Cocoa Brown Tanning Range

This was one exciting press day for Cocoa Brown who doesn’t love tanning products. I love them so much seeing as I am nearly always behind a computer and I really don’t like to get tanned the usual way. I like to keep my skin in tip top condition, always using the highest factor cream possible. Tanning the natural way has its price…wrinkles. Well being 42 I can tell you young girls don’t do it. Opt for tanning lotions, creams and mousses rather than sunbeds and no factor cream. You will benefit in the long run. I don’t think I have stepped foot outside without factor 30-50 in the last 2 years. I pride myself that my skin is doing well for its age. So when I need a lillte bit of colour I reach into my bathroom cabinet, grab a mitt and some self tanner. One downside normally is the smell…well, keep reading ladies…this is amazing.

CoCo Brown Tanning Range

The main problem with nearly all the tanning lotions out there is the after smell. You know that rather biscuity, cooked chicken odour, and loads of you just don’t even bother with new products due to this fact. Well….hey…These products don’t have that distinctive tan smell one little bit. Not even a whiff, nothing, nada, zilch …you get me right!! It smells fresh and clean and a wonderful floral scent. Could this get any better…Yes, it’s an innovative 1 hour tan too!!

P1130318P1130295If thats not great then hear this…The range is so impressively easy and if you are new to self tanning this one will be perfect for you. Seasoned self tanners, this range just has to be purchased as I am sure you will fall head over heals for it.

The range consists of:

Tough Stuff an incredible exfoliator that whips the skin into shape before the products are applied, Its a rather great all round bathroom product too. My skin felt super soft and hydrated after using it the night before I tanned. It will get rid of stubborn old tan that has collected in areas. Your skin is constantly renewing itself so after a week you undoubtedly will always get a small bit of patchiness with any self tanner. Any company that tell you different will be just lying. But if you look after your skin and regularly moisturise and exfoliate then this will be minimal and you will hardly ever see it. Tough Stuff can be used up to 4 times a week so there is no need to ever be patchy girls.

Tan Mitt that is machine washable and will protect your pinkies from being stained. Make sure you use it with the following products listed below!

Then you have Chocolate Whip, a perfect pre tan moisturiser that is a must have. Now girls I used to be an educator and run a salon. You need to do your prep before you apply any self tanner or even when you have a professional spray tan this should be something that is done. Its the foundations and secrets of getting your tan to look REAL! Apply it on elbow, knees, hands, between fingers and toes. Not forgetting your feet, heels and any dry patches of skin. The tan will penetrate through but won’t cling to it and oxidise darker. Not a good look! Chocolate Whip is also the best product to prolong the life and the look of your tan too. The best part is that it will keep your skin fabulously hydrated and smells glorious.

Now for my favourite product from the tanning range. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan. This dries in seconds, leaves the skin feeling smooth, non sticky and ultra fresh. I felt like my skin had actually just come out of the shower, you know that fresh feeling, all crisp and clean. This lovely mousse is 1-3 hours in dry time, with 1 hour giving you a nice caramel glow to 3 hours for a deeper richer and naturally darker looking colour. Whats more a great aspect of this product it’s a brown mousse. So you can see where you are applying it, due to it not being sticky its also perfect to apply before you go out and if you don’t wash it off your not going to even notice you have it on. Neither will anyone else, as again it smells delicious. Girls they have a travel size formula too!!

I have tried countless tanning products, trained salons and professionals and write about them constantly, I really feel the next range has very big boots to fill, if at all. I passionate about great products and this may have just encouraged me to clear out my beauty cupboard and have just one set of products.

Could this range get any better? Well yes…2 more superb products are in this range, Gentle Bronze and Lovely Legs.

Gentle Bronze is a gradual tanning product that again smells great and is brown in colour, so no messy, nasty or unsightly white patches that are not noticed until too late. This is a daily bronzer that will keep you looking a beautiful caramel shade if applied every other day or it can be applied each day and it will gradually give you a perfect naturally darker sun kissed look.

