MY FAVORITE PERFUMES

MY FAVORITE PERFUMES

 

1

Hello everybody and happy Sunday! Today I am going to share with you guys my favorite perfumes; the ones that make me happy and I love wearing them. For years I was a perfume addict; I was wearing a perfume every single day, because the idea of having a scent trail when I was out and about, made me feel really happy. I don’t wear perfume for others don’t get me wrong; I wear perfume because it just makes me feel good about myself. I feel fresh. That’s it! I feel like I just stepped out of the shower and I smell all lovely and fresh. I also love the associations created in someone’s head when they smell my perfume. However, a few years ago I developed certain allergies. I never had allergies in my life, but apparently the last 3 years I have developed some sort of allergies that sadly could get worse due to strong odors. Therefore, I was advised not to wear strong perfumes or too often or too much. This made me really sad because I already had a quite big collection, which I did partially give to my mom. However, I still have a few perfumes I really love and wear, plus a couple of new additions to my collection.

Miss Dior Cherie

4

This is an iconic perfume. It is probably the oldest in my collection and there is only a little left. It has a lovely orangey tone along with a hint of jasmine, which is one of my favorite flowers. I really love this perfume because it is not sexy and sultry; instead it is more girly and innocent. It is what a Lolita would wear. Plus the bottle with the cute bow is simply dreamy!

Lily of the Valley and Ivy by Jo Malone

6

I got this perfume last summer and it was part of the limited edition Tudors collection by Jo Malone. I didn’t have a Jo Malone perfume by then but I had heard many amazing things about the brand. Once I smelled the perfume at the store I instantly fell in love with it. It is the most wonderful scent I have ever smelled. Honestly and without exaggeration I love this perfume; it is the perfect powdery scent combined with the notes of lily flower. I love how it reminds me of the countryside and green fields. It is a nice light perfume that makes me feel peaceful.

French Lime Blossom by Jo Malone

7

Another Jo Malone favorite, I love this scent so much that I was torn whether I should get the perfume or the candle. Eventually I went with the perfume because I wanted to have the scent on me more, instead of my house. I got it on Christmas and I have been wearing it all the time since. It is another very light powdery scent, combined with the scent of blossomed flowers. I love wearing this all day round.

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

3

Another old-time favorite, this perfume is my oldest along with the Miss Dior Cherie. I have always loved Chanel as a brand because it symbolized elegance and class. This perfume is exactly that: an elegant citrusy perfume that is not as light and girlie as the previous ones. On the contrary, it has a stronger, more oriental scent. It is more feminine than girlie. I love wearing it in the nighttime more, although in the past I used to wear it in the day as well. Now I just feel it is too strong for the day time, so I use it on special occasions at night. This is the perfect elegant, mysterious and feminine perfume.

Valentina by Valentino

2

This perfume is one of the latest additions to my collection. When I smelled this perfume in New York about 2 years ago, I was instantly in love. It had an orangey scent combined with jasmine, kind of like the Miss Dior Cherie, but a bit sweeter. It is a soft floral perfume with a bit of sweetness, perfect for the day time or in the nighttime, when I am going for a more girly look. I am so happy to finally get my hands on this perfume. I love the scent and the beautiful bottle with the pink and white rose. So feminine and romantic! I haven’t got the chance to wear it many times yet but I absolutely recommend it to everyone who wants a classy, romantic and girly perfume.

Bon Bon by Viktor & Rolf

5This is the second latest addition to my perfume collection. I absolutely love this perfume. Like with Valentina, I first saw this perfume on my trip to New York 2 years ago and I was instantly drawn by its unique bottle. Who can resist this cute fuchsia bow? It is so beautiful! This perfume has a quite sweet scent as the name suggests. However, it is not sickly sweet. It has the right amount of sweetness that doesn’t make you or the others sick, but it does linger, leaving a sweet trail behind you. Apart from the orange and jasmine scents that seem to attract me, it has a caramel tone which justifies the sweetness. I really enjoy a sweet scent, because it just makes me happy and makes me feel like I am a living, breathing candy. It feels playful and fun. Its purpose is not to seduce but to just bring joy. Whenever I wear it I feel I am simply irresistible, because who can resist a sweet bon bon candy?

