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I love the changing seasons and the new fashions that they bring.
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Thursday 17 June 2021

MY LITTLE ACCESSORY HAUL🛍👜🕶

For most of us, the pandemic has brought changes to our lifestyle.  My daily "work uniform" had already been Athleisure but since social distancing, I have rarely "dressed up" and beautiful pieces are hanging unworn in my wardrobe.  I am determined to find ways to wear them more but in the meantime, I am not rushing to buy many new clothes.  I have bought a few little accessories though.  Accessories so often update and enliven an existing wardrobe.

H&M Black Quilted Bag and AirPods Case,
Accessorize Pearl & Gilt Earrings


H&M Small Black Quilted Bag
In the above photographs:-

  • At H&M I fell immediately for the Small Black Quilted Shoulder Bag in imitation leather.  H&M actually intend it to be a Mobile Phone Bag and it is exactly the right size to hold my smartphone, plus it has a card pocket inside and there’s room for a lipstick 💄and comb.

  • I couldn’t resist the Tiny Mock-croc “Handbag” either, which is designed to hold AirPods. I’ll probably use it as a handy coin purse/bag charm.


  • I had recently lost one of a fave pair of pearl and gilt earrings and was looking for a new pair. I was delighted with this pair of Pearl and Pave Stud Earrings from Accessorize. The faux pearl is set in gold-tone metal with tiny diamantes.


As I am very small in both height and build, I naturally look for little pieces that are in proportion to my size. Sometimes I even wander into the Kids section and look at the accessories. Their plain beanies and scarves are good for me as large grownup scarves and hats often drown me.  Of course I look for suitable styles.


H&M Kids Leopard Print Alice Band and Sunglasses
  • I think that Leopard is chic in small touches like little bags and belts etc. and the Leopard Print Alice Band caught my eye.  A different take on usual Leopard, the colours are black and beige pattern on a rust coloured background.  

  • Then I saw the similarly patterned Leopard Pint Cat Eye Sunglasses but the colours here are brown/black/beige. The tinted UV-Protective lenses are UV400 standard.  I wondered if they would be too small for me but they’re fine.  After all, with my latest pair of reading glasses, my optician introduced me to a brand that specialised in frames for petite faces!

I did enjoy my little bit of retail therapy. 🛍️😊


I hope you are all keeping safe and well. 🌈


The items shown above were NOT GIFTED.

Wednesday 28 April 2021

LA ROCHE-POSAY TOLERIANE DERMO-CLEANSER

It’s Spring now here in the UK, sunny🌞but still windy and after wintry weather, cold winds and mask wearing😷I felt that I would like a soothing, milky cleanser for my face. I immediately thought of a product that I sampled some time ago.  Back in the good old days of 2019, before the pandemic, I went to one of my favourite events - the annual “Allergy and Free From Show” at the Olympia in London. La Roche-Posay, a brand known for their gentle skincare products, played a prominent part at the show and their stand attracted many visitors. They also sponsored an excellent talk on skincare for sensitive and allergy-prone skin.  At the time, I wrote about it all, here's the link to that post:-

http://www.petite-panache.com/2019/07/la-roche-posay-at-allergy-and-free-from.html

At the show, I was given a little sample bottle** (just enough to try for a few days) of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser and I was very impressed. So recently I decided to go to Boots the Chemist to buy it. There was even a special offer of 25% off and the normal price, £12.50, was reduced to £9.37.😊Boots have been doing a lot of good offers lately.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser

Although my skin is not allergy-prone or very sensitive, I find that neither harsh nor oily skincare products suit it.  I always aim to keep skincare simple, gentle, clean and bland.  La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser is a wipe-off cleansing milk specially designed to gently clean sensitive, intolerant or allergy prone skin.  Fragrance free, the ingredients include glycerine and La Roche-Posay Thermal Water.*

I apply the cleanser gently with my finger tips and then carefully wipe it off with a soft, 100% cotton, Boots Oval Cotton Wool Pad.  It can be rinsed off if preferred. It removes my makeup and leaves my skin clean and feeling soft, hydrated and comfortable. Although it is hydrating, it isn’t oily or greasy.  Perfect!

*The ingredients are:

609129, Aqua/Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryl Glycol/Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin (Code F.I.L: B3089/6).

It is always wise to check ingredients of skincare products.

