Green People Eye Shadow Trio

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Green People Eye Shadow Trio

If you’re thinking about ushering in the spring with a fresh new look, why not try some natural cosmetics? Green People launched their extensive skincare, hair care, body care and cosmetics range in 1997 and have since taken the world by storm, producing fabulous organic, Paraben- Petrochemical- Phthalate- and synthetic colourant/fragrance- free products, which are kind to the environment as well as your skin.

I have enjoyed Green People skincare products for quite some time, but just recently I was sent an Eco Eye Trio to play with and discovered that their cosmetics are equally impressive. Packed with nourishing ingredients, including soothing and hydrating Jojoba, the Eco Eye Trio uses natural pigments to stunning effect. Each compact contains three complimenting matte shades, available in four colour collections, offering you the flexibility to create your own look using single tints or blending.

The Eco Eye Trio formula is noncomedogenic, allowing the skin to breathe freely and helping to prevent blemishes, suitable for vegetarians and cleverly crease-free. Being free from harsh synthetic ingredients, Green People cosmetics are also suitable for those with sensitive skin.

When it comes to presentation Green People err on the side of basic, but where as their products will never win any contests when it comes to aesthetics, true to their name, they are all made from recycled/recyclable cardboard and natural plastics, so what they lack in beauty they gain in virtue.

The Green People Eco Eye Trio is £18.40 and available, along with the full Green People range, from www.greenpeople.co.uk.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Show Her You Care... Not just for Valentine’s Day.

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Show Her You Care... Not just for Valentine’s Day.

So, Valentine’s Day has been and gone for another year, but I always think it’s a little strange that we need to have one day set aside to remind our loved one how much we care – surely if you love someone you love them for more than a day... Unless we’re using the biblical sense, in which case yes, a day or even a few hours is sometimes all that’s necessary! I digress, my point is that there’s never a bad time to give the woman in your life something that shows how much she means to you. Finding a gift that actually shows some thought is the real key to success, regardless of price or romantic connotations, so we’ve put together a list of gifts that us girls at The Detour would love to open from our own lovely lads in the hope that we can inspire just one or two of you to look beyond the marketing hype and buy a gift that really matters.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream 200ml £49.00 – I love Elemis products; they’re largely natural, wholly ethical, smell great and work a treat, so I can’t think of a better place to look for I gift that says you care. There’s a veritable feast to choose from, but my personal favourite for the present is the Pro-Collagen Body Cream. Now, you sensitive souls out there may be a tad wary of offering an anti-ageing cream to the love of your life, but believe me, she will love it! Based on a ‘unique complex’ created around Mexican skin tree (a proven cellular regenerator packed with flavinoids to diminish capillary permeability, increase resistance and protect against the environmental causes of ageing), amino acids to stop the skin from breaking down, and a blend of padina pavonica (a form of algae) with exotic babassu, castanha and bilberry seed oils to plump the skin and firm and tone the body. After just a few uses your lovely lady love will have skin so soft and beautiful that she’ll positively glow and you’ll have to stop her trying to show it off!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream is available at all Elemis counters and online at www.timetospa.co.uk.

Lanvin Marry Me! 30ml £33.00 - Valentine's is traditionally the day when a vast number of people pop the question, but if you didn't manage to pluck up the courage and are still feeling that way inclined but are slightly concerned that nerves will get the better of you, Lanvin have kindly taken the time to bottle up all of your feelings of heartfelt delight and downright lust and expressed them in a scent full of floral charm, vibrant citrus (although I'm sure not the only person to notice the irony of a romanic scent containing Bitter Orange?) and a deep musky base note. Presented in a beautiful art deco inspired bottle enclosed in the simplest of boxes this is a cute little gift perfect for the woman you love. The scent itself is warm and soft yet effervescent, leaving a sparkle in the eye and a spring in the step without being overtly girly. The top notes of White Peach, Freesias and Bitter Orange are grounded with the fresh green heart notes of Sambac Jasmin and Magnoila before fading away into a Musk, White Cedar and Amber drydown. The name may make this fragrabce inaccessible to some, but the scent suits the sentiment perfectly.

Lanvin Marry Me! is available from all Lanvin counters and online: www.escentual.com/lanvin.

Arbonne Lipstick £17.00 – Feel like sucking up? (No pun intended) Show that you really do pay attention to everything that your dear one likes to witter on about and surprise her with a top end lipstick in her favourite colour. Arbonne are something of an exclusive brand, if for no other reason that their products are not that easy to find – you won’t find them on a Boots counter, you won’t even find them in Harrods, in fact back in the BI (Before Internet) years I really don’t know where you would have found any at all, unless you happened to live in one of the lucky areas visited by Arbonne consultants – so any Arbonne item makes for a lovely gift. The recently released long-wearing, feather resistant lipstick is no exception. Deeply hydrating and available in a dazzling range of twenty-one intense colours, this lipstick glides on smoothly for a flawless finish, creating perfectly ravishable lips that you’ll be desperate to smudge all evening.

