July favourites

Since I had to cut down on my blogging in June and earlier this month I haven't actually done a monthly favourites for a little while although except for the EdT I have a feeling that they would have been pretty much the same in June too. My routines have changed quite a lot over the past few months, partly because of the weather and partly because I'm on the road a lot more than I used to. Because of the sunny weather and since I love to be outdoors as much as possible to catch some rays, my main concern has been to make sure that I've been wearing some great sun lotion, and the product I've used the most is the lovely Hawaiian Tropic Sensitive Face Sun Lotion SPF30 (£12.60). It has just the right consistency for the face; light, silky and sheer without clogging up the pores and since it's for sensitive skin it's also free of oils and fragrance that could potentially cause irritation in the sun. The lotion absorbs quickly into the skin making it feel not only protected from those pesky UVA and UVB, but also moisturised and smooth. The only thing is that I don't think it's water resistant, at least it doesn't feel that way so I would definitely recommend that you re-apply several times a day, especially if you've gone for a cooling dip in the pool.

After a post sun shower to freshen up I've loved to use the Avon Shea Butter and Chocolate Truffle Body Soufflé, First of all it smells absolutely divine of chocolate mousse and even if like me you're not a chocolate lover you might find that you have to really stop yourself from testing it to check if it's as yummy as it smells.... hrmm - did I reveal too much there...? Anyway, this body product has a wonderful whipped, light and creamy texture that feels amazing on the skin, and it absorbs quickly without leaving any sensation of tackiness. What I like most about the soufflé, except for the chocolate scent is that it makes the skin ever so slightly radiant with a rose gold shine, which makes it perfect for summer use to emphasise tanned skin. As far as I know it's not available in the current Avon campaigns, but you can easily find it on eBay (£6.75), and I'll definitely stock up on it when I've finished up this one.

So the skin's looking radiant and bronzed, and since I've been on the go so much these past few months I haven't bothered with foundation or tinted moisturiser - all I've done is sweep my very used MUA Bronzer (£1) in shade 1 over my face for a natural, healthy looking glow. I know I've raved about this ridiculously affordable bronzer before - I need to start testing another brands... but for me it's just brilliant. The product is light and finely milled so it's easy to work with and to build up a stronger bronzed tone if you wish, the shade is sunny and natural without too much orange and it lasts fairly well throughout the day. I would say that you probably do need to buff up the colour after about 5 hrs, but then again considering the price, it's not the end of the world. If you haven't tried any MUA products before, this is the one to get and don't be surprised if you find yourself repurchasing it over and over again - I have, about 4 times...

Sticking with the quick and easy makeup theme, let's have a look at the the products that I have worn every single day without fail in July. I've been on a bad mascara streak, having tested several budget friendly products and not  been impressed with a single one of them, but finally there was a glimmer in the mascara dark with the  Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara (£9.99). It has just the right texture that I like and that usually doesn't come until the mascara is near it's end, i.e. it's liquid enough but a tiny bit sticky, which makes it easy to build up volume and length if you apply several coats. As with every other mascara these days it comes with a special "unique brush with spherical (and straight) bristles to wrap every lash in a 360° motion", I guess that means that the brush is supposed to make sure that you get colour on all sides of your lashes. Even though I'm not too sure about that statement, I do know that the brush is quite wide, firm and great to work with to shape the lashes for a wonderful volumised effect with luscious separated lashes. This was a complete impulse purchase, but I'm so glad that I decided to take a chance on it since it's the best mascara I've tried since I fell in love with L'Oréal's False Lash Flutter Mascara (the butterfly one). Thank you Bourjois for restoring my faith in affordable mascaras!

 

My preferred daily lippy has been Revlon's ColorBurst Matte Balm (£7.99) in Unapologetic which I recently did a review on that you can read here, so I won't go into more details about it except to say that the colour is the most perfect vibrant coral pink, perfect for a one-product look lounging by the pool. As you probably know I tend to wear different perfumes every single day to suit my mood, outfit etc so although I haven't exactly worn this gem every day, it's still a definite favourite this month. Ever since I first stumbled across Thierry Mugler's Alien EdT, I have looked forward to every new edition, and I have never been disappointed, they have all been outstanding! This season's newcomer - Alien Eau Extraordinaire EdT (£68) is no exception. As usual the bottle is very interesting with its beautifully cut angles and pale gold details for a glamorous outer space look and feel. It's a fresh, sparkling, sunny and harmonious fragrance mixing sweet Tunisian neroli, citrusy bergamot, elegant white tiare flower and warm amber. It's a very confident, poised and delightful scent and I always feel happy and pampered wearing it, and for warm sunny days - what could be more fitting than a warm sunny scent? That's the end to almost two month's of favourites... as much as I love them now I have a feeling that they won't be the same in August, but as I always say - it's a girl's prerogative to change her mind!

My 300th post - FOTD

A while back I asked you my wonderful readers what type of posts you would like to see more of and one of the lovely suggestions that I got back was to do more Face Of The Day (FOTD) posts or makeup looks in general. As this is my 300th post today I took a little trip down memory lane looking at all the posts I've done previously, as a reminder of where I started and what I've done since then, and I was genuinely surprised that I haven't done more FOTD posts - after all I wear makeup almost every single day, I change the products that I use constantly so it's unlikely that two looks will ever be exactly the same, so I'm going to make a conscious effort to do more of these types of posts.

The look I'm showing you today has been a bit of a go to look ever since I did my Clinique haul, that I talked about in Clicking with Clinique since I used this to try out a few of the products I had bought. I've also worn it quite a lot since I haven't really been in the mood for wearing complicated, heavy or dramatic statement makeup and this look gives a natural glow and emphasizes my features without being too imposing which you can create in less than 5 minutes. For my foundation I've used the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Colour Corrector (£28) in the shade Medium, which is perfect for a light to medium coverage, for an even skin tone adding a hint of colour and a lovely subtle radiance. For me it's important to get the foundation right, especially when you're aiming for a light and natural look, so I applied the CC Cream using my MOXI O1 Foundation Brush (£13.50) which is brilliant for creating a streak-free, flawless finish.

