L'Oreal Ever Riche Hair Mask

About a month ago I mentioned in my Operation Rapunzel post that I'm really focused on my hair at the moment. It's funny because I've had long hair as long as I can remember and my routine has always been very basic, low maintenance with as few products as possible. Now I use all sorts of products to help my hair grow, and to hydrate, nourish and protect it. I've always been good with using conditioner, but now I'm also taking to do some form of treatment once or twice a week. I know that the condition of your hair, nails and skin is really the result of a healthy and balanced protein rich diet, but there's nothing wrong with trying to lend a helping hand with some great products as well.

A product that has found it's way into my weekly treatments is the L'Oréal Hair Expertise Ever Riche Mask (£6.99) which is intended for dry and very dry hair and it contains botanical oils from camelina, grape seed and apricot, which are all well known for their protective benefits. Camelina acts like an anti-oxidant for hair by protecting the hair follicles from damage, grape seed helps to protect against loss of moisture and apricot helps to make the hair soft and shiny and even helps it grow - if you are to believe the research.

The mask is ultra-thick, almost like a whipped body butter and it has a delicious tropical coconut scent to it, which also lingers on your hair for a good few hrs. You apply it to the ends of the hair, leave it on for 5 -10 mins, perhaps with a hot towel wrapped around it to soak in as much nutrients as possible before you rinse out, and you should feel a difference almost straight away. It feels as if the hair has been infused with the protectants and it feels very silky, has a glossy shine and it's easy to detangle. I've used the mask twice a week for the past month while I've been enjoying a nice long bath, and it feels as if it's really made a difference to the quality. Despite a lot of heat styling with my new found love, BaByliss Perfect Curl, I haven't noticed any brittleness or broken hairs and in general my hair feels very smooth, strong and healthy. I've tried several of the L'Oréal shampoos and conditioner before, and they've been Ok - quite average I would say, but the Ever Riche mask is in a class of its own. I'm so impressed by it that I will definitely get the shampoo and conditioner as well, and fingers crossed using all three together will add even more nourishment and hydration in the pursuit of long luscious locks.

November empties

If I may say so myself I have been SOOO good this month, finishing up quite a lot of products. It's not that I don't like the stuff that I already have and want to get rid of it, it's just that I like to try new things more and I can't try those things until I've finished others.... oh dear - it's tough being a beauty junkie.

The first items I've been good to finish are a Shower gel, Body Lotion and a Body Mist from Bath & Body Works' Secret Wonderland range. I've mentioned before that I really like the shower gels and body lotions because they feel so luxurious and gentle on your skin, and since they contain vitamin E and shea butter they also make the skin very smooth and moisturised. Secret Wonderland is a juicy sweet and fruity scent of different sun kissed berries - strawberries, raspberries and goji berries rounded with subtle gardenia, jasmine, creamy vanilla and lovely warm musk. It's a very whimsical and romantic fragrance that makes you think of late summer. I've really enjoyed wearing it and I will definitely get it again when I get the chance.

I love to use serums as part of my skin care routine and this month I finished up Estée Lauder's Perfectionist serum. It's a silky and intense anti-wrinkle repair serum with a slightly lilac tint, that you can use both during the day or evening. Because of it's firming qualities and since it firms up the skin almost immediately I've mainly used a tiny bit under my moisturiser during the day. It's made my skin look really relaxed and plump, and since I'm all about plumping and nourishing when it comes to skin care this has been wonderful to use, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with tendencies towards dehydrated skin for an extra boost in the morning or in the evening before going out.

I also finished up another product to nourish and restore the skin after the time I spent in the sun this summer - Origins Starting Over. This moisturiser is packed with mimosa which is great at stimulating the creation of collagen and protein in the skin cells to keep the skin toned and protected. It has a lovely light consistency, that makes the skin feel supple nourished and refreshed, and the amazing scent of fresh and zesty citrus fruits makes this cream a pleasure to use. Even though Starting Over builds up the skin, for me personally it doesn't give the amount of hydration my skin craves during the autumn and winter, so despite being so lovely I won't be repurchasing this until next Spring.

