LE WEEK-END - THE EDIT

My first Insta-edit of my life recently and how nice it has been to reflect a bit. I have had the busiest few weeks with my job and my friends but it has been amazing.

1. Puuurrrrrrfic Sunday...tea, cats, blogging and a roast on its way 2. This Boy 3. Pizza, Beer, Boy, Bonobo...yes! 4. Come tooooo Mumma! 5. Bonobo 6. Barnet & Beard 7. Freshhh 8. Tilly loves Ice Age 9. Whooooops...I swear they just fell into a bag and came home with me 10. Stopped by the LWLies and Huck magazine pop up and got this lil beaut 11. My happy place 12. Hot milk, cookies, bed and vintage The O.C. 13. Could this e a sneak peak of the world's greatest Christmas Cardi?...I think so! #gohardorgohome 14. WHP!!! 15. The end of the night...what a perfect end 16. Good Moooorrrrning Manchester

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

So I'm sure by now we have all opened the first windows in our advent calendars and started that all important prep for getting everything Christmas ready...and yes I do mean just stuffing your face with mince pies, glad I'm not alone on that one. But like the little Santa's elf I am, I started the Crimbo activities like I do every year...nice and early.

A few weeks ago my sister, my mum and my lovely friend joined me at the Ideal Home Christmas Show to get into the festive spirit. We had mulled wine, bought out the entire Yankee Candle Christmas stock and experienced a very awkward cooking demo with Gino D'Acampo. If you haven't already, check out my video of the day below or by heading to my Youtube Channel...make sure to subscribe :)

               

OCTOBER BIRCHBOX

This blog wouldn't quite be MY blog if I wasn't fashionably late every now and again, so without keeping you waiting any longer, I bring you my October Birchbox. I have so enjoyed this passed months products and have nearly used most of them up...whoops! 

So lets begin with some magic...it was the month of ghostly goings on after all. Egyptian Magic, a cult beauty must have across the globe and apparent miraculous skin cream used by healers, sages and mystics in ancient times according to Egyptian folklore. It claims to maintain radiant and healthy looking skin through its interesting combination of olive oil, bee pollen, royal jelly (whatever that is) and honey. This magical treatment is also completely free of preservatives, fragrance and other nasties which of course had my sensitive skin goose bumping all over the place in excitement. Despite forming an oil, I had to work it into the skin quite hard as it didn't have that spreadable quality expected with this kind of consistency BUT it really did give the feeling of absorbent and rich moisture leaving my arms and legs looking truly healthy and soft. I am a huge fan of body butters so the price tag of this magical mystical cream doesn't quite encourage me to change my mind or shopping habits just yet and of course, being me, I have to add a hint of graphic design snobbery with this one. The packaging doesn't quite scream premium or have that "you will never want to live without me" aesthetic that most rich products of this calibre have, it says to me "Vaseline" or "Sudocrem" and that really doesn't excite me a great deal. Overall, my skin felt lovely and very rich but I think this is a very forgetful product. 

This was another product, that at first glimpse really didn't get my beauty addict heart racing, however, I am really cautious when it comes to my teeth after having braces for four years as a teen and not having a filling in all my 23 years (wohoo!) so was intrigued to try this one out. I've been told many times by my doctor to floss after meals and brush three times a day but sometimes this just doesn't really fit into my working hours and to be honest floss is kindof sticky and annoying when it curls up and tangles up with absolutely everything...I know you know what I mean! So this seemed kind of like the perfect solution for me. These tiny little brushes reach the places generally missed when brushing everyday and have a smooth rubbery-like texture which means they are super smooth and easy to use on even sensitive teeth like mine. I must say, I haven't been using them daily, but luckily this lovely Ultra Dex pack came with a handy plastic case that you can pop the brushes in and carry around in your handbag for whenever you need, that freshening up after a onion filled burrito lunch at work or to remove those embarrassing strawberry seeds left from that desert on date night. Doesn't have the wow factor but this is a really handy product.

