New Zoella Beauty Sweet Inspirations Giveaway

There aren't many beauty launches that excite me as much as a new Zoella Beauty one, and as soon as I saw Zoë's video on the collection I knew we were in for a treat. My absolute favourite scents are sweet, creamy, musky, vanilla/almond-based ones, so I was pretty much clapping my hands in glee and couldn't wait to get my hands on the collection. I ordered from Feel Unique with next day delivery yesterday and the postie handed the parcel over to a very excited me at 11am this morning, so a big thumbs up for speedy delivery and another for the fact that I filmed an unboxing and first impressions video today!

You can watch it on my YouTube channel here and I hope you enjoy it - I show you all of the products except the Body Fondant which isn't available online yet, but it'll be going into larger Superdrug stores along with the rest of the Sweet Inspirations range on the 6th June so I'll pick one up then. If you'd like me to do a demo video showing you how all the products work, let me know!

A full review in blog post form will follow, but a few quick words on the collection - it's absolutely gorgeous. The scent is dreamy and totally my cup of tea - I'd even go as far to say it's my ideal fragrance! - the packaging is pastel perfection with an Art Deco twist and there are so many thoughtful details that make the range really special, I'm in love.

- GIVEAWAY INFORMATION -

As the Tutti Fruity collection (with the exception of the Let's Spritz) is being replaced and it's one of my favourite summer scents - see my first impressions review video here -  I stocked up on the range and picked up a few extra products for this giveaway, as it won't be around for much longer, sob! I also bought multiple products from the new Sweet Inspirations collection as I know that (like me) you're like to be eager to get your hands on the items and give them a sniff!

The Rafflecopter form below is for the main prize, which is a selection of Sweet Inspirations and Tutti Fruity products. A winner will be chosen (at random by a computer) when the giveaway officially ends (18.06.16 at 12am) and I will contact them via email on the same day - please be wary of fake accounts, I will only email you from my megsaysemailme@gmail.com account. The giveaway is open internationally, and if you're under 16 years of age please ask a parent/guardian for permission before entering. Thank you lovelies, good luck!

- SOCIAL MEDIA GIVEAWAYS -

As I know not everyone has a Twitter or Instagram account, I made sure that none of the mandatory requirements to enter to win the main prize included those. For the people who do, there will be two runner-up prizes which will end at the same time as the main prize:

1. Twitter giveaway (prize = selection of Tutti Fruity products) - follow the instructions on this tweet to enter

2. Instagram giveaway (prize = selection of Sweet Inspirations products) - follow the instructions on this Instagram post to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cohorted Beauty Box Giveaway

I practically get excited when the postman rings the bell when he's delivering a replacement part for our lawnmower, so you can imagine my elation when he comes to the door with a beauty box in tow. I really love the idea of them - a round-up of carefully selected products from brands you adore and brands you may have never tried before, all prettily packaged and with a 'you know what, that's pretty darn good!' price tag. What's not to love?

I've teamed up with Cohorted to talk you through The Black Edition Beauty Box (£35) from April and May, as well as give you the chance to win a box for yourself as well as a full-size 100ml bottle of the Guerlain Eau De Shamilar Eau De Toilette perfume and three HJ Manicure Nail Polishes. All you need to do is complete the Rafflecopter form below and you'll be in the running!

The Black Edition Beauty Box (April)
An item that I truly love from this box and one that you'll no doubt be seeing on my channel in the near future in a favourites video is the MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in 'Kittenish' (£17.50), which adds the prettiest flush of moisturising pink colour and reminds me of my beloved Revlon ColorBurst Kissable Balm Stain in 'Honey'. If you're more a bright lip lover, the MDM Flow Lipstick in 'Panther' (£18) packs a seriously hot Barbie-like punch and I find the scent addictive! You all know I like my nails to feel as strong and healthy as possible, so the inclusion of the Gold Elements Nail Care Kit (£29.49) was a welcome addition and I've been using the cuticle oil religiously. Possibly one of the prettiest bath products I've ever seen, the Miss Patisserie Bath Melt (£3.99) definitely brings a whole lot of cute to this box and the milk, almond and honey scent is right up my street. Does anyone else remember the White Musk fragrance from The Body Shop? Well, they've added a modern twist with the White Musk Libertine Eau De Parfum (£24) which has been taking me back a decade with its sensual musky blend.

