The Prettiest Summer Nail Varnish Colours from Kure Bazaar

This post contains gifted products and affiliate links, which are marked "AD". Read my full disclaimer here.

Kure Bazaar is a brand I've featured on the blog before. I was introduced to it back in spring 2018 and quickly fell in love with its beautiful shade range and caring, kind-to-nails formula. Containing Bamboo and Vitamin E to help strengthen and repair nails, the varnishes are also vegan and free from nasties such as formaldehyde and parabens, meaning that you can wear them on repeat without worrying about damaging your nails. This is great news, especially as the new summer shades are totally irresistible! I was very kindly sent three of them to test out, and I can honestly say they are some of the prettiest colours I've ever had in my collection.

French Rose Glow (AD)

French Rose is one of Kure Bazaar's best sellers and reportedly a favourite of Meghan Markle. The new Glow version is the same shade, only more intensely pigmented and with an ultra shiny gloss to it. A perfect soft pink, you can layer one to two thin coats of this for a beautiful sheer finish, or build up several more to achieve something more opaque - if you are careful enough and have the patience, that is! This is ideal to wear as an every day summer colour, or all year round. Your nails, but better.

Sereno (AD)

I'm not drawn to blue shades of nail varnish that often, but when they're as pretty as this, I will happily make an exception! Easier to build to an opaque finish than the others, this stunning cornflower colour will make a lovely change from the pinks and corals I usually wear through the summer months. Blue never looked so feminine!

Rose Milk Glow (AD)

My favourite of the three, Rose Milk Glow is very similar to French Rose Glow, only slightly brighter and possibly a little more flattering on my fair-to-medium skin tone. This one looks really beautiful with a tan! Again, it's a more pigmented and shinier version of Rose Milk, another bestseller for Kure Bazaar and another favourite of Meghan Markle. I've gone for a semi-opaque finish here, but just like with French Rose Glow, you can veer either side of this depending on how many coats you apply.

You can shop the post below if any of these varnishes take your fancy. After all, if they're good enough for the Duchess of Sussex...!

Shop The Post (AD)

What nail varnish shades are your favourites in the summer?

Kate x

New In My Beauty Cabinet

This post contains gifted items, which are marked "AD". Read my full disclaimer here.

Thanks to some truly lovely PR packages, which were waiting for me when I got home from an extended stay with family recently, my skin has been enjoying some delightful summer treats over the past few weeks. Two are from Dr Botanicals, a tried and tested (and much loved) brand, while one is from a brand I hadn't heard of before - 001 Skincare, an unexpected but very welcome surprise. All three have proved such a joy to use that it would have been rude of me not to share, so here are the details!

001 Skincare Alpha Paradise Cleansing Dew (AD)

Oil based cleansers and my skin aren't always the best of friends, so I was somewhat wary of trying this product and have only been using it two to three days a week, relying on my trusty micellar water to remove makeup the rest of the time. So far it hasn't had any adverse effects, and I'm thrilled about that because it is such a wonderful product to use - this cleanser is worthy of a place in the fanciest of spas! First of all, it smells like a dream, due to its combination of jasmine, neroli and yang ylang oils. I can't resist a beautifully scented product and anything with jasmine in it is going to get my attention! It also feels nourishing, soothing and softening on the skin. Anyone who dislikes a stripping effect from their cleanser will love this, as it honestly feels like you're moisturising your skin rather than cleansing it. Yet it's also very effective at removing makeup. I tend to use a separate eye makeup remover, but other than that this will do the job very nicely, while caring for your skin at the same time. Cleansing your face never felt so luxurious.

Dr Botanicals Cocoa & Coconut Superfood Reviving Hydrating Mask (AD)

I love a cream mask that's super hydrating. Used two to three times a week as a sleeping mask, I always find I wake up the next morning with plumped, baby soft skin. This rich offering from Dr Botanicals is a perfect example and a very welcome addition to my collection. Containing cocoa and coconut, it has a very faint fragrance to it that is reminiscent of both those ingredients - good enough to eat! Feels deeply nourishing on application yet sinks into the skin surprisingly quickly, leaving you looking perfectly rested the next morning. 

Dr Botanicals Lemon Superfood all-in-one Rescue Butter (AD)

There couldn't be a nicer product to use in summer than this one. I've been using it as a hand cream but it's also a handy little multi-tasker, perfect to use on cuticles, elbows or just anywhere you might have dry skin. Like the cocoa mask, it manages to be both super rich and fast to absorb, and doesn't leave the slightest residue on the skin. As for the fresh lemon scent, it's divine and so perfect for warm summer days. I'm absolutely loving this one and think I will feel quite bereft once I've finished it!

Don't forget, if you fancy checking out the Dr Botanicals products or indeed anything from the Dr Botanicals website, you can enter the code KATELOUISE for a 20% discount at checkout.

What beauty products have you been loving this summer?

Kate x

Find Your Sparkle With Abelini Jewellery

This post contains gifted items, which are marked "AD".  Read my full disclaimer here.

