The Elemis Travel Set of Dreams

The Elemis Travel Set of Dreams

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

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Summer holiday season is upon us, and even though my poor passport is gathering dust, with no plans of jet setting on the horizon (sob!), I can still appreciate a good travel set, because travel minis are one of my favouritest things. Really. They're just so cute. Speaking of cute, this Elemis x Lily & Lionel luxury travel collection is the very definition of the word, and is packed full with bloody lovely skincare bits to keep your skin in tip top condition while travelling. Let's have a closer look. 

To create this, quite frankly stunning,  travel set, Elemis partnered with Lily and Lionel, a UK-based fashion house known for creating beautiful and quirky prints. Think Cath Kidston, but way cooler. Called Daydream, this Elemis-exclusive print is pretty and cool, and just screams summertime, with its pastel geometric shapes and cute, kitschy badges. It’s such a pretty print, and I love it that much that I'm actually tempted to use it as a handbag. BECAUSE LOOK HOW PRETTY! If I was a little bit cooler I could even get away with it. Want to know the best part? The bag isn't even the best part. Oh no, this travel bag of dreams contains even dreamier skin care!

A Day at Universal

A Day at Universal

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

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A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get to go Florida for a week with work. While I was out there I decided to spend my day off at Universal Resort, because I'd never been before. Needless to say I had an amazing time. I'm not going to go into too much detail here because I actually vlogged the whole day (I'll let you guys know when I upload that to youtube), but I thought I would share some of the pictures I took, because I took a lot.

Three Hours in Copenhagen

Three Hours in Copenhagen

Tuesday, 28 March 2017

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Forgive me readers for I have sinned. I haven't blogged in a long time, well over a month.  Things have been so crazy busy lately that my blog was placed firmly on the back burner until things settled. However life is showing no sign of slowing down - I'm really not complaining, it's incredible! - so  I will be making a conscious effort to make more time for blogging. For now I will be sticking to my normal routine -Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays - but I'll let you know if anything changes.

5 Books to Read on Holiday

5 Books to Read on Holiday

Thursday, 1 September 2016

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Reading is one of my absolute favourite things to do on holiday. Lounging by the pool with my kindle in one hand and maybe a cocktail in the other is my idea of a little bit of heaven. After a week in Bulgaria where all I did was sunbathe and read I thought I'd put together a list of some of the books I didn't get round to, but will start making my way through now that I'm home  - just in case any of you lot are heading off for some last minute sunshine.

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern - Kindle Edition/Paperback £4.99/£4.00 from Amazon

Ahern's first YA book Flawed is a bit of a departure from her usual chick lit style of writing. Set in a dystopian future, Flawed takes place in a society where flaws and mistakes are punished harshly, those who are found to be Flawed are branded and imprisoned. Celestine North is perfect, and always has been, until one day she reacts instinctively in a situation which means she could be found Flawed. I haven't started it yet but it sounds like it's in a similar sort of vein to the The Hunger Games and Lauren Oliver's Delirium series, both of which I loved, so I can't wait to get stuck in.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler - Kindle Edition/Paperback £5.69/£6.49 from Amazon

I can't quite believe that I still haven't read Yes Please because I love Amy Poehler, a lot! I've just never got round to reading it and honestly, I don't have an excuse as to why. But I'm guessing it will be absolutely hilarious, well written and very clever, because how could it not be when the author is such a bad ass?!

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells - Kindle Edition/Paperback £3.79/£3.99 from Amazon

I absolutely LOVED Debbie Howell's first book, The Bones of You, it's an incredible story and is beautifully written. I was hooked from the very first page and I could not put it down! I'd even go so far as to say that it is the best book I've read this year. So I couldn't wait for The Beauty of the End to come out to see how it would compare. I've had a nosey at the blurb and it sounds like it's gonna be a good 'un.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - Kindle Edition/Hardback £7,15/£7.50 from Amazon

Big Magic is the book on everyone's lips, it's everywhere, almost to the point of becoming a blogger cliché. I've read Elizabeth Gilbert's other books, Eat Pray Love and Committed, and found them inspiring, funny and really easy to read. I'm imagining Big Magic will be similar. I've been wanting to read it for ages and I'm thinking now might be an ideal time to do it.

