Beauty || Marc Jacobs The Lolita

When I go to the likes of Italy,France or Spain there's one shop that I know I must venture into and that is Sephora. 

I can't fathom why there's Sephora in the US and most of Europe but not In the UK odd ? but hey ho it's something to look forward to. 

As soon as I stepped in the Marc Jacobs stand instantly took my attention and I stood for ages deliberating what to purchase. 

I finally decided on the beautiful 206 The Lolita style eye-con Palette. 

There are four palette's in the range but this one really did catch my eye as the most wearable one for me and I think I'm in love!

The Lolita is a nude lovers dream come true and is perfect for both daytime and evening,each shade being completly wearable. 

The palette houses 3 matte golden nude shades and 4 shimmers. 

The shadows are very workable,long lasting with very little fall out.

They have a beautiful buttery texture that is often difficult to find with such excellent colour pay off. 

The packaging of this palette is also pretty darn perfect with the slick black and a good sized mirror and it also comes in a cute little pouch - making it perfect for travel.

The problem with this palette is that the shadows don't have names - not a big problem really. 

Now for the price , it's certainly not a bargain purchase at about £34 but all in all if you think that for the same price you could buy 3 Mac shadows see how I played that logic? 

If your heading to a foreign destination that has a Sephora I'd full heartedly recommend checking out the Marc Jacobs stand... I know I will be when I head out to Spain. 

Alternatively Sephora USA now do shipping to the UK.

Have you tried any of the Marc Jacobs line and any reccomendations?

Is there anything on your Sephora list?

Beauty|| Getting our tan on

So apprently Summer is coming and you would have believed it with our mini heat wave but then this week has been wet,dark and a little chilly! 

But I'm optimistic that the sun will return which means showing a little more skin and for me this means getting my tan on. (I'm really very pale and fair so it takes a while for me to tan) 

I have a few favourites to give me a golden glow so here we go. 

The Prep ~ 

First things first it's important to prep the skin before tanning. You want soft supple skin so that you don't get any nasty flaky clumpy bits of tan - rookie error. 

The night before I like to use a scrub to get rid of all the nasty scaly bits, paying special attention to the elbows,knees and feet. 

My personal favourite is Soap & Glory breakfast scrub. 

The maple scent of this scrub is truly delicious that you almost want to eat it . 

I'll then use a thick moisturiser to lock in the moisture and keep it a smooth affair. I love Kiehl's creme de corps or a body shop body butter.

The face ~ 

Personally I like to use a seperate facial tanner because I find that they give better results ,you have a little more control over the product , and your not left with a patchy face as the formula's are face specific.

I'll either use the Clarins Liquid bronze self tanning  which your probably all sick of hearing me talk about. 

I'll pop this on two cotton pads and pop it on my face before bed( take care around the brows and hairline) and I'm left with a subtle healthy glow. 

Another Clarins product is the Instant smooth self tanner this is a great one when you forgot to tan your face or if you just want a quick fix. 

Smooth the light weight texture on and your skins left with a radiant glow - this works as a lovely primer too. 

Another product that is great for when you want a quick fix glow try the Soap & Glory glow job.

Body ~ 

Last but not least the body tanners. 

So I've already mentioned that I am incredibly pale so sometimes instant tan can just be a tad too dark against my colouring and I like to build it up gradually.

I either use the St Tropez Gradual tanner which applies beautifully, moisturises the skin and leaves a lovely natural buildable colour. 

It actually gives a lovely tan after one use . 

Alternatively I'll use the Xen tan transform luxe daily self-tan .

For something a little darker and instant I've been using the Garnier no streaks bronzer-self tanning mousse.  This just does what it says on the tin. The dark mousse is great because you can see where it's been applied. 

I would personally always recommend using a tanning mitt even with gradual tans because nobody wants the tell tale signs of a fake tanning session. 

Beauty || Lets clean those brushes

First things first lets do a little hello and nice to meet you, It's been a while. 

It would be an understatement to say I've not blogged properly in ages!

deadlines and work well and truly took over my life for the past month 

But I'm back and ready with new ideas and lots to talk about so hey ho lets go!  

So Where I live we have a new Tesco now usually I wouldn't care a supermarkets a supermarket yes? No this isn't any old supermarket it's amazing - a day trip in it's self and whats so great is the new beauty section and I went a little cray cray . 

One item I picked up and the thing that spurred this post and long winded explaination. 

So cleaning make-up brushes often a little neglected but important non the less. 

