Scent Of The Month / Stash Highlight: Yves Saint Laurent Paris Eau de Printemps

This is a slightly different Scent Of The Month post as I'm going to show you more than one perfume. Yves Saint Laurent Paris was my first proper grown-up perfume, I always wanted one and my then boyfriend got it for me for Christmas when I was 18. So for over half of my life now I have loved and regularly used it. Every year YSL also release a limited edition springtime, lighter version of Paris. The original scent isn't exactly heavy, but the springtime one is even more suitable for warmer months.

As I am utterly rubbish at describing scents, I've copied the description of the original Paris EDP/EDT from the YSL website: "At the heart of this tribute to the city of love, the delicate rose reveals a profound and enchanting personality. Fresh and subtle, the top notes of Violet, Bergamot and Orange blossom flirt with tenderness and happiness. The intense floral middle note reveals all the splendour of Rosa Centifolia and Iris, warmed by woody and sensual base notes of Sandalwood, Amber and Vanilla."

As you can see, I have 7 different bottles of Paris Eau de Printemps, including the newest 30-year-anniversary one (second from top left corner of the picture above) called Premieres Roses (the name has been used in several years, but the bottles/boxes all have different designs, although I can't be certain whether the fragrances are the same as well).

They are actually really affordable at £30 and you get a massive 125 ml for your money, which means that it's not possible to use up during one season. That is why I still have so many unused ones, but I can't not buy them because they are just so lovely.

Do you have an all time favourite fragrance? Please share in the comments!

See another picture after the jump!

Scent Of The Month: Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette

I picked up this perfume almost 2 years ago in Florida when I visited Bath & Body Works. I can't believe it's taken me this long to use, but I'm very happy I've finally opened it. To me spring means cherry blossoms and I absolutely love cherry blossom scents.

As I'm absolutely rubbish at describing scents, I've copied this from the interweb:

"Transport yourself to the floral gardens of Japan with the Japanese Cherry Blossom. This amazing women's eau de toilette contains top notes of Asian pear, Fuji Apple, and Ume Plum. The heart notes of Japanese Cherry Blossom, Butterfly Lily, Kyoto Rose, Mimosa Petals, and Hedione of this Bath & Body Works perfume leave you refreshed and enlivened. This women's eau de toilette finishes with base notes of Vanilla Rice, Imperial Amber, Silk Musk, Cinnamon Incense, Himalayan Cedar Wood, and Creamy Sandalwood. This sensuous Bath & Body Works perfume has a high concentration of fragrance oils and comes in a pretty bottle accentuated by a flowery design. Spray Japanese Cherry Blossom onto your pulse points and feel the fragrance spread throughout the room."

Now to be honest with you I have no idea what most of the flowers and fruits mentioned are or what they smell like, but I can tell you that this is a lovely fruity floral fragrance. It lasts very well on me. I also bought the body lotion/shimmer gel and shimmery body spray, so I can layer them and make the scent even longer lasting.

I remember there was a 3 for 2 offer at the time and this EDT cost $29.50 for 75 ml. It's still available from Bath & Body Works, but it seems to be in a different bottle.

See one more picture after the jump!

Scent Of The Month: Lush Tuca Tuca

I was going to make this into a monthly series, but failed, however, here's another fragrance from my rather extensive perfume collection. The one I want to show you today is Lush Tuca Tuca perfume (part of their Gorilla perfumes range).

I love violet scents and one of my favourite fragrances are the ones with violets (Guerlain Insolence, Yardley's April Violet), so of course I had to pick up this Lush fragrance too. This is a bit heavier and stronger than the straight forward violet fragrances, it is a very sensual fragrance. I'm rubbish at discribing it, but this is what Lush say about it:

"The fragrance of a bright pop song. Tuca Tuca is whimsical; it teases with a fantasy violet accord and works its way into your subconscious. The perfume perfectly conveys the playful and seductive nature of the pop-song and the dance it's based on. Only the Italians could have come up with such a mischievous dance and pull it off with style and sex appeal. This vivacious, sensual, sweet and flirty fragrance of violet and vanilla is sure to turn heads whenever you wear it.

Main notes : cassie, vanilla, sandalwood, vetivert, violet leaf, ylang ylang

Feels like : a mischievous wink"

Apparently there's some song and dance that goes with this, I remember being given a card with the details of how you can download it, but to be honest, I don't really give a shit. I don't like Lush's silly, pretentious marketing tactics, to me it's a fragrance and that's that. I don't give a crap about the rest.

Anyway, this is a lovely fragrance. The only thing I don't like about it is that the actual perfume is pink and it stains my clothes. I don't think this is at all necessary and this puts me off of repurchasing it.

You get 30 ml for £24 and I believe it is now only available exclusively from the Lush website (I bought mine in store).