Since the CC Cream is very long lasting and wears well throughout the day it's been great for these amazing warm days we've had, and I've been 100% confident that my foundation has stayed in place. Because of the colour correcting properties I haven't had to bother with concealer, which has been a very welcome time saver so I've just moved quickly on to do my eyes using another one of the products I bought, Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes (£17). When I first tried chubby sticks for eyes last year I never in a million years thought I would come to like them as much as I have - they are so practical, quick and easy to use and the soft texture is pleasant to wear as well as long lasting. The latest shade I picked up is Whopping Willow, a delicate, golden sage green and which might look a bit unusual but on the eyelid it settles beautifully creating a very natural look with a tiny bit of depth.

To frame my eyes, I've used my trusted Rimmel Professional Eye Brow Pencil (£2.99) in Hazel for a bit of definition and color since otherwise I'll look as mysterious as the Mona Lisa, although on her no eyebrows is a stroke of genius and on me it's just plain wrong. This fuss free eye brow pencil has a soft and formula with just the right amount wax which makes it easy to apply exactly the amount of color you want with a minimum of effort without compromising the long wear. For my lashes I opted for Maybelline Colossal Volume Express (£7.99) in Black, since I never want to compromise on lash length or volume, regardless of which makeup look I'm going for. This was the first time that I tried this mascara, so I'll save my comments on it for a separate review that I'll be doing in a few weeks time so if you're curious about it, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for that review.

For a look with subtle glow and color, you can't skip the bronzer and although there are loads of brilliant bronzers on the high street, I keep coming back to the amazing MUA Bronzer (£1) in shade 1, which I have mentioned a few times previously. The powder is light and fine with good pigmentation and you only need a quick dab with your bronzer brush in the pan - I use the Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush (£13.99), to pick up enough product to cover all the area that the sun would naturally reach - temples, forehead, chin and tip of the nose. I also use the MUA Bronzer for some sculpting and during the summer, I'll often choose to skip the blusher and just use this shade on the apples of my cheek too. I really like shade 1 - it's a golden light bronze that adds lots of warmth to the face without that orange tone that you often see.

Last but not least and perhaps the most difficult decision - what to wear on the lips? Since I wanted something soft and girly, but with enough color to bring it all together and keep it from being too pale I decided on my Tanya Burr Lipgloss (£6.99) in Afternoon Tea. This is a lovely non sticky (yes they do exist) moisturising candy smelling formula, packed with pigmentation that creates a glossy slick finish that lasts for hrs and hrs. Out of all of the lovely 12 colors in the Tanya Burr Lipgloss range, the creamy coral pink Afternoon Tea is definitely my favorite, and if you haven't already tried these lipglosses, you're missing out on a amazing product so why not treat yourself this weekend to one of the fabulous shades. So that's it - all done, a nice and casual summery look, and if you check out my Instagram, you'll also see the outfit I was wearing this particular day. Even though this is the face of the day, I have a feeling this quick and easy natural glowing look might also be the face of this summer for me. What makeup do you use for your favorite natural look at the moment?

Golden skin days

It's that lovely time of year when many of us stow away our winter clothes and take out the spring and summer items that have been hybernating over winter. As nice as that is, it means that I can no longer hide away my very winter pale, in fact almost blue toned skin under layers of clothes and cosy jumpers, but since it's not quite warm enough yet to don a bikini and catch some sun rays there's only one thing for it - self tanning, something I never do and just thinking about it makes me pale even more with dread. I am a complete dummy when it comes to self tanning and the few times I've dabbled with it I've more often than not ended up looking like an orange zebra. For me to get a streak free, golden glowing natural looking color I need fool proof products and I think I have at long last finally found them.

When it comes to self tanning for the face Clarins has a great selection of products and it was with high expectations that I decided to try the Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for face and decolleté (£19) since the tag line reads "A dream come true for novices or those with fair skin". It's an ultra light, almost water like colorless lotion that comes in a plastic bottle and you apply it by applying a little bit onto a cotton pad and then quickly wipe the cotton pad all over your face. The lotion feels cool and refreshing on the skin, and with ingredients like Aloe Vera and Vitamin E you also add moisture and nourishment for a lovely soft skin and unlike most self tanning products it has a lovely fresh and delicate feminine scent that reminds me of Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely. The lotion dries immediately without making the skin feel oily or sticky and there's no transfer onto clothes or bedding, so if you apply this in the morning you can go straight ahead and do your makeup on top of it and over the next few hours you'll see the color appearing. I prefer to apply the lotion in the evening, having exfoliated and moisturised and when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror I have a nice natural and radiant glow. You can apply as many coats as you like for a deeper color, but personally I think that one coat is more than enough for a subtle but noticeable tan. On me the color lasts about 4 days before it's time to it up again which is pretty long lasting, although of course that will depend on how often you wash your face etc. This is a wonderful, easy to use product that gives a nice glow and I can see myself becoming a bit of a tanorexic - it's THAT good.

Especially in the summer I like to enhance whatever little color I have by using a bronzer, and one of my favorites is the cheap as chips MUA Bronzer (£1) in shade 1. It's a nice and light powder bronzer with a very subtle gold shimmer which looks beautiful when the sun catches it. What I like about this shade is that it's a muted natural color without any orange that makes it perfect for sculpting of the cheekbones and to add glow to the areas of your face that the sun would naturally hit, using the Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush (£13.99). What first attracted me to this brush was the fact that it's retractable and as such I thought it would be perfect to have in the hand bag, but what I didn't realise was how big it would be. The packaging is quite chunky and for some reason I thought it would come with a twist up function, but it doesn't - instead there is a retractable metallic sleeve to help gather the hairs before putting the cap back on. Not quite what I would call retractable brush, but aside from that it's a generous, wide and soft brush which is still firm enough for a smooth and even product application. This works amazing if you want to add bronzer all over your face for a nice glow but if it's precision sculpting or just the hollows of your cheek that you are working on, for me this brush is almost too big and it could even double up as a powder brush.