A few months ago I bought the Revlon Lash Potion Mascara after having read some good reviews of it and to start with I was quite happy with it. The formula was dry already from the start, but I thought that the large brush with triple-grooves gave a good coverage, the lashes looked noticeably thicker, longer and separated. I also found that the mascara lasted well and didn't cause any smudging, so all my first impressions weren't bad. However even though the brush gave good coverage I found that it was a little stiff to work with, and as time went on and the consistency got really gloopy and clumpy it got very difficult to get an even coverage. I know that the consistency of mascaras change throughout their lifetime, but this changed too much for me. What started as a promising mascara, unfortunately ended as a bit of a disappointment and I wont be getting this particular one again.

As the days are getting darker and I'm getting more and more into cozy evenings in front of the TV-with hot chocolate mood I have really sped up my "consumption" of candles. I go through them at lightening speed, which is why I have three empty ones this month. I'll start with some from my favourite candle makers Lily-Flame. By now I must have bought and used about 15 different candles from Lily-Flame and they've never disappointed me. They have a super range of scents with everything from floral to citrus, from fresh clean and natural to foodie inspired and they burn really well. I've mentioned before that this year I'm doing something I've never done before - I'm changing the scents that I wear and  surround me with, to fit the season. With Halloween coming up I can't think of anything more appropriate than a candle called Spook which has adorable little bats on the tin. It's a mix of fudge and toffee apples, which sounds really yummy but unfortunately this candle didn't work for me at all. The scent of the fudge and the toffee was far too buttery, and it completely overtook any crisp freshness from the apples which would have balanced it out - ultimately, for me the scent is almost sickly sweet. But to end on a positive note, the second candle from Lily-Flame amongst the empties is the wonderful Mellow Figs & Garden Mint. It's a mix of mellow earthy fig and crisp cool mint that creates a very welcoming piquant and fresh scent - gorgeous, and I look forward to getting it again! 

The last product in this months empties is a Yankee Candle in Black Cherry. It's a great mix of the sweet and sour from cherries that makes a lovely rich and delicious scent - it smells exactly like real cherries taste. When I got this candle it smelt so strongly before it had even been lit, that you could get months and months scent out of it even without burning it. If like me you like cherries, this is a must have candle and you won't find anything else like it.

Well, that's that for this month, and by the end of this week I'll have the first two empties for December's batch - I really AM doing well and my reward is that I can finally start using some of the products that I have been saving for months!

I love makeup TAG

Makeup - it's amazing what you can do with it, and for me the only rule is that there are no rules. Fair enough we may not all want to show off a pirate zombie face every day of year - Halloween is quite enough, but we may not want to always use neutral shades either. That's the beauty of it, makeup all depends on how you feel and what you want to portray at that particular moment and when there are so many fabulous products to choose from in all price ranges - no wonder that so many of us are a little bit addicted to it.

I've been meaning to do this TAG for a while now that tells you a little bit about how I feel about makeup, and a massive thank you to the lovely Kate (Kate Spitz) who tagged me for this, you have to go and check out her blog!

Let's get to the questions then:

1. When did you begin loving makeup?

Well, my love for beauty and make up started at a very early age, but it was kind of a slow burner. Under my mother's supervision I started to play around with the usual stuff - mascara, eyeshadow and lip gloss around 14, but I didn't get into the "heavier stuff" like foundations and blushers until a few years later, and it's not until I was about 20 that my love developed into a real passion. And if I take after my grand mother at all, I will still have that interest, curiosity and joy when I'm well over 100. I do hope they give discounts to seniors in Boots...

2. How do you feel without makeup?

To me makeup isn't about hiding, it's about enhancing, having fun and expressing yourself. I have no problem at all in going out without any makeup whatsoever and probably do so a few times a week. Saying that though, it's probably nicer for others if I do wear a little bit of color (or as Him Indoors says: "Put my eyebrows on") - so I almost see it as a public service to wear a bit of makeup, and I'm only too happy to help!

3. What do you like about makeup?

The possibilities! You can completely change your appearance and persona just by changing a few colors and products.You don't have to be an expert in applying makeup to enjoy it and have fun with it, it's something that everyone can do in a way that suits them and every single look is unique and equally interesting. 

4. Three Holy Grail Makeup Products:

As unbelievable as it might sound, I don't actually have any Holy Grail products when it comes to makeup. For skin care - oh yes, got loads of those! But since I like to experiment with makeup using  different products, different brands, different shades, I swap and change my products so often that none, or very VERY few of them ever get that status with me. So you'll have to settle for three products that I LOVE to wear and that make me feel fantastic:

1. YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation - adds an amazing radiance and keeps your skin flawless all day long, just what every girl needs. And that's the only YSL product I will mention since I did my Fave 5 on YSL yesterday... 