And lastly Lovely Legs is a spry on leg perfecter that will hide this nasty little imperfections we all have. How many of you have ever used a darker foundation on your legs before a night out!!?? Come no be honest, I know I have, if I need a quick leg coverage. Even in the summer months when your tan looks nice, the legs always don’t look as great as the rest of you. Shaving and waxing is to blame, so here is the remedy. If you have this in your bathroom cabinet you will have perfect legs all year round too girls or guys!! Even on those rainy days, as it’s water resistant and won’t run if caught in a sudden shower.

Guys reading this, is prefect for you gentlemen too, and no one will know, the scent of this product is universal and will blend in with any aftershave. No horrid tan smell and your secret will be safe as houses.

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The 1 Hour Tan sent beauty bloggers wild when it was launched in 2013 selling out 15 weeks of stock in just 2 hours. 3 bottles fly off the shelves every single minute. This baby has also appeared in the gift bags at the Oscars, lucky celebrities.

You need not be jealous as this is the best bit I have kept till last, Cocoa Brown is available at www.feelunique.com, Superdrug stores and now Primark! For …drum roll £7.99

Hurry while stocks last!

Head over to www.slbstyle.com to see the the full day in pictures along with fashion and style info. I will be doing a full article on SLB Style next week with before and after images. Ping me a little Tweet @sarahbacchus and let me know if you be purchasing it soon?

Visit the Cocoa Brown website here and Tweet them @cocoabrowntan

Dolce Inspired Look

This season I am loving all the Spring summer 2014 collections. Brands that are shining and screaming out to be used for style inspiration are Dolce & Gabbana with its stunning and sexy curvaceous collection and Burberry for its girly lace and sheer paneling. They are truly making women feel wonderful and bringing back the feminine looks of the 50s and 60s with their wiggle skirts. Would you like to own a stunning runway skirt. Well with some creative flair you can. Along with the right accessories you will look picture perfect. On any budget…Trust me as I have styled so many women and worked with countless icons in the fashion world. All it takes is a little know how and a savvy eye for amazing finds. I love sharing them with you so you can create your own fantastic looks. Everyday is a runway in my head!

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Spring Summer 2014 has to be gearing up for the ultimate in sophistication and you can be one jump ahead of the High Street. Be it with statement clothing or beautiful jewels. Oversized earrings and once again we will see stunning necklaces everywhere. Pattern clashing galore..

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Here is my take on the sexy feminine looks hitting the high street soon. Think skirts, lots of amazing skirts and lots of big jewels. Non of this need to break the bank either. The skirt is a little 1 hour creation I made last week, all you need is a sewing machine and some simple dotty fabric. I purchased one metre and threw this together out of a basic pattern bought in my local C&H Fabrics. I adapted the size to fit me perfectly making a toile (test pattern) now I can create whatever my heart desires. I say if you can sew a straight line then you can sew anything! the jacket was found in a charity shop. Shoes are from Zara and the bag is vintage. If you would like an article all about creating one for yourself let me know. Ping me a little Tweet @sarahbacchus and I will set about doing a tutorial for you! IMG_1428IMG_1407IMG_1389

The main event here is this stunning necklace found on eBay no less. For the whopper of a price tag of £7.50!! Fashion and style don’t need to cost the earth. Worn with a Primark top costing £5! Before you head off to purchase any expensive item take a look on ebay as I am sure you will be mesmerised at the range. Now it is worth mentioning this one came from America so I had to way a few weeks to receive it, I am sure you will agree for less than £10 including postage it was a steel. It pulls this look together making it look very of the moment.IMG_1379IMG_1495IMG_1378IMG_1373IMG_1369seeing spotsIMG_1356IMG_1350IMG_1343IMG_1348

Come say hello at my main website too!! www.slbstyle.com

Ginger Gelato Winchester

Italian gelato has to be amongst the most delightful things in life. Chocolate, strawberries and Oreo cookies just about level at the top too. Cakes and fantastic coffee being a close second.

