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Monday, January 6, 2014

Downton Abbey Beauty Review & Giveaway

Did you guys have a relaxing weekend? I did. With a clean house for New Years, I stepped out, did a little shopping, dined out and watched the Season 4 premiere of Downton Abbey. I've followed this British TV Series from the very beginning and I absolutely love it. I'm FEELING very British & English Rose right now :). Let me tell you why! Last year, I blogged about the Downton Abbey Beauty Collection sold exclusively at Marks & Spencer (it's still available...well, some of it). British blogger (Russian born), Natalia from Fashioned by Love knew my love for Downton Abbey, contacted me and sent me some beautiful things from the collection. I thought it was so awesome of her. Natalia, THANK YOU so much for your generosity. I'm enjoying everything. Natalia sent me soaps, lip balm and a beautiful English makeup case (has a gorgeous rose & hummingbird on it). I ask all of my readers to visit Natalia's blog. She has impeccable taste & class when it comes to fashion and accessories, she knows designers from A-Z, and what thoroughly impresses me is her knowledge of the history of fashion. She knows when something is original, has been copied, and can compare and contrast it all. She's truly amazing! So stop by her blog. You will definitely LEARN something everyday. Getting back to this collection, I have nearly triple of everything, because my mom purchased some items (Marks & Spencer ships internationally) for Christmas and so did a friend. So that's why I'm doing a giveaway. I have bath products galore and want to share some Downton Abbey love. Here's my review of the products. Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter my giveaway. It's open worldwide. Good Luck!

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)

Downton Abbey Scented Candles (supersweet),
Downton Abbey Nail Files (supersweet) &  Loofah (bittersweet)
I loved these candles. They have a gold Downton Abbey insignia on the glass casing. They also have a nice weight to them for their size. The scent, as all the products in the collection, contains both freesia and mandarin. Despite being small, they don't burn fast, which is awesome. So that speaks of their quality. The nail files are thick and do an excellent job filing. One is burgundy, with the Downton Abbey insignia. The other is teal, with gold crowns. The bath loofah was ok. It's a little thin & skimpy. Not as fluffy or thick as what I'm use to, but it's ok.

Natalia, gave me a beautiful makeup case (not a part of the Downton Abbey Collection) to store my Downton Abbey beauty treasures in. I really love it. It has a beautiful pink lining and mirror on the inside. The outer covering has a gorgeous rose (bottom) and hummingbird (top). She also included a really nice note. Thank You Natalia! :)
Downton Abbey Signature Soaps (supersweet)
Included in Natalia's gift were these Downton Abbey Signature Soaps. These were my favorite out of the entire collection. These soaps are luxurious! Everything about them is exquisite. If you don't purchase but one thing from the collection, get these. They're great as a gift or placed in a guest bathroom. They lather really well and feel really good to the hands. I love the paper they're wrapped with and also the tissue paper underneath the wrapping. The words "Downton Abbey" are engraved in each bar of soap. I opened one for you to see. They're white and have a freesia & mandarin scent.

Downton Abbey Lip Balm Duo (bittersweet)
Another gift from Natalia was the Downton Abbey Lip Balm Duo. One tin is vanilla (burgundy Downton Abbey insignia lid) and the other is peach (gold crown insignia). The vanilla is outstanding! Loved! It truly has a vanilla scent. The peach didn't really smell like peach. It's kind of artificial and waxy. I LOVE the tins they come in :)!

Downton Abbey Bath Crystals (supersweet)
There's nothing skimpy about these bath crystals (box pictured in the middle)! They're very hearty and smell really good. Place some in your bath water and let the miracles happen. They soften your water and your skin. I love these.

Downton Abbey Body Wash (supersweet)
This body wash is very decadent! As you can see from the gif above it's clear. It lathers really well and feels great to the skin. The freesia and mandarin scent lingers on the skin. I love it.

Downton Abbey Body Lotion (bittersweet) & Cream Bath (supersweet)
The Body Lotion is white and creamy, but if you use too much it can get a little heavy. So my suggestion is to use it sparingly. Bubbles! Bubbles! Love the Cream Bath! Again, a little goes a long way. Pour some under running water and you'll have a bath tub filled with decadent bubbles (that last!). Very luxurious!