A self tanning gem that I discovered last year when Him Indoors unexpectedly brought it home (probably His subtle way of telling me that I'm ridiculously pale...) is Caudalie's Divine Legs (£26). It's a wonderful nourishing moisturising lotion with a luxurious, silky texture that gives an instant tan that you can easily wash off with water. The formula is tinted and it comes in a generous glass bottle with a practical pump. Because the lotion is tinted, you can see where you've already applied it, making it very easy to get a streak free finish and it dries instantly. I think Divine Legs gives the best results if you've done a body scrub and used another oil free moisturiser before applying it, for a lovely even golden tan that has a lovely glow to it. I used to be a self tan skeptic but with lovely, sweet smelling and easy to use products like these at hand, I am ready to swap the era of pale winter complexion for golden skin days.

Makeup look of the month

After having indulged in quite heavy and elaborate makeup over the winter months, the month of February has been like a cosmetic detox for me and I've worn a minimum of products. Most days I've gone for the no makeup look using exactly the same products that I talked about in the Natural Edition, and when I've needed something a little bit more on the eyes and lips, I've worn the look that I'm showing you today - a time-saving minimal effort look that is still put together enough for work, or an evening out.

Starting with the eyes, I've kept it simple by applying the MUA Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint (£3) straight from the stick all over the lid, blending it up towards the brow bone with my fingers. The color - Bring it back, is a beautiful golden dark bronze and it's perfect for a light wash across the lid as a base or to use on its own as I have. To add some more depth, I've used the Rimmel Scandaleyes Micro Liner (£5.49) in Black as close as possible to the upper eye lashes. I wanted a very subtle and precise look so I kept the line very thin, starting immediately in the inner corner of the eye and then making it slightly thicker towards the outer corner to define the eyeshape. If like me you're still improving when it comes to eyeliner, this product is great to use since it has a very thin felt tip and I feel that you have a good control over it when you apply, so you get just the right amount you need. After that I've applied lashings of the Seventeen Falsifeye Mascara (£6.49) in Black to get really long, whispy and flared lashes which this mascara is great at creating, even though it's not strong on volumising the lashes. Finishing the eye area, I've at least temporarily gone back to using a trusted eyebrow pencil after a less than successful detour into eyebrow mascara country - best to be forgotten... At the moment I'm still using the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil (£2.99) in Hazel 2, and for this look which is groomed and well shaped, but not too dark - this pencil works well since it's easy to use to get the right definition.

Moving on to the face, I've kept it very fresh and natural with a dabbing of the MUA Bronzer (£1) in Shade 1 in the hollow of my cheeks and on the sides of my nose for some basic sculpting, and then a light sweep of it on my forehead and chin, where the sun would naturally hit the face. This shade is just right for me - it's golden without any orange or dirty brown undertones and it blends beautifully into the skin. I know I've talked a lot about MUA lately, and for good reason. MUA has made such an effort to make great quality product at affordable prices available to us and they keep expanding their range - enabling us beauty junkies, but I'm only too happy to be enabled when nothing is more expensive than £9! I've applied a little bit of the Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher (£7.99) in shade 16 - Rose Coup de Foudre, which is a gorgeous muted coral with a slightly burned undertone and a hint of shimmer to it. I've placed it a bit higher up on the cheekbones rather than straight on the apples of my cheeks for some more definition and it's beautiful for a fresh rosy appearance. Last but not least I've lightly placed some of the gorgeous MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder (£3) that I talked about earlier this week just above the blusher on the cheekbones for a dewy, light shimmer.

To finish the look and to balance out the eye makeup I've used the No 7 Moisture Drench Lipstick (£9.75) in Mulberry. I'm very surprised that this lipstick isn't mentioned more often, although of course competition is stiff when it comes to lip products but it really does deserve to be mentioned since it's incredibly moisturising, long lasting and gives a lovely satin finish. There's also a lovely range of shades available and Mulberry is a beautiful dark rusty red shade with just the right depth when you want a red lip but nothing too vibrant or too vampy - it's simply very easy to wear. That's the most worn makeup look this month - it's straight forward, but chic and appropriate for most occasions. I hope you like this type of post since I'm planning on doing them more often in the future so I hope you'll let me know in the comments what you think and I'm really looking forward to reading them. Have a great day everyone!

Fave 5 MUA products

As if it wasn't bad enough to be a beauty junkie, I'm probably also a shopaholic (as you can tell I still haven't quite accepted or embraced my condition) which is a lethal combination for any bank balance and very difficult at this time of year when a lot of us are on a spending ban, to recover from the Christmas excesses. Fortunately there are makeup brands on the high street that seem to cater to people with my affliction and one of them is MUA (Makeup Academy). MUA's philosophy is that makeup shouldn't cost a fortune and that to get affordable products you shouldn't have to compromise on quality - no arguments here! I first discovered MUA a few years ago and I'm very pleased to see that since then the range of product has grown so much, and includes more or less everything that you could possibly want, all for under £5. I've certainly made the most of the purse friendly prices and tried quite a few things from the ever expanding range so today I'll show you my fave 5 MUA products starting with the famous Undressed palettes.

 

The MUA Undressed eyeshadow palette (£4) - the first MUA product I ever bought, is famous for being considered a dupe for Urban Decay's Naked palette. It combines twelve nude, neutral shimmering and matte eye shadows and it's a great starter kit for creating both everyday natural, and smokey smouldering eye looks which I'll try to describe since they don't have any color names:

Shade 1 - Matte vanilla, Shade 2 - Shimmering wheat, Shade 3 - Matte tan, Shade 4 - Shimmering dark ecru, Shade 5 - Matte camel, Shade 6 - Shimmering copper, Shade 7 - Shimmering russet, Shade 8 - Shimmering dark chocolate, Shade 9 - Shimmering mahogany, Shade 10 - Shimmering chestnut, Shade 11 - Shimmering charcoal, Shade 12 - Shimmering blue grey

All of the shimmering eye shadows have great, strong pigmentation and they are easy to work with to build up color with no fallout (I've only noticed that for Shade 11), and they wear well throughout the day - on me they last for about 5 hrs before they start to fade. In general I find it difficult to get affordable good matte eyeshadows on the high street, and while these are OK, the pigmentation isn't strong enough for me and they start to fade after only a few hrs. That doesn't mean that I like the palette any less, and because of the compact format it's easy to take it with you and retouch whenever needed. I love to combine shade 4 and 6, or 7 and 9 for variations on everyday looks, and in the evening 8, 10 and 12 make a dramatic smokey eye - all in all, it's a great buy!