Brushes collect dirt,oil and grime which can of course lead to breakouts and clogged pores . 

In the long run if your working hard to keep your skin nice you could end up reversing all of that hard work you did- it makes sense to clean them hey?

Regular cleaning can also help preserve brushes 

I try to do a deep clean once a week but realistically it's usually once a month.

And my weapon of choice and the long winded purchase .... Dr.Bronner's pure castile soap

I just swirl my brushes in a ramekin with a bit of the soap and rinse simple as pie and allow to dry.

This stuff is great for cleaning brushes so much so that it should be the 19th use (or however many they're on now) it smells nice,gentle and really does clean those brushes.

FYI Dr.Bronner's pure Castile soap is perfect for travelling as it can be used for a whole of different things such as washing,shampooing,shaving,brushing your teeth(I'd advise the peppermint one) and cleaning your clothes. 

Things to put a smile on you're face...

Apologies that there's been nothing to read over on feed the sharks this past week, I've been ill with flu and in bed since last Sunday and I only started to properly human again yesterday . I'm still feeling a little poop but well enough to get back into the swing of things :)

I thought I'd do this little post because when you're feeling a little poop sometimes you need certain things to put a smile on you're face and add a teeny bit more colour . Although you could also see these bits and pieces as a welcome into spring- which seems to be edging out from behind all that rain and wind.

Reads-  Theres some cracking beauty reads out for Febuary/March and I do love just curling up with a magazine or my ipad to keep up with the latest trends and new realises, it's a lovely way to unwind and put a smile on you're face. I can't wait to read this month's Allure as I'm a big fan  of Victoria Beckham. I'm also a huge fan of the Times styles magazine which contains a nice mix of fashion and beauty. If nothing else the Mrs Mills column always make me chuckle.

Body bits -   One way to make a nice big smile on you're face is to indulge in a nice hot bath with plenty of bubbles.  I love this organic surge lavender foaming bath  it's just so comforting,relaxing and all worry's drain away down the plughole after using this and you can guarantee you'll feel ready to dose off.
Another favourite is the Clarins Liquid bronze which is a welcome addtion to my evening skincare routine as it perks up a dull complextion and adds the nicest glow to the skin. Just pop it on as the last step in you're routine and you'll wake up with a slight hint of tan.
The Body shop always deliver beautiful smelling products and the satsuma body mist is no exception. This zingy fragrance is great for an everyday scent and just puts a huge smile on my face it's so fresh and makes me think of summer. The smell doesn't last a particularly long time but it's not too expensive so I don't feel too bad topping up.

and the make-up-   Another secret weapon for adding a touch of colour to the cheeks is the balm frat boy blush.  There's just something about this peachy coral pink blush that just makes the cheeks pop. It's not too much it's just nice and subtle and is perfect when you just want a no fuss hint of colour. I really want to try some more bits from the balm.

So while I was ill in bed my nails were definetly feeling a little unloved , I couldn't be bothered to even take off my old scabby polish so painting was a definte no no . Now I'm better I just wanted a super bright cheerful colour that takes me back to summer so I went for the Barry M gelly nail paint in the shade greenberry. This bright turquoise green shade is so pretty and I really love the formula of these quick drying nail paints. It's just one of those shades that you look at and smile.

My final make up pick is the Korres lip butter in pomegranate . These little lip balms are fab when you want hydration on the lips whilst still having a little bit of a non fuss colour. Perfect for popping in you're handbag .

October Favourites

Keeping up with magazines , Zara Winter coat, Yankee fireside treats candle and neom tranquility candle, Mac peaches, Origins  no puffery , lanolips 101 ointment, Chanel Sublime de Chanel waterproof mascara and Berry lips.

Beauty bits and pieces :  This peaches blush is just beautiful it add a lovely little glow to the cheeks which is perfect for these colder months. This week I picked up a Chanel mascara that I'd been wanting to purchase for ages as I had a little trial. This mascara holds the curl beautifully whilst adding volume ( I will be doing a review next week). 
       Berry lips are just perfect for Autumn through to Winter as they add a bolt of colour , look sexy and interesting all rolled into one ! My weapons of choice would be the Revlon just bitten balm stain in crush beguin,Topshop beguiled,Kate Moss lasting finish 107 and Georgio Armarni lip maestro in 201.  Sporting all these berry coloured lips and cold weather calls for a good strong moisturising lip balm I've been loving Lanolips 101 ointment which I reviewed here. Last on the beauty front is the Origins no puffery cooling eye roll on which is so relaxing when rolled under tired eyes, I just chuck it in my handbag and use it for long library sessions or whenever I need a perk up.