(Now try your best not to laugh) Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm is the next goodie to review and despite the name that will always make me giggle, I have wanted to try this product for some time. Originally produced to help new mothers relieve the pain of breast feeding, Dr. Lipp later on upped its success and took a dive in the lip department and became one of the most well known multi purpose natural gels/balms. I am a huge fan of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream using it on sunburn, eczema, dry/chapped lips, cuts and generally just anything that needs a little TLC but feel the Dr. Lipp is a huge contender for this. Unlike moisturisers, Eight Hour Cream and the Original Nipple balm use purified lanolin which the closest thing to your skin's natural oils so is the perfect agent in repairing damaged and broken skin. I must say, I loved this product but in comparison to Liz's Eight Hour wonder, I had to use a bit more than I would normally use of my favourite as it was quite stiff which means I have nearly run fully out :( 

I unfortunately only have fond memories of this product as I have completely finished it BUT I have a feeling I will be purchasing it very soon...my cheeks are having withdrawal symptoms already. I absolutely adored The Balm Cosmetics Stainiac. This adorable bright cherry lip and cheek tint really impressed me with its natural look and wonderful sponge applicator which is so easy to wear and left my skin streak free and glowing with a beautiful blush. I haven't tried a great deal of cream or liquid tints before other than Benefit's Benetint which is always a scary process, "go quick or go home" is my motto with that one, leave it on in one place for too long without blending, you are sure to win in the best clown makeup contest (if there ever was one). Unlike the Benetint, Stainiac leaves a light stain which you don't have to worry about being to slow with, apply it with as much time as you like, as little blending as you like, as many layers as you like and it will always give you that English Rose glow. 

To restore some kind of life into the ol' barnet, lately I have been going for the au naturel "what this? I've just rolled out of bed" kind of hair, leaving the hair dryers and straighteners at bay so when I saw the KMS Curl Up Wave Foam I got so excited that a no heat hair styling product had found me. Now I don't think I have used a hair mousse since the days of the Croydon Facelift and when the term Scrunching was something us straight haired gals worked all morning before school at, so I was intrigued what would come of this. As I've grown up, the texture of my hair has significantly changed and when left to air dry, my hair takes up a bit of a gentle wave so when using this I had hoped I would see those wild tousled beachy waves every magazine talks about, however, I didn't notice any difference other than my hair was immediately greasy once fully dried and I found random crispy areas when stroking my fingers through the ends. However, I did enjoy trying this out, I love trying different things to what I would normally use but I just don't think mousse is the product for me...someone pass me my serums and oils quick!

Onto a more positive product review and one of my faves in last months box, the infamous Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant. As a teen suffering from mild acne I remember the term Microdermibration being thrown around but it always so expensive. Dr Brandt has come up with this amazing exfoliant which imitates the treatment and you can do it from your own bathroom. I still have the odd few scars from spots when I was younger and hate covering them up so this was the perfect product to come my way last month. It acts as a polish that uses lactic acids to sweep away dead skin cells which deminish the appearance of acne scarring, discolouration and fine lines. I know what you're thinking..."lactic acid? Isn't that used in detergents?" Yes it is but it is very safe to use on your skin but due to its exfoliating and abrasive properties, its best to test this on your hand before using on your face. My skin is really sensitive but absolutely fell in love with this product and I have been using a pea sized amount twice every week since receiving it and have seen huge results. So why 9/10, well as this product is imitating the super science behind the real Microdermabration, it comes with a heartbreaking price tag of £67.00. As I'm sure you can tell, I will be savouring every last bit.

And last but not least...in fact the best on the bunch, Laura Mercier's Foundation Radiance Primer. Laura Mercier is one of those brands that has me lasting after every single product. This one is no excuse and I will most definitely be buying a full size once this has run out. A mixture of this and my daily moisturiser makes for the perrrrrfect combination to keep my foundation lasting all day long. As well as that, like the name suggests, it adds a beautiful radiance the skin which shines through any foundation or BB cream and as fan of dewey looking skin, I feel like it has transformed my daily makeup. A beautiful product, now I want to try the tinted moisturiser and the secret concealer....there's no stopping me now!

HAPPY HAL(LOU)WEEN

Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year for many reasons, the pumpkin carving, the dressing up, the makeup and because it means I have a valid reason for watching Hocus Pocus. This year I made every effort to embrace the halloween spirit and so dug out my darkest eyeshadow and lippy and stepped into Wednesday Addams' chunky black brogues for a night on the town with a vampire, a dead nurse, a cat and some clockwork orange beauts...i.e. my friends and it was BLOODY GREAT...get it!?!