From left to right:

Top row - Shade 1, Shade 2, Shade 3, Shade 4, Shade 5, Shade 6

Bottom row - Shade 7, Shade 8, Shade 9, Shade 10, Shade 11, Shade 12 

The other eye shadow palette is Undress Me Too (£4), again this is considered a dupe (for Urban Decay's Naked 2) and the eye shadows are lovely warm and golden in a mix of matte and shimmering textures, perfect for a paired down subtle eye with a statement lip: 

Naked - Matte blonde, Devotion - Shimmering bronze, Shy - Matte buff, Fiery - Shimmering golden brown, Lavish - Matte fallow, Dreamy - Shimmering sepia, Tranquil - Shimmering russet, Exposed - Shimmering taupe, Reveal - Shimmering ecru, Wink - Shimmering cinnamon, Obsessed - Shimmering coffee, Corrupt - Matte gunmetal

We have the same situation with pigmentation in this palette as with Undressed - all the stronger colors are excellent and gorgeous to work with, and I'd even say that the Undress Me Too shades last longer on me than the Undressed ones do, however the matte ones are weaker, but to have 10 excellent shades out of 12 certainly isn't bad. In all honesty it took me a little while to start appreciating this palette properly after I got it, but now I LOVE to use it and it's my go to box of tricks for a "no makeup" makeup look, and I much prefer the golden undertones of this palette to the colors in Undressed, it's a beautiful little bargain.

From left to right:

Top row - Naked, Devotion, Shy, Fiery, Lavish, Dreamy

Bottom row - Tranquil, Exposed, Reveal, Obsessed, Corrupt 

Moving on, we actually have some more eye shadows to look at since for me MUA is particularly strong in this area and I was so excited when I saw that MUA also jumped on the chubby stick wagon a while back with their version of the eye crayon, the Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint (£3). The formula of the pencils is lovely and creamy, and you get a nice sheer coverage without having to be heavy handed or pull on the eyelids. The color is really long wearing and doesn't crease, which is super for any product, but especially one at this price point. There are six lovely shades in the range, but I'm showing you Diamonds, a subtle shimmering girly pink which is perfect as a base shade and Bring it back which is a golden rusty brown, also with a subtle shimmer and I love to wear this just on its own all over the lid, with some black eyeliner, lashings of black mascara and a red lip - classic and simple.

Out of all the products in this post, the next one is my absolute favorite - it's the Bronzer in Shade 1 (£1). The packaging is as basic as it can get, but if you can see past the uninspiring plastic packaging the pigmentation is amazing and it gives a gorgeous natural subtle apricot glow, without any hint of orange (never a good look, unless you're a clementine...). It's easy to apply, it feels lovely and light on the skin and wears well without getting cakey. This product is an absolute steal, and I've repurchased it three times already - says a lot about how well this product is working for me.

My favourite MUA lip product is the Intense Kisses Lipgloss in Kiss and Tell (£1). This formula is very similar to Rimmel's Apocalips and it offers excellent pigmentation, high gloss and long wear (up to about 4 hrs). It's perfect when you're looking for intense opaque coverage with a glossy, glamorous finish and you can't be bothered with adding a separate gloss to a lipstick (yep, that's me). Other selling points for me are that the gloss isn't sticky, it has a subtle candy like vanilla scent and the applicator seems to get just the right amount for nice and even coverage without any bleeding. I've really enjoyed wearing Kiss and Tell which is an intense, warm fuchsia pink and when it fades, it leaves a stain like look that you can easily re-apply the gloss over.

From top to bottom:

Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tints - Diamonds

Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tints -  Bring it back

Bronzer - Shade 1

Intense Kisses Lipgloss - Kiss and tell

As you know, I love my manicures and one of my most loved nail effects is the caviar look. Ever since I first saw Ciatés original caviar manicure, I've been collecting different colored bead mixes that I add every now and then to a standard mani for a more fun, frivolous and whimsical effect. As much as I love Ciaté (and I really REALLY do) and the caviar mani, even I have to say that the standard price (£20) for some micro beads is pretty hefty, and there are other more budget friendly options available. MUA was probably the first brand on the high street to come up with a more affordable alternative, the Nail Constellations (£3) and I have of course added some of them to my caviar collection:

Pisces - a fresh and sporty mix of silver and turquoise, great as an accent to a white nail

Scorpio - an interesting mix of warm gold, copper, forest green and lilac - lovely with a dark green or purple nail

Libra - a dark black and turquoise mix, and for me this works best with plain black

The MUA range continues to grow and fairly recently the MUA Luxe range was introduced with some lovely new products, that are still affordable with no item more expensive than £9. If you haven't already tried MUA you can get the products from your nearest Superdrug or directly from MUA online, so why not make your next makeup haul not only beauty friendly, but budget friendly too!

October empties

I don't think anyone will be surprised when I say that I like to shop - particularly beauty products. To get some brand new interesting things you've never tried before is so exciting. But having your bathroom cabinet full of lovely stuff that's not used is rather pointless, so I'm trying to be really good and to finish up products that are half full before I move on to my brand new toys. I've even been so organised that I've put all the stuff that needs to be used up at the front of the cabinet, and made a little list for me to track my progress. Talk about taking your beauty seriously!

The first empty of October is a dry shampoo. As most of you will know by now, I think dry shampoo is a girls' second best friend, and absolutely perfect for a quick on the go freshen up of your hair. I am a big user of the Batiste products and the Dry Shampoo XXL Volume not only refreshes and gives texture it also give a lot of volume, which for me is perfect e.g. after a gym session or if you're going out somewhere straight after work. Like all of the Batiste products it comes with a smell which is distinct for this particular bottle - it smells intensely of red berries, sweet floral and has almost a salty liquorice after smell. I have to say though that for me it is a little bit too strongly perfumed, and not one of my favourites which is a shame since I like the volumising effect, but I probably won't repurchase because of the artificial scent. 