Overall it's an excellent collection! The scent is very soft and likeable! I'm not a flowery scented person and I loved it.

Downton Abbey Bathing Collection Set Giveaway
Use the Rafflecopter widget below to win a Downton Abbey 5-Pc Bathing Collection Set.
This giveaway is opened worldwide. A winner will be announced in 1/13 blog post.
You must be a bloglovin' reader to enter. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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80 comments

  1. Oh my gosh how nice of Natalia! I will definitely check out her blog and I so want to try these soaps now!! Hop you had a great New Years!

    Kat | www.poshbykat.com

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  2. great
    I'm following u via GFC&bloglovin, hope u can follow back. THX XOXO

    Moda della donna

    Bloglovin

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  3. Uuuwaaahhhhh I love Downton Abbey! :D It's one of my favourite British shows! :D

    I've entered your lovely giveaway as well, good luck to everyone! ^_^

    It's so nice that you have such lovely friends that will send you beautiful presents like this one. ^_^

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  4. Hey Kim..

    I have entered! Excited!

    http://simplysassysstyle.blogspot.com/

    dawn

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  5. Such pretty products - must check my local M&S! Hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays lovely x

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  6. Hi Kim:-) I follow you everywhere!;-))) This is such an amazing giveaway. Thank you for sharing. Xxxx

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  7. You always get the best things Kim....I love M&S:) Have a great week:)
    ~Anne

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  8. Natalia is amazing indeed, I love her blog and she is such a nice girl. You know Kim, I've become addicted to Downton Abbey too after perceiving your enthusiasm for that series. I hope to see soon the season premiere :-)
    Love,
    Coco
    Coco et La vie en rose
    Coco et La vie en rose on Bloglovin
    Coco et La vie en rose on Facebook

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  9. What a lovely idea to do a giveaway with the extras you have Kim! :)

    You really are so sweet!


    I still haven't watched this show - maybe I should give it a go!

    Away From The Blue

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  10. Happy New Years! I know... I'm rather late but better late than never. My friends keep telling me about Downtown Abbey but I haven't seen it yet! I really HAVE to get organised. Really lovely of you to do the give away! Some great items.

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  11. So lovely!! What an awesome thing to do :) Am glad you enjoyed them as well!! Am glad you're enjoying the new series of Downton so far as well...I enjoyed it lots! Good luck to all the entrants as well :))) Have a lovely week doll! xx

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  12. Wow! Kim,Your gift from Nat looks super lush. Funny i have not seen those collection at M&S my shopping online made me not to visit M&S shops on highstreets. Have been missing alot.I only visited M&S once last year with my mum. These are truly beautiful and i love the packaging alot. Fingerscrossed on the giveaway might be the lucky winner haha :)
    Happy 2014 sweeties,kisses..

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  13. You are a lucky lady Kim! Natalia is so generous and you got some very cool products! Hopefully I get to Marks & spencer and get those soaps as well!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  14. These look so good! I'd LOVE to try them all!
    Loved the post! I loved the way you reviewed the product!

    Relationships.College.Love

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  15. Hi Kim! How sweet of Natalia! I love her blog too, I agree with you I am always amazed by her great knowledge of fashion history and of everything she knows! Btw, loving what she sent you, the whole collection looks really good and would love to try it. The soaps, the lip balms and the body wash are what inspire me most!:) I start to watch the serie too..becoming addicted to it! Have a good day dear, kisses! xo

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  16. Thank you for the lovely giveaway & Happy New Year :)

    Bloglovin' : http://www.bloglovin.com/winlyn
    Facebook name: Li Na
    Twitter: @linalyn5

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  17. So nice of Natalia to send this to you all the way from England! I have heard great reviews about Downton Abby but never watched it!

