Scent Seduction: Viktor & Rolf Bloom

In February I was invited along to Fenwick, for the launch of the new Viktor & Rolf fragrance, Bloom. This fragrance is a twist on the original Flowerbomb. The scent is a slightly fresher and more floral fragrance. 

The guys at Fenwick Newcastle always take such good care of us! 

Viktor & Rolf also have a range of beauty products too alongside their fragrances of which I only discovered at the launch. Bath oils, body creams and such. Just to ensure you always smell like their signature fragrance! The new fragrance is an extension on the Flowerbomb story, with the sensuous undertones and a burst of springtime flowers. This scent is stunning and the perfect transitional spring/summer scent! 

Until next time... 

The Original Redhead 

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Looking for Legendary Lashes?!

With the party season in full swing, we're all in search of the beauty products which really make us feel glamorous. And after attending an event at Charlotte Tilbury earlier in the year, I couldn't help but treat myself to the Legendary Lashes Mascara.
 

 

 

 

For those of you who don't know about Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics, she's been on the scene for quite some time but has been making real waves as a household name within apx the past 5 years I'd say. Charlotte is a powerhouse of a woman, a redhead (something we have in common), and is truly obsessed by her craft as a make up artist. She was raised in Ibiza and the rose gold (gorgeoussss) packaging is a reflection of this as it is a representation of the Ibiza sunset.

 

 

 

Her love for products goes way back to her backstage catwalk days where she'd hand out little pots of her 'magic cream' to the models to get it out there. Fearless, tenacious & shrewd. I like her already. I've heard lots of good things about the brand but have been yet to try it until this purchase. The Legendary Eyes Mascara was on my list as I was in the market for a new black coat for my lashes anyway...

 

 

The packaging is really dreamy so thought this may have been a way of hiding a poor performing product (as I say, CT newby so didn't know what to expect.) And I've got to tell you on my first application I wasn't keen. I think it was the formula of the mascara, it feels kind of like a mouse, thick yet smooth. However, on more applications I fall more in love with this every time. I already have pretty long eyelashes but this manages to make them appear longer and the depth of black is so intense. If you're going to do black mascara, you've really got to commit to the pigment being as black as the night sky. Newcastle girls love the volume, the bigger the better. Hair, lashes, shoes... you name it. This product is buildable so you get to choose how intense it appears depending on the look you're going for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see the brush is full of tiny little bristles which means every millimetre of your lashes gets covered with minimum effort. I wore this Christmas day and loved it! I try to avoid wearing is on my bottom lashes as it can transfer on to some foundations (I think because it's so strongly pigmented), but if you're looking for length, intense black and volume from a mascara, Legendary Lashes really needs to be in your make up bag. I use this for special occasions because it truly makes me feel glam with the stroke of the wand.

 

Retails at £25.00

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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City Rush & Aveda Hair Stylin'

Last Thursday was the night I attended the Newcastle Business Awards. Now, in true Original Redhead style, of course I was running round like a crazy person attempting to look glam! And when Aveda Blow Bar in Fenwick, Newcastle invited me in for a complimentary treatment last minute I thought my fairy godmother must have been looking down on me!

 

So, after finishing a long day at work, I rushed to Fenwick (same night as the Newcastle Light Switch On) featuring X Factor's Abi Garrido & Samantha Lavery. If you have somehow not heard these girls, seriously listen. As you can imagine, the city was buzzing and busy. So I get to Fenwick, with 45 minutes to spare, remove my make up, cleanse, tone, moisturise, prime and then start my make up again. This time with a much more fierce twist than my usual daytime look.

 

 

Thinking it would be nice & quiet and calm was a mistake on my part, with the toilets being on the children's floor and many families attending the lights being turned on every squeal and blast of the hand drier has me feeling hyper sensitive. Think it's the most rushed I've ever felt as I knew I had an appointment. BUT somehow in super timing, I managed my skin, lashes, brows, contour & highlight and then had to rush down stairs. Lashes and a red lip could be applied as I'm running out to my taxi!

 

When I located Aveda (they are pretty new to Fenwick!) I was greeted by the lovely Anna. She took my coat and many bags and made me feel so relaxed. I was talked through all the treatments they provide including blowdries, hair styling, head & shoulder massages and a full range of products. So I explained to Anna my event situation and we agreed on a hair style. To be honest I was expecting a simple blow dry so this completely outdid my expectations from the off.

 

 

My hair was combed & prepped with the Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion to create weightless texture as a base to begin my styling. I might add, I have super shiny and least textured hair ever so this product is great for all you girls who struggle to hold a style.Then my hair was curled in sections with a Diva Professional cone shaped curling wand - loved the curl shapes created with this! Wider and bouncier at the root with the curl decreasing towards the ends of the hair.

 

 

 

 

Anna worked her magic and started pinning! I wanted a nice up do for this evening event and the curls really looked lovely pinned up. We discussed a few details of how I'd prefer my fringe to sit and I liked it sweeping one side of my head so we worked on that and then added some gorgeous whispy curls which gently grazed my face. Spritzed with hair spray for extra hold this hair style wasn't budging an inch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished look I think you can all agree was a perfect hair-up for an evening event and this Aveda service really does help take the pressure off if you have an event/party coming up in the festive season. And on a time scale, I proved that it really is a valuable service! I made Anna aware of my short time scare and she really performed under pressure!!