IMG_1486Hold on what do we have here…A new little deli…an ice cream parlour…NO its a full on Italian gelato dream, coffee house and they have cake too, not just any cake. This is the brain child of Ginger Tea For Two. All the wondrous harmony from the tea shop across the road but with a twist. Italian flair, Italian excitement and REAL Italian gelato. Made with love and devotion and with the best ingredients you can possibly get. Chatting to Claire Owen the manager her passion for the recipes is heartwarming. Who knew so much went into gelato.

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IMG_1456Just feast your delectable little eyes on that little lot. I almost had a Vicar of Dibley moment..you know the one where she says “I’m going in” and dives right into the chocolate fountain. Only my lactose intolerance held me back!!
IMG_1448IMG_1449IMG_1450We got to try out each and every single flavour and choose our favourite so we could take some away and enjoy while pottering around town, or the option was there to save it up a little longer sit by the river, picnic style. They provide nifty little cold box containers that let you can take home. I tried all the sorbets and Ian got to try the gelato. AMAZING is not an appropriate word at all.

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IMG_1451IMG_1453IMG_1454Sprinkles for the kids and the big kids in us! Cake too, red velvet just sitting there looking all stunning.
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The team Paulo, Claire and Callum are super fun and willing for you to try whatever you would like. They have been open for only a week so you need to get your gelato shakes on and get their fast!!!!

IMG_1464IMG_1465IMG_1468IMG_1470IMG_1471Sampling the Lime and mint sorbet…
IMG_1476IMG_1477Ian this is sooooo good.. Italian culture is so deeply soaked in an appreciation of the good things in life and this has to be the best gelato I have ever tried. Most people think of gelato as ice cream. However, it is not really “ice cream,” since it is made from milk. Using milk gives gelato a smoother and subtler texture than the frozen ice cream we scoop from containers bought at our local supermarket. In Italy, gelato is almost always purchased at gelateria (ice cream shop) Its a wonderful tradition in Italy to go out for gelato. Make it your plan whenever you are in Winchester to pop and see Claire and the boys.
IMG_1478IMG_1479Just look at those scrumptious Oreos!!IMG_1482Ian was being all traditional and went for the vanilla. He walked out, wandered down the high street casually and delightfully enjoying his…mine on the other hand didn’t even make it out of the door!
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You can find Ginger Gelato along St Thomas Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9HJ

Follow me on Twitter @sarahbacchus and visit the main website www.slbstyle.com for more lifestyle fun and adventure.

Interview with Charlie Hedges

I had the upmost pleasure of interviewing the one and only Charlie Hedges of Kiss FM fame recently. Charlie is the youngest female breakfast DJ, presenter and all round brilliant entertainer in the UK. She has a following of over 5 million listeners every week winning her an Arqiva Awards for the best breakfast show!! Impressed then keep reading!

Charlie DJ

From the age of 7 Charlie had a dream. She wanted to be a DJ and she hasn’t stopped ever knowing this is what she wanted to do. When you have passion for something and that passion is so strong it will see you through. She is such an inspiration to millions and she’s not just stopping with music. Charlie is amazing voice for charity work. She’s an ambassador for Prince’s Trust  Mencap, Help for Hero’s, and was there for them last year representing Great Britain by carrying the Olympic torch last summer.Charlie DJ

Can this girl ever want to stop…It looks like she won’t and by golly are we glad. One hell of a presenter. She also has a show on Sunday mornings 2-3am. All the latest top tracks for the decreeing clubbed and music fan. If thats not enough for you she has landed a 3rd show with Kiss Fresh on Friday nights 7-9pm

Her love of dance music and ‘Electro-House with a twist’ she has gigs and festivals across the globe, including Pacha London where she is a resident DJ. Charlie is also known on the UK fashion party scene regularly DJing for fashion brands such as New Look, as well as being the official DJ at the Kardashian Kollection for Lipsy last year. This girl just had to be interviewed by myself as my love of fashion is insane!