What's the most precious piece of jewellery you own? For me, it's probably my wedding ring. Engraved with my husband's initials and the date of our marriage, it's unique to me and very special. For others it might be a 21st birthday gift from their parents, or a family heirloom passed down from a beloved relative.

I've been thinking about jewellery and the special role it can play in the most important moments of our lives ever since Abelini reached out to work with me a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't heard of the brand, but after a little research I could see I was going to be a fan, and I could quite easily lose hours  of my time drooling over the beautiful trinkets on their Instagram page. UK based with a showroom in London's famous Hatton Garden, they pride themselves on using modern crafting techniques to create unique, high quality designs from ethically sourced materials, as well as meticulous attention to detail and outstanding customer service. Their aim is to be a go-to name when it comes to choosing jewellery to mark life's most special occasions, and they even offer a special bespoke service where you can work one-on-one with a designer to create a piece of jewellery that is entirely your own - a wonderful idea for engagement rings, for example.

While not everyone can have the opportunity to visit their London store, Abelini also has a comprehensive website, where you can not only browse a wide range of ready to wear designs but also select your preferred cut, setting, metal and price range to find the perfect ring, necklace or earrings for you or your loved one. There is also the possibility to have up to three samples made (in high quality silver and artificial diamonds) so that you can really be sure you're making the right choice. Selecting a special piece of jewellery is a big decision, so I love the idea of being able to see a mock up of the real thing.

Speaking of samples, Abelini very kindly sent a couple out to me so that I could get a feel for their pieces. The stud earrings are absolute classics, the kind of everyday luxury so many of us aspire to own, while the heart shaped ring is a real stunner and would make a fabulous cocktail ring or statement engagement ring. It's safe to say I'm hooked, and would definitely have Abelini high up on my list should I be in the market for diamond jewellery in the future!

I'd love to know about the most special piece of jewellery in your collection. Tell me a story in the comments!

Kate x

Antipodes Healthy Lipsticks Review

This post contains gifted products, which are marked "AD". Read my full disclaimer here.

Having fallen in love with Antipodes skincare last year, I was thrilled to receive an email from their PR team recently offering to send me a few products, and intrigued to discover that those products were lipsticks. I had no idea that Antipodes made lipsticks! Would I like them as much as I liked the skincare? I had very high hopes.

From left: Forest Berry Red (AD), Piha Beach Tangerine (AD) and South Pacific Coral (AD)

In due course, three super pretty, summery shades arrived and I set about putting them to the test. I filmed my review, and you can watch it over on YouTube or right here if you prefer.

If you'd like to check out the full range of lipsticks (there are so many stunning shades!) you can do so via the Antipodes website here. Have you tried these yourself?

Kate x

Accessories I'm Here For This Summer

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I mentioned on Instagram recently that I particularly enjoy accessories in the summer months. There's just something about warm sunny weather and holidays that makes me want to have a little fun with costume jewellery, colourful bags, sparkly sandals... you name the trend, I am here for it in summer!

This season, there are three different accessories trends that I find myself particularly drawn to. So I thought I would share with you some of my favourite pieces on the high street.

Espadrille Wedges

I've had my espadrille wedges for a couple of years now and they have graced many a blog post and Instagram photo! Feminine and easy to wear, they go with everything from jeans to dresses and are perfect for completing your look in a ladylike way while still being able to walk (bonus!) I also have my eye on the taupe sandal version from Topshop (number 8 in the picture below). They have a chic look about them and I could do with changing things up a little!

1. Pretty in pink (AD), 2. Leopard print, 3. Powder pink (AD), 4. Studded (AD), 5. Ankle strap (AD), 6. Classic (AD), 7. Sunshine yellow, 8. Taupe (AD)

Pearl Jewellery

There's something so ladylike about pearls, and I can't get enough of all the pearl jewellery and hair slides I'm seeing on my Instagram feed lately, especially when they're mixed with sea shells! I don't often wear statement earrings, but this pair from H&M are so pretty for summer and such a great, inexpensive way to change up my look. Next on my list is a pearl hair slide... if I can find one that doesn't look ridiculous on my tiny little head!

1,Delicate necklace, 2. Slinky shell earrings, 3. Pearl snap clips, 4. Pearl bead hair clips, 5. Iridescent pearl and shell hair clips, 6. Chunky pearl hair slide clips, 7. Natural pearl hoop earrings, 8. Mismatched diamanté pearl earrings

Straw Bags

Is there anything cuter than a straw bag in summer?! They just work so perfectly as beach bags, and look as good paired with floaty maxi dresses as they do with distressed denim shorts. I have recently added a circular bag studded with sea shells to my collection, and I love the look of the River Island clutch (number 6 below) with its sparkly embellishment - it has a definite evening vibe which makes it a little bit different to the typical straw bag.

1. Fringed (AD), 2. Oversized (AD), 3. Intricate (AD), 4. Beach bag (AD), 5. Shoulder bag (AD), 6. Bejewelled (AD), 7. Sea shells (AD)

What accessories are you loving at the moment?

Kate x