Whilst in my Wednesday get up, stuffing my face with jelly skull sweets and pulling the limbs off my barbie doll from the 99p store, I also found some time to bake up a storm in the kitchen using the gooey remains of my kitty shaped pumpkin. I made Pumpkin spiced cupcakes with ginger and walnuts and they were scarily good! Some very happy family and colleagues :)

Happy slightly belated Halloween everyone. I hope you all had a frightfully wonderful time. 

WHAT'S THE STORY SOAP AND GLORY?

Pass my walking stick and call me Grandma but there really is nothing better on a cold winters night than coming home to a good soak in the bath. Now I'd say I am quite the pro when it comes to pimpin' out a bath, I have tried salts, wands and bath bombs galore but one of my favourite brands to use is Soap and Glory....and a whole lot of it at that. 

My top bath-time bubbly is S&G's Calm One Calm All. With its milky, creamy texture, this bubble bath does exactly as it says on the tin, it smooths you while it soothes you. Its lemon smelling moisture magnetising skin conditioners keeps you feeling soft and gets you feeling cosy ready for a good sleep.

It is a toughie when deciding which one of Soap and Glory's exfoliating body scrubs I like the best but it has to be between the Flake Away Body Polish and this, the Sugar Crush Body Scrub which after a long day of travelling on the tube, is the perfect way to feel squeaky clean. With sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains, this scrub leaves you feeling smoother than silk and smelling like you've just stepped out of a fruit salad. YUM! And used with Soap & Glory's exfoliating gloves, this duo cannot be beaten.

The next step in my blissful bathing routine is to wash the ol' barnett with the Glad Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner. However, generally washing my hair is probably the least blissful thing to do...ever! I really despise it, but after the gruelling process of lather rinse repeat and then detangle detangle detangle, I always feel fresh and my hair feels great especially when I use this combo. Constant rinsing and squeezing the product out of my hair is not necessary with this heavenly haircare as it just flows smoothly out of the hair when gently rinsed leaving the vital moisture my hair needs to stay tangle free and silky soft. 

Typical me, if I can make my bed time pampering last even longer than it needs to, I will go to every length to "soak up" the moment. So if you are like me and enjoy a nice loooong bath, you may find yourself coming out looking a bit pruned, thats where Heel Genius comes in. This minty fresh foot mask rejuvenates dry and broken skin over night, just massage into the soles of your feet and slip on a pair of your ugliest pair of patterned socks (the ones you're too ashamed to wear out in public...yup those ones) and sink into a deep sleep...it does all the hard work while you hit that hay and dream the day away.

Happy Bathing

LE WEEK-END

Throughout this blog, I will be doing a regular feature called Le week-end around twice every month showing just what I get up to, where I like to go and and what I like to do of a weekend. 

This passed weekend was spent just how I like it, in London with someone very special. Sunday is probably my favourite day at the weekend, and this Sunday began with a Bill's brunch in Hoxton Square. Unfortunately though, I have to hold my hand up and shamefully say that this was my very first visit to Bill's....but for all our sakes, I promise I can redeem myself....it was the best breakfast I have had in a very long time! Not only was the food so amazing it barely lasted 5 minutes on my plate but this branch is probably the cutest of them all, with its fairy lights scattered over it's Manhattan-style terrace, it's beautiful interior decor and the adorable mini salt and pepper shakers, I felt so cosy and comfy...I didn't want to leave. 

Later on that day, we headed to the London Transport Museum for a weekend dose of culture and design. It was so much fun exploring the old trams, buses and trains that once roamed the streets of London...despite the musky smell. I particularly liked the old tubes, the seats were so clean and comfy and I could't help but think I would have actually enjoyed the commute back in the day.

And of course the end of our visit to the London Transport Museum ended in the gift shop. Just look at these awesome cushions made from old Bus and Tube seats. Very 70's and unfortunately very pricey :(

I hope join me for another Le wee-end soon!

BONJOUR

Oh la la, doesn't time fly? I can't quite believe I am in the 4th week of my new job and this is the 4th week of Je Suis Louise. I still haven't quite mastered a routine with posting and I don't yet have a nice chunky camera to take beautiful candid shots, but trust me I'm working on it. 

My new job is going better than I could have ever imagined and I'm in a great place, and I have growing hope that this blog will be the same. For weeks now I have been tampering with templates, logos, typefaces and colour, none of which I felt reflected me or what I want this blog to be but finally, like my job, Je Suis Louise is in a good place. The ol' gal has scrubbed up well and I am really happy with her final look. 