Highlights of her time at KISS include interviewing everyone from Daniel Craig and Jennifer Aniston to Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Kanye West and Britney Spears plus her teenage idol, Justin Timberlake.

This summer Charlie has been filming with lucky life TV, interviewing superstar DJs across Ibiza. Last year she presented a Puma and FHM event with Professor Green, was a judge at the final of open mic live at the 02, introduced x factor star Amelia Lily’s new single, and is continually doing voiceovers on MTV.

Does this girl ever sleep? I guess when you do what you love and love what you do its not like work. She’s stunning and so much fun! I tried to get the cheeky side out of her with a few fun questions

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1. If you could have any artist on your show who would you have and why.

Probably Simon Cowell, I know he’s not an artist but let’s be honest he’s got access to some of the biggest celebs in the world, make friends with him and I think you could then have whoever you wanted

2. What sort of leading questions do you like to ask them to really get them talking

Start with talking about the product they are there to promote and then ask cheeky questions be it about their relationship, earnings, as long as you do it tongue in cheek they normally play along

3. Who is your style icon? Or what’s your favourite look of this season

I LOVE Mollie from the Saturdays, her girly style is my favourite celeb style by far, I think she’s beautiful

4. Presenting kiss FM is an amazing job. If you were not a DJ what else would you love to do?

My honest answer to this was that I never let myself focus on another job/career. I always told myself that is the job of my dream and that’s what I want and I honestly didn’t have any other jobs in mind. I studied journalism at Harlow college so maybe focus on journalism as an option

5. Your such a busy girl with all the charity work you do for the Princess trust it must be hard to get down time. What do you do to unwind on days off.

If I get a day off I’ll go for a run in the morning and spend the whole day catching up with family and friends and still probably take a sneaky peek at emails every now and again, I’m a nightmare!!

6. Working for a radio station must be amazing but does it impact with your personal life.

Personal life as in our whole lives go on air? I don’t mind it it’s fun and you get to share your experiences with millions of other people

7. Who has influenced your career the most.

Mum, dad and brother definitely as they’ve always been supportive from day one. In the industry, bam bam as he gave me my first radio break really, he took me on as a kiss breakfast show assistant where I spent my time making tea…but it was here that I learnt everything. I also think Chris evens is a genius! He is an amazing presenter to look up to.

8. If you could collaborate with another DJ for an evening who would you pick?

Back to back with Calvin Harris then Swedish house mafia and bring them back together

9. Who would you have loved to DJ for ie. like Marilyn Monroe or Sinatra?

Michael Jackson, I loved his music growing up

10. Leading me onto the next…where would be your dream gig? It could be anywhere or imaginary!! For anyone!

I would love to play in Vegas, any club but just bringing London house to Vegas would be my dream

So as you can see this unstoppable young lady had passion and believed in herself. She followed her dream and made it a reality. I for one can’t wait to hear her play live in London soon. She’s a huge inspiration to me and everyone around her. So follow your heart and visualise the amazing future that lies ahead each and every one of you! You can do it too….

Charlie will be playing at the Ibiza Space Opening Party alongside the Chemical Brother on Sunday 25th May. For news on all other gigs and projects go to: http://www.charliehedges.com/dj-charlie-hedges  and Twitter @charliehedges

Charlie presents the Kiss FM breakfast show Mon-Friday (6-9am), the Sunday morning Kiss Mix Show (2-3am) , and on the new Kiss Fresh show on Friday nights (7-9pm – which you can tune in from  Kiss’s freeview channel 712, on the Kiss Kube app, and on the KISS FRESH Player online).

Charlie has her own soundcloud page, each weeks Kiss mix will be uploaded here:  www.soundcloud.com/charlie-hedges

Make sure you follow me on Twitter @sarahbacchus for more exciting Fashion, food, beauty and even more interviews coming up soon. Check out my website www.slbstyle.com too!!