The Black Edition Beauty Box (May)
You know when you get a beauty box and you think 'this box is worth it simply for this one product?' I had the exact reaction when I opened the May edition and saw theBalm Balm Voyage Vol. 2 Palette (£30). With nine of the most gorgeous shades (I was literally ooh-ing and ahh-ing out loud) as well as a bronzer, two blushes, a highlighter (you all know how much I love Mary-Lou Manizer!) and two lipsticks. I can't deal. The box also contains another gem that I've fallen completely in love with, and that's the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (£23) in 'Canvas'. A little on the drying side, but it does stay put for hours on end and the colour is a perfect Kylie J dark pink 90s nude. The HJ Manicure Nail Polish (£9.50) in 'Lavender' isn't quite my colour, but if you love purples or want to up the amp for spring I think this would look really pretty on fingers or toes. I find little perfume samples so useful for my handbag and so I was really happy to see the glamorous and beautiful scent Jimmy Choo Jimmy Choo Eau De Parfum (£41) - especially as it's a teeny mini version of the actual perfume!

Wishing you all the best of luck with the giveaway! A winner will be chosen when the giveaway officially ends, and I will contact them via email on the same day - please be wary of fake accounts, I will only email you from my megsaysemailme@gmail.com account. The giveaway is open internationally, and if you're under 16 years of age please ask a parent/guardian for permission before entering. Thank you, lovelies!

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Pretty, Fresh Spring Makeup On A Budget

As well as being one of my favourite seasons for the sunny days and cloudless blue skies, spring brings a whole lot of good makeup with it. I always feel like my look is fresher and whilst I do love the deep vampy shades of berry in winter, it's always a nice change to start adding a pop of baby pink or bright coral to your look. Partly inspired by the complete gem of a product that is the KIKO Water Eyeshadow in 'Champagne - 200' that goes perfectly with any lip, this is my go-to makeup for this time of year and can also be seen in video tutorial form on YouTube here.

Starting with L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer to add extra glow to the skin by applying it after my morning skincare routine, I like to switch out my heavier winter base for something lighter. The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in 'Vanille - 10', as the name would suggest, gives a healthy semi-dewy finish and is brilliant for gliding over any dry patches thanks to its serum/gel formulation. Any blemishes or dark circles are eradicated with the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 'True Beige', and I forgo powder by using a bronzer all over instead. Tanya Burr Cosmetics Cheek Palette in 'Rosy Flush' contains a brilliant shade called 'Beach Bronze', and I love taking that on a tapered brush under my cheekbones, on my temples and under my jaw to add warmth and a subtle sculpting effect.

As you know I love cream products, especially when they come in a stick which means the take all of five seconds to apply, so the Soap & Glory Glow All Out Highlight & Sculpt Stick in 'Ice Shimmer' is right up my street and beautifully highlights without disrupting your base. I'm a big fan of the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush and the aptly named shade 'Lovely Pink' brings a flush of pale pink to the cheeks, and brings out your cheekbones with its pretty gold veining.

To give my eyes a little more depth I blend the shades 'Calm Before The Storm' and 'Eye Of The Storm' from my well-loved Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in 'Storm' into the crease with a couple of fluffy brushes, and use the shimmery pale white/golden shade 'Snow Storm' to highlight the inner corners and brow-bone. On my ring finger I take the star of the show, the KIKO Water Eyeshadow in 'Champagne - 200', all over my lid and under the lower lashes, running my blending brush over the edges as I go. The affordable and utterly brilliant Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara finishes the eyes with separated, fluttery lashes and then we're ready for lipstick!

The new Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte-Lip in 'Pretty Muted' is a lovely everyday shade that really compliments the rest of the makeup, and if you're a coral girl rather than a pink one I love the Sleek Lip VIP Lipstick in 'Backstage' for a bright that's surprisingly easy to wear and not 'too much'. I've also included an absolutely gorgeous cherry red as I love bright, zingy colours like L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Color Riche Lipstick in 'Julianne's Red' this time of year - especially when paired with white or stripes.

I used the brushes from the Spectrum Collections Marbelous 12-Piece Set to create this look and am really impressed so far, so let me know if you'd like a full review of those either on here or on my channel! What's your favourite go-to look for spring?

Effortless & Natural Spring Makeup Look with Pixi Beauty

- Sponsored Content -

With an ethos built around enhancing your natural beauty with minimum effort and a dedication to creating premium makeup infused with skin-loving ingredients, Pixi Beauty has earned its stripes as my go-to brand when I want an easy, fuss-free look that makes me look like a more well-rested, sophisticated and chicer version of myself in a flash. 

Designed for the "woman on the go" by a working mother of four and makeup artist of over twenty years, Petra Strand, I've been a fan of the brand since my teenage years and am incredibly impressed by their new releases, which include a lengthening fibre mascara and a glow-enhancing day cream. Using the range, I've created this neutral everyday look that takes less than ten minutes and stays looking pretty all day long.