2.  Dior Eyeshadows - doesn't matter which of the lovely palettes you choose, the shades are delicate, luminous and stunning.

3. Rimmel Apocalips - this creamy formula gives a wonderful glossy satin finish. I have several shades but I still LOVE Celestial (an intense dusky old fashioned pink) more than any of the others.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I especially TAG the following gorgeous bloggers to join in, but if you enjoyed it feel free to do the TAG - the more the merrier, and don't forget to send me the link:

Siobhán - Makeup For Dolls

 Srinjla - Women's Stuff

Emma - Fab Head To Toe

Chanelle Jade - Chanelle Jade

Amelie - All Things Glitter And Beauty

Have a great day everyone! Xx

Fave 5 YSL products

One of my favourite premium brands is Yves Saint Laurent (YSL). I love it for its sense of style, elegance and effortlessness. Not only is it an iconic brands but YSL has also produced some of the most iconic products since they first started with perfumes in 1964 and then later on skin care and makeup. Just think of Paris EdT - the perfect rose scent, Youth Liberator Serum which is market leading with its technology and Touche Eclat - apparently one is sold every 10 secs worldwide. So today I thought I would show some of my favourite products from this fantastic brand.

The first product of this glamorous fave five is one I did a review of not that long ago - it's the Lacquer Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain (£23.50) the latest of YSLs best selling products. Since I have already done a detailed review of this product I'll keep it short and sweet. This is a wonderful and light, creamy hydrating glossy stain that feels very glamorous to wear. It has a wide heart shaped applicator that easily traces the lip contours and that gives excellent smooth coverage with a stunning high gloss finish. After initial application it'll settle on your lips like a stain and last flawlessly for a good few hrs. The shade in the photo is 12 Corail Fauve which is a soft but energetic warm rose pink coral and I've used it so many times since I first got it - after all there's nothing that will glam up any outfit as sporting a perfect glossy lip.

Next product has also been reviewed in a separate post, and it's the ultimate de luxe of foundations - Youth Liberator Serum Foundation (£37). This foundation is enhanced with the cell renewing Forever Youth Liberator Serum so it reduces skin aging and thinning at the same time as it give your skin a beautiful medium to full coverage. Everything about this foundation feels luxurious, starting with the lovely, heavy glass bottle, to the amazing skin correcting radiance and plumpness it adds to the skin and just like I've come to expect from YSL it sits perfectly on your skin all day without any transfer or smudging. I love makeup products that include high technology skin care and it doesn't get any better than this.

Now on to the Baby Doll Mascara (£24.50) which out of the YSL make up range, is probably THE must try item. As with all YSL products the gold packaging is stylish and sleek and every time I see it in my makeup bag the glitzyness of it always cheers me up. I don't often say this, but the formula has exactly the right consistency for me. Often mascaras are too liquid when you first get them and then they dry into something you work better with or it's too dry and it just gets worse, but the YSL was perfect already from the start. The brush is long and thin and has thick bristles on one side and thinner ones on the other which means that you can use one side to give volume to the lashes and then twist and use the finer bristles to easily coat every single lash, including the smaller ones. The bristles also separate the lashes and create a very defined and extended look with a natural softness.

It comes in four shades - Fetish Black, Wheedler Brown, Audacious Blue and Indiscreet Purple. Since they say that black can look harsh on blondes, I actually got the brown shade to see if would make any difference at all to my look compared to black mascaras. The Wheedler Brown is a very dark, matte brown and it does create a softer look, so I love to wear it when I go for a more natural and neutral eye look. Even though it isn't a water proof formula, the mascara lasts really well, both on the upper and lower lashes and I haven't noticed any smudging or fall out. I hadn't tried the Baby Doll mascara up until a few months ago, and this has quickly gone from a must try to a must have and I will definitely add black to the collection as well.