Next product is the Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray which is supposed to help your make up set and to stay on for longer by regulating the temperature of the skin, keeping it looking lovely and matte, without having to do any touch ups. I had never used this before and it took a little bit of getting used to, and to figure out how get it to work for me. I didn't think that it came with very good instructions, so I tried a couple of different approaches until I found what seemed to work best. I actually spray it on both after having put on my foundation, but before using powder and also when I've finished doing all my makeup. The spray function is quite good and gives a fine mist, and I use about 3-4 spritzes for every application. It definitely helps to keep your make up in place, however on me it doesn't work nearly as long as it claims (up to 16 hrs), in reality it's more like 5-6 hrs before I need to fix any shine. It's a good product and but before I repurchase it, I'd first like to try the All Nighter version to see how that measures up. 

I have also finished my KIKO Skin trainer. You may remember that I did a trial, during which I would only use this particular serum to see if it would live up to the miraculous results that it promised within 30 days. After the 30 days I did notice that the skin felt very firm and taut, which is exactly what was promised, but for me the sense of hydration wasn't as good as I would like it to be. It's a good, affordable serum that does firm your skin, but if you have tendencies towards dry or dehydrated skin, I would definitely recommend that you use intense hydration masks and a rich moisturiser to boost moisture levels. I do have other serums that I'm using at the moment and I'm not sure I would repurchase this, simply because of the tightness that I started to experience at the end of the 30 days. If KIKO releases a new version of the Skin Trainer to up moisture, I would definitely try it out.

It was a sad, sad day when I finished my Jo Malone Redcurrant & Cream Cologne. This was part of the limited edition collection called Sugar & Spice which was released earlier this Spring. It was a gorgeous collection with cake and dessert inspired fragrances and this was my favourite out of the five scents. To me it captures British summer perfectly with it's mix of tangy piquant red currants, juicy sun kissed strawberries, sweet crushed raspberries, lots of light, fluffy whipped cream and a subtle touch of warm musk that really rounds the scent off, preventing the berries from completely taking over. It was a delicious scent and even though I have enjoyed wearing it, I doubt that I will get it again since it's now only available on eBay at extortionate prices. Redcurrant & Cream, I will miss you!

Let's move from indulgent, unique fragrances to a complete makeup steal on the high street - the MUA Bronzer in Shade 01. MUA offers a number of products for £1, which is almost embarrassingly cheap, but despite the low cost the bronzer is actually a great product. It's one of my favourite bronzing products because not only does it give a lovely natural, golden shade with a very subtle shimmer, it's also light and pleasant to wear. The bronzer lasts for a good chunk of the day and works really well for scultping too. In fact, I like this so much that I feel like throwing in another £ coin every time I buy it, it almost seems rude for it to be that cheap. If you only wear bronzer occasionally and you don't want to go for the more costly options, I highly recommend the MUA bronzer.

The last product among the October empties is the Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach. It's very similar to a micellar water, i.e. it will remove eye make up and cleanse your face at the same time. I will never use only cleansing waters of this type (not even Bioderma) since I feel that I need, and enjoy a thorough cleanse of my face every evening, but it's a wonderful and gentle option as part of my morning routine, to get rid of any impurities from over night. What I particularly like with this Clarins product is the refreshing sunny scent of peach that lingers on my skin, setting me up nicely for the day and how soft it makes my skin feel. I do have a few other cleansing waters that I need to use up, but I will definitely be getting this again at some point soon.

I feel quite pleased that I have managed to take off six items from the list of products to finish up this month. It took a lot of focus and determination, let me tell you. Besides, you have to use it all up to make space for all the stuff that's on my other list - the one of things to get!

Guilt free chocolate treats

Chocolate, hmm - just the thought of it make chocoholics all over the world go nuts for it! We all know about the downside of eating too much chocolate, so let's not dwell on that, but fact of the matter is that dark chocolate can have some health benefits too if eaten in moderation. E.g. it can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and eating chocolate also releases endorphines making you happy. To celebrate the beauty of the cocoa bean I thought I would do a post entirely dedicated to chocolate - but the guilt free way of enjoying where you can surround yourself with the amazing rich cocoa scent and enjoy all the flavours without any of the calories!

Let's start this chocolate bonanza with the Bourjois Bronzing Powder, Delice de Poudre. I am almost ashamed to mention this product again since I know it has figured in at lot of previous posts, but I guess that just shows how much of a staple item this bronzing powder is to me. The super fine texture makes it lovely to apply and I use it for sculpting when I'm a bit paler and as a blusher when I have a bit of a tan. For me both the shade 51 and 52 are great to work with and it gives color with a very subtle, barely noticeable shimmer of gold for a healthy look, without giving that dirty appearance that some bronzers can. The chocolate bar look of the packaging is so cute, and the dusty scent of cocoa that reminds me of an old chocolate bar is pleasant and a fun element.

Despite a bad experience with a Lush Fresh Face Mask, I wasn't ready to give up on the idea of them yet and I wanted to give them another chance. On recommendation I got the Lush Fresh Face Mask in Cupcake, and wow I'm so glad I did! The description says that the mask is more intended for younger, acne prone skin since it helps to absorb excess oil, but I have skin that tends to get dehydrated and it still works like a dream on my skin. When you open the tub you immediately notice the gorgeous scent of mint chocolate, created by the different mint ingredients that help to balance and tone the skin. Since this is a clay mask, the consistency is lovely and thick and it gives a really deep cleanse, getting rid of any impurities but it also feels gentle and soothing. Using this mask is such a pleasant sensation; you'll look and almost smell like you've smothered your face with Nutella and it feels heavy on the skin but cooling at the same time, and after you've wiped it off with a damp cloth, almost giving it a mini exfoliation the skin feels very clean and soft, and I will definitely be getting this again.

Sticking with Lush products, for me one of the most genuine chocolate body care products is the Sonic Death Monkey Shower Gel.What I like in particular about this, is that the rich and sweet chocolate scent is broken up with a zesty, fresh and invigorating scent of lime making it a tad spicy, lovely and decadent, but not sickly sweet or heavy - which many chocolate scented products can be. Since I like to keep to one scent when it comes to my body care products, we of course also have a body butter to go with the shower gel - the Body Shop Body Butter in Chocomania. I have tried lots of Body Shop body butters so I was a bit surprised to find that the Chocomania is slightly different than the others. This might just be me, but I don't feel as if it's as thick as some of the other ones I've tried. It's still very creamy, pleasant to massage in and it melts in beautifully, but I don't get the same sense of deep long lasting hydration as with most of the others, even though it's supposed to be great for dry skin. Chocomania smells yummy, a bit like Maltesers and I do enjoy using it, but personally I wish it was even thicker in it's consistency.