Random... I love reading and keeping up to date with magazines some of my favourites this month include Little white lies , Suitcase , Allure and Elle which my Aunty and Cousin kindly bought me a subscription for my birthday. I signed up for Netflix again and got hooked on House of cards.
        Autumn defiantly calls for more candles to be lit and two of my favourites this month include the Yankee fireside treats candle which smells like marshmallows and reminds me of Canada and the NEOM tranquility candle which really is helping me get a good nights sleep and relax- review here.   Finally we have the lovely ZARA coat which is the cosiest warmest coat I've ever owned and definatly worth every penny!

Something I've enjoyed ...  My Birthday who doesn't love their birthday? and getting the opportunity to write a few pieces for my University newspaper :) if you fancy a look here and  here

Something I've not loved so much ... My wisdom tooth has become infected again which means it's coming out in a month. Honestly didn't think it could hurt this much but hey ho ! 

Something I'm looking forward too... Bonfire night and the colder autumn nights 

A cold weather saviour?

I am definatly a little late onto the lanolips trend but to tell you the truth I've never really needed to look any further afield than the NUXE Reve de Miel lipbalm. However I fancied a change especially as it gets a bit chillier and the common cold becomes a weekly occurance.  Cue lanolips - not only does it hydrate the lips but it relieves a dry sore chapped nose making it a perfect cold weather saviour. 

Lanolips contains the natural moisturiser Lanolin which is found in shorn sheeps wool. Yes sounds gross but if you can push that aside this ointment is 100% pure , natural and fragrance free. Honestly it made my lips feel lovely and lipstick ready but it really did fix that rudolph nose I had been sporting. 

NOW  The Lanolips 101 ointment formula is very very thick and it does require some squeezing in order to get the product out of the tube. I would defiantly recommend warming it with the fingers before applying. This aside I defiantly can see this becoming one of my Autumn/winter staples. 

Radiance renewed...

REN Glyolactic radiance renewal mask: 

I had wanted to try this mask for quite some time and just hadn't had chance to pick it up. So when my sister asked if I'd like hers I snapped it up. She has very sensitive skin and after just one use knew it wasn't to be.

A peel mask which exfoliates the skin with 'Glycolic,lactic,citric,tartaric acids. Extract of passion fruit,grape,pineapple,lemon, omega 3 and 7 papain.' Whoa what a mouthful !
This mask aims to renew the complexion by removing dead skin cells which results in a baby fresh radiant glow to the skin.

I love using this mask once a week to de-congest my face. I put a few pumps of the marmalade like gel onto my face and allow it's magic to work for 10 minutes. I then wipe off with a face cloth and behold radiance is revealed - this is no exaggeration. Personally I am not a fan of the smell of this mask as it reminds me of orange calpol - YUCK! I really love the packaging of this REN mask as the pump has a nice little cap on it which prevents dirt and gunk collecting around it.
My skin can be a little sensitive at times but it was fine with me however my sister really struggled so perhaps air on the side of caution.

P.S IMPORTANT : 
Make sure you use SPF after using this mask as the skin is prone to sun damage when it is baby fresh and new. 

If this mask takes you're fancy it can be picked up in a number of places including Space NK, Cult beauty and REN for £30

L'oreal does nudes...

'A tailor made nude lip look:shades for every skin tone.' 

I really do love L'Oreal lipsticks they have an extensive colour range, different formulas and finishes and they last reasonably well on the lip. I must say after seeing the adverts for the new Colour riche collection privee:nudes range , I was excited. I have so many red and pink lipsticks that I just want to find a lovely nude.

In the UK the new limited edition collection features 6 'nude' shades that have been customized and chosen by 6 of the L'Oreal 'because you're worth it' ladies. Each shade is paired to suit that particular spokeswomen's skin tone- The 6 lucky ladies are Julianne Moore,Frieda Pinto,Doutzen Kroes,Eva Longoria,Cheryl and Lida. 

I opted for the Doutzen Kroes 'nude' as she probably has the nearest colouring to myself. Firstly I love the packaging it's slick, matte and looks a lot more expensive than £9. This lipstick is super creamy and melts beautifully onto the lip and strangely smells like Parma violets.
Now in the bullet this lipstick looks an almost Barbie pink rather than nude which was the first disappointment, secondly the colour just didn't transfer onto my lips. Instead it left a sheer , frosted slightly pink - pretty yes , what I wanted? well not exactly.
The formula is bang on I just wish the colour was a little more pigmented.