Arbonne were one of the first cosmetics companies to shun modern manufacturing practises and embrace botanical sources to create their products. For more information and to purchase Arbonne products visit www.arbonneinternational.co.uk.

Guinot Hydrazone Corps Moisturising Body Lotion 200ml £33.00 – On first thoughts, a bottle of moisturiser may not seem like the most exciting or romantic of presents, but giving the gift of beautiful skin is no mean thing and almost every woman will appreciate the gesture. Guinot’s Hydrazone Corps Moisturising Body Lotion uses the must-have skincare ingredient of the moment - Moroccan Argan Oil - to provide our largest organ with all the essential lipids and hydration it needs to defend itself against the elements, repair damage and generate new cells. Often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ Argan Oil is packed with Vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidants that work to retard the impact that environmental pollutants have on our skin and so keeps you looking younger for longer. After just a few days use skin will feel ever so soft and ever so silky and will be positively glowing with health.

Guinot products can be purchased from a wide variety of beauty counters and online. For more information visit  www.guinot.com.  

Geodesis Rose Ambience Reed Diffuser 200ml £35.00 – Elegant, attractive and gorgeously scented, reed diffusers have become the must-have decorative touch for all urban dwellers, bringing as they do, a delicate touch of the country into the home in a clean, minimalist format, without the cloying aroma or smoky stains of a scented candle and Geodesis have become the masters of the craft. Founded in 1997, Geodesis was born ‘from the idea of associating a fragrance with a region of the world,’ from the Mexican Tuberose to Chinese Tea plantations, with the use of the highest quality ingredients. With fifteen fragrances to choose from, a reed diffuser could make a most thoughtful gift, whether by selecting your lover’s favourite scent or by choosing a scent that evokes a certain place or time of importance to the two of you. Simple to use, lasting and personal.

Geodesis Reed Diffusers are available from all John Lewis stores and online at www.geodesis.com.

Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Hand Cream £11.50 – If the love of your life works with her hands, then hand cream is possibly the most thoughtful gift you could give. With friends and family members working as nurses, chefs, kitchen assistants, gardeners, and a long-term sufferer of dry skin myself, I’m more than familiar with the perils of hand-washing, particularly in winter. And I know the relief and joy a good hand moisturiser can bring. As the name would suggest, Protect & Perfect is designed to defend hands against the elements and reduce and reverse the visible signs of ageing. Offering both SPF15 and 5-star UVA technology to protect against sun damage (not necessarily just the reserve of summer), as well as ‘No7’s patented anti-oxidant complex’ to fight free-radicals, rejuvenating Ginkgo Biloba, skin firming pro-retinol complex of lipopeptides and Alfalfa Extract, Lupinus Albus seed extract to aid collagen production and Glycerin to help the skin absorb all the goodness, Protect & Perfect will leave hands feeling very happy and looking their very best.

Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Hand Cream is available from selected Boots stores and online at www.Boots.com.

Docteur Renaud Cosmekit Raspberry Hydrating Programme £29.00 – I’ve only recently discovered Docteur Renaud, but I’m already a little bit in love with the products. The philosophy behind the brand is ‘natural cosmetology’; using natural ingredients procured from fruits, vegetables and flowers and using them to create fabulous cosmetics and skin care products ‘that make women happy.’ The Cosmekit is a particularly cute idea, allowing for a sort of DIY approach to pampering. Incredibly simple to use, each kit comes complete with all you need to create your own mini spa treatment, from the ingredients, down to shaker and spatula. Beginning with the ‘ultra gourmand’ Raspberry Exfoliating Gel, which uses fine particles of raspberry seeds and jojoba beads to prime the skin for the Raspberry Massage Cream, and finishing with a lovely creamy Raspberry Foaming Mask, the kit is crammed with natural ingredients, including soothing Aloe Vera and hydrating Rice Ceramides, which moisturise, plump and invigorate the skin. This makes a fabulous gift for a friend or lover and is great fun for a girly night in.

You can purchase the Docteur Renaud Cosmekit Raspberry Hydrating Programme from www.doctor-renaud.co.uk.