The Smokin Joint

The Smokin Joint is one heck of a foodies heaven. Urban street food at its very best and on the High Street in Winchester. Wednesday’s through to Saturday’s you can find Wes the owner dishing up some awesome fare. You will be dawn in by the pulled pork and grilled halloumi for those of you who are vegetarians. Made with real love and dedication, all the ingredients are smoked by Wes himself at the end of the day, ready for the next. He’s so passionate about the flavours its a real treat to just visit his stand and chat away about wondrous recipes. They have a new buttermilk chicken dish with a coating that will knock your socks off. Top secret ingredients of course!

Smokin Joint IMG_1216IMG_1217Just look at that tempting halloumi…IMG_1221IMG_1225I think someone is ready to chow down and be taken on a gastronomic ride of her life!IMG_1227

We can’t get enough of the new buttermilk chicken and every time we visit Winchester we have to pop to see hime for a little snack. Topped with a tremendous homemade coleslaw that will nuzzle itself perfectly into the delicious meat. You will compliment Wes by rolling your eyes with total disbelief at how incredible it is. Who needs KFC when this beauty is in town.

IMG_1229IMG_1230Even the animal world can’t get enough of the aromas coming form the food stall. Come on drop some…anyone want to feed me! Poor pup didn’t stand a chance!

Get yourself down to Winchester pronto and make your way to the Smokin Joint soon for some seriously good food and say hello to the wonderful man himself. More importantly try one of each if you can’t decide what to go for, its so worth it.IMG_1232IMG_1234Say Hello to Wes on Twitter @smokinjoint88 and for more amazing lifestyle treats and fashion goodies head over to www.slbstyle.com and Tweet Sarah @sarahbacchus

Kyoto Kitchen Winchester

Kyoto Kitchen

Kyoto Kitchen is one of the best places to eat in Winchester. The staff are wonderful, attentive and they make you feel like you are the most important people to ever eat at this incredible Japanese restaurant.

The sushi, maki and sashimi are fabulous especially the tuna with poppy seeds, they will make you think you are in heaven. Every morsel will melt in your mouth and you will be pleasantly surprised, if you have never eaten raw fish or sushi before, you will be hooked. The scallops are always the main event for us as they are so jaw droopingly amazing, you will revel in the memories of their succulent and delicate taste for weeks on end after you have visited.

In actual fact the miso soup is on another level, you would be hard pushed to find anywhere that could possibly compare to this astonishing array of dishes. You will be blown away by the service and the food.

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We ordered a few dishes, Tuna crusted with poppy seeds, Miso soup, Edamame beens, plain steamed rice and the chefs sashimi selection, washed down with a nice glass of merlot, a sensible glass of water and a tasty drop of mango juice.

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P1130037This face was a picture….oooh just look at all that delicious, tasty and amazingly well presented platters. I was more than happy to dive in and savour every mouthful.
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The flavours will send shivers down your spine and you will feel like an extra on master chef…Its that good!!

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Every mouthful of every meal I have ever had there has been exquisite. The decor is tranquil, serene and beautiful, the staff are wonderful and the whole experience will make you want to take all your friends along for a festival of a feast.

We thoroughly recommend this fabulous restaurant!

Book a table now!

70 Parchment Street | Winchester
Hampshire | SO23 8AT
Tel. 01962 890895 | info@kyotokitchen.co.uk

For more info on places to visit, tons of Winchester delights and loads of fabulous fashion advice visit www.slbstyle.com and Tweet Sarah @sarahbacchus

Winchester Street Style

Fashion design really starts with street style. Everyday people out and about have no idea they could be the inspiration for the next big trend in fashion and style. Getting spotted doesn’t necessarily mean being featured on a runway or being asked to model for the latest campaign. Designers are constantly looking at everyday life for their next collections visual muse.

We decided to hit the streets of Winchester to see all the fabulous fashion that it had to offer. Winchester is becoming very well know for its Fashion Week. The last one was at the beginning of April and was a huge success. It is now a key date in the calendar in the South East. Also one of the most talked-about fashion events outside of London.

