If you’ve ever travelled from Birmingham International Airport before then you will have walked through their World Duty Free store. However since February they have had quite the makeover! At the end of July the newly refurbished store opened along with several new brands.

As well as the usual counters from Clarins, Chanel, MAC and YSL, you can now enjoy VAT-free products from the likes of Urban Decay, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown and Jo Malone. I was invited along to have a tour of the new shop and to try out a couple of treatments.

When we had gone through airport security we were taken through to the new World Duty Free shop. We were treated to glasses of champagne, a selection of canapes and these amazing travel themed biscuits from Biscuiteers. We were then divided into pairs for our treatments and I was partnered with Ting.

Urban Decay

Ting and I started off at Urban Decay. Here, they talked us through the new Vice lipsticks and also tried a couple out on us. I went for Tilt which is a lovely vibrant orangey red, perfect for the summer. I have a lot of Urban Decay products, so was excited to try the lipsticks. The eyeshadow palettes are a firm favourite of mine, as is the All Nighter Setting Spray.

Jo Malone

Our next stop was the brand new Jo Malone store. I am a huge fan of Jo Malone colognes and already owned three, so I was excited to try more. We got to have a complimentary hand and arm massage using products in a fragrance of our choice. We were shown the Cologne Intense Body Cremes and I chose to have my massage with the Velvet Rose & Oud scent. I’d never had an arm massage before and this one was so indulgent! First of all, the Geranium and Walnut body scrub was used on our arms and hands. Then, the Cologne Intense Body Creme was massaged in before the Cologne Intense was sprayed over the top. We left the boutique sniffing our arms as it smelt so good – the scent lasted all night as well.

We were then shown the most popular makeup trends for this season by top makeup artist, Harry. This included blue eyeliner and blue mascara. She gave a demonstration on Ting with MAC’s Fluidline eye liner gel in the shade Siahi.

After the event, we were given the most amazing goody bags as well as £100 in World Duty Free vouchers. I spent mine on the Jo Malone Cologne Intense in Velvet Rose & Oud which I loved after my massage. I also got a MAC lipstick in Matte Royal and a MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Lightscapade.

It was such a fantastic afternoon! I can’t wait until I go through Duty Free at Gatwick airport in October. Hopefully the shopping is just as good there!