I love wearing perfumes or even body mists; it just makes me feel really good and lifts up my mood. I like the powdery and flowery scents mostly, but sometimes I like a strong, almost masculine scent. I do have a soft spot for men’s perfumes as well, but I don’t really have anything like that. I enjoy wearing perfume pretty much all the time; in the morning when I go out for a casual walk and also when I am going out at night. In the daytime I do prefer to use the body mists more as they are lighter and easily dissolved, whereas in the nighttime and on special occasions, I like to spray on a nice perfume. Although I really love each and every one of the perfumes I have mentioned above, I am more excited to wear my latest additions. I know that due to my allergies, I am not supposed to wear perfumes a lot but I know I am going to add a couple more to my collection pretty soon. I just can’t resist! I would love to know your favorite perfume or body mist. Comment below and share your favorite scents and also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron) to say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

DECEMBER FAVORITES

DECEMBER FAVORITES

favorites

 Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I wish you all an amazing 2016, where your wildest dreams come true! It has been a bit crazy this past week due to all the celebrations and preparations, so I am a little late with my monthly favorites. December was a lovely month with all the presents and the festive spirit. I got the chance to try some new products that I absolutely loved and can’t wait to share with you guys.

Jo Malone Perfume – French Lime Blossom

perfume

Every time I go by Jo Malone’s stand I always feel the urge to smell the amazing perfumes and candles. This year is definitely Jo Malone’s year for me. Not only I got my first candle (see post) but also I got a couple of perfumes. From the beginning, I was in love with the French Lime Blossom perfume. It has a powdery scent and it reminds me of something clean and fresh, like soap. I know it doesn’t seem like much but I absolutely love that scent. It makes me feel peaceful, like I am in a fresh meadow on a spring day. I love it when I can associate a perfume to something so stress relieving. It is not overwhelming or too strong. I love the perfume so much, that I am considering getting the candle too at some point.

Charlotte Tilbury – Charlotte’s Magic Cream

cream

I got this cream in Charlotte Tilbury holiday set “The gift of Goddess” (see review). Having heard so many amazing things about Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty and skin care products, I have wanted to try them for a while now. I got the cream in a small size and I tried it right away. It’s amazing; such a moisturizing cream with a nice thick texture. It smells lovely (like a rose), and it doesn’t make my face oily at all. You only need to apply a little bit, which means my small pot will last. I love how smooth and fresh my face feels afterwards, especially now in the winter where it gets quite dry.

Michael Kors Camille Small Leather Satchel in black

bag1

I was looking for a nice everyday bag for a couple of months now. Since I don’t have a light grey bag, I was after that color. I think it’s very neutral and I can wear it daily all year round. I never had a Michael Kors bag before, but I always liked his designs, as they are modern and sophisticated. However, I couldn’t find the style and size I wanted in light grey. I was really bumped, but then I came across the Camille satchel in black and I was in love. It is such a cute bag, with the perfect size for daily use. It has a strap, many compartments and the leather is so soft. It was simply perfect. My mom surprised me by getting it for me for Christmas! Black is the perfect color that matches with everything. It is not the color I wanted, but it is a basic, neutral color which is what I was going for bottom line. The size is just great; apart from daytime, I can get it for a dinner or a drink as well. It is not really small, and it can accommodate everything I carry with me daily plus an umbrella in case of rain. An absolutely ideal bag!

Klurskin cleanser with jojoba and coconut

cleanser

As I have mentioned before, I am a skin care hoarder. I love skin care products and I am always looking for something new that will freshen up and improve my skin. Although I do like all the major cosmetics and skin care brands, lately I am interested more and more into smaller, indie skin care brands. They are local and use natural ingredients. Klurskin is a LA based brand that creates non-toxic products that nourish the skin. This cleanser is aloe based and 75% organic. It has coconut milk and jojoba oil. It is in a gel form and has a pleasant scent. It is very gentle and cleanses the skin well; however, I don’t use it when I have a lot of make up on my face because I feel I need something stronger. I love how much it actually hydrates my skin. It doesn’t only cleanse it and removes all the dirt, but it also hydrates it and makes it look fresher and calmer afterwards. Such a nice, organic cleanser!