I make no secret of the fact that when it comes to premium brand nail polishes, YSL is one my absolute favourites and I'm frankly surprised that they are not mentioned more often by bloggers. The YSL Nail Polishes (£18) have so much going for them. Let's start with a great range of shades - admittedly you won't find powder blue or neon yellow in the range, but there are so many other brands that do those. What you can expect from YSL is about 20 different shades that are all sophisticated, stylish and timeless and the 3 that I'm showing are examples of just that; 38 Gris Underground is a paired down, cool, silky, modern camouflage gray, 18 Bleu Majorelle is a stunning and sun kissed blue that just oozes vitality and strength, and the last one 21 Taupe Retro is a classy warm brown with a very faint pink undertone, suitable for any occasion.

Another great quality is the amazing wide brush that will cover almost all of the nail in one clean sweep for a gorgeous streak free finish.The formula is slightly thicker than most but creates the most wonderful opaque brilliant high shine. And last but not least, YSL polishes will last about 5 days before they're chipped which to me is good wear - and about 5 days longer than some other premium brand polishes, and I can't recommend them enough.

If YSL is one of the most iconic brands in fashion and beauty, Opium has got to be one of the most iconic fragrances. It was first launched in 1977 and the marketing ads caused a lot of controversy with claims that it was glorifying drugs use, and the scent is one of the top 10 most popular perfumes of all times. The original Opium is a very heavy oriental and heady scent, typical of the 70s and I've always avoided it since it's far too imposing for me. However all that changed when I came across the new version that was launched in 2012 - Opium Vapeur de Parfum EdT Légère (£37 for 30 ml).

The scent comes in a beautiful bottle of peach colored frosted glass with a slightly retro feel and that also of course nods to the bottle of the original Opium. The newer release of Opium is a compelling blend of Oriental and Mediterranean scents - you'll find sweet fresh orange flowers and mandarin, sensual jasmine, and warm, spicy nutmeg and pink pepper. It's a contradictory scent that's glamorous, alluring and cooly crisp at the same time. This version of Opium smells nothing like the original and for me that's also why it works for me. I love the mix of light spice, subtle florals and citrus that make it a warm and mesmerising but zesty and intriguing scent that really stands out, and it's by far my fragrance of choice for this A/W season.

 

YSL as a brand perfectly captures simplicity, uniqueness and timlessness and there's nothing like a spritz of your favourite YSL scent or a slick of your favourite YSL lippy to add instant luxury to your day. Have you used any of these products or do you have another favourite?

Bourjois Color Edition 24H Eyeshadow

I recently picked up some new make up in a giant Autumn haul from Boots, and one of the items I got was the Bourjois Color Edition 24H Eyeshadow (£6.99). As many of you will know by now, I have become a huge fan of Bourjois and think they have really outdone themselves this year in terms of new products and shades. I was very excited to see the release of cream eye shadows a few months back since I have thoroughly enjoyed the Maybelline version and of course I was curious to see Bourjois' take on this incredibly popular concept. 

The eye shadow comes in a plastic packaging that's nothing fancy, but still quite sleek and stylish in its simplicity. Since it's plastic instead of glass it's not very bulky or heavy, and you can easily carry it with you in a makeup bag or even a slim evening bag. The formula is one of those that go from cream to powder when it's dried so you need to work fairly quickly when you apply it. It's incredibly creamy to apply, completely effortless and with a very light sweep of your fingertip you'll get great coverage that feels velvety smooth on the eyelid. It's simply lovely to work with and because it's so light, it's also easy to build up the color intensity and still get a nice even finish, without any creasing.

After it's dried the eye shadow will pretty much stay put for most of the day. I know that it claims to stay on for 24 hrs, but on me I notice that it fades a little bit after 6-7 hrs and still I wear a primer, a light dust of powder and setting spray as well. To me this isn't an issue though since the eye shadow fades evenly and there's no horrible creasing or fall out and it only takes a few second to touch up if needed.

The eye shadow currently comes in six different shades, and most of them are neutral - taupe, bronze, grey and dusky pink and if you're looking for something a little bit different you also have the option of a blue and green. I got the shade Khaki Cheri, which is a beautiful golden moss green with a bronze metallic sheen which for me makes a nice change to the browns I've been wearing this autumn and I think it also works really well with a berry lip. I'm very impressed by the pigmentation of it - one quick dip of your fingertip creates a look of a subtle shimmery green and if you build it up, you'll get the intense color you see in the photos.

