Liz Earle Botanical Aftersun Gel - LOVE

Liz Earle's Botanical Aftersun Gel has been a big source of comfort and refreshment for me during the very few days of hot weather we have had. I have rather weird skin when it comes to tanning naturally, if my skin is well hydrated I got browner than brown BUT if my skin is dry then I burn. Strange no?

Since I have been suffering with terrible dry skin on my body recently it was clear I was going to burn at some point over summer. This was the first thing I was reaching for when I could feel/see the heat in my skin, lathering it all on.

The light, lavender smelling gel dehydrates my skin in a flash. With some lovely sounding ingredients like organic aloe vera, organic cucumber and premium high-altitude lavender all help to keep your skin calm, whilst soothing the skin from any nasty sun burn. All coming together to nourish the skin and give you cool refreshing relief. 

I. Love. It.

Basically: Feels nice, smells amazing and does the job of counteracting the damaging effects the sun can do in your skin (thanks to the vitamin E)

Space NK Haul By Terry and NARS♥

There are only two shops I can enter and not leave without purchasing something Space NK is one of those shops, today after one (or three) glasses of wine with some old friends we stumbled into Space NK for a browse. I love all four pieces I bought and although are silly expensive I love them non the less.

First up are the two NARS products that I have been after for a long time but could never get myself to part with my cash for, I guess all I needed was a glass of wine to get them eh?! Belle De Jour Lipstick is a gorgeous semi sheer lipstick that is the perfect shade of nude, not to pale, not chalky, not too orange, I am in love. So happy I finally bought this gem.


The other is Fez eye shadow, I find NARS eye shadows to be hit or miss but the creamy texture plus the amazing pigmentation won me over with this. I can't wait to wear this to work tomorrow all over the lid. Do you wanna to see an FOTD with this?

Onto the rather expensive purchases but hey I only live once right? They are from By Terry, a range I'm sure we all know and lust from. I finally caved and bought the Baume De  Rose, which is something of a cult lip product. It is rather fab and I will post a review soon on this.

The other is the Or De Rose Baume Precieux ? Basically the same but ALOT more money as it has gold shimmer packed in. I think this is my favorite and the shimmer is just to die for. Again I will review this soon. The packaging of this jar has a rather pretty floral design on it, I think the original should carry this print with the rose gold lid too, I prefer it. 

Baume De Rose

Or De Rose Baume Precieux

You are positively glowing! ♥

A must have for summer !

In Summer I have the tendancy to up my highlighting, sometimes I go a little crazy but hell I like a summer glow. Right now NARS is doing everything right in terms of highlighters, they have some great colours all with fabulous formulations that just light up your skin. 

These little tubes of light reflecting creams are perfecting for a faux glow, I apply these under my foundation with my moisturizer and sometimes over as well if I want even more shimmer to my cheeks, making me look lit from within. On days when I don't wear any makeup I still like to mix a little of Copacabana with my moisturizer so my skin still looks refreshed and illuminated . 

Super Orgasm and Copacabana are my top picks as I feel they work on most skin tones.

They retail for £21.50 - you can get them HERE - which might seem like a lot but you need such a small amount that each tube will last a long time.

Have you tried them? Do you love them too?

Lip combo of the week & Rituals Review ♥

I haven't done a lip combo of the week in about a month (I think) so it was about time for another and this is the combo I have been loving a lot recently. It was pointed out to me recently that Rituals actually do makeup, I thought they just were skin/body so I was pleasantly surprised and eager to try out a lipstick. This is one of the cream and care lipsticks in La vie en rose, which is just the prettiest natural pink and provides a nice boost of hydration to your lips. It gives a good amount of colour, I'd say the formula is borderline on the sheer side, the perfect balance for summer.  

The other product is MAC tinted lip conditioner, I don't know the name as the label has come off, I want to say fuchsia - let me know below! I just add this for a slightly glossier finish, right now I'm loving gloss but on the really hot days I can't bare a gloss so this still gives me my shine fix.

My summer skincare ♥

This is long over due, I've been meaning to put this up for a month now, terrible beauty blogger! I've been using the range for about 3 months now and just repurchased 2 of the products as they are really great products. As a blogger I am continuously trying out new products, or I get bored easy and stop using something so it is a real triumph for Clarins that the products have been thoroughly used and loved.


I'm sure you have seen/read about their new Daily Energizer range, it's been out for awhile now and everyone I spoken to about the line has had positive things to say. Clarins designed the range for those of us who no longer need the skincare designed for teens but aren't quite ready to jump on the anti ageing bandwagon, I think its great brands are bringing out products to fit in that gap n the market smart move. The products aim to keep your skincare routine simple with 3 steps but keep your skin looking fresh, radiant, clear and feels soft.

The Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel is a light fresh foaming formula that really gets down into your pores to remove makeup and daily dirt, fighting any blemishes and keep skin clear and radiant. I love this, which is something I don't say often with gels as normally they are too drying but this is a gem. Infact I've just bought another tube, so this gets a big thumbs up.

The Daily Energizer Wake-up booster is a hydrating and refreshing toner, and does what it says it wakes you and your skin up. Not much I can say about this as it is pretty much your typical toner, but I have just repurchased this too.

The Daily Energizer Lotion SPF15 is a lovely lightweight moisturizer, its oil-free too which is great and I think this is great under makeup as it really does give my skin a matte feel which is perfect under any makeup to keep me shine free. The SPF15 is plus as well, I hate when a day cream doesn't offer an SPF you need to wear it every day! Boasting some impressive ingredients to feed your skin to keep it looking great - Vitamin C and Turmeric, purifying Alchemilla, radiance boosting Gingko bilobaand natural UV filters.