Guerlain Holiday 2012 Collection Haul Part 3 - Liu Perfumed Shimmer Powder

Every year Guerlain releases a perfumed shimmer powder and every year I buy it, even though I have not yet finished one and I've been collecting them since 2008. In fact dare I admit, I actually have 2 of each release. The reason is, these are often the last item to be sold out in the collection and usually make it to the new year sales, so when I see them at half price, I can't resist.

This year's fragranced shimmer powder is scented with Guerlain's Liu fragrance. Otherwise it's the same, very very fine shimmer as other year's releases. I usually wear it on my hair and arms, decolette, etc. when I go out and I always get lots of compliments. I wouldn't wear it on my face personally, but it especially looks gorgeous sprayed onto your hair. We're not talking chunky glitter here, not like those glitter sprays you can get from Claire's, this is very fine, luxurious shimmer.

The bottle is so cute, it looks like an old style perfume bottle with the "bulb" on the side that you squeeze to release a puff of powder. Looks great on your dressing table!

You get 17.5 g for £50.50 which is a little bit ouch, but that's why I usually buy a bottle at half price. A bottle will last for years, especially as this isn't something you'd use every day. I don't think it's too over the top for a meal out or for the theatre, but I probably wouldn't wear it for school run.

See more pictures after the jump!

Giveaway Time! Help Celebrate Our 3rd Birthday! *CLOSED*

As you know, Pleasurefush has just turned 3, so I thought let's celebrate it with a giveaway! I have put together a bunch of products that I think you'll like.

One person will be chosen randomly and will win the products listed below:

• KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in #09 Nile Green *full size*
• The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara in #01 Black *full size*
• Nails Inc. Nail Polish in Emerald Street *full size*
• Max Factor Mac Effect Mini Nail Polish in Fantasy Fire *full size*
• Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Badge
• Chanel Chance Eau De Parfum 2 ml sample
• Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! Eau De Parfum 1.2 ml sample
• Valentino Valentina Eau De Parfum 1.5 ml sample

To win the above goodies all you have to do is be a follower of my blog via GFC (new followers are very welcome) and post a comment below with your e-mail address. For up to 2 extra entries you can also follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway (make sure you include me @Anitacska in your tweet) and/or post a link to the giveaway on your blog (make sure you let me know the link as I will be checking). You can do both or either for one extra entry each.

Remember, you MUST be a follower via GFC or none of your entries will count! You must also leave a comment below with your e-mail address to enter. The giveaway is open worldwide! The giveaway closes at midnight (UK time) on Saturday 14th July 2012. Good luck!

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Eau De Toilette

First of all, I'd like to point out that I'm rubbish at describing scents, and that is why I don't normally do fragrance reviews. But since I was sent the new Pivoine Delicate Eau de Toilette from L'Occitane's new spring collection of the same name, I thought I'd give it a go.

I can describe the packaging, it's very pretty, pink and feminine. All the products I was sent from this collection have the lovely peony flower detail on the outer packaging. On the inside, a fairly simple glass bottle with pretty pink fragrance inside it. Now for the fragrance. I think it's best if I copy what it says on the (tin) box:

And that's pretty much spot on. A delicate flowery fragrance that after a while smells a little soapy on me. It's quite nice, not offensive, and despite being quite delicate, lingers on for most of the day. I'd say it would make a lovely spring daytime fragrance if you like roses and peonies. For me it's just a little too powdery, but fragrance is so personal, that is why I don't really like reviewing it.

You get 75 ml for £35 which isn't too bad, it's the same as L'Occitane's Pivoine Flora EDT. It should be available soon on the L'Occitane website and in stores. 

See another photo after the jump!

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Collection for Spring

Launching this April is L'Occitane's new collection Pivoine Delicate and it has some lovely products. The collection is made up of two parts: fragrance collection and make up collection.

The fragrance collection contains Pivoine Delicate Eau de Toilette (75 ml / £33), Fresh Mist (50 ml / £13), Hand Cream (75 ml / £13), Shimmering Powder (8 g / £22) and Eau de Toilette and Gloss Duo (2 x 5.5 ml / £14).

The make up collection contains 3 Lipshines (8 ml / £11.50 each) and 3 Lipsticks (3.5 g / £12.50).

I was sent a few products to try out including the Eau de Toilette, the handcream and a lipstick, so I will be reviewing them over the next few days. For now I leave you with a picture. I just love the packaging of these, don't you?

My Sales Bargains Video

Just a quick video I did showing you what goodies I got in the after Christmas sales. :)

Finished! The October Edition

Firstly, sorry about neglecting the blog these last few days. I've been very busy with shopping (the new Mac collections are out as well as Dior, Chanel and those gorgeous Models Own Beetlejuice nail polishes) and also updating my blog sale (nearly done). Plus little everyday things like children and cleaning and washing and cooking... You know.