NEOM Organic Treatment Candle £37.50 – Positively packed with essential oils, the vision behind NEOM candles (and other products) is that they can be used as a form of holistic therapy, bringing a touch of serenity into modern life. The people behind the brand are ‘strongly opposed to synthetic scents and harsh ingredients, while believing that beauty should be about spoiling yourself, fabulous scents and utter indulgence,’ so they have worked with organic ingredients to create a range of products designed to relax, energise and improve your mood, depending on your particular need. The candles are made using only vegetable wax and pure essential oils, so that they burn without releasing harmful pollutants, toxins or soot and burn for a whopping 55 hours.  The candles are slightly on the expensive side, but what price the pleasure of the woman you love?!  And I have to say that the difference between NEOM scents and the synthetic fragrances one finds in most candles is staggering – no perfume headaches here. Complete Bliss: Happiness, with its gorgeous blend of Moroccan Blush Rose, Black Pepper and Lime is my favourite; clean and light, but somehow sensual with it, but there are many enticing combinations to choose from.

You can purchase NEOM Organic Treatment Candles from www.neomorganics.com.


If you've tried any of these products do let me know, I'd love to hear your opinion :)

 © Purple Peccadilloes

Stewart Self-watering Herb Pot

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Pots of Growing Fun - Stewart Self-watering Herb Pot

We’re approaching that exciting time of year again – despite the late frosts the crocuses are beginning to appear, the trees are beginning to bud and my mind turns to all things gardening. While it might still be a little early to properly begin working in the garden it is the perfect time to begin the gardening year by planting up a few indoor crops of herbs and the Stewart Self-watering Herb Pot is fantastic place to start.

 Cleverly designed with a skirt of absorbent cloth to feed water up to the base of each of the four mini-pots that make up the whole, the Stewart Self-watering Herb Pot is ideal for all experienced ‘window-siller killers’. We’ve all done it; carefully created the perfect kitchen herb platter, gone away for the weekend and come home to a sorry droopy mess of brown leaves and withered stalks. The water well should last for at least a fortnight, even in the hottest of weather, and the separate inners allow you to chop and change your crops independently without disrupting the other plants. Being made from plastic, the look isn’t overly classy, and yet I rather like it – the white and green combo brightens up my gloomy kitchen window (my view is an attractive wooden fence, so all distractions are welcome!)  and being wipe-clean it’s not too difficult to maintain.

The Stewart Self-watering Herb Pot is £9.99 and available from all good garden centres. For more information visit: http://www.stewart-garden.com. 

© Purple Peccadilloes

Li’tya Macadamia Facial Hydrating Cream

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Li’tya Macadamia Facial Hydrating Cream

 

I’m all for natural skincare these days, so when the chance to review an organic face cream made from one of my favourite snacks came up for grabs I took hold of it with both hands.

The Macadamia nut had been known for its beneficial properties by foodies for quite some time now – it’s high in protein, but low in saturated fat – but until recently it’s not been all that widely used in skincare. Rich in mono-unsaturated oil – the closest thing to the oil found in human skin currently known about  – Macadamia oil is particularly absorbable and contains high levels of rejuvenating, nourishing and hydrating Vitamins E and A, so it would seem to be the obvious choice of base ingredient for the creation of a moisturiser. When combined with vitamin, mineral and lecithin-rich Sesame oil, anti-oxidising (anti-ageing) Carrot Seed oil and the natural antiseptics and anti-inflammatory’s Lavender and Sandlewood, Macadamia becomes a force to be reckoned with.

The cream is lightly scented and pleasant to use and like any moisturiser, the application process is straightforward; simply cleanse, tone and spread a small amount over the skin, then sit back and wait for a miracle. After just a few days use the skin will feel smoother, softer and more flexible. The Sesame oil offers light UV protection to prevent further sun damage, while the Carrot Seed oil helps to repair the harm that has already been done, reducing fine lines and helping to plump wrinkles.

Li’tya products are suitable for all skin types and designed to combat most of the problems with the epidermis that cause us concern, from soothing, calming and nourishing to healing and reversing. The company has a strong social and environmental conscience, using sustainable, largely organic and almost completely natural ingredients, while fairly trading with Australian Aboriginal communities and donating a percentage of all profits to the preservation of Aboriginal culture and education.

Li’tya Macadamia Facial Hydrating Cream is £32.50 (75ml) and available, along with the full Li’tya range from http://www.litya.com.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Looking Natural with Living Nature

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Looking Natural with Living Nature

My New Year’s resolution for 2012 was to remove as many synthetic, nasty-filled products from my skin- and hair- care regime as possible and ohmygoodnessme, spring is almost here and so far I’ve been true to my word. In my research I’ve come across a number of fantastic natural cosmetics companies, but none have been better than my current favourite Living Nature. Based in New Zealand, the philosophy of the brand is that ‘when it comes to beauty solutions, nature has the best answers,’ so with that in mind they set about creating a wonderful range of natural, safe and effective products designed to ‘care for your skin and the planet’.