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  18. I love the packaging it comes in. Looks neat and nice. Did not know they had a beauty collection.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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  19. What a lovely and generous gift. I love watching Downton Abbey, it's perfect escapism tv ;-) I won't be entering the giveaway though as it would take away one chance from somebody else and I have a M&S pretty much down the road :-) Good luck to everybody xo

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  20. these products are all look amazing for the packaging and very good
    tr3ndygirl.com
    kiss

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  21. Every single one looks and sounds sooooo good, Kim:) No wonder you love them! I will be honest. I've never seen the show....waaaaah! I think it's on Netflix though, so I'll see if I can watch the first season at least.

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  22. How sweet is Natalia?! It's always so fun when someone shares your love of fashion, tv, and beauty, especially when they can all culminate into something so fun! Glad most of these products got the 'supersweet' stamp of approval!
    Chic on the Cheap

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  23. I've never seen the show but all of these products sound wonderful! So sweet of Natalia to send you such a nice package :)

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart
    Headband Giveaway!

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  24. lovely,thanks for the chance! Have a wonderful week everyone!

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  25. Aw, Kim, so so so kind of you!!! Wow, I didn't expect a whole paragraph about myself - you made me blush. :)

    xxx

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  26. So lovely of Natalia! The gift set is so beautifully packaged, looks great!

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  27. Wow Kim! I entered, hope to win! The collection looks awesome:-) I can't wait for the series to air again in US!! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
    -Jyoti
    Style-Delights Blog

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  28. love the candles :)
    xoxo
    http://myheartaintabrain.blogspot.pt/

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  29. Sometimes I wish we could smell things through our computer! The whole collection looks lovely!

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  30. Ah I guess we all tuned in last night! Me thinks that Mr Branson and Lady Mary just may hook up at some point hmmm. And they will probably pamper themselves with this before they do.


    Allie of ALLIE NYC
    allienyc.com

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  31. What a beautiful giveaway! They look perfect for a pumper day! ;)

    Diana
    www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com
    New Outfit Post: The sun on a Rainy Day

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  32. Oh what an awesome giveaway Kim! Everything looks so pretty and fancy! I really should get into Downton Abby! I have heard such great things :D

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  33. These products look so pretty and luxurious! Thanks for the giveaway, I just entered :)
    xx

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  34. These are some precious gifts Kim.Lucky you! I really love its packaging.
    xx
    Style Of OzOz
    Style Of OzOz Facebook Page

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  35. Wowza! pretty and fabulous!
    i don't watch the show but i know everyone that does just loves it! (including my friend Andrew from work bahhaa)
    glad it was super sweet ;)
    xx Corinne
    cateyesandthighhighs.com

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  36. What a nice Christmas surprise! All those Downtown Abbey beauty products look gorgeous!
    I started watching the show with my mum when it was first broadcasted in Spain and we love it. But then I moved out from my parents and I didn't watch any further than the first season - I should really catch up!
    Have a lovely week, Kim!

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  37. Hey Kim, this looks like an AMAZING collection! I think it's wonderful making friends through blogging. So glad I "met" you. Have a great week!

    xo Jo

    http://www.whiterosesandcoffee.com/

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  38. Thank you for this review! I've been itching to know about them! I LOVE DA!!!
    xo,
    nancy

    http://www.adoretoadorn.com

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  39. I love Natalia's blog, she indeed has a phenomenal knowledge of fashion - I don't get how she does it haha! These products seem really nice so I'm going to enter! I have never watched the series tough (I did heard of it) so maybe I have to do that now :D xx

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  40. I had no idea Downton Abbey made soaps. What don't they do? Good luck to the entrants.

    http://www.ohtobeamuse.com/

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  41. What a lovely gift! The candles look nice :)

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  42. Great products <3

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  43. Hi, you have really great blog:) I am your new follower and I invite to my blog: http://www.swiatwkolorzeblond.com/

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  44. How sweet of her to send you those goodies!!! I am enamored by those soaps! And GAH I love the gold insignia. Soooooo pretty!