The Daily Energizer Cream Gel I think is more suited for night time, well that's how I've been using it as it is rich despite being a gel formula. So it makes sense to use it at night when I'm sleeping as this is when your body and skin repairs itself so your skin soaks up more of those snazzy ingredients.


Overall the range is fab, and I have had so many compliments about my skin since I have been using the range and I can only credit it to this range as it is the only thing that has changed in the last couple of months. I really recommend the products for anyone who is looking for a great summer radiance boosting range. Prices £10.50-£19.50 at any Clarins retailer.

Summer shades for eyes & cheeks ♥

I wanted to share with you two products that basically sum up summer for me in terms of makeup! Both from Sue Devitt (god help me I love that brand) which is a fantastic brand, they has some amazing products and right now I am stuck in a rut with these two.

♥ The Hydrating Marine minerals eye and cheek palette - Beausoleil ♥

What Sue Says: "The alluring Destination Eye Palette is mineral eye makeup featuring universally flattering shades in blendable, wearable and long-lasting eye color. A unique formulation offers extraordinary hydrating and refreshing properties of the sea, encapsulated in a proprietary delivery system that increases skin's moisture level and vitality. This mineral eye palette contains a synergistic complex of biotechnological marine and botanical substances such as Sea Butter, Shea Butter, Ceramide 2 and Hyaluronic Acid in addition to vitamins, minerals and proteins that work in tandem to help skin absorb water from the air while restoring skin's natural elasticity."

Now this can be used on your eyes or your face, I mainly use this on my cheeks because it gives me the perfect peach-y glow. It has the right balance between satin and shimmer to give you a really illuminated and flushed peach cheek. I could go on and on about my love for this as a blusher, it is most definitely my favourite blusher right now, and has totally pushed NARS Luster out of the window!

♥Swatches♥

Top - Individual rows

Bottom - All mixed together

♥ Silky Matte eye shadow - Dominica ♥

What Sue Says: "Silky Matte Eye Shadow is a pigment rich, crease-resistant formulation that offers maximum performance"

This has been one of my most used eye colours for about 2/3 months now, when I can't be bothered blending colour after colour but I know I want a sultry smokey eye I grab this. It has a really creamy, blendable formula and it will stay put all day which I love. I really like Sue Devitt eye shadows on the whole as they are just so easy to work with and creamy in texture, making it quicker and easier to create my eye look for whatever.

♥Swatches♥

 

Will you help me finish my mosaique? ♥

I saw pictures of Clarins Mosaique Summer Bronzing Compact online and I fell in love with the beautiful pattern and packaging. Clarins describe it as an "ultra fine powder that literally melts into the skin ensuring a matte, long-lasting makeup finish. It's mineral pigments combine perfectly to deliver a natural, perfectly even tanned look. Clever soft focus pigments gives skin a radiant glow that conceals fine lines, whilst feather light oils and Vitamin E keep skin fresh and even and natural mineral filters provide UV protection. The powder is suitable for all skin types, even the driest of skins, thanks to the presence of an emollient oil and Vitamin E. Natural SPF 10 sun protection , provided by mineral filters, protects the skin from UV rays".

I was surprised how large the compact actually is, with a lovely mirror inside as well, it's something you wouldn't mind whipping it out to touch up your makeup. Unlike some compacts it feels very well made and sturdy, I've traveled with this and no damage to report it definitely withstands my brashness in throwing thing in my handbags.

This bronzer is easily my most used right now, it is everything I want a bronzer to be and beats every other bronzer I have. The texture is creamy and smooth, it blends perfectly into my skin and leaves a natural bronzed finish. The mixture of pink, brown and gold tones means your skin is left with a post-holiday glow.. even if you haven't been away this allows you to fake it.

Well worth the £25.99, you can grab yours here http://fr.clarins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/cosmetics-products_makeup__-11_10201_11751_Y_30545__ or in-store

Sharing my love for Jergens ♥

You may remember I challenged Jergens to keep my skin hydrated throughout winter, and if you saw my results I was pretty darn impressed. So much in-fact Jergens has been the only bottle of body lotion I have finished -ever! How happy am I to be stocked up again in Jergens, my new love has to be the Aloe version it's so refreshing and moisturizing I apply this morning and night to keep my tan and skin looking great. Plus the Aloe version is such a much have for summer, especially if you are a sun lover or are prone to burning it will help to soothe the skin.


Let me know if you have tried Jergens, what did you think?

Revlon does scented nail polish ♥

This is a totally new concept to me, I know it has been in the US for some time but I haven't come across a brand doing this before. So props to Revlon for coming out with the idea. But scented nail polish? I was unsure at first, the same thing I'm sure your all thinking right now - no way does it smells of anything but nail polish. However ever surprisingly they really do have their own little scents, watermelon, bubble gum, coconut, sea breeze, mango and even more. The colour selection isn't too bad either, with shades from nudes to brights, there is sure to be something that you will love. I've fallen in love with the pink and purple shades. As for how they apply well really well just what you would expect from Revlon, 1-2 coats and you have a lovely glossy opaque finish that will last 4-6 days before chipping. Pretty impressive after all!

Getting creative with No7 ♥

Yesterday I was lucky enough to go to an event with No7 that was launching their new Stay Perfect Nail Polish colours. We got the chance to get some tips from the wonderful Jamie Nunn - who does the nails for X-Factor don't you know! The event was all about getting us to be more creative with our nails, we were shown some really cool techniques like marble, the new french tip, swarovski adorned nails and a few more.


The event really got me thinking my usual one shade only is a little boring and I gave leopard print a go, after doing a good job on my nail wheel today I decided that I would give it a go for real. Let's see how I did...

Keep your eyes peeled for lots of nail posts coming your way on the blog :)