You can indeed see the lipstick in this photo but I did put about 4 coats on 

 If this collection has tickled you're fancy you can pick it up from Boots for £8.19 and it is on buy one get one free at the moment.

Experimenting with coconut oil

A few weeks back I picked up some coconut oil for purely culinary uses , not only does it taste really good but it has rather a few health benefits.  It's a healthier form of fat and is better than using an olive oil at high temperatures as olive often oxidizes. It is also been proved to help boost the metabolism and control weight (try 1 tbsp each morning - slowly building up to 4tbsp a day).
I had heard a lot about how coconut oil had a number of beauty benefits but kind of shrugged them off - that was until today when I deciding to do some experimenting.

THE MAKE UP REMOVER  :  
For this experiment I put on a thick winged eye and some foundation and well put the coconut oil to the test. I began my warming the oil and then applied it to my face, paying particular attention around the eye. I then took the oil off with some cotton pads - simple as pie! 
Results:  Sure enough as the oil broke down the make up removed. Almost like the Emma Hardie cleansing balm just a whole lot Oilier . I did also have to neaten things up with a little Bioderma but the majority was removed. Now I'm not saying I'd completely ditch my regular cleanser but I would defiantly use it perhaps once a week as it left my skin feeling nourished. 

THE SHAVING OIL:
If anything was going to work it was going to be the shaving oil and boy it did not disappoint. I think this ones pretty self explanatory. 
Results:   What I really loved about using the oil is that the water simply bounced off so that the skin was left moisturised whilst I cleaned my razor. The razor also glided over the skin rather than catching on dry patches- I honestly can't say how many times I've cut or scared myself whilst shaving. This is something that will defiantly be added into my body care regime. 

THE SUGAR SCRUB: 
Mix 2 tbsp of coconut oil+ 2 tbsp of sugar + 2tbsp of shower gel = a oil,scrub gel hybrid.
Results: This was a delightful little scrub that has left my skin feeling nourished,healthy and glowing. I have honestly never felt my skin so smooth after using this and the shaving oil. Dare I say this may replace my Soap and glory breakfast scrub (if only it didn't smell so good.)

So next time you're in the supermarket why not pick up a jar of this and give it a whirl ? if all else fails it's really good with pancakes or roast potatoes - shouldn't work but it really does .
I picked mine up from Waitrose for about £6.99 and I know Tesco do one as well. Alternatively Holland&Barrett have an extensive range .

The new skincare additions

Literally every time I'd go into boots ,I'd pick up Hydraluron put it into my basket and swiftly put it back on the gleaming white shelf. I just didn't seem to be able to decide if I actually needed this much hyped product?

However last week I noticed Indeed labs was on reduction so finally Hydraluron and his beautiful brother eysilix were welcomed into my home. 

Hydraluron- moisture booster with the purest Hyaluronic acid (£24.99 at Boots)

So what does it do?

'increases skin hydration from below the surface with an ultra-high-quality hyaluronic acid that holds up to 1,000 times it's weight in water.'  

Hydraluron aims to reinforce the natural moisture of the skin, plumps the skins tissue and aids visibly radiant and youthful skin. 

So I was skeptical at first but you know my skin just feels so good now it does have a radiant glow, my make up and moisturiser both sit more comfortably on the skin and those horrid dry patches aren't as scaly. 

Eysilix- Instant eye rescue (£24.99 at boots)

'The first ever 10 peptide eye cream that instantly lifts,reduces the appearance of puffiness and dark circles while targeting fine lines,wrinkles,crows feet and tired eyes.' 

So under eye circles are one of my major issues of concern - I've struggled with eye creams and concealers but it still looks like I've got 6 BIG suitcases under my peepers. Yet at £24.99 this little bad boy has made me feel that little bit more at ease with the way my eyes look. I really do feel as if my under eyes have lifted , puffiness reduced and the dark circles are slowly disappearing. Now I know the under eye problem will always be an issue but I do feel a little bit more comfortable after using Eysilix.

So are these indeed labs offerings worth the hype? YES!!! to put it simply

Have you tried any of the indeed labs products? lemme know what you though :)

  

In Vogue ...

