Chelsey Prentice

Sorry I haven’t posted for a few weeks. I moved house a week ago and we have only recently got wifi, which can be temperamental. As a blogger, having no wifi for 5 days is torture! I’ve gone from living in East London which was just over half an hour from central London to living on the Essex coast near Southend. I felt sad to leave behind my childhood home and move over an hour away from my boyfriend and friends but I am settling in. It’s much quieter and calmer here and I no longer need to use a fan or white noise machine to drown out all the background noise in order to sleep.

The crowds in London stress me out so I’m enjoying a slower pace of life. I’ve already been back twice to attend an event and meet up with friends so I will still spend quite a bit of time in London but it’s just nice to have a decent place to go back to. I wouldn’t move back to London but I wouldn’t mind being a bit closer than I am now. The good thing is that we’re currently living close to the station and theres a small supermarket within walking distance. It’s also only 5 minutes on the train to the centre of Southend which has some good shops but sadly, no Lush! I think I’ll have to go to intu Lakeside occasionally for more variety and my Lush fix.

It’s so nice living close to the sea and being able to walk or jog along the seafront. We also get to walk around the historic Shoebury Garrison which has some lovely views and memorabilia as you can see below

 

If you have naturally wavy (ish) hair that can be prone to a bit of frizz like me then the Brazilian Keratin Smoothing Therapy range from Natural World is a Godsend! Before trying out the shampoo and conditioner I had been very impressed by the treatment oil as it does a great job of taming my wild-when-wet hair.

The products are infused with Keratin to repair damaged hair, control frizz, smooth and add shine. They make your hair smell really clean and fresh which is down to the rosemary, lemongrass, orange and ylang ylang essential oils. I definitely noticed a difference in how smooth my hair was after the first use and over time it seemed to be even more effective. I usually have to straighten my hair to make it smooth and iron out the waves at the back but there were less occasions when I needed to do so after using the shampoo, conditioner and oil.

I definitely plan to use this combination of products for times when I want my hair to be straight and smooth as it really does do the trick. My only slight issue is that it tends to make my hair quite static but there are plenty of products available to calm it down. How smooth and clean it makes my hair feel more than makes up for it!

Natural World products are available from Tesco and start at £3.49.

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Makeup Obsession, a new make up Brand by Tam Beauty, the brains behind Make Up Revolution and Freedom make up. The idea of creating your own personalised, bespoke palette is simple yet genius and it was one of the most exciting events I’ve ever been to as the hysteria was contagious. I felt like a kid in a cosmetic sweetshop filling my 12 pan palette with my choice of products including eyeshadows, contour cream, strobe balm, blusher and highlighter. Unfortunately, by the time I had arrived all of the highlighters had been snapped up but I plan to treat myself to one in Boots where the products are available to buy and you can create your own bespoke palette of beauty essentials. I definitely want to do this again!

I wanted to create a palette with a very autumnal feel and I think I achieved that. So far I’ve used the contour cream in C109 Medium, strobe balms in S101 Gilded and S102 Chrome and eyeshadows in E123 Roxanne and E137 Luxe which I’m very impressed with. The formula is really good quality for the price so I definitely want to try more.

If you’re anything like me you’ll use the same razor blade until it’s completely blunt and you keep missing bits when shaving. Blades are pretty expensive and it can be a pain to keep buying them so our skin ends up getting a bit of a raw deal. That’s where Friction Free Shaving comes in. They offer subscription packages for three different types of razor and send 4 new blades straight to your door every month. That’s a fresh blade every week!

I tried the ‘Frankie’ which has a 3 blade head and costs £5 per month which is pretty good value. I definitely noticed the difference changing the blade every week and it was particularly effective on my underarms. My skin felt smooth afterwards and I didn’t notice any bumps or ingrown hairs on my legs.

The only slight niggle is that the particular razor I used isn’t ideal for the bikini area but there is a 5 blade head option which only costs £7 per month and may be a better option. It’s a great idea to make sure you never run out of blades and would make a good gift for someone who is always on the the go and doesn’t have much time to stock up on shaving products.