Harnessing the amazing properties of some of New Zealand’s most ancient native plants – for example, from the Totara tree can be harvested Totarol, a super anti-oxidant and antimicrobial – Living Nature have created a unique collection of products fashioned to answer your every ablutionary and cosmetic need.

One of my favourite products from the range is the Living Nature Harakeke Firming Eye Cream (10ml £22.45) – Harakeke is the Maori name given to the plant that is commonly known as Flax. Traditionally employed for a wide variety of medicinal and household uses – everything from calming toothache and soothing boils to making baby rattles and blankets – Harakeke gel is utilised in this product for its remarkable hydrating properties. Blended with moisture-locking Larch Tree Extract and healing Manuka Honey, the Harakeke works to plump fine wrinkles, reduce puffiness and tighten pores, leaving you with happy skin and sparkling line-free peepers. The firming eye cream is simple to apply and quickly absorbed, so is perfect for use under make up. Scent-free and extremely gentle, this product is a joy to use and produces noticeable results within days.

The Living Nature Active Manuka Honey Nourishing Hand Cream is another one to get a big thumbs (fingers, palms and knuckles too) up from me. As well as being available in a 200ml (£25.00) bathroom pack, you can purchase the cream in a perfect handbag-sized 50ml (£10) bottle, being super-absorbable this is the ideal cream to carry with you in winter. Manuka Honey has long been known as beneficial to the skin – it soothes, calms, nourishes and has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties – so it is the perfect medium to build a hand cream on. When you add in deeply hydrating Macadamia oil, known for containing high levels of rejuvenating and nourishing  Vitamins E and A, and Larch Tree oil to prevent moisture loss, you have yourself the perfect little weapon in the war against winter hands. The one slight negative is that the scent isn’t overly appealing, but it fades quickly, so don’t let that put you off.

As well as producing a wealth of unisex products and those aimed specifically at women, Living Nature have also created a range just for men. The Skin Essentials for Men set (£22.55) contains a non-drying Gentle Cleansing Shaving Gel (made from a natural foaming agent found in Kumerahou, a native New Zealand herb, combined with Manuka Honey, Manuka Oil and soothing Witchhazel extract), Soothing Aftershave Gel (which again combines Manuka with the Harakeke Flax gel and adds in cooling Calendula, St Johns Wort and Witchhazel) and Soothing Moisturiser.  

Living Nature  products ‘contain absolutely no synthetic ingredients or endocrine disruptors’ (minute concentrations of chemicals that can potentially disrupt our biological systems in the early stages of development), are organic, have not been tested on animals, are presented in fully recyclable packaging and are created in a carbon-neutral hydro and wind energy powered facility, which uses only filtered rainwater. You don’t get much more dedicated than that.

For more information visit: www.livingnature.com.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Manuka Doctor Apiclear – Anti-ageing & Blemish-Calming for Sensitive Skin

This piece can also be found on www.TheDetour.co.uk. Visit the site for fashion, beauty and entertainment features and news pieces as well as spa reviews and competitions.

Manuka Doctor Apiclear – Anti-ageing & Blemish-Calming for Sensitive Skin

There are more than seven million women in the UK who suffer from the burden of sensitive skin. If you are one of them, then you will know how difficult it is to find effective everyday skincare and cosmetics that don’t cause irritation, but if you happen to be looking for anti-ageing items or products for blemish-prone skin, then your search becomes nigh on impossible. Commonly used exfoliants, such as Alpha- and Beta- Hydroxy Acids, acne- and wrinkle- busting retinoids, artificial colourants and fragrances and other chemical ingredients can prove too much for troubled skin, yet the vast majority of anti-ageing products are packed to the gills with them. So, what to do if you want to try to retain your youthful complexion without upsetting your epidermis? I would hazard that the use of bee venom probably wouldn’t be the first thing to spring to mind for most people...

When the Manuka Doctor Apiclear range landed on my desk one cold, wet January morning it didn’t precisely gladden my heart. While honey has long been known for its beneficial properties, the idea of using a product built around bee venom is somewhat counter-intuitive; after all, venom and anti-inflammatory are usually only found in the same sentence when the latter is being used to counteract the effects of the former. Bee venom, it would seem, is the exception to that rule – stringent testing has shown it to improve cell regeneration, boost collagen production and reduce the signs of ageing and the appearance of scars, not to mention having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which does seem somewhat ironic, given the original purpose of the stuff!