Anyway, another month has gone past, so here's another post about all the products I've finished last month. Only five though, sadly, however there are quite a few other ones just hanging by their teeth. Just like this first product was, I thought I'd never finish it.

It's Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub. Couldn't wait to finish it off. Firstly, it's not a scrub. It's a creamy cleanser with some very soft bits in it. It does not scrub, nor it does exfoliate. It is not a deep cleansing scrub like it claims. It did nothing for me, my pores are still there, clogged and as big as ever. Waste of money. (Can you tell I didn't like this?)

Find out what other products I finished after the jump!

Guerlain Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder

I love Guerlain's shimmer powders and I always get compliments when I wear them. They are very glam, yet quite subtle and very elegant. I usually spray it on my hair, decolletage and arms (not my face as that would be too shimmery even for my liking) and I just love the very fine shimmer. They don't come cheap at neary 50 quid, but they do last a long time (unless you use them every day which would be rather over the top) and they are pure luxury.

This year's offering is Vol de Nuit, a beautiful gond shimmer powder in a gorgeous teal bottle. Guerlain says this is their first scented shimmer powder, but I'm pretty sure the other ones are scented too, so not sure what that's all about. Still, it smells lovely and the shimmer looks divine. The bottle is modelled on their vintage Vol de Nuit frangrance bottle and has a puff that you squeeze to spray some powder. It looks great on the dressing table just like a bottle of expensive perfume.

I have to say though I was very surprised by how tiny the bottle was, it fits in the palm of my hand! Product wise you actually get a tiny bit more than last year at 17.5 g, so I guess it's just how the bottle is. Instead of having lots of glass around the bit that contains the powder, the whole bottle is just much smaller. I was also surprised to see how small it was because the box is massive as usual. Oh and the inside of the box has the same teal-black zebra pattern as the highlighting powder and the Meteorites.

The retail price is £49.50, so pretty steep, but this is a real luxurious treat, so if you like your shimmer-glimmer on a night out, you will love it.

See lots more photos after the jump!

Finished! The August Edition

Another month has gone by and I've managed to finish a few more products. Mostly skincare, but there are a couple of mascaras in there too. Let's start with the one thing I don't have a photo for, that's because I took it with me on holiday and managed to leave it behind. It was nearly finished, and since I don't have it any more, I'll consider it finished. What I'm talking about it a sample of Clinique's 7 Day Scrub Cream. It's an okay scrub, but not too special. Certainly not £17 per 100 ml special, so I will not be repurchasing it.

Onto the next Clinique product, I also had a sample of Take The Day Off make up remover. I did like this one very much, it's very effective at removing make up, and I will definitely buy a full sized one once my current Estee Lauder make up remover runs out. The full size (125 ml) costs £14.50, it's not cheap, but it is certainly a very good make up remover.

Read about all the other products I've finished this month and see more pictures!

Finished! The May edition

This month's damage: 5 products. Well, 4 and a half. I'll tell you why in a minute. But first up here's something I have repurchased many times in the past and will do again. One of my favourite perfumes ever: Yves Saint Laurent Paris. I have loved this since I was about 18 and in fact this was my very first "proper" perfume. I love the bottle, I love the scent, I love everything about it. Even though I own 40+ different perfumes, I know I will repurchase this one as not many other scents have come close to it in my heart.

See what other products I've finished after the jump!

Finished! The April edition

Despite thinking I might not have many empties this month, I still managed to finish 7 products, so that's pretty good. My first one is Avon Clarifying Toner Pads which are basically pads soaked through with toner that's supposed to help keep your skin blemish free. They were okay, but I always forgot to use them, it took me probably more than a year to use up 45 pads, and I don't think I'll bother with buying them again. I don't normally use toner and these pads didn't seem to make much difference to my skin.

See what other products I used up in April after the jump!

Finished! The January edition

You might recall that I started this series last month when I managed to finish several beauty products (which doesn't happen very often, I'm telling you!) and to my surprise I'm back with another post of yet more finished products. I don't want to include basics like shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in this as I always go through those, will just stick to skincare, make up and fragrances.

First up are my beauty basics:

Mac Brow Set in Show Off is the only thing I use on my brows as I don't like brow pencils (too harsh) or powders (too obvious). This is a brown shade that just gives a bit more definition to my brows and holds them in place. I came across this product when Blonde, Brunette, Redhead collection came out in 2009 and I have loved it ever since! I actually think this was my original one, so it lasted me over a year, although I did move it to my downstairs cloakroom a while ago as it was running low (that's where I keep my emergency make up items for day when I have no time to apply my make up in my bedroom), so I guess I hadn't been using it so regularly lately ( have a new one in my bedroom). It never dried up though, just ran out. I love this stuff and have already repurchased it and will continue to do so. £11.50 from maccosmetics.co.uk.

Continue reading to see what other products I've finished last month!