I love flicking through the pages of Vogue , looking at all the beautiful clothes and pieces of make up that I just can't afford right now.  Whilst flicking through the July edition a particular piece caught my eye- All about Charlotte Tilbury and her tips for youthful make up with this I thought I'd put my twist on her tips and share with you lovely lot.
If you aren't aware Tilbury is the queen of a sexy smoldering eye with a client list to die for - Cara Delevinge, Kate Moss, Beyonce and Penelope Cruz.  Last year Tilbury launched a You tube channel and accompanying blog so that we can all give that infamous flick a go. Watching her work is simply fascinating. One of most interesting tips of the whole article is that Tilbury sees that the face isn't a flat canvas rather it is moving and has higher and lower points that need to be enhanced.

1. Cheeks that make the eyes pop ! 
By using a creamy highlighter on the highest points of the cheeks it allows the cheekbones to appear higher which in turn will leave the eyes to smolder even more... Hey sexy lady!
Two of my favourite cream highlighters include YSL Touche eclat or MEMEME beat the blues.

2.Strong brows that frame the face 
It does't look like the big brow trend is going any where fast so Tilbury advises that you should never pluck above the brow and when applying product make you stipple it on for a natural effect.  Strong brows can really frame the face and pulls the whole look together.
Personally I prefer to take my time with a shadow and angled brush ( I use MAC wedge) but I also really love the Bobbi Brown brow pencil in the shade Ash.

3.Bright eyed and bushy tailed
Who would have thought that curling eyelashes would make such a difference to the way our make up looks? but boy it really does. By curling the lashes the eyes look wider and let in more light which in turn creates a brighter more open look. Mascara then adds lift to the lashes.
A good nude eyeliner along the lower lash line will again make the eyes look brighter and more awake... no one need know what time you went to bed last night.
Rimmel do an amazing nude in their Scandaleyes waterproof Kohl range- this soft nude pencil glides gently and effectively onto the lash line.
For Mascara I tend to lean towards L'oreal waterproof Telescopic or YSL Shocking . I do however want to purchase the Chanel Inimitable intense mascara after trying a sample of it.

Top ten - Summer nail polishes

L-R - ( all Essie) - Mint Candy apple , Aruba blue, Sugar Daddy ,Lapiz of luxury   and Watermelon


Whenever I want to brighten up an outfit I look to nail polishes they add colour and hide how gross my bitten nails actually are.  Come summer I turn to bright bold colours sometimes a tad garish rather than dark rich tones.

I introduce you to my favourite summer colours...

Ahhh Essie polishes and I have such a love hate relationship , I love the colours they love to chip on my nails ... dilemmas. I also sometimes feel £7.99 can be a bit pricey ... I say this but I still have rather a lot of  those delightful Essie shades.  

 Mint Candy Apple -  Mint seems to be a shade adorning everyone these days, you can really see why - such a versatile pretty colour. Mint candy apple is a little more of a pumped up pastel colour.  Whenever I wear this shade I get compliments so it must be nice .
Aruba Blue -  How beautiful is this jewel toned navy blue - I actually love it so much so that it can be worn every season its just that pretty. It is a really rich blue with hints of golden shimmer.
Sugar Daddy -  Funny story I hated this for months, I thought it was a complete waste of money and didn't leave the required pale pink. However I've since learnt that it needs a good few coats. You are then left with a pink that is ideal for days on the beach or summer weddings.
Lapiz of Luxury - I do like a good blue and this is a simply divine cornflower blue .  It does actually feel very luxurious when you look at your blue tipped fingers.
Watermelon - Who doesn't love a bright pink for those hazy summer evenings? and boy is Watermelon bright - it really makes me smile when I look at it and who doesn't love watermelons.

L-R Ciate Pom pom ,Barry M gelly Papaya, Gelly in Greenberry,Gelly in Prickly pear and Ciate in Knickerbocker glory.

For the next five shades it's a bit of a mixed bag as you can see we have the 'high-end' Ciate and then the drugstore Barry M Gelly Polishes.  Now I am aware I said Essie was expensive and then choose Ciate but I find I prefer the formula of Ciate and well the packaging is incredibly sweet.  The first offering is the shade Pom pom which I've spoken about before it's just a simple bright orange , next up from Ciate is Knickerbockerglory . You know having the two together I must say that Knickerbocker and watermelon are very very similar ... I really do like that colour clearly.

Next up are the Barry M Gelly polishes which have been talked about all over the beauty community and the shades are    definatly summer ready, These polishes are really good for summer because they last a good few days longer than the traditional polish ... perfect if you are going on holiday. My personal top three so far have to be Papaya  a lovely orange coral shade which compliments tanned limbs and who doesn't love a coral shade? Next we have green berry which is a brighter mint shade but I wouldn't say it was green green.  Lastly Prickly pear  is a delightful lilac colour which isn't too in ones face rather it provides a much more subtle colour.

