Sunday OOTD

Jumper: Gap

T-Shirt: Topshop

Scarf: Zara

Trousers: Miss Selfridge

Shoes: Nike via Size

Ring: Spitalfields Market

Nails: Ciate Caviar nails "Pearl" beads & "Cookies & Cream" Polish

This is my go-to comfy yet stylish outfit at the moment. The weather in old Blighty has been a bit miserable this week so baggy jumpers and lightweight scarves have been a must. I absolutely live in these leather look jeans from Miss Selfridge at the moment. They are really wearable and a bit more fancy than normal denim. Also feeling uber cool in my new(ish) all black Nike Air Max 90s. I like to think they add a bit of Hip-Hop into my otherwise quite plain outfit. The photo didn't come out too well but I tried out the Caviar nails by Ciate for the first time. I just did one nail on each hand with the beads quite understated and they're growing on me but be warned they do scare off children!  

Have a lovely evening!

Isobel x

Post-Holiday Skin & Haircare

A couple of weeks ago I spent 5 gloriously sunny days on a beach in Sardinia with friends. It was absolutely amazing, Sardinia is one of my favourite places in Europe & the little seaside town we keep going back to really has something a bit special about it.

Although I took good care of my skin and hair whilst subjecting it to the sun, sea & sand (SPF50 on my face, SPF30 on my body & heaps of Moroccan oil on my hair) by the time I landed back in London I was feeling rather sunkissed but dehydrated. My hair hard to tame at the best of times had descended into full on beachy waves that needed to be smoothed & straightened into submission for work the next day & my skin was feeling a bit sensitive dry & in need of some TLC.

These are the products I have been turning to to put the moisture back into my skin & hair and keep my tan lasting & looking fresh- no peeling in sight.

 Body & Face

Evian Brumisateur- I've been spraying this over my whole face & body after a shower before applying aftersun/ moisturiser. The fine mist is very cooling & calming and makes a nice addition to my summer skincare routine. This would have been lovely to take on holiday too but unfortunately it's way over the 100ml cabin allowance!
Piz Buin Aftersun- I love this aftersun and repurchase it every year. Light in texture it's moisturising, cooling and absorbs straight away. It smells fantastic and instantly makes me think of summer. It claims to be tan intensifying- I'm not entirely sure about this but it certainly keeps my tan lasting weeks after returning home & stops any peeling or flaking.
Clarins Aftersun Replenishing Moisture Care for Face and Décolleté- As expected from Clarins a lovely facial aftersun lotion that soothes and hydrates without being greasy.
Mama Mio OMega Body Oil- I have been applying this to any extra-dry areas on my body, usually my legs and arms. This oil has won lots of beauty awards and I can see why, the skin on my legs has never looked better, really even and ultra moisturised.

 Such a nice cooling moisturising combination for sunkissed skin.

Hair

Charles Worthington Rough & Tousled Salt Spray- After I've spent 30mins combing conditioner laboriously through my tresses and returning it to a calmer state I find myself missing the texture and perfect waves that come with salty beachy hair. My solution to this has been to spray a bit of this through just washed wet hair (after applying moroccan oil) and I get the best of both worlds non frizzy beach babe hair but healthier & hydrated with no unruly knots!
Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo- This is lovely, smells of coconuts and packs a serious hydrating punch.
Morrocanoil Oil Treatment- All time fave, I'm never without this. The only thing that stopped my hair becoming drier than the Sahara when after a few cocktails I joined in with the blondies & squeezed lemon juice over my hair. Sun + seawater + lemon juice does not make for happy hair!
Mark Hill Sunset Smoother Aftersun Conditioner- This was a last minute travel size purchase I picked up in the airport, I really like it & will probably repurchase. Super soft hair and no frizz. Not really any kind of scent which you might expect for a holiday designed product but really can't complain at the price it is!

I'll leave you with a few holiday snaps from Instagram. If you want to see more or stay updated with me or Izzy check us out @twoloveslondon 

Harriet x

An Evening at L'Occitane

Last Wednesday my Mum and I went to an event at L'Occitane on the King's Road. Tickets were £10 and it was a really fab evening. Sorry about rubbish iPhone photos, I did not go prepared! I've become a huge fan of L'Occitane recently but whilst I'd love to fill my cupboards with their delicious products I feel they are rather pricey. We were treated to champagne and canapes and invited to have a look around the products with 15% off on any purchases we made that night. 