The products are created by blending purified bee venom (miraculously harvested without injuring the bees in any way) with a range of top quality natural ingredients, including Manuka Honey, Avocado and Olive Oils, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, all of which are known for possessing either antibacterial, hydrating, soothing and/or nourishing properties. The products are also free from ‘harsh chemicals’ and GM ingredients. They work by creating a reaction in the body similar to that formed in response to a sting; increasing blood flow, which in turn accelerates collagen formation and cell renewal.

Having read thus much and been sent the Manuka Doctor Apiclear Foaming Cleanser (150ml £16.99), Facial Toner (150ml £16.99) and Skin Treatment Serum (30ml £18.99) I thought that I may as well give them a try. Although I consider myself to have fairly sensitive skin, I am lucky enough not to suffer from anything serious such as eczema or psoriasis, so while my testing goes so far, you would be well advised to carry out a patch test before extensive use.

As close to fragrance-free as these things ever get, the products are light and pleasant to use, leaving the skin feeling clean without feeling stripped or tight. The effects of bee venom are cumulative, so although not disagreeable in the first instance, astonishing results can not be seen immediately. However, after a few weeks use I have noticed a few pleasing points. Although by no means acne-prone, like most people I do endure the occasional blemish and I have noticed a distinct lack of them during the last few weeks (this could be coincidental, I would have to use the products for far longer to ascertain a definite correlation); my pores seem smaller and my over all skin tone seems improved, the same could be said for those irritating little fine lines that started appearing not so long ago. I also have an old chickenpox scar which is surprisingly less obvious at present than it ever has been before. Interesting. Very interesting!

Bee venom has become a hit with the celebrities in recent months, with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Kylie Minogue embracing it to banish blemishes and fight the signs of ageing. I have to say, that after a few weeks of use, I am really beginning to see why.

You can find the Manuka Doctor range at Holland & Barrett stores nationwide. For more information visit http://www.manukadr.co.uk.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Spice Up Your Supper with Olives Et Al Chilli Harissa

Spice Up Your Supper with Olives Et Al Chilli Harissa

UK-based and family-run, Olives Et Al have been delighting our taste buds since the early 1990’s with their delicious mix of Mediterranean-inspired snacks, oils, dressings and sauces. Chilli Harissa is the latest pot of goodness to be added to the OEA foodie stable and although it may be small, it packs a fiery punch.

Designed to be something of a multi-tasker, the Harissa has a whopping 32% red chilli pepper content, so it is not for the faint of heart. That said, with a wonderful mix of aromatic ingredients, including smoked paprika, ginger, cumin, fennel and an unmissable hit of garlic added to the blend, there is more than heat to this flavoursome sauce and its applications are practically endless. One of my favourite uses was to enliven roast vegetable pasta with a little chilli kick, but there’s a fab chicken breast – or in my case, Quorn fillet – recipe on the Olives Et Al website. The Harissa will add interest to any soup or sauce and can be used within a marinade, not to mention providing a fantastic base for chillies and curries. Versatility is certainly the word.

Olives Et Al’s Chilli Harissa is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is gluten free.

Olives Et Al’s Chilli Harissa is £4.00 per 180g jar and is available from all good food retailers, as well as online at www.olivesetal.co.uk.

©Purple Peccadilloes

Jane Packer’s Limited Edition Luxury Bath Time Set in Red Roses, Black Violet and Cyclamen

Jane Packer was best known as one of the world’s most influential florists, revolutionising the way that we all view, and use, flowers. After more than twenty hugely successful years in the business however, she turned her attention to a long-held wish to create her own line of floral fragrances and skincare products, which in turn have gained a great deal of critical acclaim.

Available just in time for Valentine’s Day is the Limited Edition Luxury Bath Time Set in Red Roses, Black Violet and Cyclamen. Beautifully presented and comprising gorgeously scented Body Cream (180ml), Bath Milk (200ml) and Candle (150g), the set makes for the perfect gift for the one you love.

The scent is classically sophisticated and sensual without any of the heaviness one usually associates with roses, the cyclamen brings a sweet greenish top note, while the black violet offers a tranquil, almost woodsy warm heart to the fragrance.

The Bath and Body Cream combination, when topped off with a big fluffy towel, presents the epitome of indulgent relaxation. The body cream calms and hydrates tired winter skin, caressing you with a lightly lingering perfume and leaving skin silky and revitalised, while the bath cream softens the water and soothes your senses with its delicate bouquet. The candle, as one would expect from Jane Packer, is most akin to having a freshly picked posy in a warm room, rather than the synthetic floral offerings one links with most scented candles, lightly filling the room, not overwhelming it.

The Jane Packer brand is something of an exclusive one, and deservedly so, but it is not inaccessible and as such is loved by a multiplicity of followers.