On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher - Kindle Edition/Hardback £6.49/£6.49 from Amazon

On the Other Side is the debut novel from youtube sweetheart Carrie Hope Fletcher - we all know I love her - and I'm really excited to read it. On the Other Side is about Evie Snow, who after dying peacefully in her sleep at the age of 82, finds herself in the afterlife locked out of her own personal heaven. She is too heavy, burdened with secrets from her past, she has to rid herself of these secrets in order to be light enough to get in. It sounds awesome. I've read the first couple of chapters already and am really enjoying it so far.  I'll keep you posted.

I have a ton of other books on my to read pile, including: The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight,  How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler... seriously there are loads. I'll let you know how I get on.

What's on your holiday reading list? Any recommendations? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

In Flight Beauty: My Skin Care Essentials

In Flight Beauty: My Skin Care Essentials

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

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This may seem a little OTT, especially as the flight to Bulgaria isn't long, 3 hours if that. But me and my skin have finally reached a tentative truce, it won't break out in billions of juicy cystic spots and blackheads if I treat it right. So for my very short haul flight I wanted to keep my skin happy, well hydrated and protect it from 3 hours of air conditioning, these are all the odds and ends that helped me do that.

Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Wipes - £4.19 (currently on offer for 3 for £5) in Boots

The first thing I like to do on a flight is take all my make up off, especially if it's an evening flight, which ours were, there and back. So I needed something that would take all my make up off without me having to faff about with cotton pads and cleansers. Enter Simple's Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Wipes. Now I'm really not a big fan of face wipes, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a beauty blogger who is, but these micellar wipes are a whole different ball game. Simple wipes in general are the only face wipes I tend to use, because they are really good, but the micellar ones are my favourite. Soaked in Simple's micellar water, incidentally my favourite high street micellar water, they're alcohol and oil free and really kind on the skin. They're really gentle but remove make up, including waterproof mascara, absolutely effortlessly and leave the skin feeling clean and fresh. I love these. 

Pixi by Petra Hydrating Milky Mist - £18.00 from Cultbeauty

Pixi's Hydrating Milky Mist is one of my favourite facial sprays and an absolute essential when flying. As the mist is essentially a liquid moisturiser I was mainly using it to inject a bit of moisture back into my skin throughout the flight, effectively giving my skin a double dose of hydration to combat the air conditioning. With an ingredients list that boasts black oat, hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin a to soothe the skin and encourage it to retain moisture, the fine mist is light and refreshing but provides intense hydration, leaving my skin feeling soothed and nourished. Trust me you need this in your travel bag.

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream -  £28.00 from Ren Skincare

This teeny tiny tube of REN's Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream was an absolute life saver. Formulated specifically for sensitive skin this nifty little moisturiser is quite the multi-tasker. It soothes and calms the skin, protects from irritants and inflammation whilst also moisturising and protecting the skin from free radicals and environmental factors. The light cream is fast absorbing and left my skin feeling nourished and refreshed. I'll definitely be picking up the full size when I run out.

Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit - £3.69 from Boots

The idea of having to stick my finger into a pot of Carmex becomes really unappealing when I'm on a flight, surrounded by at least 100 other people and their collective germs and bacteria, and the collective germs/bacteria of the hundreds of previous passengers. Luckily Burt and his hive of Bees provide the solution to this problem. Pink Grapefruit is one of my absolute favourite lip balms, because it is super moisturising, smells incredible and comes in a tube so is more hygienic then my beloved pot of Snoopy Carmex.

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Restoring Hand Cream - £2.99 from Superdrug

It's no secret that I have OCD and really struggle with my hands, especially when I'm in situations I'm not exactly comfortable with, like flying for example. When I over do it with washing or hand sanitiser my hands get really dry and sore, this is the only hand cream I've come across that intensely conditions and protects my hands from my hand sanitiser happy ways. It's fast absorbing, so it doesn't leave my mitts feeling greasy, which I absolutely hate, and even lasts after washing. It's fantastic and saves me from myself a little bit.

Tesco Pro Formula Cleansing Hand Wipes and Antibacterial Hand Gel -  both 75p from Tesco

Speaking of my hands there was absolutely no way I was getting on a plane without my trusty anti-bac wipes and a bottle of hand gel. I like to use the wipes as much as I can as they are much gentler on the skin than hand sanitiser. I also like to have them with me so I can give my seat a quick once over before take off, although it has to be said you do get some funny looks. The hand sanitiser is fairly standard, it contains alcohol so is very drying on the skin but it does get rid of any nasties and contains aloe vera extract to help combat some of the dryness.

I also had floss, hairbands, a clip and chewing gum with me, because no one wants unruly hair and bad breath now do they?

What are your in flight essentials? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx