Review - Zico Coconut Water in 'Chocolate' *

I was very kindly offered by Zico to try Zico Chocolate as I had written in my Zico Original and Zico Mango Review (link below) that I would love to try the flavour, so they sent me 12 bottles to try which was a lovely surprise! For me, chocolate and coconut are a perfect combination as they are my two favourite ingredients so I could not wait to try Zico Chocolate.

I can honestly say that Zico Chocolate is possibly the best chocolate flavoured drink which I have ever tasted... and as all my friends and family know that is a very big statement for me to make as I used to be addicted to Frijj chocolate milkshakes.

Zico naturally supports hydration with the help of five electrolytes - magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus and as much potassium as a banana contains. The ingredients of Zico Chocolate are coconut water from concentrate, coconut cream, fat reduced cocoa, stabiliser: carrageenan, natural chocolate flavouring with other natural flavourings. There are 20 calories per 100ml, so therefore the 400ml bottle contains 80 calories, which I think is incredible for a chocolate flavoured drink compared to a Frijj milkshake which contains around 400 calories in a 400ml bottle. 

 I can say, however that I was a little worried about trying this drink as I did not know how how chocolate flavoured coconut water would taste as I tend to think of chocolate flavoured drinks to be quite thick.

Zico Chocolate has a thin consistency, like water I suppose and is chocolate brown in colour and in my opinion is best to drink when extra chilled as it is surprisingly very refreshing! It tastes exactly like a chocolate milk with a subtle coconut flavour. I have added on a few occasions Zico Chocolate to my protein shake (vanilla) in the morning which tastes amazing so it works as a great base.

You can also buy Zico Chocolate in a 1L bottle, but I personally find the 400ml bottles so handy as you can have a gorgeous drink on the go.

I love drinking Zico Chocolate for when I want something sweet, but do not want to be naughty and have some actual chocolate or sweets. I would definitely buy 'Zico Chocolate' again and cannot wait to purchase my next batch.

To find out all about Zico Chocolate, check out Zico's website (link below) where you can find out all about its overview, benefits and recipes.

Have you ever tried Zico Chocolate before? What other Zico flavours have you tried? What other coconut water do you like to drink?


Speak soon,
L x

LINKS
Zico Chocolate - Zico
Zico
Zico Mango and Zico Orignal Review

Review - Jelly Belly 'Cocktail Classics' *

I absolutely love Jelly Beans and cocktails, so to have a box of the 'Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics' sent to me to review is amazing so thank you very much Jelly Belly!

The box, like its Jelly Bean flavours inside are elegant, being plain black with pictures of the five cocktails on the front - Pina Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mojito, Peach Bellini and Pomegranate Cosmo. These cocktails are all timeless classics, so to have them portrayed through sweets is incredible... amazing flavours with no hangover (as they are non-alcoholic)!

The Jelly Beans are separated into different compartments inside and have pictures of the cocktails underneath on the box, so that you can see which ones you are munching on.

'Pina Colada' on Wikipedia is described as "a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice" and this is exactly what it tasted like, although I think I would have liked a little more pineapple flavour as I found the coconut quite overpowering. 

Pina Colada

'Strawberry Daiquiri' was the next flavour I tried and this a plain Daiquiri is described by Wikipedia as "a family of cocktails whose main ingredients are rum, citrus (usually lime juice), and sugar or any other sweetener" with of course strawberry added to it. This was my best jelly bean by far, as I could taste the strawberry and also the tang of the citrus and rum.

Strawberry Daiquiri

'Mojito' is described by Wikipedia as "a cocktail that consists of five ingredients: white rum sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime juice, sparkling water, and mint). In my opinion this tasted exactly like a Mojito, with the zingy aromatic mint and lime and the sweetness of the sugar.

Mojito

A 'Peach Bellini' is described by Wikipedia as "a mixture of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach puree or nectar" and this also tasted exactly like a real Peach Bellini, having the sweetness of the peach and then the gorgeous wine note coming in.

Peach Bellini

A 'Pomegranate Cosmo', being a Pomergrante Cosmopolitan, was described by Wikipedia as a "cocktail made with vodka, triple sec (orange), cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice" with pomegranate juice being aded to it. This bean was my least favourite as I love pomegranates but found that there was not much pomegranate flavour to it, but instead had a real vodka flavour, which was not too nice.

Pomegranate Raspberry

My favourite 'Jelly Bean Cocktail Classic' was the 'Strawberry Daiquri' followed closely by the 'Pina Colada' as I found that they tasted most like the actual cocktails and did not have a heavy alcohol bite to it, like the Pomegranate Cosmo did.

I would definately purchase this box of 'Cocktail Classics' again as I think that it is a great novelty present to give to someone - my sister actually gave another box of these to me on my birthday with some other presents which was lovely :)

The 'Jelly Bean Cocktail Classics' box retails at £7.00 (for a 125g box) and can be purchased from John Lewis (link below), but I also know that you can purchase these from Very and many other shops when I looked online earlier. 

Have you tried any of the 'Jelly Bean Cocktail Classics' flavours? If so, which 'Jelly Belly' flavour is your favourite? 

Speak soon,

L x

LINKS

John Lewis - John Lewis Website
Jelly Belly (Jelly Bean) - Jelly Belly Website

Review - Leighton Denny Nail Polish in 'Plush Pink'

You can probably tell from my recent blog posts that I am obsessed with nail polishes at the moment and have found another one to review for you all. 

The nail polish I will be reviewing is called 'Plush Pink' and is by the amazing Leighton Denney, which as you can see from the swatches below is a deep, hot pink and is a really beautiful colour!

Leighton Denny is a leading expert with a multi-award wining range of nail and tanning products and I am actually choosing Leighton Denny nail polishes over OPI at the moment, as they have on offer some really gorgeous colours.

Before applying any nail polish to my nails I apply a thin layer of 'OPI Base Coat' and then I apply two coats of the nail polish which I am using and then a layer of 'OPI Top Coat' over the top for extra shine and to prevent chipping. Before I use any nail polish I roll the bottle between my hands, being careful not to shake as this causes air bubbles and therefore spoils it. This process makes sure that pigments are mixed. I always make sure that I apply two thin coats rather than one thick coat as this helps reduce chipping and extends wear time.

'Plush Pink' retails for £11.00, like most other Leighton Denny nail polishes and has 12ml of lacquer within the bottle. I purchased this nail polish from John Lewis, and I have put the link below.


Have you tried this shade before or any other Leighton Denny polishes before? What nail polish brand is your favourite?



Speak soon,
L x



LINKS
Leighton Denny - Website
John Lewis - Website

This or That? Tag Questions - Something very different from what I usually post

I thought that I would try something very different to my usual product reviews this evening as I have seen the 'This or That?' tag question circulating the blogging world and YouTube for quite a while now and thought that it would be a great opportunity for me to let you in on a bit more of my life. 

Makeup:

Blush // Bronzer - Bronzer

Lip Gloss // Lipstick - Lipstick

Eye Liner // Mascara - Mascara

Foundation // Concealer - Foundation

Neutral // Colour Eyeshadow - Neutral

Pressed // Loose Eyeshadow - Pressed

Brushes // Sponges - Brushes

Nails:

OPI // China Glaze - OPI

Long // Short - Long

Acrylic // Natural - Acrylic or Gel

Brights // Darks - Brights

Flower // No Flower - No Flower

Body:

Perfume // Body Splash - Perfume

Lotion // Body Butter - Body Butter

Body Wash // Soap - Body Wash

Lush // Other Bath Company - Lush and Laura Mercier's Creme Brûlée range (sold in Space NK)

Fashion:

Jeans // Sweat Pants - Jeans

Long sleeve // Short Sleeved - Short Sleeved

Dresses // Skirts - Dresses

Stripes // Plain - Plain

Flip Flops // Sandals - Sandals

Scarves // Hats - Scarves

Studs // Dangly Earrings - Studs or Hoops usually

Necklaces // Bracelets - Both

Heels // Flats - Heels

Cowboy Boots // Riding Boots - Riding boots

Jacket // Hoodie - Jacket

Forever 21 // Charlotte Russe - Forever 21

Abercrombie // Hollister - Abercrombie

Hair:

Curls // Straight - Curls but my hair naturally is dead straight

Bun // Ponytail - Bun

Bobby Pins // Butterfly Clips - Bobby Pins

Hair Spray // Gel - Hairspray

Long // Short - Long

Light // Dark - Dark

Side Sweep Bangs // Full bangs - Side Sweep 

Up // Down - Down

Random:

Rain // Shine - Shine

Summer // Winter - Summer but love cuddling up when it is Winter

Fall // Spring - Spring

Chocolate // Vanilla - Vanilla

Hopefully you will enjoy this post and perhaps I will publish more posts like this on my blog. I have put all the links to all my social media networks below :)

Speak soon,
L x

LINKS
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LydzzHall
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Lydia1994
Instagram - http://instagram.com/lmth94
Tumblr - http://lydiah1994.tumblr.com
Bloglovin' - http://www.bloglovin.com/lydiahall

Review - LA Colors Color Craze Nail Polish in 'Electra Pink'

Oh my gosh I think I have found the most amazing neon magenta pink nail polish ever!! (can you tell how excited I am?!) 

LA Colors have said that these nail polishes are part of their "seasons must have collection with hottest shades of the year! From creamy ultra bright shades to shimmers and chunky glitters, these colours are sure to put the final touch on your fingertips and toes!".

The shade which I will be reviewing is 'Electra Pink', and as you can also see from the swatches below that the colour is truly amazing and definitely suits its name!!!

Not only do these nail polishes dry quickly on your nails, they also are very long-lasting and the final effect that they give on your nails is a gel effect, which I adore.

LA Colors nail polishes are all DPB, toluene and formaldehyde free which is also an added bonus!

I honestly think that if you have not heard of LA Colors nail polishes before then you should definitely look into them and perhaps take a trip down to Westfield to the beauty shop (no idea what it is called but is sells loads of perfumes and gift sets etc) and purchase a few of these, as for £1.00, you really cannot go wrong.

Have you ever tried this nail polish and what do you think of it? What other LA Color nail polishes do you own and love? What other brands of nail polish do you love?


Speak soon,
L x


LINKS
LA Colors Color Craze - http://www.lacolors.com/Color-Craze-Nail-Polish-1581.html

Review - China Glaze Nail Polish in 'Something Sweet 862'

China Glaze nail polish in 'Something Sweet 862' is a beautiful pastel nail polish and I am head over heels in love with it!

China Glaze have such a massive and beautiful range of colours on offer, with their inspiration coming from the shores of Tahiti, the nightlife in New York City and the beauty within every woman. When researching China Glaze on Google, I found that it is made from China Clay which acts as a nail hardener, which is also the same material which gives porcelain its shiny finish so that explains why the formula is so different to other nail polishes such as OPI. All their nail polishes are free of DBP, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.

As you can see from the swatches below 'Something Sweet' is a gorgeous soft, baby girl pink with a hint of lilac creme and is so on trend being a pastel shade.

I have applied 2 coats of nail polish to this nail and I have also applied a coat of the OPI Top Coat polish over the top. It is chip resistant, even before applying a top coat to it and has a glossy finish even without a top coat. The nail polish dries super quick as well which is fab for me, being very inpatient! 

This nail polish retails at £13.00, nearly the same as OPI, however on many websites you can pick them up for a lot cheaper. I have found this nail polish for sale on Amazon (UK site) for £6.49, which I have linked below.

If you love pastel pink with a hint of lilac nail polishes then you should definitely go and purchase one of these bottles as it looks AMAZING on your nails and is perfect for the Summer months!!!

Have you ever tried this China Glaze nail polish in 'Something Sweet'? What other China Glaze nail polishes have you tried and like? Do you prefer OPI or China Glaze?

Speak soon,

L x

LINKS

Amazon - China Glaze on Amazon
China Glaze - China Glaze Website

Review - China Glaze Nail Polish in 'Flip Flop Fantasy 873'

One nail polish which I absolutely love and which is my avid favourite for when I go on holiday or when I have a tan is a China Glaze nail polish in 'Flip Flop Fantasy 873'.

China Glaze have such a massive and beautiful range of colours on offer, with their inspiration coming from the shores of Tahiti, the nightlife in New York City and the beauty within every woman. When researching China Glaze on Google, I found that it is made from China Clay which acts as a nail hardener, which is also the same material which gives porcelain its shiny finish so that explains why the formula is so different to other nail polishes such as OPI. All their nail polishes are free of DBP, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.

As you can see from the swatches below 'Flip Flop Fantasy' is a gorgeous pinky coral colour which attracts so much attention and compliments and instantly brightens up an outfit.

I have applied 2 coats of nail polish to this nail and I have also applied a coat of the OPI Top Coat polish over the top. It is chip resistant, even before applying a top coat to it, and without the top coat is has a satin finish to it which is lovely, but I do prefer a glossy finish on my nails. The nail polish dries super quick as well which is fab for me, being very inpatient! 

I generally pick OPI over China Glaze as I find OPI's formula to be a lot better quality (however finding out that they are made from China Clay it does explain why the formula is different to any other nail polishes which I have tried). I also find that China Glaze brushes are so small, compared to OPI's brushes, so a lot harder and more time consuming (a sign of my impatience again) to paint longer nails, like mine. 

This nail polish retails at £13.00, nearly the same as OPI, however on many websites you can pick them up for a lot cheaper, for example on eBay for £8.99, which I have linked below.

China Glaze make some amazing nail polishes in a large variety of shades, and I seem to have built up quite the collection, so if you have not tried the brand before then you definitely should!

Have you ever tried this China Glaze nail polish in 'Flip Flop Fantasy'? What other China Glaze nail polishes have you tried and like? Do you prefer OPI or China Glaze?

Speak soon,

L x

LINKS

China Glaze on Ebay- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/271524732286?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

Review - Bourjois Touche Illuminatrice (Illuminating Touch) Powder Blush Blusher in 'Rose Universal 96'

A product which I have used for quite a long time and thoroughly enjoy is the Bourjois Touche Illuminatrice (Illuminating Touch) Powder Blush Blusher in Rose Universal 96.

This blusher comes with a mini brush and mirror inside, however I do not tend to use this brush as I love my Real Techniques Blush Brush 1407 which I purchased from Boots (link below) for £9.99. If you have not heard of Real Techniques then you should definitely look into this brand as their brushes are literally the bomb!!!

I love how the powder is so blendable, making it absolutely perfect for using it as a highlighter and blusher. The shade is an iridescent peachy rose with a gorgeous shine as it has added sparkle.

I tend to use this powder on my cheekbones, my temples and my brow bones, as part of my contouring routine, as I find that this product instantly sculpts my face and adds a gorgeous finish. This product is perfect for wearing in the day and evening and really catches the light on your skin!

I purchased this Bourjois Touche Illuminatrice (Illuminating Touch) Powder from Boots for I think around £7.00, however I cannot seem to find it online, so if any of you do please link it to me below!



Have you ever tried this Bourjois Touche Illuminatrice (Illuminating Touch) Powder in this shade or any of the other shades? If so, what do you think of it? What other highlighters would you recommend for me to try?



Speak soon,
L x

LINKS
Boots Real Techniques Blush Brush - http://www.boots.com/en/Real-Techniques-Blush-Brush-1407_1252046/

Review - Get Fruity bars in 'Scrumptious Strawberry', 'Moist Mixed Berry' and 'Juicy Apricot, Orange & Ginger' *

I may have officially found the most amazing bars ever, being the extremely yummy Get Fruity wholegrain oat bars in the flavours Scrumptious Strawberry, Moist Mixed Berry and Juicy Apricot, Orange & Ginger! I was very kindly sent these bars by the gorgeous Davina at Get Fruity and I can definitely say that I am a Get Fruity fan and will be purchasing more of these bars!

The Get Fruity bars were invented on a farm in Cornwall by Davina, a trained chef and working mum. These bars are crammed with fruity ingredients, packed with wholegrain oats and made using virgin coconut oil, which is a good fat, which stimulates your metabolism and is converted into energy, so these bars are perfect for a breakfast or lunch snack as they fill you up to the brim!

All the bars are juice infused, and only contain naturally occurring sugars from the fruit, and are all low in salt and a good source of fibre, being made up of wholegrain oats. They are part of your five a day, made with wholegrain oats and have no artificial flavours or colours. These bars are therefore perfect for vegans. The bars are 35g and all contain around 140 calories and have a chewy texture from the oats and are all so moist from the gorgeous fruit juices which the bars are infused with.


The allergy advice at the back of all the bar states that they "contains wheat and gluten. We are a nut free site but our bar may contain traces of nuts and seeds".

Starting off with the Scrumptious Strawberry which is described as "a blend of wholegrain oats with fruit including juice infused strawberries and fruit juice". The bar contains:- oats 42%, fruit 39% (raisins, strawberries infused with fruit juice concentrate 8%, fruit juice concentrate, red grape, white grape, apple & pear juice, strawberry granules 2%), virgin coconut oil, rice starch, colour: carmine, flavour: natural strawberry. 


This bar is a deep red in colour and tastes and smells amazing!

 This bar contains 143 calories which I think is amazing for a filling snack!


Juicy apricot, orange & ginger is described as "a blend of wholegrain oats with apricots, orange juice and natural ginger flavour". The bar contains:- oats 42%, fruit 39% (apricots 24%, preservative sulphur dioxide, fruit juice concentrate, orange juice 8%, white grape, apple & pear juice), virgin coconut oil, rice starch, colour: mixed carotenes, flavour: natural ginger. 


The bar is bright orange in colour and there are actual pieces of apricot and orange within the bar, as you can see from the pictures. I think that these two fruits really compliment each other well with the added ginger!

This bar contains only 135 calories, which is the lightest bar out of them all! 


Mixed moist berry is described as "a blend of wholegrain oats with fruit, including fruit infused cranberries, blackcurrants and blackberry juice". This bar contains:- oats 42%, fruit 39% (raisins, cranberries infused with fruit juice concentrate 5%, red grape juice concentrate , blackcurrants infused with fruit juice concentrate 4%, fruit juice concentrate, white grape, apple and pear, blackberry juice concentrate 2%), virgin coconut oil, rice starch, colour: beetroot red, flavour: natural blackberry. 


This bar is a deep purple in colour and is my favourite bar out of them all as it has a slightly sharp taste from the cranberries which I love and then is mixed with the sweet taste from the blackberry juice.

This bar contains only 140 calories, which is the second lightest bar at 3 calories less than the Scrumptious Strawberry bar. 


It was really hard to choose a favourite flavour out of the three flavours which were sent to me as they are all equally scrummy and all smell AMAZING, but if I had to pick the best in my opinion it would be the Moist Mixed Berry flavour. You can purchase these Get Fruity bars from Amazon (link below), The Eden Project, Rick Steins Deli, Kingsley Village and various wholesalers, such as Plough to Plate, Diverse Fine Foods and Chaffins.

I really urge you all to try these bars as they are amazing and I am thoroughly impressed at these bars but are so moreish so be careful :)!!!!



Have you ever tried any of the Get Fruity bars and what do you think of them? What other healthy bars/snacks would you recommend for me to try?


Speak soon,
L x

LINKS

Get Fruity - Get Fruity Website
Get Fruity Bars - Get Fruity Bars Full Range 
Get Fruity Bars on Amazon - Amazon