On Monday evening I attended an event held by Manfrotto and Bleat PR which was designed to help us bloggers improve our photography skills along with demonstrating the range of Manfrotto photography aids. I’m a complete novice at photography as over the years most of my blog photos are of me showcasing outfits so it was actually someone else behind the lens rather than myself. However, now I’m posting more about beauty products and food I definitely need to brush up on my (limited) skills. I could also do with a new camera but that’s another story!

I arrived pretty early at 5pm and was really impressed with the venue and how the space had been set up to demonstrate both the products and the best way to utilise them. I couldn’t resist a nibble on a few cakes and was very impressed with the Manfrotto products, particularly the mini LED light on the small, portable tripod as this would be ideal for getting creating the best lighting in restaurants.

During the first hour I spoke to professional photographer Eddie MacDonald who gave me some really useful tips about shooting food and then we took part in workshops for both food bloggers and fashion and lifestyle bloggers with photographer Nicole Gomes. Finally Eddie began his professional photography workshop but sadly I missed most of this as I had to leave by that point. The event was very informative and they also gave us booklets with hints and tips which will definitely come in handy! I’ve also added the small LED light to my birthday list as this will definitely improve the appearance of my images.

Manfrotto kindly gave us a pixie art mini tripod which I’ll definitely get use out of. I also have a 20% code for you! Just go to the website and use the code BLOGMANFROTTO20 to claim before October 2017

Now that Autumn is upon us we can start wearing light coats and jackets again which actually makes me happy. Khaki is one of my favourite colours and it just feels more appropriate to wear it in Autumn rather than Summer. I love this mac from Topshop. It’s stylish but also really comfortable and I ended up going for an oversized look as I had to go a size up due to there being none left in my size. I loved it so much that I had to have it!

The ripped jeans are also Topshop classics, my mustard top is from asos (past season) and my shoes are old ones from New Look but add a much needed splash of print to the ensemble. I quite like khaki and mustard together and it’s a combo I plan to wear again in future.

Sometimes I can’t resist unapologetically feminine ruffled pieces in pretty colours and this dusky pink Topshop number is just that. I love the ruffle detail and ‘could be silk’ fabric which make this beauty look way more expensive than its £34 price tag. The sleeves are gorgeous too and I received a few compliments when I wore it for a christening on sunday.

I went for comfort and wore it with my white Uniqlo jeggings and Linzi sandals but I’m looking forward to dressing this versatile piece both up and down over the coming season and beyond

Tailoring has gone through somewhat of a transformation over the past few years and although still smart and sharp, there’s more of a relaxed vibe about it. Elements of athleisure wear are creeping in so if you’re attached to your hoodie and trainers it’s not a problem, just add suit trousers and an overcoat to smarten up your look. The good thing about menswear is that women can also take inspiration from it and put together a ‘borrowed from the boys’ style outfit. I’ve put together a collage inspired by the Farfetch Modern Tailoring editorial and fashion edit, specifically the ‘Grey: The most versatile colour?’ story as the colour encompasses both classic tailoring and modern sporty styles.

Suit: Lanvin £1,276.24, Wool hat: Comme Des Garcons Shirt Boy £134.92, Heath Glasses: Oliver Peoples £287.16, Hoodie: A.P.C £123.06, Rockefeller backpack: Valas £2,852.86 Overcoat: E. Tautz £2,970, Trousers: Kenzo £237.01

The modern man can mix and match these items to create a variety of looks. The two piece suit is pretty versatile and can be dressed down with the cap and backpack or the hoodie. I’ve added everything to the wishlist for my dream wardrobe for my boyfriend. Maybe one day he’ll let me be his personal shopper!

Each of these pieces (except maybe the glasses) feature in the modern tailoring edit so if you want to spoil your man or are a male reader and want to treat yourself then head here for these items alongside other dapper picks

 

I’m a self confessed reality TV junkie and also love attempting to beautify myself so I was in heaven last Thursday evening at the KISS products party hosted by brand ambassador and TOWIE star Jessica Wright. The event was to celebrate the announcement of KISS lashes, KISS salon acrylic nails and imPRESS nails which are great for glamour on the go.