There was also complimentary facials and hand massages which we were not going to miss out on despite the slightly hectic queues! The lovely lady who gave me a mini facial told me I had very dry skin (which I knew already) and recommended that I use a heavy night cream. I have to say not using night cream is probably on of my biggest beauty sins. I didn't realise the importance of this step in my skincare routine so I will definitely be more strict with myself from now on. The other little tip she gave me was to wet the cotton pads you're using to apply toner. Apparently this makes it less harsh - just had to share that one with you! 

But probably the best part of the evening was the goody bag (worth £45) that was given to us as we left! In the bag were lots of minis (not samples might I add!) inside a cute travel-sized case. Which included:

Radiance & Colour Care - Shampoo & Conditioner

Brightening Hand Care

Dry Skin Foot Cream

Precious Cream 

Amande Shower Oil

Brightening Cleansing Foam

Precious Eye Balm 

Jasmin & Bergamote Eau de Toilette

Verbena Soap

I can safely say I had a lovely evening thanks to L'Occitane and I'll definitely be looking out for more events like this.

Isobel x

Field Day OOTD

Miss Selfridge Jacket

Zara Scarf

Topshop Jumper

Zara Jeans

Office Boots

I went to Field Day Festival in Victoria Park on Saturday and thought I'd post my outfit for the day. I love these Zara jeans I bought recently, they are summery and fun. I normally opt for darker colours on my legs as my Mum tells me its slimming (you should always listen to your Mum) but I thought these were so cool I just couldn't resist. The scarf is also Zara and I literally haven't taken it off since I bought it. I feel a light, colourful scarf is a real staple for Summer (especially English summers!). 

Field Day is quite a small, intimate festival, we had a real blast. The line up was really good, lots of House Djs which took me back to my Uni days, I would seriously recommend it. 

Isobel x

Lazy Sunday Baking

I have had THE laziest Sunday known to man today, just doing a few bits & bobs and getting ready to start the first 5 day week after the long Easter weekend. So, I decided to do a little baking (nothing too strenuous of course) and happened across the easiest and most fool proof recipe for flapjacks. They are utterly delightful and won't create too much washing up either. The perfect activity for a relaxed Sunday and a little treat to go with your afternoon cuppa.

Ingredients

175g Butter

75g Soft Brown Sugar

75g Golden Syrup

250g Oats

100g Sultanas 

All you need to do is melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan over a low heat. Once melted mix in the oats and sultanas.
 

Spread the mixture into a greased, square baking tray and push down firmly. Place into a pre-heated (150-200 degrees) oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Once baked, leave to completely cool and then cut into rectangles. That's it! All that you need to do now is put your feet up and enjoy!

Thanks for reading, let me know if you give these a try!

Isobel x

Cheat Day Burgers at Patty & Bun

I'm a big believer in eating clean & working out to keep my body looking & feeling the best it can be, but on the days where nothing but an indulgent cheeseburger will do a cheat day/meal has to come into play. As long as you balance out a calorie-fest like this with an active lifestyle, some sessions in the gym & a healthy diet it won't affect your goals & having a flat stomach the next day. 

A couple of weeks ago I headed to Patty&Bun with a few friends & it was probably the best burger I've EVER had & the perfect use of a cheat day.

And yes I hit the gym hard the next day- fuelled through an amazing workout by the creators of 'the ultimate comfort food'!

All three of us went for the 'Ari Gold' cheeseburger with chips & chicken wings to share, washed down with ice cold San Pellegrino lemonade.

The chicken wings  (smoked confit wings with BBQ sauce & spring onions) were INCREDIBLE I would almost go back just for a portion of wings, the most tender melt in your mouth chicken with an awesome sticky glaze.

The cheeseburger (beef patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, ketchup, smokey P&B mayo, brioche) was utterly perfect & decadent.

We got to Patty&Bun pretty late (3pm) after having a wander round the shops on Oxford Street. I would definitely recommend going at a similar time after the lunchtime rush as we were able to walk right in & have our pick of a few tables. Anytime 12-2pm & I gather there can be a pretty long queue waiting outside.

