Georgia:OnMyMind

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Solution

2013-05-21T15:49:00.000+01:00

Micellar waters are becoming increasingly popular lately with many skin care brands jumping on the bandwagon. I've been a fan of possibly the original and most well renowned - Bioderma Sensibio - for a long time now and regularly repurchase this as a staple of my skin care routine. I am yet to find anything that removes eye make up as well and is as gentle on my sensitive eyes.
However, Bioderma is only available to me online and when I run out, I have to wait until a new bottle is delivered which isn't always as quick as I would like.
I found myself in this situation recently having used the last drop of Bioderma and needing a replacement immediately. Whilst shopping in the supermarket I noticed a new micellar solution from L'Oreal. I will admit to having never used L'Oreal skincare before, but at the bargain price of £3 and no obviously dodgy ingredients listed - I decided to give this one a go. If it turned out to be horrific, I had only wasted a small amount of money no big deal.

Bioderma Ingredients:

To say I was apprehensive is an understatement. My temperamental skin does not take kindly to swapping and changing products and introducing new products from brands I do not usually use can lead to full on skin meltdown.
That evening, I used L'Oreal's Micellar Solution to remove my eye make up as I would normally use my Bioderma. Two cotton pads soaked in the solution and my eye make up was removed - or so I thought.
Upon closer inspection, the waterproof mascara I had used on my lower lashes was still there. I tried fresh cotton pads soaked in more of the L'Oreal Micellar Solution to no avail - the waterproof mascara just would not budge.

Luckily I do not use micellar water as a full cleanse - nor do I recommend that anyone do this. My bioderma acts as an eye make up remover only. Sadly, the L'oreal worked fine on regular eye make up but just couldn't move the waterproof mascara. Bioderma removes all of my eye make up instantly with no problems.

I can say that whilst this micellar solution did not cause any sensitivity, it didn't feel quite as gentle as the Bioderma. I managed to get some in my eye and there was a minor stinging sensation.

While this was an absolute bargain at £3 I doubt I will repurchase and there is no question about how effective it is compared to Bioderma.
This was a fair substitute given the situation but Bioderma is the clear winner and the only micellar water I will use in future.

Friday Favourites

2013-05-17T12:36:00.001+01:00

Today is a random collection of things I have been loving this week - all of them are duos, strangely enough - this wasn't even a conscious decision!

First up MAC Face & Body foundation - shade C3applied with Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This is the only foundation to have graced my face for around a fortnight now. I love the lighweight, water based consistency and the amazing glow it gives to my skin. It is sheer yet SO buildable to pretty much a good medium coverage. C3 is my summer shade in this foundation - in the few days of sunshine we have had through May I have caught the sun and now require darker foundation. I am one of the lucky few, it seems, who does not suffer with breakouts from MAC foundations. I apply most foundations using the Real Techniques Buffing Brush because it is quite simply, the best brush I have ever used to apply base products.

Both of these products have been mentioned numerous times on this blog.

Make Up Forever HD Blush #5 - Nip Slip applied with MAC 109 brush. I see Make Up Forever have adopted NARS' risque naming process? I quite like the name, but then I am not easily embarrassed or a prude. This cream blush is a gorgeous light-medium warm pink and one of the rare cream blushes I actually get on with and doesn't disappear from my face after an hour. These blushes are insanely pigmented, like nothing I have used before. A tiny bit goes a long, long way. The MAC 109 brush is one of the few MAC brushes I love and swear by. A cute little duo fibre, this is the perfect size for blending out blush on the cheeks.

NARS Blondie eyeshadow applied with Smashbox #12 Angle Brow Brush. This single eyeshadow is one of my all time favourites - Blondie is a mate neutral taupe shade that I use as both a crease colour and a brow powder. My hair is much lighter now than it has been in a long time so this shadow works great on my brows and due to it containing both cool and warm tones it would suit most people. The smashbox #12 brush I have owned for such a long time and rarely used until recently, I have really be enjoying using it to fill in my brows - it is softer than most angled brow brushes which I prefer.

Soap & Glory Heel Genius and Hand Food. Two long serving staples in my collection - as the weather warms up it's time to start preening the feet and toes ready for sandals and flip flops - this cream is one of the richest and most nourishing I have used on my feet and I love the smell. Hand Food is also a gorgeous hand cream and one I keep in my bathroom all the time, rich, nourishing and scented with the signature S&G fragrance (*cough*Miss Dior Cherie*cough*)

Body Shop Strawberry Body Polish and Body Butter are my current shower favourites - both smell incredible and leave my skin feeling silky soft and moisturised. Love love love these.

What have you been loving this week?

Project 10 Pan - Perfume

2013-05-15T10:26:00.000+01:00

Project 10 Pan. Do people even do these anymore?! Anyhow, I'm a lapsed blogger - so now I'm getting involved.
This project 10 Pan will focus solely on perfume. I have a bit of a 'thing' for perfume, you see. In the same way I hoard blush, I hoard perfume too. I absolutely love buying and trying new perfumes but I seem to have ended up in a bit of a perfume rut.
I have my all time favourites, those perfumes I have always loved and probably always will. I use them up and repurchase them regularly - I call these my signature scents. I know technically it should be only one signature scent but I couldn't possibly only have one!
Then there are the perfumes I am seduced by in duty free and beauty halls - those that smell delicious on others but end up being relegated to the back of the dresser for eternity because they just don't suit me.
I have far too much perfume and I'm also coveting more, so before I move on to new scents and repurchase the staples of my collection, I NEED to get rid of a fair few. My collection is a little on the large side.

