Fragrance Friday – seeing pink everywhere!

Don’t ask me why, but when spring hits I see pink everywhere. Maybe it’s how we perceive this time of year, I don’t know – all I know is it’s uplifting, warms up the cockles of your cold winters heart and makes you look forward to this time of the year with renewed energy and a love for life.

With these rose tinted spectacles firmly in place I thought I’d share my favorite ‘pink delights’ for spring. With blooms everywhere, what better way than to try out a new fragrance. Also, the fact that the new JIMMY CHOO fragrance is called ILLICIT FLOWER also had nothing to do with why I chose to feature this one 🙂 It is an absolutely sublime new fragrance on my dresser and I honestly have to take care and not use it every day in fear I might finish it too soon. Available from Clicks, Dischem, Stuttafords, Red Square, Truworths and Foschini, this eau de toilette is a little lighter and flirtier than Illicit eau de parfum that launched previously. It renders a new twist of the original rose scent and offers a sparkling and fresh feel this time around. With top notes of apricot, mandarin and freesia the journey sets off on a fruity-floral playful note that leads to heart notes of rose, grapefruit flower and jasmine. Base notes of cashmeran, musk and sandalwood allows this high rising sparkling fragrance to settle in a seductive yet completely feminine way. The heavy art deco cut glass bottle encases the delicate pink juice in a way that epitomizes the wearer herself – tough on the outside but soft and feminine on the inside. I’m completely obsessed. Definitely my favorite one of the two Illicit scents. Look out for it in 40ml (R645), 60ml (R945) and 100ml (R1095).

On skin I’m loving THE BODY SHOP‘s  INSTAGLOW BRIGHT GLOW CC CREAM for light skin. You can use it on it’s own, mix it with your moisturizer or even blend a drop into your foundation. Alternatively I use a little bit dabbed on cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and on brow bones to give a highlighted glow effect. Used as a pre-makeup primer, it minimizes the appearance of pores, minimizes shine, provides 24 hour hydration and believe it or not, even contains a spf20. It is suitable for all skin types and comes in three shades. When you have fair/light skin, this is absolutely a primer you should be trying out.

I think one of my favorite body ranges from L’OCCITANE has to be their Almond range. Really, every single product from that line is definitely to be desired. I’ve been extremely lucky to receive most of them to try and I’m hooked for life. If I had to go buy products I know and trust and I had a little extra cake to spend it would be from this range. My newest try was the ALMOND VELVER HANDS SPF15 hand cream. Let’s face it – this french brand is known for their brilliant quality hand creams in full and travel sizes and you won’t find me without one at most times. Enriched with Almond Youth Complex which is a brand exclusive blend of active ingredients as well as a UV filter my hands feel sublimely silky from the first use. It protects your hands to keep their youthful look by stimulating collagen production. Fine lines appear less, hands look and feel smoother and more even and with prolonged use sun induced spots are lessened. L’Occitane has the most amazing hand rituals in store, so next time, pop around and ask to try your favorite cream (definitely include this one!) and I promise you, you’ll be sold!