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  45. Kim, I just love that you always find these cool novelty beauty items to feature! I love Downton Abbey and can't wait to see the new one--this weekend was so busy I didn't have a chance to see it yet! Wishing you a very happy 2014!
    xo Mary Jo

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  46. Kim, I just love that you always find these cool novelty beauty items to feature! I love Downton Abbey and can't wait to see the new one--this weekend was so busy I didn't have a chance to see it yet! Wishing you a very happy 2014!
    xo Mary Jo

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  47. Kim, I just love that you always find these cool novelty beauty items to feature! I love Downton Abbey and can't wait to see the new one--this weekend was so busy I didn't have a chance to see it yet! Wishing you a very happy 2014!
    xo Mary Jo

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  48. Oh how nice of Natalia to send you all this fabulous stuff and so nice of you to have a great giveaway. They all look amazing Kim.

    xo
    Sam
    http://fabulouspetite.blogspot.com

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  49. How beautiful ,what a gorgeous Giveaway! Good luck ,everyone!!!

    Happy new Year! kisses :)

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  50. waw natalia is really adorable! that was so nice of her! and the products look amazing, so so pretty!

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  51. so funny that i just finished the season premiere of downton! happy 2014!

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  52. I've watched about 3 episodes but got sidetracked. I need to go back and finish the seasons. The body wash sounds nice!

    Mo

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  53. Aww such lovely things! Those lip balms are adorable!

    Cee. ♥
    Code Overdressed

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  54. Even the packaging is gorgeous!

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  55. Wow, everything is so pretty. I would have to buy extras of everything to use as decor in the bathroom. Sounds like you had a great weekend, hope your week is just as good :)

    LittlePinkRainBoots.blogspot.com

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  56. I absolutely adore Downton Abbey! We watched part of the premier last evening--I was so tired, though. So, we taped it to finish watching tonight. :) Lovely products and fab review! Cheerio! xo T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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  57. Isn't Natalia such a lovely lady? I'm a great fan of hers :) And of yours, too, Kim! Thanks for this wonderful giveaway, the Downtown Abbey products look just wonderful and I'll be crossing my fingers I'm the lucky winner!
    xox,
    Cee

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  58. What great products and a really nice giveaway!
    xx Easy Outfits, by Pip

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  59. I like the packaging - very intricate and girlie. I've never seen Downtown Abbey, but have been recommended. Right now, my husband and I are on a Breaking Bad marathon. We'll probably start Downtown Abbey after that though.

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  60. I'm so loving the Downton Abbey stuff.. here's hoping I win!! :)

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  61. You have such a lovely friend, I'd like to try the soap, sounds great!

    xx

    http://www.attraction2fashion.com

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  62. These packages look so very English. How nice they came to you as a sweet surprise. You definitely are being loved, Kim. I used to love thus peach body spray by Mark & Spencer back home. There were shops in Thailand. It smelled so good but didnt last very long.

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  63. Oh Kim, this set looks perfect for DA fans and the packaging is just divine. How generous of Natalia and also you for doing this giveaway!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  64. Thank you for the giveaway!
    I followed all the steps.

    What a coincidence! I just started a giveaway too.

    http://www.beautyandthemist.com/

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  65. Kim,

    It's always nice to have sweet blogger friends!! This made my heart smiled!!

    So many goodies I want them all!! Thanks for sharing your treats.

    I remembered when you did this with the Godiva Chocolate and I won!!

    Good Luck to everyone!!

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  66. Amazing giveaway!!

    <3
    Harlynn
    www.mindyourmadness.blogspot.com

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  67. love, love, love! i watched the first season on Netflix. can't wait till they upload more, i'm so behind!

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  68. Hmm what can I add I just love it !!

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  69. I'm following you from everywhere :) I wish I can win all these beauties :=)

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  70. Wow, these are all wonderful items from Downton Abbey Marks & Spencer. I would love try them all.

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  71. Lovely giveaway! Big fan right here! Ashley.caswell@ymail.com

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  72. This was so kind of Natalia. I've been following her blog for a while now. There are two Marks and Spencer stores about ten minutes from my home and I am regularly in there but I don't remember seeing this range!
    I must take a closer look next time I visit!

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