Now we're getting to the really interesting stuff, starting with a candle. Yes I know it sounds crazy, a chocolate scented candle, can that really work? I had tried many candles scented with chocolate before and never thought that any of them were any good. I found them synthetic, waxy and sickly - that is until I tried a Lily Flame candle in Chocolate Truffles - oh my goodness. This fills the room with a gorgeous warm, rich, indulgent and luxurious scent that smells exactly the way that chocolate truffles taste! I don't know how they've done it, but Lily Flame have definitely captured this scent perfectly. I've talked about Lily Flame candles before and for me they are the best - the range of scents is amazing, and most importantly they burn really well for about 35 hrs, straight down in the tin, leaving no waste at all. Delectable chocolate in a candle - who would have thought?!

 

My last pick for this chocolate feast is a Cologne Spray in Chocolate Chip Cookie from the fantastic Demeter Fragrance Library. Demeter has over 250 different colognes and body care products inspired by everyday objects and experiences. It's a completely unique perspective on fragrance based on clear, straight forward and uncomplicated scents that are familiar to everyone and that tap into feelings of well being and simplicity. Some of the top selling colognes include the following: Apple Pie, Tomatoes, Vanilla Cookie Dough, Basil, Gin & Tonic, Rain, Wet Garden, Grass, Laundromat, Marshmallow, Orange Cream Pop, Pina Colada or Raspberry Jam - I dare you not to be tempted by at least one of them.

The scent of Chocolate Chip Cookie is like freshly baked cookies just out of the oven, made from a combination of light and dark chocolate, - sweet and light but slightly bitter as well, brown sugar and sprinkles of half melted chocolate chips. It's fascinating how incredibly genuine this smells! As it is a cologne it won't last very long, I'd say no more than perhaps 3 hrs, and there's definitely no risk of it being heavy or overpowering. But what a fun way to carry a favourite scent with you during the day and spray on when you need a pick me up or just to boost your mood.

After all this talk about chocolate I'm getting a bit peckish so perhaps some hot chocolate with a chocolate cookie - any takers...?

Fave 5 Bourjois products

There are so many excellent and affordable brands available on the high street these days, but one brand I have been particularly impressed with this year, is Bourjois. This is a brand that's actually been around for a looong, looong time and I had used Bourjois several times before and even though I had been happy with most of the products, I wasn't completely blown away. But this year I've really become a bit of a Bourjois ambassador. It all started when I discovered the fab Healthy Mix Foundation last year, but also some amazing lip and nail products earlier this year. I know that I have mentioned lip products in other earlier posts, but I still wanted to do a post focusing only on Bourjois as a brand, and to show you my current favourite five products.

Since we've had such amazing weather and I was also lucky enough to go on holiday earlier this year, I've had quite a tan for the last few months and I love to play on this in my make up. As you will have seen in my Summer makeup bag post I've been using golden, bronze shades but also vibrant pops of color on my eyes, especially in the evenings. My go to bronzing powder has been the lovely Delice De Poudre in shade 52. It's such a cute package in the shape of a chocolate bar, and it does smell faintly of cocoa as well. The texture is very fine and pliable, so it's easy to work with both to blend in and to build up, so you can use it either for sculpting or as a blusher. As my tan is gradually fading away this is about to be too dark for me, but I will definitely try to get hold of this product in shade 51 so I can continue to use it for the next month or so - until I'm back to my old translucent self. 

On one of my many beauty scouting trips to Superdrug, my eyes were immediately drawn to an eye pencil that was whispering my name (more shouting actually) and it was the Eye pencil in Bleu Clinquant, which is a gorgeous and intense, metallic electric blue shade that I've been wearing on my lower waterline for a dramatic effect. I am cautious of wearing blue shades that close to my eyes since I have reacted badly before to blue eye pencils and mascaras from other brands, but this eye pencil is not only waterproof, it's also very soft to work with. You barely need any pressure at all, and still you'll end up with a lovely and even application. I can't recommend this eye pencil enough, and if you're looking for more natural shades, Bourjois also has a lovely golden and chocolate brown in the same great formula.b

Chubby sticks are definitely the latest rave and you'll now find some version of them, either for eyes or lips in almost every brand but for me the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons are among the best, and I now have all the shades currently available. Today I'll only focus on the Lip Crayon in Red Sunset and in Fuchsia Libre since I've talked about the other two shades in my post Lip Service. The formula of the Lip Crayons is amazing - it's smooth, glossy, moisturizing and still highly pigmented. Both colors shown today are shades with a blue undertone; Red Sunset is a bright, deep red electric crimson and Fuchsia Libre is a lovely bright, but soft rose pink. All these shades wear fairly well throughout the day, but you will definitely need to retouch after you've eaten. These are so lovely to wear since they don't dry up, and the fact that they're not sticky in the least is a huge plus in my book - I really hope there will be more shades to look forward to soon!

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Swatches from left to right:

Delice De Poudre Bronzing Powder - Shade 52

Colour Boost Lip Crayon  - 1 Red Sunrise

Regard Metallise Eye Pencil - 54 Bleu Clinquant

Colour Boos Lip Crayon - 2 Fuchsia Libre

Since I'm a big nail polishaholic I go through nail polish removers faster than the speed of light and one of the best removers available is the Magic Nail Polish Remover. Not only is it quick and easy to use, but it's also acetone free. I have used other versions of this dip and twist product before from other brands, but when you go through as many shades in a week as I do, it's essential that the remover is as gentle as possible, and since this little pot of magic also contains almond oil I get a little bit of care at the same time. If you use glitter polishes it does take longer to remove it, but otherwise in the blink of an eye - the nails are ready to be prettified again.