At the event there were friendly beauty experts who were applying the lashes and nails which was an enjoyable experience as I like being pampered. I chose the iconic lashes which are part of the Looks So Natural range and I loved them so much that I didn’t want to take them off! The good news is that they can be worn again so I plan to get reacquainted with false eyelash application as it’s been a while.

I couldn’t resist the sparkle on the Gel Fantasy nails in painted veil so I chose them to be applied by a nail technician. Even Jess herself complimented me on them which made my night. She was really friendly, chatty and down to earth and makes the perfect ambassador for the brand. I can’t wait to try the imPRESS press on manicure along with other varieties of lashes and different shades of the Gel Fantasy nails. KISS products are available from Boots, Superdrug and Asda and retail at under £6.

I’ve always heard good things about Scarlett London blogger events and I’ve been wanting to go to one for a while but I’m usually not organised enough to get tickets in time. Luckily this time I managed to get my ticket as I definitely wasn’t disappointed. The Bloggers Festival was held in the Conrad London St James, an opulent and luxurious venue which is literally across the road from St James park underground station. This was music to my ears as I often get lost finding venues and have been known to arrive at events in a flustered state! I would love to visit the hotel again for afternoon tea so I plan to look into this.

There were a selection of brands to talk to, some of which I’d heard of before such as Jewellery Box, Natural World, 7th Heaven, Beverly Hills Formula and Heaven Skincare and others which I was interested to learn about. I also briefly chatted to Scarlett when I arrived who was lovely and friendly. I was lucky enough to have a photoshoot with jewellery Box alongside a fellow blogger who I met at the event which was a new experience for me but was fun and they generously let us keep the pieces we modelled.

One of the first brands I spoke to were Friction Free Shaving (cheekily shortened to FFS) who provide a razor and blade subscription box service. It’s a great idea as it means you can change your blade weekly for a smooth, bump free shave and it cuts out the hassle of going out and buying blades which is ideal for those with busy lifestyles. I’ve already used my razor once and will be posting a review in the next few weeks.

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The way to my heart often involves food so I was drawn to the Opies stall and had to sample some cherry cake. They provide products such as pickles, walnuts, olives and compotes as well as recipe ideas for those who enjoy cooking or baking and their jars of fruit or ginger would make great presents.

If you suffer from IBS or bloating Alflorex claim to improve symptoms so I’m interested to try it. It contains a unique culture which reaches the gut alive to provide targeted action.

I’ve heard of Beverly Hills Formula before and I’m sure my mum used to use it in the 90s! I’m intrigued by the idea of a black toothpaste that removes stains so I’ve started using it and can already see a slight improvement. It contains charcoal to help remove tannins and freshen breath. I also tried the Gold Perfect White toothpaste and I love how it made my teeth look and feel. I’m also a sucker for anything with a bit of sparkle!

I’m already a fan of the Natural World hair oils, especially the Brazilian Keratin version as it really does smooth my hair after washing so I plan to try the shampoo to see if it has a similar effect.

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David Hampton specialise in luxury leather goods such as wallets, messenger bags, passport holders and briefcases. There are classic and on trend colour options to choose from and the smaller items would make great gifts

I was interested to find out about Exuviance as the professional range of products use innovative formulations to improve the condition of your skin. I would love to try the face polish as I often have white keratin spots on my face so I’m hoping this would help remove them.

Other brands I spoke to were 7th Heaven who are my favourite budget face mask brand, PNY who offer much needed power packs to charge your phone, Go Send which allows you to save money on shipping charges when buying products from the US, Social Superstore which is a shopping website where you can earn money and Varta who also provide power packs.

I loved the Kim K style wall of flowers which made a great backdrop for outfit photos. My outfit was a bit of a rushed job but i wore a Primark skirt with a top from Topshop and Linzi shoes. I definitely plan to attend any future Scarlett London events