The hair saviour ...

I'm not even exaggerating about how great this baby is. It really has done my hair the world of good and pumped a healthy amount of moisture back into my locks. A pre-shampoo treatment that you apply to damp hair  and cover with a plastic shower cap , leave for 10- 20 minutes before rinsing well. The main purpose of this is to restore damaged or over processed hair whilst hydrating and providing hair with the nourishment it needs.  Although I don't use as much heat on my hair these days , and certainly don't dye it rather leaving it do it's 'thang' , my hair is still damaged and gets really very dry especially in the sun. This bad boy works perfectly and I just know it will be what my hair is craving after 2 months in the Canadian sunshine.
I just have the 75ml bottle of this because although I'd heard a lot of good things I didn't wanna risk the full size. However I will without a doubt be purchasing the 150ml tub (which comes with a delightful shower cap so you don't need to visit a hotel anytime soon! ... what a bonus!)
I'd defiantly urge you to try this product although I picked mine up in a local department store you can get it yourself in a number in places including Feel Unique for £23.40

FOTD - Chime for change

A week ago today I was strolling around Kuw gardens eagerly awaiting for 6' O'clock to roll around. Come 6 O'clock I'd have been at Chime for change dancing along to the likes of Florence + the machine, Ellie Goulding , JLO and BEYONCE!!!!  With this I thought I'd do a little bit of a FOTD (or night) post to show you lovely lot the look I went for.
I fancied rocking MAC Ruby Woo on my lips so I wanted everything else to be played down except my eyes which I smoked out a little - not particularly summer make up but certainly concert ready.

Naked Smog and buck , Chanel les beiges 30 , Bobbi Brown creamy concealer in warm ivory , Benefit they're real mascara, Rimmel soft kohl in sable brown, Bobbi Brown brow pencil in ash , Collection lasting perfection concealer, MAC Ruby red, ME ME ME beat the blues in sunbeam and MAC face and body in C2.


BASE -   As a base I used MAC's face and body in the shade C2.  You know something I really love this foundation it's very light coverage and adds a delightful healthy glow to the skin... Perfect . I then covered my dark circles with the Bobbi Brown concealer and the lasting perfection on any red parts - my nose gets very red.
I just wanted a little bit of a bronze glow to my face so I used the Chanel les beiges as a bronzer - this is also really handy for stylish on the go touch ups.  Finally for the base I added a touch of ME ME ME highlighter on the tops of my cheek bones and the cupids bow.

EYES - Base done i moved onto my eyes. I used the shade Smog all over the lid and under the lash line and blended Buck into the crease. This combo is just beautiful . I then popped a little of the Rimmel eyeliner along the water line. Curled my lashes and applied some Benefit they're real mascara - I'm not a 100% sold on this mascara yet .

LIPS -   As for lips I whacked on MAC Ruby red stright from the bullet for a bold strong lip .  This is a colour and formula that you can never go wrong with!


AND THE FINAL RESULT ....

I still feel a bit odd doing these FOTD pictures and not sure if I'll keep going so please lemme know what you think , should they be continued etc...

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine whilst he still has his hat on ! :) 

The gradual tanner....

It's no secret that I love a good tan so when my sister received this St.Tropez product I had to give it a whirl.    A new gradual tan from St Tropez which claims to tan,tone,firm & moisturise - surely the things we all want from a product as the bikini season commences.  St.Tropez also claim that the tan contains anti-oxidants which help to reinforce the skins natural defences for extra firmness... intrigued?

This is a gradual tan so it's never going to be the darkest colour rather it gives the skin a golden glow within the first application. This glow can then be developed over time- I find this works better for me as I am very very pale. And this certainly is very moisturising but I'm not 100% sold on the idea that it will tone and firm the wobbly parts we all hate. If you have sensitive skin I wouldn't recommend this tan as it has a very strong scent that may aggravate the skin.  Overall I really do rate this tan and I have been slapping it every other day - I may need to buy my sister a new bottle.

If this sounds up your ally you can pick it up from Feel Unique, St.Tropez and Boots for £20

MAC - Sunny Seoul

MAC Sunny Seoul £14.00


When I recently took a trip up to Newcastle I had two shops on my mind Space NK and MAC (Yes I was meant to be going Canada shopping but hey ) . From MAC I wanted to pick up a new pink lipstick and although I had a list of what I fancied  however I completely went of track n purchased this beauty instead.