I absolutely love this eyeshadow because of it's ultra light and smooth consistency that's so pleasant and luxurious to apply and I'm so looking forward to trying some of the other shades, and I sincerely hope that Bourjois will add new shades to this range very soon. 

 Artificial light without flash

 Daylight without flash

It is impossible to talk about this product without also comparing it to the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR cream eye shadows, so I'll try and sum it up in a few key points:

- The Bourjois packaging is less bulky and lighter than the Maybelline glass jar
- Maybelline is £2 cheaper than Bourjois - might also be dependent on where you buy it
- Bourjois has a smoother consistency and is easier to apply to the eye without having to rub
- Bourjois has a drier cream texture that dries quicker and is less sticky than Maybelline
- For me personally neither Bourjois nor Maybelline lasts 24 hrs - it's more like 5-6 hrs wear, but I have the feeling that Bourjois lasts a little bit longer, perhaps because of the drier consistency. 
- Maybelline has a wider range of shades available

Ultimately Maybelline and Bourjois both have great cream eye shadows and for the moment I will continue to use both of them in parallel. I think it's nice to see other brands challenging Maybelline's complete domination of the purse friendly cream eye shadows, and if Bourjois extends their range of colors - make up addicts have a lot to look forward to. Let the battle of the shadows commence! 

Plump up the volume

Lip balms - I think I'm addicted to them. It's almost the first beauty product I apply in the morning, the last one in the evening before I go to sleep and in between I re-apply it more times than I can count. I have a lip balm on my bedside table, on my desk at work, and on the sofa table. In the very unlikely event that I should have forgotten to take a lip balm with me when I leave the house, I almost get a case of separation anxiety and I will always stop somewhere and pick another one up, which means that by now I have one lying around in every handbag, just to make sure that I'm not caught without. Does that classify as an addiction? Probably!

The most important thing for me when it comes to lip balms is that it gives a deep sense of hydration that lasts as long as possible and if it happens to have a lovely yummy flavour, it's a welcome bonus point. Since I always use lip balms as a primer under lip stick or lip gloss, I prefer them to be without any color, but it is also nice to have a tinted lip balm for those lazy days when you can't be bothered with makeup but you still don't want to look like death warmed up. I have tried a lot of different lip balms and almost all of them have been budget buys. Since they've done a decent job at keeping my lips moisturised I've never really seen the point in splurging on premium brands - at least that is until I tried the Gatineau DefiLift 3D Perfect Design Revolumising Lip Care.

The Defi Lift 3D Lip Care contains natural ingredients that will heal, moisturize and smooth the lips - e.g. shea butter, jojoba oil and lavender extract. But what sets this lip balm apart from other products is the wonderful plumping effect created by a cocktail of ingredients that stimulate the synthesis of collagen to create firmness, retain hydration and better define the contours of the lips. The lip balm is a silky glossy consistency that immediately smooths the lips and adds a little bit of volume that lasts for a few hrs and unlike many products with plumping effects, it doesn't give an intense tingling sensation in your lips that can sometimes be quite uncomfortable.

As the balm isn't sticky you can use it on its own, as a primer under lipstick or as a lip gloss. Because of the firming effects, you can also use it as a lip contour mask, adding a generous layer and then just let it sink in for the next 10-15 mins or so. This will reduce the appearance of any small lines or wrinkles by giving a filling effect an boosting the lip contours. At £22, this lip care product is definitely not a budget buy, but keep in mind that you're getting not only a lip balm but also a long lasting plumping product and a lip contour mask enriched with anti-ageing properties. If you don't want to waste this great lip balm during the day, you can do what I do and use it as a treatment overnight so you wake up in the morning with lovely plumped lips, all ready for your favourite lipstick.

Manic.Monday: Fiery Island

A few weeks ago I mentioned my new found love for Sally Hansen nail polishes, specifically the Complete Salon Manicure Formula. It's an interesting and innovative concept of five different aspects - all essential for nail care, covered in one single product. That means that when you've selected one of the gorgeous shades in the wide range available, you'll also automatically get a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment added through a built in time release function, and top coat in the same product. Since I more or less always wear a nail polish, which can be tough on the nails and cuticles, I really appreciate brands that incorporate some nail care ingredients into the shade itself and when there are so many stunning shades to choose from - it makes me a very happy nail polish wearer. The Sally Hansen shade I'm showing you today is the gloriously vibrant, energetic and zesty Fiery Island 545 (£6.99) which is a slightly darker shade of warm satsumas orange and to me it just captures the essence of beautiful golden autumn leaves.

