About Me

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hi, I am a 40+ year old who loves jewellery and all things sparkly. I also enjoy trying out and reviewing new makeup products, finding stylish walking sticks, reading and writing book reviews. I will review anything from bird tables/ hedgehog houses to the latest fashion! My Instagram account is @sparkling_magpie

Friday, 29 November 2019

Anna Sui Gift Box

This Anna Sui purple butterfly Gift box/ tin is currently only £2.50 (normally £5) in the 2019 Black Friday sale. These tins (there are other designs available)measuring 127x43mm are a great way to gift small items and are also a present in themselves as they can be used to store jewellery etc, rather than wrapping paper which just ends up in the bin!! 





I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are

Thursday, 28 November 2019

Tada & Toy Ocean Loop Droplet Earrings

The Tada & Toy Ocean loop droplet earrings are currently in the Black Friday sale, £65 reduced to £45. I selected the rose gold Vermeil with tanzanite stones. The other options are sterling silver paired with blue chalcedony and gold Vermeil with milky aquamarine stones. The delicate chain loops fro the front stone and loops to the back of the earring. The earring look delicate and elegant. The stones are small but eye catching as the colour is vibrant. The earrings came in a small gift box and were delivered next day.  The butterfly backings aren’t hard to fasten in place despite the small chain loop. I really like these earrings, the loop makes them stand out from the traditional semi precious stone earring/stud. 
I purchased these earrings myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own 


Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Review: Rituals, The Ritual Of Hammam

Rituals have a beautifully packaged line of gift sets which focus upon a certain issue, purification, relaxation etc, I chose The Ritual of Hammam purification medium box (£29.95) as I wanted to try the hot scrub and the body mud - all the items in the gift box are available separately. 

 The five step Hammam ritual aims to cleanse the body and soul. (All the products are great for winter as they are infused with eucalyptus and rosemary to boost, invigorate and rejuvenate the senses).



The black soap is used first to cleanse the skin. Apply a thin layer then wash off . Although the colour of the soap can be a bit disconcerting, it didn’t stain my shower or towels and I did feel squeaky clean after using it!








Next apply the sea salt hot scrub either as a layer on top of the black soap or after the soap had been washed off to exfoliate. I could this enjoyable to use and have already repurchased a larger tub. The scrub feels invigorating and not too harsh on the skin. 







The purifying body mud is another of my favourites! Massage it on to the skin, leave to sink in for a few minutes then wash off. This step helps combat ageing and deep cleansed the skin. 








I found the foaming shower gel difficult to use as the part you press on is quite stiff and I have poor hand control. The product is a gel as it is squeezed out and transforms into a foam. The product itself is nice and very foamy- I have used it to create a foam on my bath water when I have been on holiday and forgotten my bubble bath.






The whipped body cream is the final step in the process and I shall review this separately as it isn’t part of this gift set. 

  I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own






Sunday, 24 November 2019

#AD #win Review: Abelini Jewellery

Earlier this year Abelini Jewellery contacted me via my Instagram account to see if I would like to be gifted a piece of their jewellery as part of their #MyAbelini campaign. I selected a sample sterling silver Swarovski pendant and chain which I will be giving away via my Instagram account so the lucky winner can sparkle like a Christmas tree at all their Christmas parties!!!!


Based in the UK Abelini diamond Jewellery  is crafted in-house at their design studio by their highly skilled craftsmen. Abelini offer a wide range of designs in different metals and precious stones  all the jewellery is customisable according to your price point, carat or clarity of stone etc. They use the newest technology in order to ensure their designs and jewellery are flawless. Abelini is an ethically conscious company that only uses conflict free and ethically sourced diamonds. They over the best value for your money thanks to their global value chain which cuts out the dreaded middle man and by keeping overhead costs to a minimum, Abelini Jewellery is 78% cheaper than the high street. You can select your jewellery online or visit their studio in Hatton Gardens  London.


 The cut of the pendant ensures it sparkles brightly and catches everyone’s eye. It is surprisingly weighty and there is a necklace extender which lets you wear the necklace at different lengths. The Sterling Silver setting is a classic design ensuring that you can wear this timeless design for years to come. 






You can win this pendant via this Post on my instagram account just like, follow and get more entries by tagging friends. 

Rules:
Must like/ follow my ig account
Competition is open worldwide 
Competition opens on 25 Nov and closes on 4 Dec 2019 to ensure I can get the pendant to the winner in time for Christmas.  
Good Luck and have a wonderful Christmas 






Thursday, 21 November 2019

Review & #win Disneyland Paris Elsa Hanging Ornament & Disney Store Elsa Singing Hanging Ornament

The Disneyland Paris Elsa Hanging Ornament is £9.99. Inspired by Frozen, Elsa stands in an open glass globe holding a sparkling snowflake. Her dress is glittery and there are snowflakes painted on the globe. She is made from resin and the globe is glass so it is fragile. There is a fluffy piece on top of the globe. The globe measures 9.5x8x7cm. 