The Jane Packer Limited Edition Luxury Bath Time Set in Red Roses, Black Violet and Cyclamen is £59.00 and available from www.janepacker.com.  

© Purple Peccadilloes

Valentines - Say It With Harrods

This review can also be found on www.TheCulinaryGuide.co.uk. Visit the site for  in depth food, drink and travel features and news pieces as well as restaurant and hotel reviews and competitions.

Valentines - Say It With Harrods

I’m quite a fan of Shakespeare; he was a clever, lyrical kind of chap with a knack for saying all things romantic that most of us mere mortals have failed to possess, but I’m afraid that on one key point Willy and I disagree; music the food of love? No! Everyone knows that the real food of love is... well... food, and Harrods is just the place to find it.

This year for Valentine’s Day Harrods have launched a wealth of sweet treats and foodie indulgences to tickle every taste bud and woo the hearts of many a lover. But, although Harrods always says exclusive, it needn’t equate to expensive and while you could shell out for a fabulous £150 hamper to set a truly romantic scene, you can also find a selection of gorgeous little edible gifts for between £5 and £20. So, if your relationship hasn’t quite reached the declaration stage, your pockets are feeling pinched, you’ve been eyeing someone up in the office for ages, or you just want to treat yourself, we’ve put together a little list of some of the more affordable, but nonetheless delectable, delicacies on offer in that famous Knightsbridge Food Hall for the month of February.

I think I kinda like ya...

Harrods Fondant Hearts (£3.95)  – No, your eye’s do not deceive you; this lovely little cake really is only £3.95 and will make a fantastic ice-breaker if you’ve been trying to pluck up the courage to ask someone out. Beautifully presented and topped with a sprinkle of edible glitter this wonderfully light melt-in-the-mouth piece of patisserie perfection is sure to melt the heart of any could-be Valentine. Made exclusively for Harrods by those masters of baking at The Cake Store, you’ll not find a better way to grab a girls (or boys) attention.

Blueberry Hill Biscuit Cakes (£5.95) – Aside from the fact that this combines two of my favourite foods (biscuit and cake! What more could a girl want?), these little boxes of goodness represent something rather rare; an independent British company initiated within the last two years that is doing somewhat well for itself. Launched in 2010 by two university friends, Blueberry Hill creates scrumptious eatables of all shapes and sizes, and these Chocolate and Vanilla Heart Biscuits are a perfect example of their craft. Wonderfully decorated, mouth-wateringly tasty and big enough to share... Should you be that way inclined.

Dinner for two?

Epicerie Lion Cake/Rice Pudding Mix (£9.50/£7.50) – If you’re treating your lover to a home-cooked meal, these great little kits are a fantastic way to add a touch of epicurean excellence to the proceedings. With Sweet Love Cake Mix, Roses of Love Rice Pudding and Sweet Rice Pudding Violets to choose from you should be able to find something to suit your tastes. The kits are created from top quality (organic in the case of the cake) ingredients and simple, easy-to-follow instructions, so all you need to add is a little time and a little love to produce a wonderful tea time treat or a delicately flavoured dessert.

...Melt... For You Chocolates (£15.50) – Handmade in the heart of Nottinghill, Melt chocolates are the perfect after-dinner (or before dinner, after breakfast, instead of lunch, elevensies, afternoon tea, midnight snack...) indulgence. I’ve really not much liked chocolate for the last few years, but Melt has managed to convince me of the error of my ways. In the first, a Salted Feuillantine, silky smooth and creamy chocolate lovingly embraces fine French wafer, while a dash of sea salt sets the whole thing off to perfection, while the second perfectly complements the flavour combination with a lightly salted hazelnut praline. The price may seem rather on the expensive side for a box of eight chocolates, but beautifully presented as they are, as soon as the first passes your lips you’ll soon see that it’s the best £15 you’ve ever spent.

Take Me, I’m yours...

Harrods Handmade Chocolate Heart (£21.50) – Can there be anything more suggestive and romantic than giving away your heart in a box? Admittedly, written like that it sounds a little creepy, but the Harrods couverture heart is a stunning piece of artwork which looks almost too good to eat. Couverture chocolate is made with an average of 32-39% extra cocoa butter than ordinary chocolate (minimum 67% cocoa solids in this case) and is tempered to achieve a high sheen and satisfying snap, so this one is for the real dark chocolate lover. Finished with an impressive deep ruby polished Shellac lacquer and filled with a selection of chocolate hearts, this is a gift that says it all for you.

All of the items in this piece and much much more can be found in the Harrods Food Hall, Knightsbridge, and a small selection is available online from www.Harrods.com. 