One of my most loved nail polish shades this summer has been Blue No Blues from the 1 Seconde Nail Polish range. Speed is of the essence when it comes to nails and that's the whole concept of this range - it should take one quick dry coat and then you're ready to go. This is a gel formula, enriched with silicone to give ultra glossy finish (so you don't need to use top coat, another time saving point) and it has a wonderful wide brush to help with even application. It really does work - it's quick to apply, it dries faster than you can say Bourjois and the shine is great. I love this gorgeous aqua blue shade although on my nails it doesn't last more than perhaps 2 days before I have to touch it up again - but on the other hand when touching up only takes a second to do, it's not really a big deal.

Blue No Blues

If you haven't tried any of the Bourjois products before I hope I have tempted you by introducing my favourite five and if you're already a Bourjois fan - which are your most loved products? If there's another particular brand that you would like to see my favourites from, please leave me a comment below!

This summer's makeup bag

We're mid-August and the new exciting A/W collections are beginning to appear at beauty counters everywhere. Before I get too wrapped up in all things autumn and lots of new products I thought I would show what I've had in my makeup bag this summer. I don't think it has escaped anyone that we have had an amazing summer in the UK, with temperatures soaring above 25-30 degrees - not bad for a country infamous for it's rainy weather. Since my skin has been very bronzed, I've worn a lot of coral and peach colors to bring out my tan with the occasional pop of color to emphasize my eyes but most of these hot days I've been very bare faced and kept makeup to a minimum and it's not until the evening that I would have done something with a bit more coverage.

When I came back from holiday a few months ago I had to get a new foundation to match my tan, and since I find it a bit tricky to get a shade that works with my skin I took the opportunity to use the No 7 Match Made Service to find the perfect match. I wanted a formula that gives a lot of radiance, but still with a little bit of coverage so after having had my skin color measured I ended up with No 7 Instant Radiance Foundation in Wheat. Since I don't like applying foundation all over my face, unless it's needed to correct uneven skin I usually only apply over my nose, cheeks and chin and blend in. I've been very pleased with the foundation and it's felt light, sheer and pleasant to wear, unlike some foundations where you feel as if you're wearing a mask. It's also blended nicely with my Collection 2000 Concealer Lasting Perfection in Beige. I've mentioned this concealer in my July favourites, and I think it's such a brilliant affordable product that truly is longlasting - it will stay on until the end of the day when it's time for your evening routine, perfect!

I've mentioned before that I love that healthy sun kissed look so there's not been a day where I've been without a bronzer, and my current product is the Bourjois Bronzing Powder - Délice de Poudre in shade 52. I mentioned this bronzer already in the Bronze Age, so I won't talk too much about it except to say that it has a lovely soft texture that makes it easy to work with and it does actually smell a little bit like a powdery chocolate bar. I'll use this as a blush, and also on areas of my face that the sun would naturally hit like my brow, chin etc.

Having done my face, I'll move on to eyes and although I love blending different eye shadows and experimenting - this summer I've really kept it simple by using mainly one shade all over my eye lid - MAC Eyeshadow in Rule. This is a lovely coral shade, with hints of burned orange, that can either be a subtle coppery highlighter or a very vibrant statement, depending on how much you blend. It's very pigmented, so I would recommend starting of with just a tiny bit and then build it up.

To add some depth I've used Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliner in Blackest Black on the outer half of the upper waterline. It won't actually show very much when you've applied your mascara, but it gives a fuller eyelash look and is a nice detail I think. Avon has some great eyeliners in a range of colors, but for some subtle pen work, Blackest Black is perfect. It's a lovely creamy texture that doesn't water your eyes, and since it's waterproof you could easily apply to the lower water line as well if you wish. In addition, the eyeliner wears really well throughout the day with no, or at least very little smudging.

From left to right

MAC Eyeshadow - Rule

L'Oréal Color Riche Le Khol - Breezy Lavender 114

Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliner - Blackest Black

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Peach On the Beach

Going out, or on days where I've wanted to add a pop of color, I've used L'Oréal Color Riche Le Khol in Breezy Lavender 114  to the lower waterline. It's a lovely intense and slightly shimmery clear lavender shade that I just fell in love with as soon as I saw it in Superdrug. I've used this a lot over the summer and it's buildable as well as long lasting - another great eyeliner!

I don't know if this is just me, but I am the most fickle person in the world when it comes to mascara and have tried almost every brand (and may also have loved the products), but it's still a rare thing for me to re-purchase a mascara. And when I do eventually go back to the brand, I'll find that they've changed the formula ever so slightly, but enough so that it won't work for me anymore. I've got almond shape eyes and like to work that effect as much as possible, so at the moment I'm using the Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara in Black. I've tried other Maybelline mascaras before and they all seem to be completely different. This formula is fairly dry, but not as dry as the Rocket, so it's still easy to use without having to build lots of layers. It has a wonderful thick and shaped brush that helps to give that flared effect by shaping them up and slightly out. Other selling points are that it doesn't flake or smudge and despite the thick brush you can easily use it both for the upper and lower eyelashes. I really like this mascara, and might even break my own habit and re-purchase it again!

For some reason I always leave my eye brows til after I've done my eyes. In the summer my eye brows go even blonder and seem to disappear completely, which Him indoors always tease me mercilessly for, so I need a little help to bring out the shape. I've tried using powder or eye shadow, but I find it easier to work with a pencil - to each their own right? I've always wanted to try the amazing products from Anastasia, but until my next pay day at least - I'll be using Collection 2000 Eyebrow Definer Pencil in Blonde. I got this mainly because of the color since it's not easy getting a shade for blondes that isn't too harsh, but this has turned out to be another little gem from Collection. It's a slim stick that gives sufficient color without it looking like pencil strokes. It enhances and frames the face really well, and the only minus I can think of is that it tends to fade after a few hrs so you may need to fill in your brows again throughout the day.

 

To set the make up and help prevent any shiny patches, I'll use a tiny touch of  Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent on my T-zone. To be honest I use very little powder, so for me this Rimmel product is great. I bought it about 5 months ago, and there's still so much left of it and what I like the most is that it doesn't feel cakey or heavy on the face.

Since I discovered Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons I've almost only used these during the summer. I have all the shades now, but as I've mentioned before I love Peach On the Beach. It's an amazing soft salmony coral that looks so fresh and healthy and it gives a glossy sleek finish to any makeup look.

