then it's also often commented that Londoners are ... Eclectic with their clothes. For me eclectic is ok. Parisian chic is ok. But I think some colour and patterns are good. Too many, not so good!

  • Imaginary spitting. This sounds gross but I can't come up with another way to describe this. Whenever the French don't know something they shrug their shoulders and pretend to spit/make a popping sound with their lips. It is so common I've started to do it!!