Since you've already got built in base coat and top coat, you can definitely wear this shade just as it is, and it won't leave any discolourations on your nails, and it'll also add a lovely high shine to the finished look. I usually always wear a separate base- and top coat, but I'm gradually coming round to the idea of using the nail polish as it's intended to be, and in the photo I'm only wearing the nail polish itself, nothing else.

Another great thing about this nail polish, showing the high quality of it, is the brush. It's nice and wide giving wonderful seamless coverage in one quick sweep. I'm also very impressed by the lovely density and pigmentation of the shades, and you really only need one coat to create a lovely opaque effect with that built in high shine. Even though I am getting used to not using base- and top coat when I wear this formula, I'm still very much a two coat girl to get that ultra glossy, opaque look which is what I'm wearing in the photo as well.

The nail polish is supposed to last as long as up to 10 days, maintaining the lovely shine but realistically I think it's closer to 5-6 days, before the finish starts to get a little bit more matte and you can see the first chipping. I still think that's pretty good for a nail polish, and considering you get so many other benefits from this formula at a very affordable price, the 5 day wear is hardly a concern. Overall it's an excellent formula and definitely one of the best ones I've used in the same price range, pulverizing some premium brands - there's simply no contest. If you're interested in trying the Sally Hansen nail polishes for yourself, then hurry down to Boots where their current 3 for 2 offer also includes these little goodies, so I guess I'll see you at the checkout!

Salon Skin Care: Dermalogica

If like me you are big into skin care, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to great skin care brands. There are so many that I enjoy to use, but I do have a soft spot for so called salon skin care. I love the concept of getting a professional consultation and treatment and then to be able to continue maintain my skin using the same products at home. Another benefit of salon skin care is that you're less likely to be bedazzled by fantastic looking packaging and glamorous marketing. Instead it's all about the quality of the products and proven results, and a few great examples of brands like these is Gatineau, Décleor, Elemis and Dermalogica.

This is the first post in a series on salon skin care and I thought I would start with a brand that I actually haven't tried much from - Dermalogica. Since I had only tried the Daily Microfoliant previously, I was very interested to try some other items from their range. 

First up is the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel* which is a nice and light soap free gel cleanser, with a lovely invigorating scent of subtle lavender. Apply the gel to slightly moist skin and you'll find that despite being soap free it works up a really good lather and gives a great deep cleanse without dehydrating the skin or leaving any tightness. The formula contains mint balm, which helps to balance the production of oil in your skin and as such it's perfect for oily to combination skin, but it also works really well on my skin which is normal to combination, controlling the oil and shininess of the T-zone. You can use this as part of your morning and evening routine, but since my skin isn't particularly oily I especially like to use it in the evening. First I use a separate eye make up remover, and then the cleansing gel for a relaxing and thorough cleanse, getting rid of any grittiness and build up of impurities after a long day of wearing makeup, leaving the skin feeling very refreshed.

The most famous Dermalogica product is probably the Daily Microfoliant* and it almost has sort of a cult status with a loyal following amongst celebrities and models alike. It's a dry exfoliating powder based on rice extracts which are great for a gentle but deep cleanse, and you mix the powder with a little bit of water to create a frothy paste. It's tender enough to be used on daily basis, after an initial cleanse to polish and decongest the skin to reveal a glowing complexion.It's very effective and leaves your skin supple and velvety smooth.

As I mentioned earlier I had tried this product before, but after an initial honeymoon period when I loved the soft and bright skin that it gave me I stopped using it since it caused tiny little breakouts to appear on my skin - and it was exactly the same for me this time around. It is a nice and gentle exfoliant that definitely gives results, but unfortunately it also gives me skin irritations so it's not for me and it won't be getting a permanent place on my bathroom shelf.