© Purple Piccadelloes

Valentines Gifts for Guys

This piece can also be found on www.TheDetour.co.uk. Visit the site for fashion, beauty and entertainment features and news pieces as well as spa reviews and competitions.

Valentines Gifts for Guys

I always find buying gifts for boys to be a bit of a trial, particularly for Valentine’s Day when the cutesy feels awkward, but anything else feels random. The best bet always seems to be a gift that has taken either a little thought, or a little effort, so we’ve put together a short list of some of the best blokey bits and pieces we’ve come across in The Detour office this year, which will hopefully inspire you as much as it has us.

Vintage SuperDry Dry Oil 100ml (£55.00) – Vanilla isn’t really a scent that you often associate with men’s fragrances, but when blended with ‘a striking fougere accord’ (woodsy, ferny whiff to you and me) it creates a sultry, sexy cologne that is hard to resist. Built around a familiar fusion of lavender and iris, SuperDry’s Dry Oil is lifted above its peers by a light and spicy mix of cardamom, neroli, lemon, cypress and petigrain, while cedarwood, patchouli, ambrette seed and musk provide the base notes. The initial hit is bright and modern while the dry down is nothing if not sensual.  Presented in SuperDry's trademark rough and ready packaging with an aged-leather wrist strap to complete the look, this is the ideal scent-suous gift for the man in your life.

 Dry Oil was launched as part of a trio of fragrances by UK casual-wear giants SuperDry in 2011. It is available in all SuperDry store and online at www.superdry.com.  

Ministry of Sound MOS006 Headphones (£39.99) – For the last 20 years the name Ministry of Sound has been synonymous with dance music, both as a venue and a producer thereof, so it’s hardly surprising that to mark the brand’s 20^th anniversary year they have decided to dip their toes into the waters of hardware and launched a really rather good collection of headphones. With six styles in a variety of colours to choose from and prices ranging from £14.99 to £39.99, there is bound to be something to suit both your personal music lover and your pocket. I’ve recently been having a play with the catchily named MOS006 and have been suitably impressed. Initial impressions are good, with the packaging erring on the side of funky, while the phones themselves are lightweight, easily adjustable and comfortable to wear. At £40, they are never going to be able to compete with the likes of Bose when it comes to all round audio quality, but as the advertising  blurb states, with ‘50mm drivers and aluminium housing’ they really do deliver. The bass is a little heavy, as one might expect with the MOS brand, but the treble is clear and if you like loud music these will take you up to ear-bleeding levels so if you’re looking for a good quality gift at price you don’t have to obsess over, look no further.

You can buy Ministry of Sound headphones from HMV, www.amazon.co.uk and Phones 4 U. For more information on the full range visit: www.ministryofsoundgroup.com.

Sranrom Tue Spirit for men (£10.00-£14.00) – I’ve reviewed some Sranrom goods in the past, finding them to be really beautiful natural products, free from all the various nasty chemicals that I seek to avoid in my cosmetics, but at that point I wasn’t aware of their men’s range. True Spirit is a ‘collection inspired by the thai fighters who balance confidence through their actions and sensitivity through their connection with the world and those around them’. With strong, but not overwhelming fragrances, the products are created from a blend of thai herbs and plants designed to invigorate the senses with aromatherapy whilst nourishing the skin: earthy Vertiver calms the mind, Mangosteen Extract has powerful antioxidising properties used to fight free radical damage, Bergamot is cooling and refreshing, while Guava Leaf Extract has a multitude of uses including antibacterial protection, while Eucalyptus both soothes the skin and opens the mind. The True Spirit range is comprised of five essential body care products and will leave tired skin feeling fresh, clean and glowing with health, while the manly mind will feel prepared to take on the world... Or at least to face another dull day at the office.

For more information on the full range of Sranrom products visit: www.sranrom.com.

Garlic Farm Garlic Beer Gift Set 500ml (£10.50) – Now, I know what you’re thinking, because it’s probably a variation of what I first thought when I read about this. There’s something both vaguely intriguing and vaguely repulsive about the idea of a beer brewed with garlic, but I have to admit that it’s really rather nice... Once you get by the initial whiff that hits you (and everyone else in the neighbourhood) upon opening the bottle. I’m no beer expert, so I can’t go into rhapsodies over the hops, the nose, its accessibility or whether it’s clear or complex, but a few mouthfuls in and you pretty much forget about the garlic and enjoy the general good flavour. The beer is brewed on the Isle of Wight by the Garlic Farm and can be purchased by the bottle (£3.50), or in this lovely gift set, complete with glass and bottle opener for a very reasonable £10.50. One word of warning however, if you’re giving this as a gift before an evening of potential romance, make sure you buy yourself a bottle too as ohmygoodnessme, Garlic Beer breath ain’t conducive to kissing!