So far I have been astounded with the number of views I have received across the world and yet even though I am not in this for the number of viewers, it's nice to think my new little project here isn't going unappreciated. I hope whoever you are, you enjoy Je Suis Louise and her new makeover.

A LITTLE BOX OF LOVE - and my first post

I wanted my first official post to be something quite familiar, so I decided a couple of weeks ago that I would hop on the Birchbox bandwagon and join the fun of reviewing their array of products every month.

Birchbox reviews are always something I look forward to when reading my favourite blogs but lately I've been very sad to notice that not so many take the time to write about this amazing little box of love that comes in the post every month.

This is my first beauty box...EVER! So I wanted to share all the goodness it is filled with. Enjoy...

The first item in the September Birchbox was the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Gel. I was really eager to see some positive results with this product due to the amazing description given on the packaging. It is supposed to refresh and cool the skin whilst eliminating general toxins from the body, encouraging blood circulation and evening out skin tone. I can honestly say I didn't really notice any difference at all whilst using this. After coming back off holiday, my skin was desperate for some detoxification and moisture yet this didn't fulfill its needs and after having to reapply every hour or so, my skin felt dry at the end of the day. However, this body gel smells incredible, filled with ingredients such as grapefruit, rosemary and juniper, you can guarantee you'll be smelling good all day long.

One of my favourite products was this Party Proof Matte Lipstick by Model Cosmetics in the shade Kitty. Perfect shade for my colouring, especially as I have a slight tan at the moment, but it would carry on as a great nude for the autumn months too, imagine, your lips but better. Not only does this stay on very well throughout the day but it smells absolutely devine...fruity, light and almost like a holiday cocktail (you can tell my holiday blues have majorly kicked in now). In fact, I only reapplied it as much as I did because it smelt so good! Will definitely purchase this when the dreadful daycomes and this runs out :(

I always assumed Molton Brown was quite an 'old lady-ish' brand or something you would find in a posh hotel loo, but after working with them in my last job I started realising how much I loved the stuff so I was delighted to get a miniature Molton Brown Ylang-Ylang Body Lotion. Despite the price tag of this brand it always delivers some beautifully scented concoction of ingredients in the form of body lotions, hand wash, bath salts etc. This body lotion smells like a big bowl of fruit salad and is super nourishing due to a mix of shea butter, coconut, honeysuckle flower extract and macadamia seed oil....mmm DELISH!

The penultimate product is the box this month was the Reverence De Bastien Nail Varnish in Number 7. Not knowing anything about the brand, I settled down for a pedicure evening and was very disappointed with the results. I am not a nude person when it comes to polish and I'd rather go for something vampy and dark so perhaps it was the colour that put me off, but after two coats, the colour was barely visible. I think I must have sat through about three episodes of Game of Thrones before I got a colour similar to that of the bottle. The drying time was also a really long process so I don't think I'll be heading out and getting another colour any time soon.

And finally last but not least and my favourite of them all, the cutest bottle of Bioderma Sensibio H20. If you haven't heard of this product before then where have you been? Originally a French brand that could be found in every chemist or pharmacy overseas, Bioderma is now one of the leading Micellar waters sold in London's Harvey Nics and sells like hot cakes online...if you can find it that is. This stuff is amazing, it removes anything from a stubborn waterproof mascara to a 24 hour stay power lipstick and also cleanses, hidrates and leaves the skin feeling incredible. There has not been a day I haven't used this in my morning and evening routines since I was first introduced to it two years ago. I have tried many dupes along the way but will always go back to this. Bioderma...I think I love you!

HELLO THERE!

So let me begin by introducing myself, as the blog name suggests, je suis Louise, or Lou as most people know me. For little over 5 years now I have contemplated beginning a blog and despite the Tumblrs and WordPress accounts that I very easily got bored of along the way, I have finally decided to commit and create something worth putting some elbow grease into.

I am 23, a graphic designer and as of tomorrow, October 1st, I begin a new job, a new beginning

and hopefully a fresh start and with that a brand new baby...this blog.

I hope to post once a week to ease me gently into the big bold world of blogging where you can expect to see some design, fashion tips, beauty regimes, recipes, life talks over a cup 'o' tea and cats

...lots of cats.