After using the exfoliator my skin was a little uneven, and with tiny red marks I desperately needed something calming and comforting (for my skin, not just my nerves), so I was interested to see what the Dermalogica Ultra Calming Relief Masque* intended specifically for sensitive skin, could do to improve the situation. The formula has a lovely silky, pearlescent consistency and it instantly soothes and calms angry skin. I used about half of the sachet for each application, so I managed to get two luxurious pampering sessions out of it. I know my skin has a tendency to be dehydrated and it almost drank up all of the masque leaving very little to be wiped away with a hot towel after 10 mins. My skin felt completely calmed down afterwards and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with sensitive skin and I can imagine it would also be lovely to minimise redness from harsh windy weather or sunburn, or even for Him Indoors to care for any razor burns. A real treat!

 

Since I spend most of my day staring at a computer screen, it's very important to me to care for the delicate area around the eyes and having tested quite a lot of eye creams and I now know exactly what I'm looking for. It needs to be rich, hydrating, nourishing and protecting anti-ageing qualities. As you can tell I'm demanding to say the least, when it comes to eye creams and the Dermalogica Total Eye Care* was up against a very tough critic. The consistency is amazingly light and whipped, almost mousse like and it has a lovely buff colored tint to it as well for an instant subtle under eye coverage. It also has light reflecting particles that help to add brightness and to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. The long list of ingredients all intend to hydrate, strengthen and smooth the eye area, which is exactly what I'm after. You only need a tiny grain sized amount and it's so creamy that it blends into the skin immediately, leaving it feeling buttery smooth and protected, without any tackiness or oilyness.

 

Of course you can use the eye cream both in the day or during the night, but because of the subtle coverage and the light reflecting ingredients this eye cream really work at its best during the day time. I would even say that you may not need to use an under eye concealer since the cream does that for you. I was a harsh critic, but this eye cream easily won me over and I am absolutely blown away by how lovely this is. It's so pleasant and refreshing to wear, it give a lovely radiant glow to the under eye area and most importantly, it keeps the hydration throughout the day and in the evening my skin stills feel soft and smooth - I will definitely be repurchasing it.

If you're tempted to add some Dermalogica products to your routine, Beauty900 has a vast selection to choose from and they also offer free delivery and samples with every order - and we all like free samples now don't we!

Autumn haul from Boots

You know how a picture says a thousand words? Guess what mine says - yep, HAUL!!! It's always nice to go browsing in the beauty stores, but as I am a very organised person I usually come with a shopping list that I at least pretend to try and stick to. I always have the most fun when I haven't planned on buying anything at all and I have a completely open mind to what might come my shopping basket way. As you can see my mind must have been wide open on this occasion, since I managed to pickup a LOT of stuff.

Let's start with the eye products! For me Bourjois has been on a real winning streak this year and produced some excellent products and as fan of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos I obviously wanted to try the Bourjois' version, Color Edition 24h Eyeshadow. Since I'm trying a few new things with my makeup this season I didn't want to be predictable and go for the usual taupes and bronzes and instead went for Khaki Cheri, which is a gorgeous warm golden bronzed green. I haven't even tried it yet, but I already love it and really hope that the wear is as great as what you get from Maybelline. I also picked up a few classical Bourjois Little Round Pot Eyeshadow to use for a quick and simple day wear, all across the lid with eyeliner. I chose the shades 16 Orange Epice, a warm golden cinnamon and 54 Marron Glace a genuine chocolate brown with some faint shimmer.

This year I'm really trying to be more seasonal with the colors I use in my makeup, introducing some berry shades and purples. The L'Oréal Colour Riche Quad is perfect for that with its four perfectly matched, tonal mauves which I think will work well with blue eyes. I have tried a few other palettes this year and while I've liked most of them, there's almost always been pigmentation issues with the lighter shades, so fingers crossed that all four will work for me.

Still on the purple theme - I also got the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Paranoid Purple. I've only tried this on very quickly and a more detailed review will follow later on, but it feels very soft and should glide on without too much tear, and the purple shade certainly is a bold statement - wow is all I say for now. 

 

This is the bit I'm slightly embarrassed about. As you may know I have recently suffered a loss of a much loved lipstick, and I can only blame grief for the ridiculous amount of lip products I managed to buy in one go. I'm clearly looking for a substitute... but in my defense I did get them in a variety of shades and types. 

The first one is one from the the collection Kate Moss created for Rimmel - Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipsticks which I have heard so many great things about. It's not a huge range of colors available, but they are all very wearable and I decided on shade 16, which is a light and creamy coral pink that's supposed to last up to 8 hrs.