I have picked out ten fragrances that are either coming to the end of their life or languishing in the dresser half used up. These are:

Clockwise from L-R:

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom 30ml EDP

This was an airport impulse buy - it was a pretty pink bottle and I had a strange obsession with the smell of the original Be Delicious on other people - it always smelled so fresh and zesty. Sadly on me, not the same. This bottle actually gets left in my travel make up bag for when we go on holiday, I tend to use it up most when I am abroad. I estimate there is about 10ml left to use up.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy 30ml EDP

Blogger favourite but sadly not mine. This is just all kinds of wrong on me. I just don't get it. It smells awful. There is a little less than half left, about 12-13ml. It is going to kill me having to use this up because the smell actually makes me nauseous.

Juicy Couture EDP 30ml

See above. Even worse than Viva La Juicy. Seriously, what is wrong with Juicy Couture scents?! This one is a more floral, old lady version of the above. Yuck. About half left. Don't be surprised if these don't get used up!

Chanel Allure 35ml EDP

Ah, this perfume holds such memories. In fact, this particular bottle. This very bottle of perfume was the scent I wore on the day I got married, almost 5 years ago. The perfume has darkened a little with age but still smells perfect. This was the only everyday perfume I wore from the age of around 19-23 so it became my wedding perfume because it reminded my husband most of me. Other contenders were Chanel Coco Mademoiselle (but everyone was wearing this at the time!) and either Creed Spring Flower or Creed Love in White. There is hardly any of this left, but I will enjoy using it up and will definitely repurchase.

Christian Dior J'Adore 50ml EDP

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this perfume. Some days it smells great on me and others can make me feel a bit queasy. It was a gift so I have persevered with it, but I really have to be in the mood to wear it. It's not a very 'me' scent, I think that is why I struggle with it. There isn't much left to use up, so this one should be easy to finish.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle 50ml EDP

Ah. Coco Mademoiselle. I absolutely adore this fragrance but hate the fact that every women and her daughter wear it. It became SO overdone and overworn. Offices and bars would be filled with the scent of Coco Mademoiselle and I felt like I just blended in with everyone else. Not as popular these days, it seems but still too many people wear this and it puts me off! I have around 10ml left and I know I will end up repurchasing because I just can't be without it!

YSL Cinema 50ml EDP

This is a bit of a strange one for me. I like the scent, don't get me wrong, but there is a certain period of my life - when I was pregnant - that I bought new perfumes because the ones I already owned invoked the worst nausea and morning sickness you can imagine. I wasn't able to wear ANY of my usual perfumes and I really went off them for 9 months (and a while after the birth too)

This is one of the perfumes I purchased and enjoyed whilst pregnant but now, I struggle to wear it. There is about 15-20ml left...not sure how I feel about wearing this one and using it up.

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioa 30ml EDP

This was a gift from a friend, because I had smelled it on them and absolutely fell in love. I am not a lover of the original Acqua di Gio but this is altogether different and very delicious. I actually used this up this morning, with a liberal spray for the school run. Whilst I enjoyed wearing this, especially in warmer weather, I won't repurchase.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue 25ml EDT

This perfume has been with me for longer than I care to remember (not this partcular bottle!) I can remember still living at home as a teen and owning Light Blue, so that would be around 12 years ago. It is probably one of the most popular and 'done' fragrances but I still cannot help loving its fresh , zesty scent. I always, always have a bottle of this in my collection and this 25ml purse spray is just that - one that gets thrown in my handbag. I also have a 100ml on my dresser. This is my husband's absolute favourite perfume on me, honestly, it drives him wild. My only gripe is that they do not offer an EDP and EDT's just do not last on my skin.

Ghost Deep Night 30ml EDT

This was my evening perfume in my early 20's and it holds such strong memories for me, I always like to keep a bottle in my dresser for nostalgia. It is also absolutely gorgeous and cheap as chips. There is around 10ml left here and I will enjoy using this up and feeling young again!

So there we have my Project 10 Pan - Perfume. I am hoping to get these finished up by the end of the month and will report back in an empties post (hopefully)

In the meantime - please leave me a comment with your long term or current favourite scents - I am definitely going to be on the look out for some new scents for my collection once these are finished. I am currently in love with Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and Black Orchid and also Elie Saab.

Tom Ford Lip Color Shine - Smitten. Oh yes I am.

2013-05-13T16:25:00.000+01:00

The name of this lipstick pretty much sums up my feelings toward it. I am well and truly smitten.
It took me a while to jump on this particular bandwagon as generally, I much prefer a nice opaque, creamy lipstick to a sheer glossy one. I went through the lipgloss phase in my teens and once I started wearing full on lipsticks in my twenties, I never really looked back.
Then these balm-gloss-lipstick hybrids started appearing - Chanel Rouge Coco Shines and Chantecaille Lip Chic were the first ones I tried out. I bought so many of them initially and now only two remain in my collection. They just weren't really for me and back to lipsticks I went.

Now, being the Tom Ford obsessive I am, I just couldn't resist at least trying his version of these hybrid lip products. I ummed and aaahed for a few months after these were initially released until finally I caved and Smitten was introduced to my collection.

Like I said, Smitten says it all. This little tube is perfection.

An absolutely divine shade of warm baby pink shot through with gold shimmer and a naturally glossy finish, this feels so moisturising and comfortable on my lips.
The scent is perhaps a little stronger than in the regular lipstick line, but I personally love the rich vanilla scent. The texture is smooth, creamy and so moisturising. The finish is glossy without looking overly glittery, shimmery or in your face. It is a subtle yet buildable sheer balm-lipstick.
Lasting power, as with most of these hybrid lip products is not great, a couple of hours at best and not really a product that lasts through coffee.

For me this product is a winner - and that comes from someone who isn't really a lover of these semi transparent, sheer lip products. If that's your preferred type of product, you will LOVE these.
I love that they offer decent colour payoff for a balmy lipstick and keep my lips feeling soft and supple through the changing seasons. I am confident this is the first of many of these lip shines that I will own!

Tom Ford Lip Color Shines retail for £36.

Friday Favourites

2013-04-12T16:46:00.000+01:00

Has it really been a week since my last post?! My son was back to school after half term this week so it has been a bit manic getting back into a routine. I've been spoilt by the extra hour in bed at half term and this week has been hard to adjust - hello, tired eyes!

Here are my favourites for this week...

Clockwise from L-R: Essie Polish - Fifth Avenue, Hawaiian Tropic Body Butter, Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer, Tresemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo, Illamasqua Blush - Tremble, Laura Mercier Eyeshadow -Topaz, Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers.

Essie Nail Polish - Fifth Avenue
A glossy, hot, tomato orange-red. Predictable, moi? Yes I have 164 other nail polishes this colour but they suit me and I love them. This is the one that has adorned my hands and feet this week.

Hawaiian Tropic Exotic Coconut After Sun Body Butter
This is technically an after sun body butter but i've been using this through rain, snow, sleet and freezing temperatures. It is a gorgeously rich body butter that isn't greasy and sinks in to the skin quickly. The smell is absolutely divine - a mix of coconut and that luminous yellow antibiotic medicine for children - other parents please say you understand what I mean?!

Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer
I received this to review several months ago - you can read that here. Still totally in love with it and it is perfect for the early morning school run.

Tresemme Instant Refresh Volumising Dry Shampoo
On my quest for a HG dry shampoo, I have been trying this one out over the past week. I am trying to wash my hair less and this has been great at keeping my hair from looking greasy in between washes. It does offer a fair bit of volume without weighing my hair down or making it feel dry and crunchy. Leaves MUCH less residue than Batiste, so much so I can barely see it.

Illamasqua Powder Blush - Tremble
The perfect pale pink blush. Not too chalky, insanely pigmented and is all I have worn on my cheeks this week.

Laura Mercier Luster Eyeshadow - Topaz
I have had this eyeshadow for so long, I forget when I actually purchased it but it has remained a favourite in a sea of taupe eyeshadows. The texture is so soft for a luster, which can tend to feel a little gritty. This is an everyday staple in my make up bag.

Tarte Park Avenue Princess
This was a custom purchase as part of a swap a few years ago with a blogger in the USA. I do wish Tarte products were readily available in the UK, because everything I have used I have loved, this bronzer being no exception.
A gorgeously soft matte bronzer that looks natural and blends beautifully into the skin. I have already hit pan and I don't think it will be long before I need to repurchase.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers
These are the only lash curlers that really work on my lashes and for that, I love them. I have been relying on them heavily this week, coupled with the Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer to give the appearance of wide, awake and fresh eyes when they are anything but!

Friday Favourites

2013-04-05T11:59:00.000+01:00

It has been such a long time since I have written a Friday Favourite post, I thought i'd rectify that while I have a bit of spare time on my hands.

Clockwise L-R: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, Joico K-Pak liquid reconstructor, Creed Spring Flower, Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lipgloss - Sahara Pink, Laura Mercier Souffle Body Cream - Tarte au Citron, MAC Eye Kohl - Powersurge, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush - Amused

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

As mentioned in a full review here and FOTD here. Not just a favourite this week, I have used this almost daily throughout March mixed with tinted moisturisers, moisturisers and primers. Each time I find a new way to use it, I fall in love a little bit more.
£36 - Space NK.

Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstructor for fine, damaged hair

I have (once again) decided to return to my natural dark ash blonde hair colour and due to the dark chocolate browns I have used for years, this requires colour removal with peroxide. Peroxide = damage. It is inevitable and mostly unavoidable, however the damage can be minimised with the use of the right products.
Joico K-Pak is a product I have purchased and used since my teens and one that really works. I apply this on clean washed hair before drying/styling.

Joico say "Replenishes lost amino acids in weak, depleted hair by filling in damaged areas of the cuticle. Your fine, fragile and lifeless hair experiencing breakage, premature colour loss and a lack of styling responsiveness (due to chemical, thermal and environmental damage) has restored vitality, strength, shine and elasticity thanks to Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstructor for Fine/Damaged Hair"

Couldn't have said it better myself! I truly believe Joico and especially their K-Pak line are totally underrated.
£15.95 for 300ml - lookfantastic.com

Creed Spring Flower
Spring Flower is a perfume that was created for Audrey Hepburn and released to the public many years later. It was reportedly her signature scent and I can see why. A fruity floral, Spring Flower is fresh and feminine. It is not my usual taste in fragrance but this is an exception I wear as the weather changes. Perfect for cold, crisp, bright days.
£90 for 30ml EDP, £150 for 75ml - Selfridges

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

Unintentionally, this selection of products is influenced by Audrey Hepburn as this is another product that was developed for her!
As above, I have been relying heavily on products to repair my processed and bleached hair. I have several of these little tubes and have been working through them all.This intensive, pre shampoo treatment helps damaged hair to regain elasticity and keep my hair feeling soft, smooth and nourished.

I apply this to my hair before shampooing on damp hair, then cover with cling film (sexy) and leave for 20 minutes. Despite two rounds of colour removal with peroxide, my hair is feeling in pretty good condition.

This product was originally developed for Audrey Hepburn. If it's good enough for Audrey...
£12.25 for 75ml or £22.30 for 150ml- lookfantastic.com

Tom Ford Ultra Shine Ligloss - Sahara Pink
Sahara pink is one of those colours you can wear with just about anything. A neutral, dusky rose pink in the tube, this actually looks a lot brighter on my lips. I am usually a fan of lipstick rather than gloss, but I love these Tom Ford glosses and now own 5 of them which isn't bad for someone who supposedly doesn't like gloss! The finish is more like a liquid lipstick and the shine is incredible without a hint of stickiness or gloopiness that I associate with regular glosses. The pigment is rich and finish is opaque.
£32 - House of Fraser

Laura Mercier Souffle Body Creme - Tarte Au Citron
I a somewhat of a body butter obsessive. I cannot enter a pharmacy, supermarket, department store or in fact - any shop - without a body butter. I have quite the collection but the Laura Mercier Souffle Body Creme's are up there with some of the most decadent.
The feel unbelievably soft and creamy and sink into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. The scent of this one is divine - almost edible. So lemony and fresh, with a subtle...cakey undertone! Divine. Not sure if this can be bought alone, I had it as part of a duo.
£25 for souffle body creme & honey bath duo - Space NK/House Of Fraser

MAC Eye Kohl - Powersurge
The creamy soft MAC kohl pencils will always be a part of my make up collection - especially Teddy, Smolder and this one...Powersurge. MAC call this a bronzed-brown with golden shimmer, which is spot on. This is a beautiful colour that looks gorgeous in place of the usual black eye pencil. I like this in my waterline for a defined, yet softer look.
£14 - MAC stores or MACCosmetics.co.uk

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush - Amused
This and dollface are two of my favourite Tarte blushes, I just wish they were available in the UK! I have worn Amused almost every day for a few weeks - it is a bright, cool toned pink that can sheered out for a more subtle pop of pink.
The texture and staying power is wonderful, but sadly both of my tarte blushes have ended up like this...
$26 - Tartecosmetics.com/ Sephora

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review

2013-04-02T21:57:00.000+01:00

You know every now and then a product comes along and totally blows everything else out of the water? Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer is one of those.

A beautiful multi tasking product this is not one for the faint hearted. If you like a base product you can slap on and go - this isn't for you.
SSE is a high maintenance formula that needs to be handled the right way - a bit like me. Maybe that's why I get on so well with this product... we just get each other.
If you are prepared to work with this product and experiment with different application methods, the results are amazing - as a foundation or as a camouflage cream for blemishes, redness and scarring.
Don't be afraid to experiment either, this little pot holds 18g of product. Each application requires roughly a pin head sized amount. Honestly. Any more and your face will appear mask like and robbed of any features. This pot could easily last a lifetime. I've had mine around 8 months and have barely scratched the surface.

I wear shade sx07 at the moment. For shade reference and how it compares to other foundations I use and own, please check out the 'me, my skin and I...' tab on my blog. I have put all information regarding my skin type and colouring here, to help give a more broad idea of shades for reference.

This is how much I use, blended out with moisturiser for my entire face...that is the product smoothed out as well, I can't get across just how little needs to be used.

I won't go on and list the multitude of ways SSE can be applied, because I'm sure the possibilities are endless...but my personal favourite, depending on coverage required, is blending the tiniest amount with either a moisturiser or primer and also blending with another more sheer foundation/tinted moisturiser for a completely flawless look.
Starting in the centre of my face and especially on my cheeks, I use a buffing brush to gently work the product into my skin. The coverage is unbelievably good, like nothing else I have ever used. My cheeks are my problem area, often displaying signs of a rosacea flare up. I then buff, blend and work the product out towards the edges of the face.
If you think Estee Lauder's Maximum Coverage or Double Wear are full coverage - wait until you try Sensual Skin Enhancer.

This is my skin, free of any make up. Admittedly not a proper bad skin day, but not a good day either. The redness around my cheeks is my biggest concern and one of the most important factors of a base product for my skin is whether it adequately covers redness and does not sit in my large pores. The other most important being the longevity of the product.

Here is my face after applying a tiny amount of Sensual Skin Enhancer blended with La Roche Posay Toleriane Fluide. You can see that my face looks flawless without being obviously made up. There is no cakiness, no noticeable foundation - my skin looks like skin.

The texture of SSE is thick yet not at all gloopy or tacky. The most similar texture I can think of is Benefit's erase paste, but even then they aren't exactly the same. Sensual Skin Enhancer is creamier and much, much more pigmented. This stuff is insanely pigmented!
The texture and pigment of the product are the reason this needs extra care and a lot of attention when applying. It does need something mixed with it to give it that extra bit of slip. Although I am oily in places, I do suffer with dryness also - especially around the redness on my cheeks. Trying to blend this alone is virtually impossible.

Here is my completed make up look using Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer and was also the look in this blog post. For a detailed look at the other products, please read this post.

This make up was applied at 7.15am.

For an idea of how this wears, here is my make up at random periods throughout the day. A day in which I got heavily rained on, then a bit of sleet and snow plus a hectic school run. SSE is waterproof, which ensured it stayed perfect throughout it all, shame the same couldn't be said about my hair!

As you can hopefully see, Sensual Skin Enhancer wears like iron. No patchiness, fading or sliding off my skin.
There is a definite oil break through in the latter part of the day, but it looks glowing and natural rather than oil slick. I didn't really take much notice throughout the day when I was taking these photographs, until it come to the last picture. That is me, in the bathroom ready to take off my make up for the day. I don't think I have ever reached nearly 12 hours of foundation wearing and still looked this flawless! Looking back on the photographs I have taken and the times, I have been pleasantly surprised. I LOVE this stuff even more! My other make up has faded, but my skin still looks great.

I highly recommend Sensual Skin Enhancer, but do be warned that this does require extra attention upon application. It is an excellent product for anyone who loves to experiment with cosmetics and blending different products for different looks.
Without sounding patronising, I wouldn't recommend this if you are just starting out with cosmetics or make up application - it does require a level of skill.
I have read and heard so many stories of how it just looks so thick and fake and doesn't blend properly, this is all down to the application.

I will also warn you that Sensual Skin Enhancer's first ingredient is mineral oil, which I usually avoid. However, this has caused no skin sensitivity or breakouts.

I'd love to know if you have tried this product and what is your favourite method of application or what do you like to mix it with for a flawless look?

Kevyn Aucoin products can be bought from Space NK. Sensual Skin Enhancer costs £36.

March Empties

2013-04-01T22:16:00.000+01:00

March was the first month that I managed to actually use up some make up, which is almost unheard of for me!
I have so many products on rotation that I rarely use things up, even if I love them. This month was the exception. I am making a conscious effort to use things up or get rid of them if they are no good.
I want to narrow my collection down to the products that I truly love and that work for me.
The eagle eyed amongst you will also notice two products from last month's empties post also...I had duplicates that I have also used up!

From L-R:

Champneys Super Rich Skin Cleansing Balm.
This one was in last month's empties post...another one bites the dust! This bargain face cleansing balm has become a regular on my bathroom shelf, I can't get enough of it. Gentle enough for my sensitive, reactive skin but also manages to slough away dead skin cells without irritating or causing redness. Aleady have a back up of this and will continue to purchase.

MAC Fix +
It seems to have taken me forever to get through this bottle of Fix + and I am finally there. I am a bit ambivalent towards it and not sure I would repurchase, purely because I want to try Skindinavia's/Urban Decay's setting sprays instead. I cannot honestly say if Fix+ increases the staying power of my make up, but I do love to spritz my face with it straight after applying my make up for the day, especially if I have used several powder products and want my face to look less powdery.

Pureology Essential Repair Shampoo & Conditioner
I started using these products as the salon I was going to at the time used and stocked the Pureology range and I loved the results. These are sulfate free and make my hair look and feel shiny and nourished. The Essential Repair products are perfect for my tired, stressed and over processed hair. They nourish and fortify the hair without affecting colour too, which is a big bonus. Will definitely repurchase.

La Roche Posay Toleriane Fluide
La Roche Posay claim that this product Instantly moisturizes and soothes feelings of heat and irritation in combination to oily skin - I can attest that this is a very accurate product description.
When my rosacea flares up, I need an intense moisturiser that can take the heat and stinging sensation away and this does just that. It is a lovely light fluid that also works as a great base for make up. Will definitely repurchase and also recently purchased the Toleriane Riche moisturiser for even more hydration through the winter months.

Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo
Didn't like it last month and don't like it this month either. Not a nice product at all. Hated having to use it up, so I threw it away after a few uses!

Bioderma Crealine H20 (now Sensibio)
My absolute HG make up remover. I know it is possibly one of the most overhyped products at the moment but to me, it totally lives up to the hype. I have the most sensitive eyes and this causes no irritation and removes every last bit of make up easily and quickly. LOVE it. Have been using for a year or so and I rely heavily on it. SO glad it is now stocked in the UK!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation B20
Another product I am on the fence about. It is a lovely light foundation but I often have days where I apply this and within hours it is a patchy mess and other days where it can last for 10 hours +. I do have to powder this foundation which seems a shame.
I do enjoy it though and I am sad to have used the last of it...a possible repurchase.

Diorskin Forever Foundation
LOVE this foundation and cannot wait to repurchase. It feels lightweight yet offers excellent, long lasting coverage. My skin looks flawless without looking flat. It is one of the most lightweight, long lasting foundations I have used. Only problem is I am between shades, so to get the absolute perfect shade I do really need to mix two colours.

Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation
It took me forever to finish the foundation as I rarely ever found myself reaching for it. It is incredibly thick coverage and I found it can be a nightmare to get a flawless, even finish. It does cover redness well but there are better foundations out there with more sophisticated formulas that do it better and more importantly...last longer. As with most Clinique foundations I have found, the colour selection is dire.
Won't repurchase.

MAC Select MoistureCover concealer NC20
This is an OK concealer, it does a good job of covering dark circles without caking and feels nice and lightweight on the skin. Only problem is the packaging is awful (a doe foot applicator in a tube, much like a lipgloss) and there is a LOT of wastage. I've tried my best to get the rest of this product out and given up now. I wont repurchase this because there are much better concealers out there.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
Loved it last month and still loving it this month. I had two on the go for some reason and have now come to the end of both. Will definitely be repurchasing.

Free Soap & Glory Body Butter at Boots

2013-03-29T19:57:00.001Z

Just a quick post to let Soap & Glory fans know that in Boots at the moment they are offering a free full size (300ml) Butter Yourself body butter worth £10.50 when you spend £10 across the range (excluding facial skincare and cosmetics)

Above are a few of my favourites from the brand...as you can see I am a big fan of their scrubs, body wash, bubble bath and body butters. I love how cheap and cheerful they are and they always smell so fresh and fruity.

I picked up two replacement products that I had used up and bagged myself the free body butter, not a bad deal at all!

From Boots.com: Soap & Glory™ Butter Yourself™ Body Cream is a five fruits smoothing body cream for fresher, smoother and softer skin. It has exfoliating AHAs to help safely exfoliate dead skin cells and stimulate skin cell renewal; Orange Waterjuice™; shea butter for skin softening and smoothing; peppermint oil; Fruitliquid Fig for moisturizing and as an antioxidant; and it's paraben-free!

I can attest to the fact it smells absolutely delicious and leaves my skin feeling soft and intensely moisturised.
I couldn't seem to find out a definite timescale for this offer, so i'd go soon if you don't want to miss out!

NOTD: Chanel Rouge Noir

2013-03-25T20:53:00.001Z

This was the first ever high end nail polish I bought, over 10 years ago. Originally released in the 90's and elevated to cult status by Mia Wallace, a character portrayed by Uma Thurman in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.
A favourite film of mine and definitely a favourite nail polish.

Rouge Noir is very much a 'does what is says on the ~~tin~~ bottle' kind of polish. A deep blackened red with gorgeous shine, this looks exceptionally good on my shorter nails.

A lot of people are unhappy with Chanel's nail polish line due to their price and poor longevity. Most people find that they chip within hours, which I have experienced with some Chanel polishes but not with Rouge Noir - and this is 3rd bottle in over 10 years.

I do experience tip wear around day 2 and the chips start creeping in around day 3-4. Not as long wearing as some polishes, but not absolutely poor either. As usual I wore it over a base of Orly Bonder and Poshe fast drying topcoat.

I have tried many, many dupes of Rouge Noir (and believe me there are a LOT) but I always come back to the original.

Chanel nail polishes retail for £18.

Everyday Face feat: Kevyn Aucoin, Tom Ford, Sisley, NARS, Shiseido, MAC & Laura Mercier

2013-03-19T11:44:00.002Z

I don't think this really needs any introduction, the title of this post says it all really. This is an easy, natural FOTD that took me about 10 minutes, tops. I've got a full review of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer coming up later on this week. It's a firm favourite.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX07 - teeniest amount mixed with moisturiser and applied with fingers.

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor - Taupe
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NARS Kalahari Duo - only left side all over lid, blended with a MAC 217

Shiseido Automatic Fine Eyeliner - thin line close to upper lashline

MAC Powersurge Pencil - underneath lower lashes and left side of Kalahari patted on top.

Tom Ford Raven Mascara

Sisley Phyto Blush Eclat - Pinky Coral

MAC Hue Lipstick

Laura Mercier Lip Glace - Bare Baby

Swatches:
L-R: Sisley Phyto Blush Eclat - Pinky Coral, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX07, NARS Kalahari Duo (left side) Tom Ford Brow Sculptor 02 Taupe, MAC Kohl - Powersurge, Shiseido Automatic Fine Eyeliner-Black, MAC Hue lipstick, Laura Mercier Lip Glace - Bare Baby.

NOTD: Barry M Gelly 'Blood Orange'

2013-03-18T22:16:00.000Z

I had heard so much about these Barry M Gelly polishes, claiming to give the finish and look of Shellac/Gelish manicures without the need for UV curing and at the bargain price of £3.99 - there was no doubt in my mind , I had to pick some up.
Superdrug had (possibly still have?) an offer on for two Gelly polishes for £6 so I picked up a beautiful bright coral pink - Grapefruit and this deep true red - Blood Orange.
I excitedly applied Blood Orange and I really couldn't believe how shiny the finish was. So glossy and perfectly opaque with just one coat.
I put out a cry for help on Twitter because I wasn't sure if these polishes require a topcoat and the general consensus was no topcoat - chips like a bitch...topcoat - still going strong after 4-5days.
So I applied my usual and favourite topcoat, Poshe Super Fast Drying Topcoat.

My experience with this polish wasn't quite the same as all of the other reviews and comments. I woke up the morning after applying Blood Orange and my index finger had chipped already. Within 24 hours I had chips on most fingers so I removed the polish completely.

I am really disappointed that this polish didn't perform as well as I had expected. For an inexpensive brand I think Barry M polishes in general perform very well. Coupled with the excellent reviews these Gelly polishes get, I had hoped for much more.
Especially because the finish of these polishes is gorgeous - so glossy. I couldn't quite capture on camera just how shiny the finish is.

I can't understand if this was a case of incompatible base coat (Essie Grow Stronger) top coat (Poshe) or just bad luck.
I will be trying out Grapefruit this week to compare.

Am I the only person who didn't get on with a Gelly polish?!

By Terry Cover Expert Foundation Review

2013-03-15T19:15:00.000Z

It feels as though I have spent most of my adult life on a quest for the perfect base product. In my quest I have come across some absolutely atrocious contenders, some adequately pleasing and then there are those that are quite simply, superb.
By Terry's Cover Expert definitely falls into the latter category.

I'm a fan of the By Terry range in general but until recently I had not explored the foundations on offer. This is mostly because of the availability of By Terry products. For me, in South Wales, I have to rely on the internet to purchase By Terry products. We have no Space NK store (come ON S:NK - Cardiff is crying out for a store!) so online only it is - which is fine for products that don't require a colour selection.
BUT it is absolutely imperative that a foundation is the perfect colour match and colour matching online with limited swatches available can be a costly minefield.

Luckily for me I am very much aware of my skintone, undertones and colouring and even luckier me for me, I recently started reading an amazing blog/watching YouTube videos by The Beauty Professor.
This blog and YouTube channel has been projected to one of my absolute favourites. Not only does the Beauty Professor share my love of high end, exclusive and niche brands but we are very similar in colouring (that gorgeous golden blonde hair is my natural colour, believe it or not!)

Hovering somewhere around NC20-25-27-30 depending on the season, I can guarantee that if the colour works for The Beauty Professor, it will work for me too! We also share the same skin sensitivity and desired look from our cosmetics.
A beautifully written blog that is filled with some of the best and most comprehensive collections of swatches, in-depth and intellectual reviews - this is beauty with brains and I often find myself loading the blog up from my favourites to reference shades or products.
A MUST read for any other high end cosmetic lovers like me.

Now, I digress, but my long winded point was - The Beauty Professor's blog made it possible for me to select my shade in By Terry Cover Expert and so I ordered online, spurred on by her excellent review.

I selected shade #8 - Intense Beige which is more towards the NC27 end of the scale, but I figured this foundation will be worn mostly through the warmer months (if they ever arrive) so I wanted something to match my Summer skintone. I could have gotten away with shade #7 also - Vanilla Beige which is more NC20-25 and even shade #9 if I was really tanned this summer as that would suit a more NC30 colouring. I can attest that I will be adding these shades to my collection also because this foundation is so beautiful and one I want to wear year-round.

Also wearing:

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor - Taupe

NARS Kalahari Duo

MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl

Tom Ford Raven Mascara

Sisley Blush - Pinky Coral

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine - Evasion

This foundation provides excellent coverage without looking mask-like and obvious. It is full coverage but unlike anything else I have ever tried. Put all thoughts of Estee Lauder Double Wear aside, Cover Expert is almost weightless and unidentifiable on the skin.
It is a much more refined and sophisticated medium-full coverage foundation, offering a flawless satin finish. You can build this foundation well if you desire a heavier look, but I think it is unnecessary.

It does not aggravate my sensitive, reactive skin nor does it sit in pores. It offers a beautiful, naturaly flawless look to my skin and continues to do so for many hours. It's not touted as a long wearing foundation but I find this lasts a good 10 hours without powder on my skin, which is rare.
I personally like to set my foundation with a touch of powder, but for the purpose of this review I skipped powder to demonstrate the coverage, finish and longevity of Cover Expert.

The texture of this foundation is so beautiful. A lightweight liquid - bordering on runny , easily blended and a little goes a long way. I used my fingers to apply this foundation and used a little bit more than a pea sized amount. You can feel the silicones in the foundation - I think that is what gives it it's 'slip'.

Cover Expert is scented with the usual rosy, herbal By Terry signature smell. I don't find this at all displeasing, in fact I enjoy the smell and it is not at all irritating on the skin.
The tube whilst not particularly glamorous is both easily portable and hygienic. Its more functional than luxurious.

Above is a timeline to show my face throughout the day, to show how Cover Expert lasted on my sensitive, combination/oily skin. I initially applied the foundation at 7.45am ready for the school run -that never happened! Photos were then taken at 12.15 (yes I was back in my pyjamas...my son was sick and didn't make it to school, so we had a lazy day!) and then the last photo taken at 5.45pm.
You can see that shine has appeared but I think it looks natural and glowing, rather than full on oil slick. I have held my hair back in the last picture to demonstrate the C shape that the 'glow' has appeared...exactly where I would usually apply a liquid or powder highlighter.
My skin still looks natural, luminous and although the foundation has started to fade, it has faded evenly with not one bit of patchiness, almost unheard of with my skin.