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Luxe Scent: Si Le Parfum

 

It may have eluded some of you that I'm a bit of a luxe beauty lover. Go figure, right?! When Giorgio Armani invited me to their fragrance launch of Si Le Parfum in Fenwick Newcastle, I obviously obliged! If you haven't heard of the Si fragrance line, then I recommend you to explore. The 3 fragrances truly investigate many different levels of the Armani woman. Strong, sensual, glamorous whilst understated & accomplished. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Before getting our hands on the new scent, we were shown the other 2 from the Si range. The original - Si Rose Signature is a very light hearted carefree, springtime sort of aroma whilst Si Intense is deep and enveloping in many layers. I preferred the latter but the first was very refreshing too!

 

 

 

Between smelling each scent, we were given coffee beans to smell. This helps to clear your airway for the next scent, which in turn gives you a truer smell. Trying different scents can get a little full on and they all start to smell the same so doing this really helps you take in each fragrance and the underlying notes.

 

 

 

 

Si Le Parfum is true to the Armani spirit is sensual and yet chic and it lingers on the skin. When I was a child, women would pass me whilst shopping and they'd be carrying expensive designer paper shopping bags, dressed in camel coats and pretty heels and left behind was their perfume while I looked in awe at "the pretty lady." This scent reminds me of that, the woman who makes an entrance and wants to be remembered. However, not necessarily through her expensive handbag or pricey blow dry, but through her spirit, her words and her opinions. It is a true nod to adventure, sophistication, freedom and living life to the full!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What creates such a diverse fragrance I hear you ask (at your computer screens and phones of course because this is blog land and you're unfortunately not here to share my stories with.) This beauty of a fragrance is a delicate blend of blackcurrant essence and bergamot. It then moves in to hearty tones of frankincense, jasmine absolute & osmanthus  amber accord which trails off into vanilla and patchouli hints. This fragrance wraps around your skin with a glowing warmth and leaves you feeling like you can conquer all. With 25% essential oils, it is a true luxurious purchase which truly allows you to embrace your femininity, strength and confidence.

 

 

 

 

Prosecco and Italian nibbles kept us going through the whole scent extravaganza.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fenwick concession of Giorgio Armani currently have a winter 'gift' with certain qualifying purchases. Head over their to get your hands on this beautiful fragrance and also pick up your gift too.  The gift is a beautiful pocket mirror which comes in a luxurious stitched wallet emblazoned with the gold GA logo and contrasting patent and matte leather. Such a lovely little treat to yourself if you're already on a spending spree.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're looking to buy for yourself or for a gift, Fenwick Newcastle offer Si Le Parfum at £115 for 40ml perfect for handbag adventures. It's also available in more substantial sizes at 50ml & 100ml.  

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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TOM FORD Scent Lust & Pure Luxury

With the new release of the Orchid Soleil luxury fragrance, and Tom Ford holding a launch... how could a girl resist?! Knowing Tom Ford for all things luxe I didn't expect anything different from this launch.

 

 

 

 

On arrival we were greeted with the lovely girls on the Tom Ford counter in Fenwick, Newcastle. We were then handed a glass of champagne which was just what I needed after a long day, and this only added to the TF experience.

 

 

For any beauty and fragrance lovers who haven't yet discovered the black sorcery of the magical Tom Ford brand, for every fragrance from this range the TF team have created a make up look to sit alongside it. I feel like this is a great facet to the launch and also kind of encapsulates the "Tom Ford woman" look and what is cohesive with the scent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This look is a beautiful rose gold glowy look with a focus on the rose gold element of the packaging of Soleil. The TF glitter shadow is pressed on to the lid after the cream shadow has been buffed in to create a soft and subtle sparkle eye look. Pressing a shimmer shadow helps it to stay in place and avoids fall down (in comparison to overloading a make up brush.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The perfect contour and summer glow is added with a big contour brush and swept under the cheekbones. The bronzer compact really is not compact as it's pretty big but I think that's part of the charm. And the compact has a decent sized mirror for make up on the move!

 

 

 

The contour is completed with this beauuuuu - ti - ful rose tinted liquid highliter. This is similar to macs strobe cream in the sense that it is multi functional. Shimmery primer, glowy highlighter and you could even pop this on as a bb cream just for a quick coverage in a rush.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Zoe for being a hand model for me haha, sometimes you just need a blogger friend when you run out of hands! Pink toned lipstick finishes of the LA glowy look. It's the perfect sun kissed, chic and effortless make up look. (And was created in about 15 minutes)

 

 

As a redhead with blue eyes, I've got to say the best colours for an eye look on me are browns and golds because they really make my eye colour pop and stand out. And again, you can see on Jess, this look works for blondes and no doubt brunettes and can we appreciate how blue her eyes appear with the TF touch?!

 

 

 The Orchid Soleil really is a summer branch from the 2014 Black Orchid fragrance. A fresher, more tropical scent to predecessor. On first meeting with this fragrance you really pick up the floral, vibrant notes of orange tuberose, orchid, cypress, and patchouli.... then when you think that's it the deeper notes of chestnut and vanilla fill your senses wrapped in a red spider lily kiss. Despite the initially summer floral scent, the animalistic feminine hint is unmistakable. This scent has a very empowering way of overcoming you in a way which is indescribable. What is your favourite from the Tom For fragrance selection? I feel like the more I smell them all, the more I fall in love with them all and really cant decide which I like more! The attention to detail in the Ford fragrance is truly what strikes me about this brand. The devil really is in the details, and every time your nose gets a suggestion of the scent, you smell a different note each time.

 

 

 

Just when you think the Tom Ford girls have really indulged you with time, knowledge, and champagne... we were left with a gorgeous little goody bag with samples to try out.

 

 

 

I mean aren't the bottles enough to make you lust over them, never mind the perfectly feminine scent which will mess with your sense of smell?! You can buy the full range from Fenwick or similar department stores. Or if you love online shopping, the Tom Ford official website also stock it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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