I'm all about making my skin look fresh and awake, and the new Pixi Glowtion Day Dew Brightening Lotion goes above and beyond to do just that. With lavender oil to calm and soothe, mica to brighten and glycerin to retain moisture, it works like a dream when applied under foundation to deliver a lightweight shot of hydration as well as illuminating pigments to boost the radiance and dewiness of your skin. It's one of those products that you swatch then can't stop admiring as the pink pearly sheen is just so pretty, and trust me - it looks a lot prettier on the tops of your cheekbones than it does on the back of your hand!

After applying foundation and a little powder I added colour and definition to my cheeks, forehead and jawline using the Pixi Quick Fix Bronzer. Pixi describe the shade 'Velvet Bronze' as a "soft medium bronze" which gives a gorgeous sunkissed look with the very subtlest of shimmers. It'd work beautifully on olive to deep skintones, however I've used a light hand on my fairer skin and it adds just adds the right amount of warmth!

Moving onto my favourite part of this look, the eyes, I've prepped my eyelids with a primer before using my favourite Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in 'Copper Peach'. I've used the creamy pale gold, the shimmery peach and the chocolate brown, and thanks to the silky-smooth formula they blend together seamlessly to create this sultry neutral eye. I've also been using the copper russet shade with a wet brush all over the lid and it makes my eyes look impossibly blue! To give the eyes more dimension, one of my most-used products of 2016 so far has been the Pixi Crayon Combo in 'Super Natural' and here I've taken the golden tan along my lower lashline and the matte brown on my upper lashline, which takes seconds and is so effective. If you like a subtle pop of colour, the award-winning and bestselling Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pencil now comes in a new shade 'Cobalt Blue' and looks stunning in the waterline or as winged liner with an edge.

To complete the eyes, the new Pixi Lengthy Fiber Mascara gives an "effortlessly extended effect" to the point where my dad asked if I was wearing false lashes, which I couldn't believe! If you like natural-looking mascaras with minimal clumping and prefer length over volume, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this as it gives a flirtatiously fluttery and wide-eyed look that doesn't feel as if you're wearing anything at all.

I finished the look with a quick swipe of the Pixi Mattelustre Lipstick in 'Peach Blossom', a "sunkissed mango peach" that perfectly pulls together the copper warm-toned eyes and naturally bronzed cheeks. With Vitamin C & Vitamin E, peptides and hyaluronic acid, the conditioning formula glides over lips leaving them looking plumper and smoother with a demi-matte finish. I topped it with a lighter peachy gloss, and can see myself wearing this combination so much during summer!

Inspired by Pixi's "flawless in a few fuss-free minutes" approach to beauty and makeup for those of us who want to look polished and put-together with prestige products that are easy to use and effective, I've been wearing this look daily and love how it can be be dialled up for nighttime in no time at all.

By signing up to Wearisma you can shop this post and get 15% off at Pixi Beauty by using the code 'pixiwearisma'. Let me know if you recreate this look, and if you've got any favourite Pixi products that I need to try I'd absolutely love to hear your recommendations!

This post is sponsored by Pixi Beauty. All opinions are 100% my own and honest. Affiliate links have been used. For more information, please see my disclaimer here. 

April Favourites

April was such a lovely month as I feel like I managed to strike the balance between work, play and rest which doesn't often happen. I enjoyed a few really nice days with brands at events whilst catching up with PR and blogging friends, had some cute date nights with Will (including seeing The Jungle Book, which has been one of favourite things of 2016 so far let alone April!) and spent quality time with my family when my brother came home to visit.

I'm on track with work-related things and have been putting my all into creating lots of exciting new blog posts for you, planning upcoming videos and re-branding some of my content. I also celebrating hitting 40,000 subscribers on YouTube - thank you so much! - have finally started doing Pilates again, which was one of five of my New Year's Resolutions, and booked flights for a summer holiday with Will and friends. In April I've felt notably more content and positive, and am so excited for May. How was April for you?

My favourites of the month include the Jo Malone London Nashi Blossom Cologne, the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Cheek Palette in 'Rosy Flush', the Lancôme Juicy Shaker in 'Great Fruit', the Eylure Fleur De Force Couture Fleur Individual Lashes, the Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder & Benefit Hoola Bronzing & Contouring Brush, the new Soap & Glory Shower Jelly in 'Clean On Me' & 'Sugar Crush', the Phyto PhytoNeutre Clarifying Detox Shampoo and the Balanced Guru 'Scrub Me' Nice & Gritty Body Scrub (from the Nourish Beauty Box, a cruelty-free, GMO-free and paraben-free beauty box company).

This Petit Bateau Iconic Marinière Heavy Jersey Top has definitely been my most-worn item of clothing as it's a gorgeously thick material and I love how I can throw it on at the weekend with jeans, and I finally got a new pair of prescription glasses from Firmoo, the tortoiseshell #DBSN62225, which I've been wearing every day and adore so much!