**The products mentioned above were NOT GIFTED. The very small, not-for-sale, sample was offered to all visitors to try.

Saturday 20 March 2021

SPRING EYE MAKEUP

Today is officially the first day of Spring 🌸🌺🌻☺️.  It's not going to be a normal Spring but lately we have learnt to adapt, change our habits and make the most of things as they are.  Going out means 😷 so this season I shall focus on eye makeup and beautiful nail polish.

CHANEL's vibrant and pretty new Spring makeup, LES FLEURS DE CHANEL, is inspired by blooming flowers.  From this collection, I've bought the LES 4 OMBRES eyeshadow palette in GOLDEN MEADOW (368). 

The chic black mirrored compact contains 4 beautiful shades:-

  • a satiny, rosy peach
  • a matte rosebud
  • a golden pink
  • a coppery terracotta
designed to be used in various ways to get different looks.  CHANEL suggest the peach shade on the lids, the golden pink for highlights and the darker terracotta along the lashes, adding a brown eyeliner.  The brown pencil in the photo above is RIMMEL's SOFT KOHL KAJAL EYE LINER PENCIL in SABLE BROWN (011). (Floral greeting card in the background from Marks and Spencer).


In the photo above:
  • CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES in GOLDEN MEADOW
  • CLINIQUE ALL ABOUT EYES RICH, a moisturising eye cream.  It's 100% fragrance free and the ingredients include shea butter and sodium hyaluronate.  I find that it helps to improve the look of my under-eye dark shadows and skin.
  • COLLECTION LASTING PERFECTION CONCEALER, a lightweight liquid concealer that covers and conceals my dark under-eye shadows.  It doesn't settle into lines or look chalky and lasts well.
  • BOOTS DOUBLE ENDED EYESHADOW BRUSH.  100% synthetic hair, a larger brush at one end and a little brush at the other.
Boots Double Ended Eyeshadow Brush

  • RIMMEL's SOFT KOHL KAJAL EYE LINER PENCIL in SABLE BROWN (011).
  • RIMMEL BROW THIS WAY EYEBROW SCULPTING KIT in MEDIUM BROWN (002). A compact little palette containing a wax, a powder and a small double-ended brush.  I have quite thick eyebrows and I like a natural look but before the pandemic, I went occasionally to the brow bar for threading. I'm hoping this handy little kit will help me to keep my eyebrows in shape.
Rimmel Brow This Way Eyebrow Sculpting Kit

None of the items mentioned above were gifted.

Next, I shall be looking at different shades of nail polish and trying some skincare products.

Keep safe and well everybody🌈💕

Wednesday 6 January 2021

SUKIN Signature HYDRATING FACIAL MASQUE

Back in Autumn, I thought that my skin looked jaded and a bit dull - perhaps the effect of the end of Summer and all that mask wearing😷too.  I felt that it needed a "pick-me-up"to give it a healthy glow.  I had never used a facial masque before but I was very impressed by an IG review of the SUKIN HYDRATING FACIAL MASQUE.  SUKIN is an Australian natural skincare brand but I found it here in the UK at my local Whole Foods Market in their lovely Beauty section.  Usually priced at £9.99, it was on special offer at £7.49, so I snapped it up.

This cream based masque is paraben free and contains:-

  • a blend of Mango Seed Butter, Avocado, Olive Fruit and Jojoba Oils;
  • enzymes from Papaya and Pineapple.
(I would always recommend checking out all the ingredients on the label to make sure it's suitable for your skin).




I followed SUKIN's instructions and carefully applied the masque to my damp face and neck.  I used an inexpensive little brush but it could be applied with the fingers.  The texture was very creamy and there was a very light fruity fragrance.  After 15 minutes, I rinsed it off with warm water and a facecloth.

I was delighted with the result.  My skin felt smooth, supple, hydrated and had a healthy glow.  Those natural oils and butters and fruit acids and vitamins really work.  Since then, I have been including the SUKIN HYDRATING FACIAL MASQUE in my skincare routine once a week.  It was just what I needed. 

[Mirror and mini foundation brush in the photo both from Primark]

Items mentioned in this post were NOT GIFTED.

Recently, I have frequently been sharing favourites and reviews of products on Instagram.  You might like to take a look.  My Instagram address is SandyPetitePanache.

I hope that 2021 is not starting too badly for you, in spite of Covid19 and I wish you all a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.🌈💕