Chanel Sublimage L’eau Démaquillage Cleansing Water

Available Here

This is the most luxurious cleansing water you’ll ever have on your countertop. With vanilla planifolia and purifying harungana extract, this silky water cleanses, soothes, and illuminates skin in one step. I like to use mine with cotton pads to remove makeup and cleanse my skin. As a busy mom, there are nights when I’m so tired I just want to do a one-step routine and fall into bed! This product is a little luxury that makes my skin feel clean and hydrated at the end of the day. On days that I’m not wearing makeup, I like to use this throughout the day to freshen and illuminate my skin.

Chanel Le Blanc Essence Lotion Light Creator

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Makeup artist James Webb described Le Blanc Essence Lotion as “primer for your skincare”. It’s a light, silky water formula with a beautiful pearl luminance. You can splash a bit of this into your hands after cleansing and gently pat into your skin before topping with serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. Le Blanc Essence Lotion gives a beautiful gentle light to skin and sets the stage for glowy makeup while ume flower oil deeply nourishes and hydrates skin throughout the day. When I use this, my skin feels better and my makeup looks better.

Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Blurring Smooth-Effect Foundation SPF 15

Available Here

Since I’ve been focusing on taking better care of my skin, I was looking for a light, natural looking foundation I could wear every day. James Webb told us to give this foundation a good shake to blend the two semi-transparent powders suspended inside. People varied on how they preferred to apply this foundation, but I like the soft, even coverage a foundation brush gives. This foundation formula creates a blurred, filtered look on skin while still appearing fresh and natural. I like using a light powder on top to set, but it isn’t necessary; my makeup still looked fresh five hours later even without setting powder. I wear the color B30.

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in Golden Light

Available Here

I loved the way James Webb demonstrated brushing this dewy bronzing stick on an angled cheek brush to create the softest, natural-looking bronze glow ever. Gone are the days of the orange contour streak down the cheek… Happy we are finally embracing a fresher, more natural bronze these days.

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in “#260 Alezane”

Available Here

As soon as I tried this beautiful rose-toned blush I knew I had to bring it home with me! I love the subtle gold flecks in it and the way it creates a fresh, slightly sunkissed look. I apply mine with an angled blush brush just underneath my cheekbones and blend up and onto the apples of my cheeks.

Chanel Stylo Ombre et Contour Eyeshadow Liner Khôl in “Rouge Noir”

Available Here

This is such a versatile product. It’s a creamy sort of crayon that you can use as an eyeshadow by blending out with an eyeshadow brush or use as an eyeliner by applying directly onto your lashline. I chose the gorgeous plum color “Rouge Noir” because it looks great on light eyes and is a fantastic color for spring and summer. But I’m currently looking at other colors to add because I think this is such a great product that will save me time and space in my makeup bag!

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Moisturizing Glossimer in “Bourgeousie”

Available Here

I saw this rose-mauve gloss with subtle flecks of gold on my mom and fell in love. What a gorgeous, subtle color that looks amazing on lips. Add this over a lipstick or wear it on its own – it’s perfection.

This was my most difficult post to write from our U.K. driving trip because all the destinations could have individual posts of their own. But some of them can be stops along your way to other places and for that reason I’ve decided to put them all into one “English Countryside” post that combines all our visits outside London and Wales.

These areas outside London are such beautiful places to explore. I think you can get a better idea of English landscape and the British people when you wander outside the major cities a bit. Rolling hills, lush forests, and dewy gardens with ancient hedgerow borders abound in this part of the country. It makes for a scenic, relaxing drive. Stopping at little villages for lunch and to browse a shop or two… You could really spend weeks exploring the countryside this way.

U.K. Driving Trip Itinerary

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Stratford-Upon-Avon is about 90 miles northwest of London, making it a great stop on your way into or out of the city. It’s best known as the birthplace of Shakespeare and for that reason you will see a lot of tourists here. The town is filled with rows of Tudor buildings with gorgeous wood beams. Unless you’re a real Shakespeare lover, you probably don’t need more than a day here. Take in a few sites such as Shakespeare’s birthplace, former wife Anne Hathaway’s cottage, the Church of the Holy Trinity where he is buried, and perhaps the Stratford Butterfly Farm. There are often markets here which can be fun to browse, along with the plethora of cute shops lining the streets. The old pubs make for a historic spot to enjoy lunch. I would recommend traveling through on a Sunday… there’s nothing like a traditional British Sunday roast at an old pub.

Blenheim Palace

https://www.blenheimpalace.com/

Blenheim Palace is a magnificent palace outside London, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and the residence of the Dukes of Marlborough. It’s a sixty-mile drive out of London, so it’s perfect for a day trip. We stopped on our way back from the Cotswolds to see their Christmas market and take a tour through the palace. Each year at Christmas, the ground floor rooms inside the palace are decorated in a festive theme, complete with music, video, and animation. The theme for Christmas 2018 was Cinderella and it was magical; the final room, a ballroom, was decorated as the wedding reception of Prince Charming and Cinderella. I think this would be a great stop for families.

Thornbury Castle

https://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/

Thornbury Castle is a stunning Tudor castle outside Bristol where we stopped between Wales and the Cotswolds. It’s been restored into a hotel and restaurant and the castle is surrounded by beautiful Tudor gardens with beehives in the walls. You can have dinner here in the former dungeon next to a glowing fireplace; it really is like taking a step back in time.