Price wise I was really impressed, the meal cost us just £12 each & the staff were lovely & really helpful.

To balance out this indulgent post I have some guilt-free protein goodies coming up this week, think protein banana bread & peanut butter protein cookies!

Harriet x

Review - Lush Hair Products

What's great about going into Lush is that the staff are so knowledgeable and can really help you find what you're looking for. You will definitely need a spare half an hour or so as they can ramble on a bit! I've been looking for the right shampoo & conditioner for ages so I thought I'd give Lush a whirl. When I went in to talk to someone about hair products I found out that Mark Constantine, the co-founder of Lush actually started out as an herbal Trichologist (Trichology is the study of hair and scalp) and that Lush's hair care range is their most extensive. I literally thought all Lush sold was pretty bath bombs! So I had a chat with a lovely shop assistant and came away with Fair Trade Honey Shampoo and Veganese Conditioner.  

Fair Trade Honey Shampoo

This shampoo was recommended for me on the basis that I have quite damaged hair in need of some moisture but is very fine. As you can expect from Lush products it is all completely natural and paraben free (you can check the ingredients list here) and I was told that it is 50% honey. It smells of turkish delight which is quite overpowering when you smell it just from the bottle but actually has a really nice aroma when used in your hair. Because of it's obviously very natural ingredients it doesn't lather too much which makes it quite difficult to spread all the product through my hair - I ended up sectioning my hair in two and using a fair amount at each application. The shop assistant said it would last me about 3 months which it certainly didn't (I do wash my hair most days). However, negatives aside, this shampoo has left my hair soft, manageable and feeling very nourished. It has definitely smoothed out my wispy bits and flyaways and I can much more easily leave my hair to dry and head out without styling. The best thing about this product is that whilst it is making my hair look good I also know it's doing good as I know there are no nasty chemicals in it! I will definitely repurchase but it's not cheap at £7 for just 110g.

Veganese Conditioner

Again because my hair is fine I was recommended a conditioner that is very light that wouldn't weigh my hair down. This conditioner has a very runny consistency. Because my hair is always dry and damaged I normally go for a thick, creamy conditioner so this was a very new experience for me. But as it's quite thin you don't need to use an awful lot as it spreads through the hair nicely. The smell of this product is of fresh lemon grass which is just delicious! The defining ingredient in this conditioner is the agar agar gel which comes from seaweed which is what helps restore dry or frizzy hair. Yet without the presence of lanolin also makes it Lush's lightest conditioner (check the ingredients here). This conditioner is a bit of a revelation for me as my hair feels so soft and moisturised after washing it yet also with a definite "squeaky clean" feeling. I would absolutely recommend this conditioner to anyone who has fine/thin hair. Again, like the shampoo, my gripe with this product is that it doesn't last very long. This product is obviously great for vegans as it doesn't contain lanolin (oil from sheep's wool) and as it happens I'm allergic to lanolin, not that I think my hair minds but it's nice to know it's not there! A little cheaper at £4.15 for 100g.

I hope you have enjoyed this review. Let me know your thoughts!

Isobel x

Mini beauty haul: Origins, Clinique, Philip Kingsley

Ah! So yesterday I had a spare hour and went on a little impromptu "browse" round John Lewis. Of course I just couldn't help myself and ended up coming away with a few little treats. I'm excited about all these products as I have never tried any of them before and keen to give them a whirl! This is what I bought...

Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hairspray & Daily Damage Defense - £6.50 each

I've heard good things about Philip Kingsley products and have never tried any before. I was put off by the £20+ price tag on the shapoos and conditioners so thought I would give these small 60ml hair protectants a try. Having rained relentlessly receently I'm quite intrigued to see how the weatherproof hairspray works, I will come back to you with an update!  

Origins Super Spot Remover - £13

After being bitterly disappointed that Le Roche Posey didn't work for me at ridding my skin of spots (see my blog post on it here) I thought I would try this blemish treatment gel from probably my favourite skin care brand, Origins. It's a tiny little pot at just 10ml but obviously you just apply a small amount to the areas that need to be treated. I don't have any major spots at the moment but I tried it last night on a few post spot red marks and it has already seemed to have calmed them down a bit. What's great is that when you buy something from the Origins counter they normally give you some free samples, two of which I gave to my sister and kept Plantscription Anti Aging Cream to try for myself. 