Seeing that the city is steeped in history and it used to be the former capital of England it needed some real fashion savvy reporting. So with this is mind and a camera in hand it was high time to snap away, not the models…No we wanted to see the real people of this beautiful city. The people that are more commonly known as Wintonians.

Wintonian FashionThis rather fabulous lady was elegantly gliding her way down the High Street, we just had to stop her for a snap. Totally fabulous in every way possible.IMG_1213Casual and so very polished. Matching accessories even when dressing down. IMG_1233Casual outfits done to perfection. Real understated style and oh so preppy. Red trousers are the essential style statement to any truly fabulous man’s wardrobe. Those shoes below…the most stylish looking lady. Cool, trendy and radiant from head to foot.IMG_1235We are loving the distressed jeans.IMG_1236We took a scenic wander around the Cathedral and spotted cool, stylish and effortless fashion everywhere.IMG_1237Fun, young and confident style was found in bucket loads too! IMG_1238IMG_1239Even the fashionable dogs in winchester have stylish owners!

IMG_1242Colourful accessories are not just about a vibrant scarf and cute shoes. This young lady below was strutting her flamboyant, dazzling and beautiful self along the street and we jumped at the chance to picture her. We have to say Winchester you are spectacular in every way possible! IMG_1243

For more style and fashion form Sarah head over to www.slbstyle.com and follow her on Twitter @sarahbacchus

Tan Organic

Are you loving being on the pale side at present, embracing the lighter side of life. Not being one for sunning yourself and do you wear factor 50 all year round. Like many you may have found our skin is so much plumper and heathy looking without the Summer sun damage.

So when we do want a little bit of a glow what should we reach for. Well here is a tremendous tanning lotion called TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil.

This Eco certified oil is ultra moisturising and perfectly subtle, you will look astonishingly sun kissed in a very natural way. It contains 8% DHA so this basically means its fairly light and perfect for the face and body. It was voted the best facial tan in 2013 so you can’t really get better than that now can you.

It will last about 4 days on well looked after skin thats been exfoliated and cleansed prior to application. You can focus on your legs to give them a little hint of colour and gradually build on layer by layer. It will last very well and didn’t fade in patches either.

IMG_0980They state you don’t need to apply it with a mitt so I was understandably a little dubious about this…I did 1/2 with a tan mitt and the rest with my bare hands. Just remembering to wash my hands afterwards! I don’t know what on earth I was worried about. No staining and no clothing was harmed during this trial either!

It glided on and made my skin feel very hydrated. It left a nice citrus fragrance behind that I loved as most of my perfumes I am wearing at the moment have citrus undertones. Citrus works so well with all scents, you can’t really go wrong. The oil vanished almost instantly and felt fairly dry to the touch so its a good idea to moisturise your skin a little before you apply it.

IMG_0994The bottle has a little dropper in the top to help with application and spillage issues…I’m a clumsy one so this was a god send!!

Application is recommended every 2-3 days to keep a nice glow and you can re apply it after 6-8 hours to intensify the shade. I loved the little bit of colour this gave me and I was astonished at how little you need to give a nice even, blended and perfect cover of colour. Now I used to teach students to do professional tans and I have to say this is a really easy home tan.

Sunbeds are so bad for you and I think they should be banned. Tan Organic is the Worlds first and only Eco Certified Self Tanning brand and I am loving it. With 64% of what we apply to our skin getting absorbed into our bloodstream, I am never using products that are not certified ever again. Hey ladies if this tan can be applied while your pregnant, yes pregnant then thats incredible!

This is going to be in my bathroom cabinet for a long time!IMG_1009This was a PR sample but I have fallen in love with it. I only share what I love here with you guys. So if I don’t love it you won’t get to read about it. I know tons of you like to hear the bad things, but I feel its way more beneficial to not mention bad products. This is a great product…off to top up right now!

Follow Tan Organic on Twitter @TanOrganic  for more from myself Sarah please follow me on Twitter too!! My main website is slbstyle.com go say Hi there too. xxxTan Organic