You can win this ornament here (c/d 02 Dec Competition is open worldwide) Link


The Disney Store’s Elsa singing hanging ornament is £15 and can be personalised. Inspired by Frozen2 she sings Into The Unknown. Part of the Sketchbook Ornament Collection she stands at 11.5x6cm. There is a silver toned 2019 charm hanging from the chiffon loop. She is wearing a travel outfit and there is a swirl of leaves around her and at her feet.
You can win one Here  - same rules as above. 

                                   


                               
I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own 

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Anna Sui Makeup Coffret Set III

Anna Sui Cosmetics  released two makeup coffrets as part of their holiday collection. I purchased Coffret Set III £30 as I liked the butterflies design on the vanity case. The aesthetic for this collection is selecting candies at a sweet store so the colour palette is bright, vivid and glittery. 









The pop vanity case is metal, with s metallic butterfly design.  It measures L207mm x W87 x H139mm. The lid has “Anna Sui” embossed it and the closure is a flip lock. I can fit quite a lot in the case and will keep my most recent purchases in it.





The mini makeup palette measures L85mm x W104mm. The lid of the palette has a  psychedelic butterfly on it. The colour story behind this year’s collection is picking candies from a candy store. The palette has a plastic removable overlay that resembles colourful candies.  The makeup is also candy like with brightly coloured glittery shades.  The blush is a peachy tone and the eyeshadows are glittery metallic gunmetal grey and black. The blush is lovely, adds just a hint of colour to the cheeks and isn’t patchy. The eyeshadows need a glitter eye primer or there is glitter fallout very quickly - you can see glitter on my glasses in the first picture. I prefer the eyeshadows once the glitter has fallen or been buffed out. The black can be used as part of a smokey eye look and the grey looks nice on its own or with the black. It is a shame that the pans are not removable/ magnetised  as I would have liked to put them in my other palettes. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own 







Saturday, 16 November 2019

Paul & Joe Beaute Hand Mirror

Paul & Joe Beaute released a new hand mirror (£14) as part of their Christmas collection. The back of the mirror features the Gipsy, the cat belonging to Sophie Albou, the owner of P&J.  The mirror is really cute, and matches quite a lot of recent Paul Joe Beaute items. The mirror is functional and the handle easy to grip. My only gripe is the lack of a protective pouch to protect the mirror from potential scratches/damage.


I purchased this item myself and and the views expressed in this blog are my own


Thursday, 14 November 2019

Disneyland Paris Aurora Hanging Ornament


The Disneyland Paris Aurora hanging ornament can be purchased at either the Disney Store or Disneyland Paris. At £9.99 the ornament represents great value as mists DLP items are expensive.  The Princess globe series consists of 6  princesses standing in open globes. Aurora is wearing her pink sparkly gown. There is copious amounts of pink feathers on top of the globe (which my cat covets and is desperate to get his paws on!). The globe is glass and measures 9.5x8x7cm, Aurora is made from resin. The hanging loop is pink chiffon and there are glittery pink stars painted on the globe. There is a DLP gift tag which is a nice touch if the globe is to be given as a present. 

 




I purchased this item and the views expressed in this blog are my own 





Disney Store Aurora Hanging Ornament, Sleeping Beauty

The Disney Store Aurora Hanging Ornament  (£13) is part of the Disney Sketchbook Ornament Series.  Dressed in a pink glittery gown with roses embossed on the skirt, white stole and pink shoes there is also a silver Disney 2019 tag attached to the pink hanging loop so if you collect Disney ornaments you know when she was purchased.  Aurora measures 13x2.5x2.5cm and is made from resin and satin. Her face and outfit are very detailed and as she doesn’t look particularly Christmassy she could be left out all year round. 



I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.
Aurora can be purchased from the online Disney Store or their stores.





Tuesday, 12 November 2019

Review & #win: Anna Sui Treatment Lip Balm II, Unicorn Pink & Butterfly Orange

Anna Sui has released a fun, colourful collection for Christmas 2019. The Anna Sui lip balms have been repacked into two adorable baubles (£10 each for 4g) and are available in two colourways - 300 is soft pearlised pink and is presented in the unicorn bauble and 600 is sheer red and is housed in the purple butterfly bauble. 



The lip balms are packed with essential nourishing oils to ensure that your lips remain hydrated. I found that the lip balms weren’t greasy but light on the lips and did hydrate and nourish my lips. The colours weren’t ultra long lasting whilst the tea rose scent slowly faded away. The lip balms are contained in black pots with the Anna Sui logo on them. The baubles are made from cardboard and they are reusable as the balms are contained in a box at the base of the bauble. 

Treatment Lip balm II,300 Unicorn Pink is a soft pearlised pink. In the the pot there is lots of glitter but it isn’t really noticeable on the lips. The colour is very very light, giving the lips a shiny, balmy pearlised healthy sheen rather than a definite pink hue.



Treatment Lip balm II, 600 Butterfly Orange is a sheer red. It is very sheer, adding just the slighted hint of colour to the lips. Just like 300 lip balm it The makes the lips look healthy rather than adding colour. 





I shall be giving away 2 of these lip balms over on my Twitter account. The competition opens on the 13 Nov 2019 and closes on the 27 Nov 2019. The competition is open worldwide. Just follow and retweet. 