Clinique Even Better Makeup in 03 Ivory - £23

I've been dying to try something from Clinique for ages and I was just having a look round the stand when of course a very knowledgeable sales assistant comes up to me and I just can't resist coming away with something. I'm sure I will get through this tiny 30ml pot in no time but it felt so nice on my skin in the shop and a good colour for me - I might keep this one for special occasions and not as an everyday make up!

Please let me know any of your thoughts on these products if you have tried or are thinking about trying them! Have a lovely day!

Isobel x

Instagram Update #1

A collective update of our instagram pictures since we started using it a couple of months ago. Like our twitter we share an account so pictures are from the both of us, lots of foodie pics, healthy eating, London life, dogs & fitness updates!

1. Amazing latte art at Joe and the Juice on The Kings Road

2. Sushi delivery from The Sushi Chef in Kennington- best Sushi I've had in London & my favourite treat for a night in (the dragon roll is to die for)

3. Burlington Arcade in Mayfair

4. Small things make me happy- standard Tuesday pick me up, Grazia & Jimmy's Skinny Iced Coffee

5. The best breakfast- poached eggs on toast with avocado

6. Ajax when he was a tiny pup

7. Valentines cards

8. Freezing cold selfie on the way to work

9. Yummy cakes at Dee Light Bakery in Balham

10. Early morning dog walk

11. Hitting the weights at The Apex Club

12. Friday night cocktail in Harvey Nichols

13. Taking ab progress shots during my training with Ed at Apex

14. My handsome boy

15. The best green smoothie to go- SaVse broccoli, pear, spinach, kale, kiwi, lemon & banana, delicious & 100% natural!

16. Big Ben in the morning

17. Happy with my new Topshop purchase

18. Mother's Day meal at Lambert's in Balham

19. Waiting for a friend & enjoying the sun

20. Saatchi Gallery in the Spring Sunshine

21. If I'm not having a caffeine hit I always order the AMG juice at Joe and the Juice (apple, mint & ginger)- so refreshing!

22. Avocado & salmon salad at East Dulwich Deli in Harrods

23. Ab progress shot- Week 1!

24. Post workout protein shake

25. Homemade cappuccino with a Laduree pistachio macaron

26. Clean eating

27. Puppy training- recall

If you want to see more of our Instagram and follow our daily goings on find us here!

Harriet & Isobel x

Not Worth The Hype - Effaclar Duo

There has been seriously so much hype about La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, especially amongst bloggers, so I was really keen to try it out. For those who haven't heard the hype, Effaclar Duo it is a treatment for blemish prone skin that can be used all over the face. Ok, so I don't have acne but I do get hormonal breakouts around my mouth and there are always 1 or 2 stubborn spots in that area at any given time. I would LOVE perfectly clear, blemish free skin and so after reading so many good reviews and with the promise to unclog and purify pores I couldn't wait to start using it!

Having read many of the thousands of rave reviews about this product I'm sure it must work for a lot of people but this one is just not for me.

My first gripe about this product is the smell - it is really unpleasant. To me it literally smells like gone-off cake mixture which is isn't really something I want to I would want to put on my face. I think senses are important when it comes to skin care, if a product looks, feels or smells wrong, I just won't want to use it no matter how good it claims to be for my skin.

Secondly I have a bit of a problem with the feel of the product. It's a very thin liquid and when I put it on it feels sticky and it sits on the skin after I apply which is quite uncomfortable. Also, there is a rather annoying stinging sensation when I put it on. My skin also feels a bit tight after using it which is probably down to it's drying effect on the skin. I can understand why the product would be drying on the skin to combat excess sebum and reduce oiliness which clogs pores. I don't know whether this is the ingredients in the product setting to work on my spots or if my skin is reacting badly to it!

And for the last and probably most important point, it hasn't rid me of my spots! I can honestly say, after having given this product a real good go for a month, I haven't noticed any positive change in my skin whatsoever. I definitely wouldn't buy Effaclar Duo again and I personally wouldn't recommend it.

Would love to hear your comments on this product, let me know if you use it and what you think!

Isobel x