For more information on the full range of Garlic Farm products visit: www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk

Jme Chocolate 60g (from £2.00) – There seems to be very little these days that Jamie Oliver hasn’t turned his hand to in the foodie world, so it was with little surprise that we heard of the launch of the Jme chocolate bars last year. Exclusively created for the independent food sector in collaboration with artisan food producers, these five tasty chocolate bars would create the perfect Valentines gift for any chocolate lover. From the richly creamy Smooth Operator, to the spicy chilli-spiked Some Like It Hot and the decadently sized Big Love (327g of chocolaty goodness) there’s something for almost everyone, and with reasonably blokey packaging  they may even give Yorkie bars a run for their money in the masculine stakes! Fairly traded, organic and handmade in England with a massive 56% cocoa solids (almost three times the average), this is as close as you get to virtuous chocolate. Pukka... No, I didn’t, did I? The shame!

For more information and a full list of stockists visit www.jmecollectio.com/stockists. The chocolate bars can also be purchased online at www.jamieoliver.com/jme/food.html.  

A Suit That Fits Bespoke Silk Tie (from £35.00) – I do like a man in a good suit, but all too often the effect is ruined by a poor choice of tie, which is why a bespoke tie can make a perfect gift. www.ASuitThatFits.com offers customers the opportunity to purchase made to measure suits and accessories – ties, cufflinks, pocket squares etc.. – from the materials of their choice in the colours and styles that best suit them, right down to the inner lining. All you have to do is select your preferred fabric width and the ties are specifically tailored to your height. The silk ties are of exceptional quality and finish, creating a deeply personal and thoughtful gift that any stylish man about town would appreciate. The suit might not make the man, but the tie goes a long way towards helping.

For more information visit www.asuitthatfits.com.

Lush Dirty (£2.00-£20.00) – Now, if you’re looking for a pick ‘n’ mix stylee gift, check out the Lush Dirty range. Aimed at boys, but equally loved by girls, the Lush Dirty collection has been around for quite some time now, offering fresh, natural products to clean, scent and style in minimalist no-fuss environmentally friendly-ish packaging. Each product has been created with a unique herbaceous scent – from mint and tarragon to lavender and sandalwood – that works well alone, while complementing the rest of the collection. Products include a fantastic shower gel that cleans without leaving that nasty tight feeling often experienced with men’s skincare products, Body Spray with a giant misting range (presented in what looks like a blacked out Mr Muscle bottle and is actually surprisingly comfortable to use), Dirty Hair Styling Cream that holds without crisping, shaving cream, soap, toothy tabs (which I’ve yet to try, but have heard wondrous reports of) and a nice little box set.

You can buy the Dirty range from all Lush stores and online at www.lush.co.uk.

Sprite Micro Scooter (£52) – If you’re looking for something of a quirky gift, how about a set of his ‘n’ hers mirco scooters? Available in manly silver and girly pink, the Sprite Micro Scooter is a great mode of transport for city-living and a fun way to spend your weekends together. Suitable for bearing up to 100kg (that’s around sixteen and a half stone), light weight, compact and easy to fold and carry, the micro scooter is the perfect introductory model for scooting virgins, with excellent brake control and a well-balanced board. Scooting is also a fantastic way to keep fit without feeling like you’re really doing any exercise. On the surface, this may not seem like the most romantic of presents, but it’s one that will be appreciated for a good long while and offers limitless opportunities for quality couple time.

For more information visit http://www.micro-scooters.co.uk.

Green People Organic Homme, Love Skin Organic for Him (£14.95) – With more and more people turning away from traditional skincare and cosmetics packed with synthetic chemicals, Green People have been pioneers in the industry, delivering products free from Ethyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate, Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances and Artificial Colourings, which are organic, fairly traded and animal friendly. This little gift set is a prime example of their craft, delivering two top quality products, free from all nasties and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types, even those prone to acne, eczema or psoriasis. The set contains Scrub It (50ml), an exfoliator which uses Bamboo extract and Cranberry powder to remove dead skin cells and natural clay to draw out toxins, and follows it with Active Fix Repair Serum, a surprisingly effective anti-ageing product. Both items contain a plethora of soothing, calming and hydrating ingredients – Olive Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosemary Extract, Aloe Vera, Calendula, Sweet Almond Oil, to name but a few – that leave the face feeling clean and refreshed and looking healthy. This is great gift for the would-be smoothy in your life.

All Green People products are available on line from www.greenpeople.co.uk, and selected retail outlets. 

© Purple Peccadilloes