Laura Mercier Ambre and Vanille body soufflé

body lotion

I got Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre and Vanille holiday set because I was very excited to try the body products. Everybody is raving about how lovely they are, so when I saw the holiday set, I just had to get it. I am not going to mention the entire set, as there will be a review about it up soon, but I have to admit that the body lotion is my favorite product. I absolutely love it! It has an amazing scent that makes me feel like I am a vanilla cookie, and it deeply moisturizes my skin. It has a thick texture therefore, you don’t need a lot. Its scent lingers for a couple of days on my skin which is wonderful. This body soufflé is just perfect. From the scent to the feeling, it is amazing. I know for sure that once I finish it I will repurchase the full size.

Topshop Betty Star boots

shoes

I am not going to talk a lot about those boots because there will be a review of them up the blog soon. I got the Topshop Betty Star boots only recently but I am in love with them already. The heel height is perfect for me for every day and for a casual night out as well. I love how they are simple but the golden stars in the back add some spice to them. They are basic black ankle boots but with a twist. I have worn them twice so far and I love them! Stay tuned for a more thorough review J

H&M nail polish in Red Over Heels shade

nail polish

You guys already know how much I love H&M’s new nail polishes. I have a whole review of them where I am raving about how fast they dry and how long the last (see review). For the holidays I wanted a true red color, so I can be a little festive myself. I went for the Red Over Heels shade, because it is a lovely deep, yet not too dark, red. It doesn’t have any orange undertone. I was so happy with my choice. They nail polish was lovely like all the H&M ones and it was perfect for the holiday season. I don’t usually go for red nails but I was so happy I did this year!

YSL Rouge pur Couture lipstick in the shade 201

lipstick

I got this lipstick in a magazine, so I didn’t purchase it myself. I never had a YSL lipstick so I didn’t have an opinion about them. I was happy to find that the lipstick was in a bright red shade, because red is one of my favorite lip colors. The shade itself is quite lovely; bright red with orange undertone. Something I don’t really have. I tried it on and I was surprised at how lovely it looks. It’s creamy and moisturizing, which I really like, since my lips are quite dry. It is matte with a satin finish. It didn’t sit in my lip lines and it lasted for a quite a while. I really love this lipstick, as it is festive and the sample size of it is just too cute! I am very pleasantly surprised with this YSL lipstick, because I liked the texture, the color and the longevity. Also it has a rose scent. Highly recommend the YSL Rouge pur Couture lipstick!

I was so blessed to get my hands on some amazing things on December. I absolutely love each and every thing mentioned in this post. From the bag and the shoes to the lipstick and the body lotion, all these products are simply wonderful. They stole my heart on December and they earned their place in my monthly favorites list. I recommend them all. Don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hello! With 2015 gone, I am very excited for what 2016 has in store! Happy New Year to everyone with lots of love!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM

red

Following my previous post, Christmas Gift Guide for Her, this post is going to be a Christmas Gift Guide for Him. It is a suggestion of what I consider great Christmas presents for the special guys in your life. I am so excited for the gift guide posts, because I love sharing lovely things I would definitely get for the people I care about. You guys already know how much I enjoy getting gifts for the people I love, so these posts are really fun for me and hopefully for you too! I always found shopping for a guy much harder than for a girl, mostly because I am quite unfamiliar with what a guy might like, plus guys have a smaller variety of categories of products they use. However, in this gift guide I have picked out some pretty cool things that I believe they would put a big smile on that special someone’s face.

Photo credit:
Photo credit: www1.bloomingdales.com

A perfume set is always a lovely and safe choice of a present.  I love perfumes, especially the male ones, because I love strong scents just like my mom. I absolutely love Dior’s Sauvage Coffret gift set. It features Dior’s newest perfume (yes the one with the Johnny Depp ad), which just happens to be amazing. Also it has the aftershave lotion, which is perfect for grooming and a small pocket spray you can actually refill. It is great for carrying around or travelling. I know it’s on the pricey side but it is truly an amazing and luxurious gift. Dior perfumes are among my favorite ones!

art of shaving-horz
Photo credit: www.sephora.com

Another gift I consider very important for a guy, would be a shaving kit. I love getting my boyfriend different shaving kits so he can try out a few products from the range of different brands and decide the one which works best for him. The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Carry-On from The Art of Shaving, is one of my personal favorites. I got this for my boyfriend and he really enjoyed it. This kit is the carry on version which is half price from the regular one, and the products are travel sized. I believe it is a good introduction to the brand and in case it doesn’t work 100% for your guy, he can just keep the set for travelling purposes. The set has a pre-shave oil, a shaving cream, an after shave balm and a shaving brush. It basically is a complete set of everything necessary for the perfect shave! I really love the shaving brush; it adds such a splash of luxury and pampering. The set comes in an unscented version and in a lavender-scented one. But just to be fair, if your guy is on the beardy side, you could get him a beard grooming kit. I would recommend Jack Black’s Beard Grooming kit which contains an all over wash, a beard oil, a beard conditioning lube and a beard comb. My boyfriend has used Jack Black’s products before and he always was satisfied. The price is a plus as well!