I already know that I'll introduce some new colors in the autumn and I'll probably do an updated post in a few months time, and show you what has changed. What have you got in your makeup bag, and do you think you'll mix it up a little now that A/W is coming?

July Favourites

The past few weeks we've had a heatwave in the UK with temperatures above 30C, which doesn't happen very often - in fact they say that the last time was in 2006, so about time we crank up the temperature I think! With the heat and the sun, my guiding principles have been - fuss free and low maintenance. Forget about foundation and full coverage make up - for me this month has been all about keeping it minimal with the help of some key items.

I've talked about Caudalie's Divine Oil in a previous post - Sweltering summer day essentials, but since I've used it every day I want to give it a special mention again. This dry oil is a mix of grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan and not only does it sound good enough to eat, but it gives a deeply moisturizing feeling. It has a lovely aromatic scent but it's subtle enough for you to easily layer it with any EdT or perfume. It really brings out your tan, giving your skin a lovely golden sheen to keep your look naturally fresh and summery.

I am a complete magpie - I am drawn to shiny, sparkly things and when it comes to beauty products the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer is probably one of the the most unglamorous items I've ever seen. However, if you can see past that unattractive packaging (and you MUST), you'll find hidden inside the most amazing concealer ever. It claims to stay on for 16 hrs, and while I haven't exactly timed it I can say for sure that it gives amazing long lasting and matte coverage (even in temperatures of 30C), using only the tiniest bit of product. While other products may look prettier in your make up bag, in my view there's no need to get those more expensive labels when you can pick this up for a fraction of the cost.

A trusted item for minimal summer day makeup is the bronzer, and the one I've been using the most is my MUA Bronzer. I quite like the MUA product range, although it can be a bit of a hit or miss. The bronzer is definitely a hit, and it's also another bargain buy (£1)! The packaging is basic, helping to keep the price down but the pigmentation is good and gives a natural glow. The bronzer is easy to apply and build up, without it becoming thick as a layer cake. You can pick up MUA at your local Superdrug, or on the MUA web page where the bronzer is currently on sale for an unbelievable £0.50. If you haven't tried this label before - go and get a bronzer, or maybe even two - at that price, how can you afford not to?!

 Swatches from left to right

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Peach on the beach 

MUA Bronzer - Shade 1

I've been wearing the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon that I mentioned in my Lip Service post, every time I've been out. This is an amazingly smooth and long lasting lip crayon with SPF, that gives a high shine, sleek finish and moisturises at the same time. So much goodness is packed into this glossy lip product! My favourite shade is Peach on the beach - a gorgeous pale pinky coral that works sooo well with a tan.

My look may have been minimal these summer days but there's no need for it to be boring, so of course I've added pops of colour with Barry M Gelly Nail Paint. Everyone is raving about the gelly fomulas, and for a very good reason - FACT: THEY ARE GREAT! You can definitely use just one coat of this shade, although personally I prefer it to be very opaque so in the photos I've used 2 coats as well as a high shine top coat. 

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint - Guava

 

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint - Guava

I've been loving the shade Guava, which is a bright and rich, gorgeous glossy turqoise with a warm undertone of yellow, that makes me think of warm Caribbean waters. This is perfect for sunny days, and if you're not lucky enough to go away on holiday this summer, at least you can get some tropical colour on your nails for that holiday feel!

The Bronze Age

There is something special about the sun. Not just the fact that it cheers me up after weeks and weeks of drab, horrible weather, but it also energizes and melts away those sharp edges around my person that have formed over a looooong winter with no end - I think I'm sun dependent to feel harmonious and come into my own. There is of course those pesky free radicals and UV rays to think about, but with some sun screen we can all enjoy the sun responsibly..... I feel like the cautionary voice in the drinks adverts.

Regardless of how much sun you want to expose yourself to, most of us still want and even CRAVE that bronzed, golden, healthy look. And there are plenty of products to help bring out whatever tan you have, or want to pretend that you have - so here are some of my favourites this year.

I'm not a fan of self tanning, probably because I'm rubbish at it and the only thing worse than a pasty green tint of winter is the streaky self tan Zebra look (at least on humans) - but Caudalie's Divine Legs has somehow mysteriously made its way into my summer stash, thanks to Him indoors. I now might actually be a convert to self tanning - this is an excellent product! First of all it doesn't have that distinct horribly fake self tanning smell like many other brands, it doesn't stain every single piece of clothing, it goes on without streaks or patches and it has an amazing glowing finish as if you had massaged oil into your skin as well. I know it sounds too good to be true - but at least for me this product means the end of pale pale paaaaaaaaaale winter skin, yaay! I don't care that it's £26 - when it's finished, I'm getting another one.

Bronzing powder is great for sculpting and contouring, but at this time of year I also use it as a blusher. With the Bourjois Bronzing Powder, £6.99 you get a great colour and it's easy to work with. Not only that - when you open the packaging it looks and smells like a chocolate bar. Aaah, completely guilt free pleasure! Just be careful not to apply too much; bronzed = good, orange = tangoed.

In the summer I don't usually bother with eyeshadow since it's bound to smudge, but the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 HR, £4.99 is an exception. The range of colours is amazing and I've already snapped up a fabulous cranberry for autumn because of it's fantastic staying power. It's the easiest thing in the world to apply, using your fingers all over the lid and once it's set - it's there for the rest of the day without any creasing. I don't know how they've managed to squeeze so much goodness into a little pot, but I'm well impressed and can't wait go get some more shades.

To add some definition, the Barry M Eyeliners are soft, easy to blend and full of pigmentation, and for £2.99, they're an absolute bargain.

Finish it all off with a lick of No 7 BB Lips Beauty Balm, £8.50 for a subtle fresh sheen. I'm going with an irresistible pale glossy pink that works perfectly with a bronzed look.

Swatches of the products (from left to right):

Barry M Eyeliner - 28 Bronze

No 7 BB Lips Beauty Balm - Blink Pink

Barry M Eyeliner - 29 Copper

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 HR - 35 On and on bronze

Bourjois Bronzing Powder - 52 Peaux Mates/halées