Competition link: Unicorn lip balm      Butterfly lip balm 

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own
Available here:
Butterfly lip balm

Unicorn lip balm












Saturday, 9 November 2019

Colourpop Part 1: Midnight Masquerade: Beast Lux Liquid Lip & Horse & Carriage Pressed Powder Highlight


As part of their Midnight Masquerade collection Disney collaborated with Colourpop to create a collection of blushes, pressed powder highlighters and lux liquid lips. These items are available on there own or as sets of a lux lip and either a blush or highlighter depending upon which set / princess you choose.  As you may know, Colourpop is not readily available in the UK so I purchased mine via eBay and the seller fluffelia_beauty


The Lux Liquid Lip is a new matte lip formula created for the Disney collection. This liquid lip creates a pillowy soft, diffused look. I chose Beast which is a mid toned, pink nude lipstick. I really like this colour and formula of lipstick. The colour is a beautiful everyday rosy pink on my lips. The formula is a matte finish. As it is very sheer I found the lipstick didn’t crack or look patchy. The lipstick was buildable from a just there look to a more opaque finish. The scent is a sweet frosting, vanilla which isn’t overpowering and does fade away.  I would buy more of these lipsticks. The packaging cute. The box has a picture of Belle on it whilst the lip component has a blue sparkly lid. 

The  Horse & Carriage pressed powder highlight is a limited edition softly pressed, powder, blendable high shine highlighter. In the pan the highlighter looks like any pretty champagne pearl coloured highlighter, but upon application it has a unique blue undertone. The packaging is beautiful. The compact is cardboard with a mirror on the inside. A sketch of Cinderella as imagined for the Midnight Masquerade collection is featured on the lid. I liked this highlighter but found that it emphasised texture I didn’t even know I had. I think if I purchase any more items from the Coll I will try a blush as the the highlighter pan is quite large and will take a long tome to use up! 

I purchased my items and the Disney items in part 2 of my review from Fluffelia_beauty.  I know the items are more expensive than purchasing directly from Colourpop but not extortionately so. Purchasing from a reseller means that I don’t have to deal with customs, items being delayed, damaged or lost etc. My items arrived within 2 days of ordering. They were packaged securely in a Jiffy bag and bubble wrap. She kept me informed of tracking numbers, postage date etc so I could track them in the postal service. I was very pleased with the customer service and would purchase from this seller in the future. 


I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 


Horse & Carriage Highlighter


Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Lion King Hanging Ornament and #competition

The Lion King Hanging Ornament (£13) was made for the 25th anniversary of the film. Part of the Legacy Film Anniversary Collection.  It is a beautifully crafted Christmas ornament. Simba is on one side, Zazu on the other. The ornament measures 8x10x3.5cm and hangs from a piece of red ribbon. It is made from resin.  The only issue I have is Simba’s face is overly scary!!!



I am giving away one of these ornaments via my twitter account. Competition link is above the photo. The competition is open worldwide and closes on the 2 Dec 2019. I purchased the item myself and the competition isn’t affiliated or sponsored by Disney or the Disney Store.

The views expressed in this blog are my own. 





Tuesday, 5 November 2019

#win Couture Kingdom Rose Gold Plated #Dumbo & Circus Ball Necklace


This month’s blog/ Rafflecopter competition is this Disney Couture Rose gold dumbo and circus ball necklace (£60). The necklace can be worn as a double chain with both Dumbo and the call, or the circus ball can be detached so just the Dumbo chain is left. It is made from 14kt rose gold plate and Dumbo has a twinkly blue eye!






Rules:
This competition is not affiliated with Couture Kingdom/ I purchased the item myself. 
The competition is open internationally 
C/D 02 Dec 2019 12 AM GMT
The mandatory Rafflecopter option must be competed or your entry will be disqualified. 

Friday, 1 November 2019

Missoma Gold Shooting Star Studs

I purchased the Missoma Gold Shooting Star Studs (£55) to match my Gold Cosmic hair clip. These are 18ct Gold Vermeil studs that are delicate, light and suitable for everyday wear. Measuring 11mm they are almost like mini ear crawlers as the perseids, the tail of the star can be adjusted so it either hangs off or be positioned going up the ear lobe.  The studs fasten with a butterfly back and I found them easy to grip and slide in to place - sometimes due to hand coordination and problems holding small items I find it different to put and fasten earrings in to place. They arrived in a Missoma branded gift box and mini pouch. Even though these earrings are small studs they stand out as being slightly different and I shall be wearing them a lot! 


I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 



Missoma Gold Cosmic Hair Clip


I buy one hair accessory per year as although I love wearing hair clips, I need help putting them in as I cannot raise my arms very high. This year I bought the Missoma Cosmic Gold Hair Clip (£25). 
      
The clip is gold plated brass with Swarovski embellishments.  The clip measures 65mm. It comes in a Missoma pouch and presentation box. I love that the hair clip is a proper clip that can secure a large amount of hair securely without pinging open. The cosmic stars and Swarovski embellishments make the clip stand out as the stones really sparkle in the the light. At £25 it is a considered purchase just for a hair clip but I will wear this for years and it can be worn as part of lots of hairstyles. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.