beauty by the sea: Czech this out!

Every now and then i go through this phase where i'm convinced that i have more than enough money that i can just go and spontaneously book a holiday (this is never the case, but alas), and in February 2012 i decided to go to Prague for four days with the American (Emily). Besides freezing out butts off with -20c temperatures, falling on our butts from the streets that had doubled up as ice rinks and getting lost on their trams when hungover from absinthe shots- beauty shopping was where it was at.

I can't speak for Czech as a whole, but as far as we were concerned with Prague, the two most popular beauty/body shops we saw were Lush ( we all know and choke to death in Lush) and Manufaktura. Manufaktura is like our version of Body Shop yet they mostly use wine based products. They claim that using wine/grape oil can smooth skin, prevent wrinkles and even banish cellulite (now that's a bold claim). So upon finding this shop once we got lost on the Charles bridge we searched for anything yummy smelling to waste some money on!

This.... this was no waste. This cost us in GBP around 8.00 and is by far one of the best hand creams i have purchased. From the smell, to the consistency, this is the perfect moisturising hand cream for every day use. The only other comparison i can give you for moisturising purposes would be The Body Shop's hemp cream. I loved it so much i made my Czech friend bring me 3 more bottles when they visited home! Sadly they have now discontinued this particular cream but have replaced it with an even better sounding hand cream with shea butter and grape oil! Currently on sale on their website for $12!

So if you're ever in Czech, i recommend to you five things:

1. Visit Manufaktura and spend every last penny in there.

2. Get your token bottle of absinthe and preferably don't drink it all on a one nights pre drinks when your friends are just on the barcardi (You will be the first victim of the night)

3. Find the amazingingly cheap shoe stores and buy every pair even though you'll never be able to walk in them.

4. Look like a typical tourist and try some dumplings!

5. LOOOK! otherwise the crazy ass drivers will make you road kill.