A while back I did a review of the YSL Glossy Stain which is a firm favourite of mine now, and at the time I got a few recommendations to try the L'Oréal Glamshine Stain Splash which is a High Street dupe for it. Again there aren't very many shades to choose from in this range, so I went for shade 200 Princess, which is a lively glossy coral and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it measures up against YSL.

Having indulged in a few coral shades which I'm always most naturally drawn to, I thought I would also get some autumn colors. The first two are both Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons. Ever since I first tried these earlier this year I've worn the Spring & Summer shades a lot and I really like the formula combining shine and moisture and find them great to wear. When I saw the new shades of the season of course I had to get them as well. Rouge is a lovely soft and creamy red with a blue undertone that I think I'll get a lot of wear out of. The other one is more of a gamble for me - Prune, is a gorgeous deep mauve berry shade, a little darker than I usually go for, but since I'm really trying to mix it up, I'm determined to give it a go.

I haven't tried any of the lip products from 17 for a very long time, but it's another brand that has really stepped up its game this year. Based on the description this seems to be very similar to the Bourjois Lip Crayons, so I couldn't resist getting the 17 Lip Crayon in Heartbreaker, a lovely burgundy shade to compare them.

Having got quite a wide range of shades, all I was missing really was a good nude which I never seem to get right. To make it easy for myself I turned to the L'Oréal Color Riche Collection Privée. and eventually settled on Barely Peach by Julianne Moore. It's not at all what I had expected - I had almost decided to go for the Doutzen Kroes shade since we have similar colouring, but there was something about it that didn't quite click for me. When I've tested it I'll let you know if I should have stuck to the expert matching, or if I was right to follow my makeup gut.

No shopping trip is complete without a few new inspirational nail polishes and I'm proud of myself that only got two this time around - I should have used the same principle with the lip products... They are both from everybody's favourite nail polish man - uncle Barry (M), and they are actually each other's complete opposites, proof that I have a multiple nail polish personality. First we have the amazing, glimmering jewel that is the Christmas Limited Edition Glitter Paint in Tinseltown. The glitter in happy sparkly red, clear royal blue, and radiant violet was just too much for me to resist, and I'm going to have so much fun experimenting with different base shades, using this as topcoat!

The other one is the paired down, Matte Nail Paint in Vanilla, which I think makes a very sleek, stylish and strict statement. So keep an eye out and I'm sure you'll see them appearing in Manic.Monday posts in the near future!

Well that was that! I'm very excited about my new products and all I need to do now is decide what I should try out first for the first review to go up soon - any suggestions?

Eulogy to a lipstick

There's nothing so disappointing as when a much loved product all of a sudden is end of line - it is no more, it has popped its cute packaging clogs, gone to the big beauty counter in the sky, it's pushing Marc Jacobs Daisies, it is an ex beauty product - put it however you want, but it is well and truly dead. Regrettably tragedy has struck and that is exactly what has happened to one of my most cherished lipsticks. Since this lipstick was one of those special occasion products that I mentioned the other day - the ones that make you feel like a princess, I want to dedicate a short farewell post to it. Before you think that I need to seek help for an unnatural attachment to a beauty product, I just want to make it clear that this is all done with a sense of humour and a healthy portion of self irony.

My lipstick - Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel in Rose Sensuel 03 was a truly wonderful product! It was much worn and loved by me and others also saw and appreciated its great qualities. Although it came in a very simple packaging it was stylish and luxuriously creamy proving that you should not judge a book by its cover. Intensity, elegance, radiance, care and long wear characterized this beautiful and luscious lippy. 

It was a rainy day at the end of April when Sweet Kiss Naturel unexpectedly came into my life at Superdrug, and the nourishing formula enriched with magnolia oil and shea butter made us great friends straight from the very start. Rose Sensuel as a shade is best described as a warm, perky, good old fashioned dusky rose that would add style to even the most casual of days.

  

Rose Sensuel 03

Different outfits and makeup looks meant that there were times when we didn't see each other as often as we would have liked, but like true friends we always found our way back together and then it was as if we'd never been apart. 

I know it would want me to go on to find happiness with other lipsticks, but Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel will be remembered for the wonderful romantic rose tinted time we spent together, filled with a smooth satin finish and a lovely natural radiance.

It's a loss to lipstick lovers all over the world, and I will miss it dearly - R.I.P...