aesop
Photo credit: www.aesop.com

While we are still in the grooming-pampering area, I believe another great Christmas gift would be a skin care set. A good skin care routine is not only a female issue; men should take good care of their skin as well. I would recommend Aesop’s Collective Care for Combination Skin. It’s a lovely set that consists of a face cleanser, a balancing toner and a rehydrating cream. Aesop is a skin care brand with plant-based products. I haven’t tried the brand yet although I am about to get my first product soon and I can’t wait. It has amazing reviews and it is highly recommended. I know it is quite pricey, but it will be a luxurious set that your special man will definitely enjoy!

playstation
Photo credit: www.playstation.com, www.amazon.com

Moving on from grooming products, I don’t know a single guy who does not love video games. I know it may sound such a cliché, but boy oh boy do they love video games! Mine does for sure. So it goes without saying that a video game related gift would be amazing! Since I am totally clueless when it comes to video games (I only have a Wii and Mario games), I would recommend 2 different game related gifts. First a Playstation Plus subscription sounds amazing. For a yearly subscription, he could get free games, discounts and game trials. I don’t know much but this sounds quite lovely! My second recommendation would be a 2-part gift; a game of your choice and an extra controller. How cool would that be right? I have no idea about games to recommend one from personal experience, but Fallout 4 is quite hyped and I really like the DualShock 4 Wireless controller in black color. This little duo would be an excellent gift for a PS lover.

polaroid
Photo credit: www.amazon.com

Another lovely and vintage style present would be a Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer. This little gadget that I have been lasting over for ages, allows you to print pictures from your phone on paper like an instant camera. I am really into the whole self-printing technology that is quite trending lately. I have a Fujifilm Instax camera and I absolutely love it. I like how all the pictures we snap on a daily basis on our phones, instead of keeping them in our computers or phones forever, we can print them out and put them around us so we can cherish the memories they bring. I find this gift really amazing. Just don’t forget to get a little pack of paper to go along with the printer!

stocking
Photo credit: www.selfridges.com, www.urbanoutfitters.com

The list gift I would recommend, as I did in the Hers gift guide, would be a big stocking filled with lovely smaller gifts. Imagine his surprise when he opens the stocking and finds all the little goodies inside. You could fill it in with Selfridges Men Grooming Kit, which 8 travel size products, a razor and of course the travel bag. This kit is so cute and it has everything a man needs when traveling from shaving to showering and moisturizing. Another lovely gift would be a leather wallet-phone case like Urban Outfitter’s Understated Leather Wallet Case. You can carry your phone, cards and cash plus I really like the color of it the design of the moon on the front. Such a pretty and masculine case. Or how about his own Makerskit Mason Cocktail Kit by Urban Outiftters which includes everything needed to make your own cool cocktails! As a huge mug lover, there are so many lovely mugs you could get as stocking fillers like this cool Star Wars mug from Urban outfitters. I love Star Wars and I have to admit Darth Vader is ultra cool! Or how about this Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit by Urban Outfitters, which includes almost everything he needs to make his own beer. Now how cool does this gift round, right? There are so many amazing things out there you guys could use to fill your big stocking; just don’t forget the Christmas candy!

I absolutely love Christmas; it is my favorite time of the year. I love the gift giving spirit and how happy people are once they receive their gifts. All the above gifts sound so amazing and I would love to get my special man something from above. As a matter of fact I have already decided which one I will get him 😉 I hope you enjoy my gift guide for Him and if you have a special girl and you are looking for gift ideas, you should check out my Christmas Guide for Her post. Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

 

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

 

 

valentina-horz

With Christmas only a few weeks away, it’s this lovely time of the year again where we buy gifts for our loved ones, and share the holiday spirit! I love getting gifts for all my family and friends more than getting stuff for myself. Although many of you like to get your gifts quite early and have a stress-free countdown to Christmas, I am quite naughty and I always end up getting my gifts on the very last-minute, which completely stresses me out. Therefore, this year I decided not only to get my presents earlier than usual but also to suggest some pretty cool gifts for your favorite ones! I am so excited since this is my very first Christmas gift guide post and I really can’t wait to share with you guys some lovely things I have picked out.

Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge/?lang=2&menuid=14&id=114&page=2
Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge

A perfume set is always a lovely idea for a present. I absolutely love perfumes! Who doesn’t right? Valentino’s Valentina Eau de Parfum set is perfect! I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes but I am in love with Valentina. It is such a sexy and feminine yet fresh scent, that you can’t go wrong with. This set is great as it also contains the body lotion. Layering the perfume on top of the body lotion will make the scent last longer and be more intense. And how cute is that box right?

Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com/new-arrivals/sweet-temptations-ambre-vanille-luxe-body-collection-12615222.html#start=2
Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com

In the whole spirit of layering and smelling amazing, another great gift and personal favorite is Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre Vanille Luxe Body Collection. I actually got this set for myself and it is amazing! The set has a body wash, body lotion (or soufflé), perfume and honey bath, all with the Ambre Vanille scent. Everything is so pretty. You can use the body wash for a quick shower or the honey bath, which is a best-selling product, for a more relaxing bath. Then layer the body soufflé (which is brilliant!) and the perfume. The scent is quite sweet but not in a sickening way. Such an amazing gift!

Photo credit: http://www.net-a-porter.com
Photo credit: http://www.net-a-porter.com

Since we all know how important skin care is to girls – and it should be to guys as well – I find that a luxurious skin care set would be a great gift to your special someone! There are so many out there that I can’t wait to get my hands on, but Sarah Chapman’s Facial In a Box set has really stand out to me. It is a lovely set of 5 products, including a 3-D mask and 2 professional cleansing mitts. It is such a lovely introduction to the brand and such a luxurious set. Using these products will make you feel like you are being pampered in a spa.

Photo credit: http://shop.lomography.com
Photo credit: http://shop.lomography.com

In an era where we capture every moment on our phones and cameras, what a better gift than a lovely camera that ties the old with the new. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 is a wonderful present for everyone; boy or girl. I have the bigger one and I absolutely love it. However, it is quite heavy and big which makes it really hard to fit it in my purse and carry it around all the time. The Mini 8 is a cute camera that immediately develops the pictures taken. It has a vintage vibe combined with modern design. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors. I personally love the powdery blue one! Don’t forget to get a pack of film!

Photo credit: http://www.diptyqueparis.com
Photo credit: http://www.diptyqueparis.com

As a proper candle-addict, I believe that Diptyque’s Seasonal Candle Set is another amazing gift. Diptyque’s candles are just wonderful. They smell amazing and last forever, plus they are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere. This seasonal set includes 5 mini candles with different scents which is amazing. It is a perfect introduction to the world of luxurious candles. I have a review of my favorite Diptyque scent, that you guys should check out!

Photo credit left to right: www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.amazon.com, www.anthropologie.com
Photo credit left to right: www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.amazon.com, www.anthropologie.com

The last gift I would recommend is a little bit more complicated. Personally, whenever I get gifts for my people I always like to get a couple of gifts instead of just one. I don’t know why but I just love the moment when the present is unwrapped and there are more presents in it. Like the babushka dolls! Therefore, I believe a big stocking filled with many small gifts would be a great gift itself. You could fill the stocking with a book, like Madeline Shaw’s Get the Glow book for the healthy eater, or Jemma Kidd’s Jemma’s Makeup Secrets for the makeup addict one! Great stocking filler could also be a cute little journal like Urban Outfitter’s Oh Snap leather journal, along with some cute stationary. This Gold Monogram Mug from Anthropologie would also make a lovely stocking filler. You can add any bits and bobs you like and personalize the present which makes it even more perfect! Don’t forget the Christmas candy!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year! The holiday spirit is just everywhere and everyone is happy and cheerful. I love that is a gift giving period, because buying presents for my loved ones is ony of my favorite things and it makes me very happy. On my Christmas gift guide for her, I am sharing some ideas of presents for your favorite girls; mom, aunt, sister, bff or loved one!! I personally love all those things; I even have some of them and the ones I don’t have, I really want to get! Following this post, there will be a Christmas gift guide for Him, with some nice gift ideas for the special guys in your life, so stay tuned! Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky