Get Gawjus!

MeMeMe Summer Chic Nail Collection

2012-02-10T12:17:00.002Z

Another gorgeous Spring/Summer Nail Collection and this time from high-street cult favourite MeMeMe. Their Benefit inspired Blushers and Illuminators have already invaded most of my vanity but for some reason their Nail Paints don't seem to be as popular.

I personally love their Nail Paints. I have a beautiful taupe and a forest green shade from them and they are the most opaque and long wearing polishes I have every come across for the price. They also have a unique flat brush which applies color without making much of a mess.

The shades are inspired from catwalk trends and are likely to be dupes for potential Chanel releases. I love the mix of shades from a bright lemon and sky blue to soft peach and creamy pink and brown.

There is not a single shade I personally wouldn't wear from this hence it gets a two thumbs up from my side! Also, they seem to be of a glossy/iridescent finish from the picture which is again something I am a big sucker for.

This is currently available to purchase for £14.99 at Argos.co.uk and will be soon available on the MeMeMe website as well.

Red is the new black

2012-02-08T12:31:00.000Z

Well at least in February it is.

Here's another post featuring superb items that would make great presents for Valentine's Day or even for Mother's Day for that matter.

I personally love the massive Red Vanity Case from Sanctuary Spa. It's quite sturdy and the quality is too good to be true for the price.

That's not it, it comes with three full sized Bath & Body products that are meant to assist you in creating a spa like atmosphere in the comfort of your home, if just like me you are spa shy too.

It comes with an Enriching Body Wash, Nourishing Bath Soak and Cocooning Body Butter.

I can't really put a name to the scent these products contain but they are not floral or fruity at all. They smell quite relaxing and grown up if that makes any sense.

I was applying the Cocooning Body Butter the other day and even forced the sister to slather on a bit. She's not someone who likes Body Creams however she said it felt too luxurious to use every day and was shocked that the entire kit retails around £12!

That's dirt cheap right?

The best thing about the collection is that in real it looks much more expensive than its RRP.

The super massive vanity case wins it full points as it can literally contain a tonne of Make-up plus its of really good quality and looks quite pretty.

Sanctuary Spa do a variety of such cost effective yet luxurious gift sets at amazing prices. You can purchase them online or I have seen them retailing at larger Boots.

Another brilliant product, staying in the red theme for Valentines is the Ila Body Balm. Ila Spa makes natural body care and this particular balm is for treating the senses with its relaxing aromatic experience and for feeding the skin via its naturally rich ingredients such as Argan Oil and Damascena Rose Otto.

I absolutely love Argan Oil for the hair and its the first time I am using it as a part of body care and I have to say it works just as well! The balm is quite solidified in texture and needs a lot of rubbing between fingers to warm it up however once on, its has a gorgeous warm rosey scent to it and a little goes a long way.

It is slightly expensive at £39 for 200g of product however it would make a perfect present on its own for someone who loves their organic body care. The red and gold packaging is pretty and the clean white jar is heavy and luxurious.

www.ila-spa.com

New Eye Liner Pens from Gosh

2012-02-07T11:14:00.000Z

They are simply pure love!

Such gorgeous shades they are and are perfect for achieving that graphic eye liner look. I love that they come in a variety of unusual shades such as Purple, Green and Grey as coloured graphic eye liner is such a hit on the runway and can definitely be replicated every day, if worn with the rest of make-up kept understated.

I have Blue, Green and Grey to try out. I have always been a huge fan of Gosh eye liners as I find their nib to be the easiest to use in the drug store market. So many people avoid using a liquid eye liner due to shaky hands however this is just like holding a felt tip pen hence making it easy to draw on a neat outline.

The colour payoff is quite decent in my opinion. They are not overtly pigmented but do not fall on the sheer side too.

The consistency of the liquid is quite thin however and so tends to be runny if eyes get sensitive due to some reason. I believe these would not be waterproof which is slight bummer.

The colour transfers pretty bold and glossy but then dries down to being matte and quite low key which I prefer.

I would highly recommend buying the grey one if you like understated colours as it looks quite pretty for an everyday look. If you like darker colours and want to avoid blacks and browns, then the navy blue will be perfect. The green however is quite dark when it dries down, making it closer to brown or black and you really can't tell that one is wearing a green eye liner hence not a very unique shade in my opinion.

If you avoid the unruly and undone brows you can see what a lovely shade the blue transforms into when on the eyes. It's dark, neat and crisp yet mysterious.

Available from March in Superdrug stores and online in a total of 6 shades namely Purple, Green, Brown, Grey, Black and Blue for £6.49 each.

www.superdrug.com

*Press sample

Kyoku for Men - Fire Body Set

2012-02-06T13:29:00.000Z

Kyoku for Men is a fairly new brand I believe and do some wonderful Skin Care and Bath & Body products for men.

They are different in the sense that their range is divided in elements such as Wind, Water, Fire and Earth and each have unique ingredients and an aromatic experience that defines that particular element so well.

I have only tried out (well not me but the men I know!) the Fire Body Set and it contains South African Red Bush to treat any allergies or reactions.

Overall, all the products have a gorgeous musky, spicy scent to them and it also contains ginger to give it that warm effect.

Why would it make a perfect gift for men?

- Because anything in Red and Black packaging is automatically perceived as 'cool' by the guys regardless of their age

- The Body Scrub contains a tonne of minuscule red granules making it appear fun and quite different from other boring Bath & Body products

- It smells deliciously gingerly and spicy as opposed to generic and boring

They also have some pretty cool stuff like the 'Lava Masque' and 'Lip Fuel' to name a few.

The Body Scrub and the Body Lotion received the most raves for being excellent at exfoliation and leaving skin super smooth, so definitely give them a try!

Available at Harrods, Lookfantastic.com, BeautyBay.com, House of Fraser and Mankind.co.uk.

kyokuformen.com

Green with envy or head over heels?

2012-02-05T16:53:00.000Z

No there is no middle ground when it comes to people's perception towards Valentine's day. I fail to believe that one can simply be indifferent towards it. You either love it or hate it but its surely on your mind when its around!

I personally love everything related to it. The decorations in departmental stores, the abundance of balloons, hearts and flowers everywhere, the sugar-sweet rom-com movies, the array of gift sets available and the over use of the colour red almost everywhere.

It's funny how two groups of people perceive the day, where those who are currently seeing someone are beyond belief excited for the day and have everything planned out. Whereas the other group sulks their disappointment/grief/envy and almost making it an Anti-Valentine's day. There are so many hilarious cards available for the latter group in card shops!

Two very apt Nail Colours to express the two contrasting emotions that I came across.

The pinkish-red screams Parisian romance and the finely milled glitter particles call for a reason to celebrate. The mint green on the other hand is so sharp, crisp and bold. I absolutely love the marbellised effect it creates when initially applied.

Stargazer products can be bought from www.stargazer-products.com and they are also available at most Newlook stores.

Glossybox as a Valentine's present?

2012-02-04T12:57:00.001Z

Hmm I am not sure about that but when I think of the number of times the men I know, have failed to pick a decent and usable present for a women, let alone getting the presentation and packaging correct, this seems like the perfect no-brainer!

This particular box for Valentine's comes is more geared towards Skin Care and Bath & Body as compared to Make-up, which again I feel is playing quite safe when it comes to gifting it to someone as women usually tend to be a lot more picky with Make-up as compared to Skin Care and Toiletries.

It goes without saying that it wins full marks presentation with a matte hot pink box.

These babies won me over as I am a huge fan of Clarins Skin Care but they are over priced to be honest so its always pleasant to find travel sized versions of their moisturisers in a beauty box.

Yes I know a lot of people have a slight grudge with Eyeko due to their sneaky shift from a dusty corner in Superdrug to the glamorous Harrods and all that however I am quite indifferent as I never really 'clicked' with the brand so much besides their super cute Nail Paints, which I would still purchase if they were unique enough.

The Skinny Eyeliner in Green is not so much of a unique colour but if its consistency is just perfect to work with and if you're fond of the colour on your eyes, then you'll love it!

Oh and don't forget to glance at Glossybox for Men as well if your other half likes grooming just as much as you!

www.glossybox.co.uk

Cool Romance

2012-02-03T12:33:00.000Z

Have a look at Orly's Cool Romance Spring collection.

Aren't the shades gorgeous? They have tried to create a very gradual transformation from deep, warm, snugly shades to cool toned, subtle pastels.

The amount of pastel shades I have been seeing in the 2012 Spring Collections, be it Cosmetics or Clothing, is unbelievable. I absolutely love pastel pinks and greens although they don't flatter my skin tone so well but they are super fun to wear and make a style statement on their own.

Presenting, You're Blushing, Prelude to a Kiss, Jealous, much?, Faint of Heart, Steel Your Heart and Artificial Sweetener.

I personally have my eyes glued on Jealous, much? and Artificial Sweetener. Oh and Steel Your Heart. Okay forget it. I like them all!

Origins Youthopia

2012-02-02T12:25:00.001Z

After classic moisturisers such as 'Perfect World' and 'Mega Mushroom', Origins have come up with yet another offering and its an extension to their Youthopia range.

I recently tried out their Youthopia Firming Face Cream and absolutely loved it and had to let you guys know. It's consistency is quite thick but still spreads really well. I feel I need to massage and pat it into the skin well for it to absorb.

Although it seems rich in consistency, it did not break me out at all. In fact I have had no breakout since the past two weeks which also can be due to this.

It's primary ingredient is Hyaluronic acid and is known to fill in skin defects and deformations such as wrinkles and fine lines hence avoiding the skin from sagging.

I fortunately do not suffer from any obvious wrinkles, but I do have a few fine lines around the eyes which bother me sometimes. I believe it would trigger this as it made my skin more plump and younger looking as opposed to dehydrated and lacking that 'healthy' glow.

When I first used it at night, I woke up in the morning and I usually do my make-up in the conservatory which has lighting that is less forgiving on the skin than you'd imagine and I noticed I looked more awake and my skin looked glowing, even without any moisturiser at all.

I immediately gave credit to me having a good nights sleep without any disturbances but then eventually realised after a few days that it was most probably due to using the Origins Youthopia at night.

I am so tempted to try out their GinZing Eye Cream now as I've heard everyone go gaga about it. It's really a brand that I've always wanted to try but have passed by for some reason but after trying out this particular product, I feel I need to try more!

Let me know your Origins favourites?

www.origins.co.uk

Valentines with Sisley

2012-01-31T22:04:00.000Z

13 days to go till Valentines Day and besides the fact that some think the occasion is over hyped (and I don't completely disagree) it is hard to ignore that there will be a fleet of fabulous products in the market at an even fabulous price which I feel should be taken complete advantage of by beauty addicts like us, regardless of whether one 'celebrates' Valentine's or not.

Hence the blog will be showcasing bits and pieces from brands across the country, high end and drug store, Skin care or Cosmetics, whatever catches my fancy.

Palette Orchidee is a limited edition highlighting blush available for £60 from 1st Feb for a limited amount of time and I have my eyes glued on this piece. It is surely the highlight amongst all Valentine's Day releases that I have come across.

The Black Rose Mask is one that tightens and plumps the skin and makes it radiant and glowing providing a post-facial glow especially when your skin is tired and dehydrated!

Of course the tube is little and the price quite steep however I have seen great reviews of this across the web which might make this baby worth every penny! Plus Sisley is better known for their Skin Care so I wouldn't doubt the results.

Well I haven't had a sniff of Soir De Lune but from the description I've read so far, it seems mostly Woody and Musky with a dash of Citrusy notes to balance out the warmth.

It seems elegant, feminine yet rich at the same time. I however am in love with the bottle. Isn't the lid so edgy yet beautiful? I don't even want to think how much the 100ml bottle would cost but the 30ml one is reasonable at £50 in my opinion.

This is Sisley's first male fragrance namely Eau D'Ikar and is meant to contain woody and spicy notes keeping intact the simplicity of the fragrance. If you're looking to spend a little extra on a special fragrance for your man this Valentine's, then this would be right up your street.

If you're passing by John Lewis and House of Fraser, give this a sniff for sure.

www.sisley-cosmetics.com

A great kisser?

2012-01-30T14:30:00.000Z

Featuring new tinted Lip Balms from Soap & Glory. As the name suggests, they are of course in line with the trillion other pre-valentine launches in the market.

Ingredients contain Mango and Apricot Butter as well as as Pomegranate Extract and Lingonberry Oil and comes in three flavours namely Juicy Peach, Sweet Coconut and Chocolate Cherry respectively.

Don't you just love when brands randomly name a popsicle pink shade Chocolate Cherry?

In fact that's exactly the one that's ticked my fancy as such bright pinks are great for a pop of colour for non lipstick wearers like myself and they also work as a great cream blush if not too greasy as S & G claims them to be.

Available from larger boots at £5 each. I hope they are available at the Liverpool Street one as S & G stands always run out of new products in hours!

Loving this week...Cleansing Gels, Illuminating Bronzers, Tinted Moisturizers & Jillian Michaels!

2012-01-29T13:58:00.001Z

I absolutely love trying out new body lotions as there are just so many in the market with new brands introducing products almost every week! The newest brand I have come across is Rhodes to Heaven. Yes they are an organic brand yet again but they are different as they claim to be 'green and glamorous' at the same time by bring out multi-purpose and eco friendly products.

I have their Revitalising Body Balm which due to containing Sweet Almond Oil and Geranium smells quite citrusy and refreshing like Liz Earle's No 1 fragrance.

That balm is not only meant to moisturise but also claims to tone and reduce cellulite which I have yet to notice. It contains a very unique ingredient however called Centenella Asiatica which is a plant protect, heal and boost circulation. I love how it melts into the skin automatically and is perfect for hydrating the arms and legs, especially after a good workout to get the most out of its cellulite reducing ingredients.

The Nuxe Face Cleansing and Make-up Removing Gel does wonders for my dry and sensitive skin during the winter. I have only started to use this recently but its just so good I had to feature it in my favourites.

It's a soap free formula and the consistency is a thick gel that looks like honey and has a warm and comforting Honey and Sunflower scent to it. It does not foam at all as expected but still manages to get every last speck of make-up off the skin in a minute.

I like to use it in the morning as it leaves skin nice and smooth without leaving it too dry. I have been suffering from extremely dry areas on the face recently and have been resorting to this one as the others tend to dry out the skin even more.

The huge 200ml bottle retails for £12 which is a steal in my opinion!

I was recently sent a tonne of Star Gazer products and the Bronzer is one of them. It's a gorgeous brownish tan bronzer with a lovely dewy sheen to it. Yes its not matte and I like it (shocker!) but its amazing how sun kissed it makes my skin look with the added sheen, contouring at the same time.

It reminds me very much of the Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzers that I was in love with when they were introduced but their price tag deterred me from making a purchase. This is very similar to it's Bali Brown shade and am sure retails for a quarter of the price.

And in the era of BB creams, my favourite one still remains Skin Wisdoms Tinted Moisturiser. It's actually quite cheaper than its yada yada yada counterparts in the market and is a lovely light consistency that evens out the skin tone quite well and gives a gorgeous post-facial glow.

It doesn't provide much coverage but it's not meant to like the other BB creams out there. I like to use it on lazy weekends when I want a my-skin-but-better look.

It's available in the beauty isles of Tesco so definitely give it a try next time you're grocery shopping.

Yes I know, I despised the women initially and let her DVD gather dust since months and stayed loyal to Davina's comforting DVD's. Well they aren't easy either but Davina's so chirpy, doesn't pressurise and most importantly get's tired like a majority of us!

I practised Davina's DVD's for months and it actually did trigger inch loss tremendously and allowed me to fit into size 8 dresses and size 10 jeans however they do tend to get lengthy and repetitive at 30 minutes and I eventually lost interest, gathering back all those inches.

Only to find out that I actually do respond to pressure and love the challenge of breaking my bones for 20 minutes. I have been doing it every day since a week and the jackets and zip tops fit me just like before. I cannot wait to see changes after a month's passed!

Phew! One heck of a long post that was. We'll spread it out into separate posts next time. Just not this weekend fellows.

The bigger, the better?

2012-01-28T18:06:00.005Z

Not always but at least when it comes to Skin care and Make-up, it sure is for those obsessed like us eh?

I know there are a lot of Righteous Butter fans out there so I thought you'd like to know that Soap & Glory will be releasing a limited edition 1 litre tub from the 1st of February.

It will also contain some extra shimmer and glimmer, just in time for Valentine's.

I have the original Righteous Butter and if you want that expensive, classy smelling body butter, then this will definitely be your cup of tea. It's not overtly fruity like The Body Shop ones, neither as atrociously expensive as the Laura Mercier ones.

The formula is quite thick and sumptuous to apply but its perfect for terribly dry and itchy skin like mine. It does smell perfumed however still manages to work quite well in sync with sensitive skin.

As for the scent, its subtly floral and sweet - quite chic and feminine and almost works like a fragrance on its own, leaving skin baby soft. It has to be the Aloe Vera and Shea Butter in here working wonders!

To me it smells very similar to the Soap & Glory's Mist You Madly Body Mist. You have to try their Body Mists if you haven't yet. They're such a bargain compared to overpriced perfumes!

The original 300ml tub retails for a reasonable £10. As for this limited edition baby below, the 1 litre tub will retail for £25 so keep you eyes peeled whenever you're in Boots! I know I sure will ;)

www.soapandglory.com

Phil Smith Hair - Xtreme Style

2012-01-26T20:41:00.004Z

Just thought I'd give a shout out to the Xtreme Style range by Phil Smith that I've been using since a good few weeks now and completely forgot to mention.

I have a Hair Spray, a Thickening Cream and a Sea Salt Spray from them. Can I firstly make an appeal to all the brands out there to make their packaging hot pink. Doesn't it simply make life much more glamorous?

I am so addicted to Sea Salts and texturising powders that its just weird to use it in a spray form. I even have a few texturising powders tossed into my hand bag! Guilty much?

Anyhow, this is a genius product to add texture and style to the bottom part of the hair where the powders usually cannot be used or don't work as well. I use this on damp hair when I want to opt for a scrunchy, air dried look and this works quite well to define curls in naturally wavy hair.

Of course it would work much better in conjunction with heat tools but I usually opt for this when I want to stay heat-free.

The Xpanding Thickening Cream is like a mousse but in a cream form. I generally take a blob of it and apply it at the roots of damp hair and massage it in. It gives a lot of volume to the hair if blowdryed after. It just shouldn't be used on dry hair and not more than a pea sized amount.

The Xtravagant Hair Spray is much effective than the generic L'Oreal ones in my opinion. I have never really got L'Oreal to work for me to be honest. I mean I am aware of the fact that their Elnett range has been dominating the hair spray market since decades but it simply just doesn't do anything for my hair.

This on the other hand provides a much effective hold without any crispiness to it. Get it!

The range is available at Sainsbury's so definitely look out for it when you're around.

www.philsmithhair.com

Rodial Glamtox Peel - the 10 minute face lift?

2012-01-24T10:09:00.000Z

So I am not someone who regularly uses Face Masks hence this is quite a rare feature here but that does not in any way suggest that I don't like using them. Just like the rest of us, a 9-5, commuting in the Hammersmith & City line, blogging & 30 day shred take up most of my time to use a skin treatment as such!

However I did get a chance to try this out recently and thought I'd let you guys know about it.

First of all, unlike other masks out there that harden on the skin and peel, this ones quite creamy and is more of a wash-off mask which I much prefer. Unlike it's name, its not of a 'peel' texture at all and the consistency inclines more towards face bleach.

I apply a generous amount and keep it on for 10 minutes before washing it off with luke warm water and there is absolutely no difficulty in taking it off.

Although the description states that it's a thick clay mask, I don't see a trace of clay in it compared to the clay masks I have used from other brands. In fact it's a good thing in my opinion as it doesn't strip off the moisture it's injected when it's on the skin that way.

It claims to lift the skin, decongest it, reduce fine lines and age spots.

Does it work? It adds a gorgeous post-facial glow and does a good job at temporarily lifting the skin and fading fine lines if you are looking for a quick fix before a special occasion or a night out. I find this especially useful when my face is feeling bloated and congested.

Not quite sure if it works on fading age spots however. My mum who's in her 40's has also tried it out and loves it for the reasons above but again did not see any difference in hyperpigmentation.

Must try out once for £19.95!

www.rodial.co.uk

Ole Henriksen Nurture Me

2012-01-22T12:04:00.001Z

Is my moisturiser of choice lately and its such a dream to use, I had to let you guys know about it. Now not many people know about the brand but Ole Henriksen is a celebrity Skin Cosmetician and Television Personality, alongside being a model in his early years. He currently owns a Skin Care line and a Salon & Spa in Hollywood.

I like the fact that he has divided his Skin Care by skin concern such as Hyperpigmentation, Dark Circles, Visible Pores and so on. I have something from his Sensitive range namely the Nurture Me Creme.

It doesn't specify it is a day cream or a night cream but judging from its light and fluffy consistency, I am assuming it is more suitable to use during day time.

It's applies like whipped cream, smells like fruit custard and looks like yogurt. What's not to like in it? Unless of course you don't like your Desserts!

I have been using it since a while now and I am pleased to report it hasn't broken me out yet so it's perfect for those of you with a combination-sensitive skin type.

My skin literally drinks this up on application and it leaves a nice plump effect which is great as a make-up base, as I usually tend to use it in the day time before applying Foundation.

It claims to protect skin from environmental damage and contains soothing and calming ingredients that prevent any kind of inflammation, redness and sensitivity.

Main ingredients consist of Evening Primrose Oil, Chamomile Extract, Wheat Germ Oil and Rosa Mosquetta Oil from Rosehips.

It is priced slightly higher at £31 a pop for a 50ml tub. However aren't moisturisers usually priced around the £20 tag any way?

I wouldn't mind paying this price considering its a huge tub and is likely to last a good few months as it glides on the skin with ease hence doesn't get used up as much.

MAC 109 - The ultimate dupe

2012-01-21T15:46:00.003Z

This seems like such an old debate/discussion no?

Maybe one that the blogosphere was overcrowded with DECADES ago. No that's an example of over exaggeration that I usually tend to resort to on weekends. I am just moderately sarcastic on weekdays :)

So even I went through the phase of trying out the original MAC 109 when it first came out, loving it, then hating it, then selling it.

It was such an annoying experience that I had with the brush, when I couldn't figure out what to use it for - foundation, blush, bronzer or everything? Plus I simply couldn't justify paying over £20 for it at that time, simply to see it shed a tonne of hair.

Then came a gazillion companies trying to make dupes of the brush but simply couldn't achieve perfection. I think the closest any brand could get was Sigma but I has simply lost patience till then and found better alternatives.

Until I found Lauren Luke's Flat Contour Brush a while back and have been in love with it since then. It's exactly what MAC 109 should have been.

It has it's minor differences of course as MAC 109 is more fuller and dense and slightly more tapered from the edges. But I have to say it works just as well if not better and is of much better quality.

The quality of the brush handle and the ferulle is quite sturdy and the brush hairs are goat hair I believe and is considerably soft.

Of course there's Sigma F05 which is the more known dupe for the original however if you don't want to spend an atrocious amount on shipping from the US, this a great option for the British ladies out there.

The best part it, all her brushes retail for under £7, with this one priced ridiculously at £5.25! Talk about beating IMAT's prices eh?

The website offers international delivery as well but then if the point is to avoid atrocious shipping charges, it wouldn't be worth the purchase for those outside Europe in my opinion.

It's maddening I tell you. I also have her foundation brush and tapered blending brush and plan to purchase the rest from the range too.

If you've been able to find a better dupe, I'd love to know!

laurenluke.com

Current Favourites - Aussie, Liz Earle, Chanel, Label M...

2012-01-18T21:43:00.001Z

Nip + Fab is a brand that I don't rave much about as its quite simple and effective but I've always been fond of their products. I have used their Sheer Make-Up Fix in the past which is a great primer to mattify oily skin types and to avoid foundation from sliding.

They recently introduced their Dry Hand Fix and for £9.95, I think it's a steal! It's consistency is great and its quiet long lasting on the skin, visibly increasing the moisture level in the skin and limits water loss. It also claims to help in the appearance of the surface of the skin which I am yet to notice, obviously will be more visible on more older consumers compared to me.

I tend to wash my hair a lot in the winter for some reason as compared to summer, which in turn makes them ever drier and limpy. It's not always possibly to inject volume with volumising dusts on bad hair days which is when Aussie's Volume Shampoo comes to rescue.

It's very hydrating, still maintaining the right amount of moisture in the hair. Of course it helps that the bottle is humongous! (and has my name printed on it!)

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment has been introduced in January as the latest Hair Product in Liz Earle boutiques.

I personally love their Skincare and their Hair Care is very nourishing and thought after too, unlike generic shampoos in the market but I always have a huge complain with their quantity, which also applies to this particular treatment.

It comes in a squeezy tube with the front facing downwards due to which a lot of product is dispensed at one time. The product itself however is amazing hence in my favourites. It nourishes, hydrates and makes hair silky and tangle free. I reserve it for split ends and as a special treatment once a week.

This thing by Label M is gorgeous! Yes another hair product I know but I have been going through a bad hair phase where I am obsessively worried about it looking limpy and dry at the same time and this has again helped tremendously in mending any such issues.

I won't go into the details regarding its ingredients but its a thick serum like consistency and I use it as a leave-in conditioner. It's thick so its best applied on damp hair in my opinion but it gets rid of any frizziness and adds a dash of healthy shine to the lower ends of the hair, keeping any styling intact throughout the day.

Must try!

And lastly, Chanel Blusher in Rose Petale.

Absolutely despised it when bought originally and it stayed at the bottom of my vanity unused for months. Suddenly rediscovered it the other day and have been religiously slapping it on since then.

What a gorgeously subtle dewy peachy-pink. Very work appropriate and would be great for pale skin tones.

What have you been loving recently?

Do it our way!

2012-01-16T16:03:00.000Z

Is the new single by Alesha Dixon in collaboration with WeightWatchers. The video below features some of the Weight Watchers members who have successfully lost weight being a part of the programme and not so surprisingly look super fit!

Fun facts: The 3 minute long video was shot all in one go and the lyrics have been inspired by the stories of these women themselves. I personally love the 'I'm checking me out' bit.

I like the fact that the video features 'real' women of all shapes and sizes. You may notice how they are curvy as well but still toned at the same time which is what matters. I personally am a fan of the curvy-yet-toned shape much like most of the girls in the video as especially for me, that's much more easier to maintain than to drop a few dress sizes.

I really wish I could pull off those bright jeans worn by the lovely looking girls in the video though! Unfortunately I have always had a thigh 'problem', which according to me are greater in proportion to the rest of my body and no matter how much I workout or starve, they will. not. budge.

Coming back to the video, to add further glamour, of course there's stunning Alesha making a blink-or-miss appearance too. I have been in awe of her not only because she sings amazingly (and actually made me sing the song whilst I watched the video) but also after became the face of Avon a while ago and looks flawless in the promo images.

Any of you ever tried Weight Watchers and came out victoriously?

*sponsored post

Barefoot Botanicals - Rosa Fina Creamy Face Wash

2012-01-14T14:40:00.000Z

Face washes are so common in every house hold let alone in every beauty bloggers vanity and as innovative formula's come and go, promising to buff and polish your skin like never before, it's only truly some that actually work for the purpose.

My Face Wash of choice has been the Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Creamy Face Wash. The brands name 'Barfoot Botanicals' has been inspired by ancient Chinese traditions where doctors would travel to places barefoot, passing on their wisdom and remedies. Quite original eh?

My favourite before this was the Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser by Superdrug but I have been favouring the Rosa Fina one over the past few months as its creamy and hydrating and suits my skin better in these chilly months.

'The secret of our Rosa Fina range is the rare and highly therapeutic rosa mosqueta oil pressed from the seeds of a wild Chilean rose. This precious ingredient is clinically proven to dramatically reduce wrinkles, stretch marks and scar tissue, leaving skin smooth, firm & radiant'

The beauty of the product is how it foams so well and still manages to remove any make-up or impurities from the skin without stripping it off the moisture.

If you have a look at the Barefoot Botanicals website, the brand caters for troubled skin like those suffering from Rosacea, Psoriasis, Eczema, Urticaria and sensitive skin in general.

Of course the consistency is just a matter of choice but I personally have never used a creamy face wash before. This has been the first time and I have to say I like how it spreads on the skin so well and gives me time to massage the product it creating lather and foam.

On second thoughts, I have never really tried foam-mousse like face washes too as I would enjoy using them I suppose. *makes a mental note*

It's been a while and I don't remember it's exact price but this was somewhere around £16 and available from mypure.co.uk.

Chocomania by The Body Shop - good enough to eat?

2012-01-12T13:19:00.000Z

I think so!

Especially the Body Butter as every pot contains 12 community fair trade ingredients, making it the richest body butter in their range till date.

Ingredients such as Soya beans, Brazil Nut, Sugar Cane, Cocoa beans, Coconut, Olive, Shea nuts and so on. Yum is THE word.

Their Body Butter's are thickly formulated, last longer on the skin and have a delicious scent to them hence people prefer them more in the winter compared to other formulations. This particular one claims to provide 48 hours of intensive hydration.

I usually find some of Body Shop's Body Butter's quite hard in their formulation and need to be scraped out of the tub however the Chocomania Body Butter is quite soft in its consistency and melts into the skin so well.

I also have their Body Lotion which is its lighter option, which I believe would act as a good top up when you don't want to dig into the tub for application or simply for convenience sake as it contains a pump dispenser.

In the winter, this would suffice for moisturising the arms and hands.

In my opinion, this smells exactly the same as the Body Butter. I however have to say I prefer the lotion like consistency much more than its counterpart, however that's just my personal opinion as I have always felt so.

It's also more reasonably priced at £8 for 250ml.

That's not it, there's more to the range than this. Isn't it simply scrumptious and perfect for release in February for Valentines.

I have tried a lot of different ranges from The Body Shop and although I have some favourites such as Brazil Nut, Shea Butter and White Musk, this I have to say is the best they have come up with so far.

I love how they have revamped the collections and they seem so thought over and fool proof. This being Chocolate flavoured, will surely be a big hit be it Valentine's or not as it smells and looks good enough to eat!

*Press sample

Best of 2011: Hair

2012-01-10T13:32:00.001Z

Dry Shampoo - One Batiste for every day of the week eh? Well with the cheap-as-chips price tag they retail at, one NEEDS to own almost every single piece from their range.

Mousse - And you thought Body Shop only did skin care...

Heat Protectant - Will repurchase for life!

Volumiser - I am obsessed with volumising powders..salts..dusts, whatever they call them. This one's the best however after Osis.

Argan Oil/Luxury treatment - Great at mending split ends and avoiding haircuts. Non sticky and seriously shiny!

Leave-In Conditioner - Label M has been a hair care favourite for me this year with some innovative products but this one's my favorite for detangling and hydrating.

Shampoo/Conditioner - Nothing beats L'Oreal when it comes to basic hair care. I have been using almost all the shampoos from their Elvive range since years and have never been let down.

Had a lot more favorites than this but instead of overcrowding the post, I thought I should let you know of things I cannot do without.

Any of your favorites that I NEED in my ~~life~~ hair routine?

MeMeMe Dew Pots - Next in line to Paintpots?

2012-01-09T14:01:00.001Z

That's what the hype is about.

In my opinion, they are quite different to MAC Paintpot's in formulation.

These have more of a gel liner consistency to them. They are soft and slippery whereas MAC Paintpot's drag on the skin and stay put. These on the other hand will crease quite a bit.

I have tried similar ones from Illamasqua before as well. Their Molten Metal creases a lot as it has the same problem as the dew pots. Illamasqua's Cream Pigment on the other hand is in fact quite similar to MAC Paintpot in consistency and effect and stays put.

I like the shades Dew Pots come in however. I have two, Silent Storm and Hollow Haze.

Silent storm is a very gorgeous forest green and Hollow Haze is a pretty champagne shade.

I love the shades to be honest, just not the slippery consistency as although they apply quite well if layered and applied on top of an eye shadow for that extra dimension and shimmer, they crease a lot and don't apply as pigmented as they should if worn alone on a naked lid.

One fantastic use I found for them is as a gel liner. They are a dream to apply and stay put as well. Plus the forest green looks gorgeous as a pop of colour.

Also, the champagne shades makes a lovely creamy cheek and brow highlighter. Will feature some pictures showing their alternative uses soon.

Have you found any dupes for MAC Paintpot?

Cuteness of the week

2012-01-07T20:51:00.000Z

Not as exciting as make-up talk but just a few adorable finds of the week. Cute random things always make up for full fledged product reviews no?

iPhone cover from Funky Pigeon. It's not mine as unfortunately I don't own the super cool device and am stuck with a HTC. Whoever owns a HTC in this world besides me! But I found it for the sister hence included.

Anything starting with 'Keep Calm' and we have to have it! Just an obsession you see.

Oh and I wanted a diary that would fit in my handbag since ages. Of course in an ideal life I would want a Filofax metropol organiser but couldn't justify spending almost £30 on it. Aaah well maybe next time.

For now I have in possession an uber cute lilac Laura Ashley diary with gorgeous black pattern on it. It is so beautiful to look at and right up my street.

Perfect for jotting down things here and there if just like me you despise those ugly post-it notes!

Who likes Spongebob? *both hands up*

Isn't it uber cute? I had to immediately attach it to my office key to brighten up my day :)

The Soap & Glory 'Mist you badly' body mist is a latest find and am in love with it already. It's subtly floral and has a natural sweet scent to it.

Also, like all other body mists out there, it doesn't disappear quickly and is quite a good alternative for a perfume which I quite like. It's going to be a staple in the handbag for parched skin during the day.

Plus the pearlescent peachy-pink bottle always helps!

I have my eye on the other scents Soap & Glory have. It's truly a brand to look out for.

Keep your eyes peeled for Best of 2011 Hair & Skin Care posts to come :)

Best of 2011: Make Up

2012-01-05T22:22:00.001Z

Foundation

Concealer

Powder

Bronzer

Blush

Highlighter

Lip Colour

Lip Gloss

Black EyeLiner

Coloured EyeLiner

Mascara

Eye Brush

Face Brush

Hope the picture-heavy post was more concise and to the point. Do you want a similar one on Skin Care and Hair?