Sunny Seoul is in the creamsheen+ Pearl formula - these lipstick finishes are combined with crushed pearls to give a high shine glossy finish- Perfect for summer!
Sunny Seoul isn't a bright in your face pink, instead it gives a pop of colour - more a wash of pink . This is the perfect shade for me as I find Pinks a little intimidating - give me a red or coral any day
The one thing I absolutly love about MAC lipsticks is the sweet vanilla artificial smell it just makes the product a delight to wear ! does anyone else agree? 

I apologize I haven't got the hang of lip photo's yet !

This week #5

Last week I didn't do a weekly round up because if I'm honest it wouldn't be worth writing about- I worked and slept pretty much ! I don't mind this so much I like seeing my friends at work and sleeping is always fun just not to write about.  This week has been a little more enjoyable - I do seem to be drinking a lot of tea however !

Product of the week-  

I recently purchases the Clarins creamy cleanser and it's been a pleasure to use so far . Wouldn't say I love it as much as the Emma Hardie Cleansing balm but it's certainly a close contender. 

Best read-

I'm still reading the hundred year old man which I'm really enjoying, but I've also enjoyed catching up with the blogs I love following. 

Listening to/watching- 

I've still not seen Gatsby :( I really am very sad about this.

Top 5 of the week- 

1. After one of my friends telling me she was slightly worried that I hadn't purchased anything for Canada, I went on a little spree and I think I'm nearly fully stocked up now. I might do a travel essentials post next weekend. 

2.  I was re-united with one of my best friends who is studying in Edinburgh. We had a lovely day of burgers,culture, Tea and cake.  What more can a girl want? 

3.   I also had a trip up to Newcastle with another bestie , which was fab ! I got stressed in boots about miniatures, purchased a lovely new mac lippy, introduced Stella to Space NK , and drank lots of tea ! Fenwicks currently have a pop up tea shed cute eh? 

4.  James and I planned a little holiday to Scotland when I get back to England. We wanted some were hotter but unfortunately  were saving for a house so Scotland it is. I'm still really excited as I have a few tricks up my sleeve :) 

5. And finally I'm seeing Beyonce a week today !!!

Top ten - Tools

So I have decided to do a little series of products featuring some of my favourite products,tools,foods and bakes. I don't know if this will work but hey we'll never know if we don't give it a go yer?
Today I thought we'd focus on some of my favourite tools be it brushes,hair or body  theres a mix of it all for today's post  :)

1.Real Techniques buffing brush : (£21.00 from Boots)
I am constantly recommending the real techniques brushes to my friends and family because they are a) cost effective and b) work fantastically. Words cannot express my love for this brush I use it every day without fail - it just allows you to blend the make up to blend flawlessly.I also find it applies the right amount of product and gives a great distribution   My only problem is that you can only pick this brush up in the core collection but at £20 it's still perfect !
2. Tangle teezer : (£10 from Space NK)
A brush which splits the crowd some love it , some don't. Personally I fell in love with this little brush as soon as my hairdresser used it - I didn't feel like crying after she used it , always a plus. My hair tangles so easily it's unreal I often find lumps of tat's and own numerous bottles of L'oreal kids detangling spray and this brush just makes the whole process a whole lot easier.
3. Real techniques stippling brush :(£11.99 from Boots) 
Another hit from Real techniques did I mention how much I love these brushes?  I find this particularly good at blending cream blushers,highlighters and bronzers but I do know that some people use it for foundation. I will warn you that this brush does require a little extra time and care.
4. Flannel: (£10 from Space NK) There seems a sudden rise in love for the flannel whether it's a muslin cloth, Primark flannel or a more expensive pick , I have em all. Now personally I prefer these Emma Hardie clothes as one side is slightly more abrasive and both sides serve a different purpose. It just feels that you are really giving the face a good clean with a flannel. 