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds were my absolute favorite part of our U.K. driving trip. I love the quiet, quaint villages and the winding country roads framed by hedgerows and fields. Fantastic restaurants and streets full of little shops. Stopping for tea and browsing through antiques and galleries. I’ve listed some of my favorite villages and places to visit while you’re in the area, but the truth is, each village is more picturesque than the last; they just keep getting better and better as you go along. I wish I could narrow them down for you, but it’s really worth renting a car and taking several days to wander through several of them. The Cotswolds is an area meant for leisure… Take your time, pack your wellies for a few romps through the woods, and enjoy.

Lacock

Lacock is a popular filming location for period TV shows and films because of its unspoiled nature; as you walk along, everything in the village seems like it has been there forever and you get a little lost in time. There were some charming shops, especially on and near the main street. I particularly remember a homemade bath products shop called Quintessentially English, where I bought a few bath bombs to enjoy back at our hotel. We had a fish & chips lunch at The Red Lion pub before driving on.

Lacock Abbey isn’t to be missed. This abbey, founded in 1232, and the architectural elements added throughout the centuries are preserved beautifully and the original cloisters and chapter house are still visible. Lacock Abbey is surrounded by lush grounds and gardens; take a walk or bring a picnic when you visit. You may even recognize the abbey’s interior from Harry Potter and other films.

Broadway

We stayed just outside of Broadway at a beautiful hotel called Dormy House, where we had our own little cottage to stay for the week. It might be because of this, but Broadway quickly became my favorite village. I loved the wide street (hence the name “Broadway”) and the charming shops. I went back to Landmark for gorgeous British country clothes numerous times and loved hunting for antiques here. There was a fun Christmas market going on here one evening; we got cups of spiced wine and walked along, listening to Christmas carolers. We had so much fun; I’ll never forget that evening.

During the Christmas market, we ate at one of the food stalls where they served mince pies, Raclette, and sausage rolls. But as far as Broadway restaurants go, we ate dinner at the Dormy House restaurant one evening which was romantic and had a “farmhouse chic” atmosphere as they describe it. We also enjoyed dinner at The Lygon Arms, an inn in Broadway with a regal country house feel. You might make reservations for either as they were both full when we visited!

Daylesford Farm

John says if I lived in the Cotswolds, I would live here. It’s not far from the truth! Lady Carole Bamford started Daylesford Farm after converting her family’s land to organic, responsible farming. She started the farmshop and café in 2002 and since then, it has grown into a beautiful destination for those who love organic food, beautiful gifts, and sustainably-grown plants and flowers. You can stay at the Daylesford cottages or at the Wild Rabbit inn and cottages, also on the Daylesford estate. If you’re going to visit, allow time for lunch and check their calendar of events. There was a cooking class, wreath making class, and Christmas reindeer arriving all while we were there. And take a peek at the Bamford Wellness Spa in case you’re in need of a little pampering.

More Cotswolds Villages

I could sit all day and type about the beauty of each and every one of these villages, but just know that so much of the fun of the English countryside is about driving to a new village, exploring the shops, stopping for a leisurely lunch, and taking a walk after. Here are some Cotswolds villages worth exploring: Moreton-in-Marsh, Upper and Lower Slaughters, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford, Bibury, Chipping Camden, Castle Combe.

“I looked into those green eyes, and well… It was so intense. All Welsh people are intense and mystical. That sense of poetry and wildness in Richard was where I wanted to be.”

Elizabeth Taylor on Richard Burton, “Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry”

What Elizabeth Taylor said about Welsh people, and by extension Wales, is true; I’ve never been anywhere else so mystical and moving. The country is like someplace out of a fairytale. Misty fog swirls in through the greenest meadows and curls up to the rugged mountains where wild ponies roam. The wild Irish sea crashes against rocky cliffs and onto black sand beaches. Picturesque villages framed by dewy glens and trickling streams and romantic islands with cotton candy sunsets. Wales is a truly magical place.

My great grandmother immigrated from Wales and our family still lives there, so we like to visit when we can. We drove up from London, stopped in Stratford-Upon-Avon (will cover this in my Countryside blog post), and continued on into the mountainous northern region of Snowdonia National Park.

U.K. Driving Trip Itinerary Post

Palé Hall

Palé Hall is an incredible castle on the edge of Snowdonia National Park where Queen Victoria once stayed; you can even sleep in her room. Palé Hall has an award-winning restaurant and fantastic afternoon tea. But the real gem, in my opinion, are the breathtaking views of the countryside and woodland surrounding the castle. When I woke up each day, I opened our windows and felt like I was living in Downton Abbey.

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia Park is nearby and you can get as adventurous as you like. Since that day was a bit chilly, we chose to drive through and stopped to take some photos along the way, but I’d like to return in the warmer months to do a little hiking and see some of the wild ponies up close. There’s also a famous rack-and-pinion railway that can take you to the top of Mount Snowdon, the highest point in Wales.

Welsh Castles

Wales is known as the castle capital of Europe. At one time, over 600 impressive castles stood over Wales’s green valleys. More than 100 Welsh castles still remain. Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech are some of the best preserved and greatest examples of 13th and 14th century military architecture. On this trip, we visited Harlech Castle’s tourist center and climbed all the stairs to the top of the turret where we could look out over the Irish Sea. If you visit Wales, you must stop to see at least one of these incredible pieces of history.

Quaint Villages

One of my favorite things about Wales is the abundance of beautiful, quaint villages to explore. A few favorites? The charming village of Beddgelert in Snowdonia National Park. The romantic island of Angelesey where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their lives as newlyweds. The seaside town of Aberystwyth where Catherine Zeta Jones spent her childhood summers. And the city of Swansea, specifically the beachfront Mumbles area, where you can admire the waves crashing onto the beach while you enjoy an ice cream cone from Joe’s Ice Cream Parlour. Brecon Beacons is a beautiful national park near Swansea with lots of history and places to explore.