If you'd like to see me talk about these products in more detail along with my lifestyle picks of the month, here's my April Favourites video on YouTube!

Jo Malone London: New SS16 Launches

Fragrance is a part of my life that I truly enjoy; reading a book with a candle burning on my bedside table, spritzing my office space with room spray before I start my emails or begin writing, adding scented oil to a bath, feeling ready to take on the day with a perfume that matches my outfit or the weather... I'm never not in the mood for fragrance, and my all-time favourite brand is Jo Malone London. I was, therefore, very excited to see all of their upcoming launches for the spring/summer of 2016 and couldn't wait to share them with you!

Nashi Blossom Cologne (Limited Edition, available May 2016)
Aka my new obsession, as I've fallen head over heels for this fragrance (pictured) and can't put into words quite how happy it makes me! Imagine all of the best things about spring - blue skies, the first glimpse of blossom on the trees, fresh homemade lemonade on a warm day - then bottle them, and you've got this. It's light, clean and extremely pretty with a sweet crispness of pear and apple that's perfectly offset by lemon and rose, and then balanced by creamy white musk. Inspired by the striking look of the nashi flower, the bottle is modern and graphic and adds a pop of zesty green to my dressing table whilst still being intrinsically Jo Malone London - I simply couldn't have dreamed up a more gorgeous fragrance for this time of year!

Black Cedarwood & Juniper Cologne (available June 2016)
With a deep intensity of its base note, black cedarwood, this fragrance is lifted by juniper to create an incredibly sultry and seductive scent that's described as "midnight rain". I can imagine this being the perfect evening scent for men as it's very dark and sexy, and it'd be a sophisticated addition to anyone's fragrance wardrobe thanks to the classic Jo Malone London bottle. Fragrance Combining™ is a brilliant way of altering scents through layering colognes, and they suggest either Lime Basil & Mandarin to cut through the woodiness with a citrus freshness (I love masculine scents on women and think this combination would smell amazing, also!) or Wood Sage & Sea Salt for a more aromatic and sensual result.

Marthe Armitage Home Collection (Limited Edition, available June 2016)
In one of the most delightful collaborations I've seen for a long time, Jo Malone London have partnered with artist and wallpaper designer Marthe Armitage to capture the beauty and essence of an English summer afternoon in a home collection. The range comprises of: Red Roses Scented Drawer Liners (£36), Green Tomato Leaf Home Candle (£44), Nectarine Blossom & Honey Glass Decanter Bath Oil (£56) and Soap Collection (£30), and all of the items are packaged in a unique and charming hand-drawn design by Marthe Armitage for Jo Malone London. In simple yet unexpectedly pretty colours and with endearing scenes of croquet on the lawn and buzzing bees, each piece would make a wonderful gift as so much thought has been put into the details of this thoroughly lovely collection and it really shows.

Cologne Intense Body Crèmes (available July 2016)
Available in four divinely sophisticated scents - Velvet Rose & Oud, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Oud & Bergamot and Tuberose Angelica, all priced at £60 - this new indulgent formula has been designed to deeply nourish your skin continuously over 24 hours to keep it supple, smooth and glowing. Interestingly, it's enriched with samphire extract which naturally grows as a herb on salt marshes, meaning it's adapted to coastal drying winds and works incredibly well to deliver moisture wherever your skin most needs it. The crèmes also have the benefit of being richly scented, making applying them even more luxurious.

Peony & Moss Charity Candle (available July 2016)
One of my personal favourites of the upcoming launches, Jo Malone London bring out a new candle each year in aid of "support[ing] people living with ill mental health through the cultivation and care of therapeutic gardens around the world". As well as maintaining the existing rehabilitating gardens in London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, the 2016 Charity Candle will help fund a new project in London and comes in the beautiful scent of Peony & Moss. As the Peony & Blush Suede Cologne is my go-to scent, I instantly warmed to the floral heart and loved the addition of earthy moss. Aside from 75% of the retail price going to charity, one of the loveliest things about the candle is its stunning packaging which is detailed with red roses and would add a peaceful beauty to any room.

As it's one of the prettiest scents I've ever come across - why oh why are you limited edition?! - I'd highly recommend popping into store to give the Nashi Blossom Cologne a spritz, and I'll definitely be purchasing one of the Peony & Moss Charity Candles for my boyfriend's mum when July rolls around. One of the things I enjoy most about Jo Malone London is the thoughtfulness of their gift-giving, and not only did the scent remind me of her but she's very charitable and a keen gardener herself, so I think she'll really love it.

Let me know what you're most excited about from these beautiful new launches, and if you have any favourites from Jo Malone London then I'd be more than happy to hear them!