5.Eyelash curlers : Now ladies I don't think I really need to talk too much about the benefits in which a good pair of  curlers can bring .
6.Denman dressing out brush: ( £4.29 from Boots)  Again another hair brush but for a different purpose - odd in the sense that it creates knots in order to back comb the hair. A great brush for under a fiver that I find essential for creating volume.
7. Urban decay brush (from Naked palette 2) I'd love to say that this brush is readily available - it isn't as it is part of the Naked Palette 2 . I just love the fact that it has a flat brush and a blending brush all in one which means it is the ideal travel brush. I'm always a little skeptical about brushes that come with products but I actually really love this one.
8. Body brush:(£6.00 from Boots) Perfect as Bikini season slowly emerges. Body brushing is a quick and easy way of riding the body of toxins. Doing regular body brushing can help loose pounds, boost circulation and the immune system . I just find this little brush is perfect you don't need to spend a lot to body brush. 
9.Real Techniques contour brush (£20 again from the Core collection) Another member of the core collection , it's not a tapered brush but I still find it works really well for contouring and applying bronzer.
10. Clarins spatula Finally a daft little tool that for some may seem silly and irrelevant. Yet I find it an incredibly handy little tool- you can use it instead of sticking your fingers in the pot ( no innuendo intended!) Additionally it's always handy to have a spatula near by for de-potting products into travel pots and what not.

So there we have it my top ten tools , hope you enjoyed this little piece. I think next week I'll do top ten lipsticks (if I can choose ten) . Lemme know your favourite tools and what you thought of this post .

The 5 product, 5 minute face ...

So recently I've been working non- stop a mixture of early mornings and split shifts make me grumpy and leave me longing for an extra 10 minutes in bed rather than doing my face. With that I've been reaching for 5 products that will leave me looking a little more human than zombie in 5 minutes or so. These are just the products I use of course it will be different for everyone. 

Dr Jart + water fuse BB cream:  This is great for in the morning because it gives a subtle glow to the skin whilst covering a multitude of sins. You don't necessarily need any concealer which is also great as it cuts out another process(note: I do still need a corrector)  I really like that this BB cream has advanced water bead technology which helps to keep the skin hydrated , dewy and healthy - no one will ever know how little sleep you have had.
Bobbi Brown Creamy concealer(warm ivory):  I'm hitting pan on this ( isn't it always the case that everything starts to go when you are saving) but it is really great at covering any dark circles.  I tend to warm it between my fingers and pat under the eyes and were ready to go.
Chanel Les beiges No 30 :  In the morning I tend just to use a bronzer to give colour to the skin with a touch of contouring. It's a toss up between Nars Laguna and this bad boy but as the Chanel is new I'm tending to reach for it. I find that for the morning this gives more of a subtle colour and just suits my skin a little better.

YSL Volume effect faux cils and No 7 eyelash curlers:    This mascara just opens the eyes beautifully and the lashes don't clump together too much - one coat and were good. I do think it's good to curl the lashes in the morning (if you can be bothered)  because it just adds to the wide eyed look. 

Korres Pomegranate lip butter:  I'm a little bit weird in the sense that I don't like the colour of my lips without anything on them but I can't be bothered with lipstick so I just pop some of this on for a teeny bit of colour but it's still really nourishing. The colour is a coral pink which sits very pretty.  

 

Three is a magic number

When it comes to face masks three is the magic number. This method of applying fcae masks is popular with the likes of Anna from Viviannadoesmakeup and skincare guru Caroline Hirons( who's blog is a must if you are a lover of a good skincare routine) .  'the triple threat facial' is time consuming but it feels amazing, relaxing and really targets a number of areas rather than attacking one specific issue. Tools are also essential to this process - my tools of choice an old flat foundation brush and a flannel from Primarni.

Step one :  A clay mask 

For step one I don't use anything particularly fancy but it works beautifully and is readily available .  I use Neutrogena's visibly clear 2-in-1(£3.50) as a mask as it unclog's the pores and deep cleans the face...PERFECT!!  I leave this one for about ten minutes to let it really do it's thing and so that all the grime and crap comes away. 

Step two: The exfoliating mask

Clinique turnaround instant facial masque(£30) claims to turn back the years whilst microdermabrasion works to reveal the radiance , smoothness and tone. Now I'm not sure I look more youthful after using this but the skin certainly does look smoother and has that glow we are all lusting after. This mask smells delightful and uno it really does help remove those last traces of dirt.  Yes this is an expensive buy but I'm a believer that you should spend money on your skin . Just a little note DO NOT get this in your eye it will hurt and you will cry.

Step three: The Hydrating overnight mask

If you are a regular beauty blog reader you will have heard of the Origins drink up-intensive mask (£20) as basically it is a dream - smells like peaches and leaves the skin glowing and hydrated. You simply slap this on before bed and leave it to do it's 'thang'. It's also perfect when your feeling a little worse for wear , hungover or generally need a perk ( James has been known to pat this on of a night).  I honestly don't think I'll ever stop re-purchasing this bad boy.