By Terry Cover Expert gets a huge thumbs up from me. If you are looking for a fuller coverage yet weightless foundation, I recommend this to you.

By Terry Cover Expert is £44 for 35ml and can be purchased from Space NK.

February 2013 Empties

2013-03-06T20:58:00.000Z

A little bit later than I had hoped in getting this post up, but once again my household has been struck by norovirus. We are now almost a week into March so this is better late than never, I'm afraid!

Here are all of the products I managed to use up through February...

From L-R:

Organic Surge Soothing Sweet Blossom Shower Gel
I am really disappointed by this product from Organic Surge, a brand I usually love. I was saddened to read their ingredient listing that stated this contains Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - a surfactant much like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I usually avoid these where possible in body products and expected better from Organic Surge.
Especially right under a heading that claims 'Untouched By Harsh Chemicals'

I stopped using this on my body as it did start to dry my skin out. I used the rest of this to clean my make up brushes, just to use it up.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner
This is a nice, lightweight conditioner geared towards dry/damaged hair. It did give my hair a nice shine without weighing it down and is good for every day use. Not sure I would repurchase however, as I have other conditioners I prefer.

Halos 'n' Horns Zingy Orange Hair and Body Wash
This technically belongs to my 3 year old son, but my skin has been so incredibly dry this month that I have helped him get through a few tubes! It is a delicious shower gel that smells like sweeties and is incredibly kind to sensitive skins. This is the only bath/shower product I ever purchase for my son. It is gentle, easily accessible (Waitrose, Asda, Tesco, Boots, Toys R Us) and totally inexpensive. We are big fans.

Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo
I'm a little bit underwhelmed by this product. I do love a dry shampoo that can give a good root boost as well as disguise unwashed hair and whilst this does give a bit of a boost, it also leaves a sticky, powdery looking residue. I wouldn't repurchase this particular dry shampoo.

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo
This actually came to me by mistake. I ordered another dry shampoo with my online Tesco shopping and this was delivered as an alternative as my first choice was unavailable. If i was a little bit underwhelmed by the Batiste XXL Volume, I am totally underwhelmed by the Blush version. Yes the scent is pretty (reminds me a little of Michael Kors EDP) but it offers nothing in the way of volume and I need to spray a lot of product for it to have any effect.

Redken All Soft Shampoo
I like Redken, but All Soft was a bit of a miss for me. After completely using the whole bottle, I didn't notice any improvement in the dryness of my hair. It was nice, but not nice enough for me to repurchase.

Avene Cleanance K
I use this on the non-sensitive areas of my face (forehead, nose, chin) at night time to treat my oily t-zone and the blackheads/spots that can appear here. This is an inexpensive and excellent product that has helped to keep my pores clearer than usual and also helps to keep monthly breakouts at bay. This can dry out skin and I wouldn't recommend it for use on extremely sensitive areas.

Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Moisturiser
One of my all time favourite night creams, this is possibly my third or fourth pot and as you can see is still in the old style packaging. This is possibly one of the most inexpensive, yet effective moisturisers I have used. I LOVE it. It is intensely hydrating and comforting on my skin and I imagine would be suitable for even the most sensitive skins. I have sensitive/combination skin and this works so well for me. It delivers nourishment and moisture to the dry areas, does not cause oiliness in my oily areas and has not caused sensitivity or breakout issues. I am never without this moisturiser, I always fall back to it, no matter what else I try. A bargain at under £8! I am already using a fresh new pot.

Darphin Intral Serum
Another of my skincare staples, this is perhaps my third bottle? Darphin's intral range is one of the best out there for rosacea/redness. This serums calms any rosacea flare ups I have whilst also providing nourishment. So incredibly soothing, another I cannot do without. Already replenished my stock!

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
Another staple product I return to often. I have used this and Lancome's other Hypnose mascara offerings, on and off since my teens. I find their mascaras absolutely excellent and this is my daytime mascara. It offers drama in the way of length and volume and nevers flakes or transfers. Definitely repurchasing this, for the umpteenth time.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC25
I use this powder foundation rarely, it has probably taken me the best part of 3-4 years to finish this! I keep it in my handbag for top ups, particularly if I am wearing a not very long lasting foundation. NC25 in this product is a touch too light for my skin, despite being a pretty much spot on NC25 in the MAC liquid foundations. As a powder it is a little too heavy, not finely milled like I prefer and I find it can look dry bordering on chalky if too much is applied. I have tried it alone as a foundation and it just isn't for me. I much prefer other powders so this will not be repurchased,

Champneys Super Rich Cleansing Balm
This was a chance purchase that turned out to be a fantastic discovery. I am a big fan of balm cleansers but they are not easily accessible offline. I love the Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm and Emma Hardie Moringa balm but when these run out, I don't have anywhere nearby that I can replenish these items. In a pinch one day, I spotted this with 1/3 off in Sainsbury's. The ingredients looked good and I was certain this wouldn't irritate my skin - I have since bought 3 more tubs of this stuff. It is simply fantastic and so inexpensive. A luxuriously rich balm that cleanses my skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple. Amazing stuff.

NOTD: Tom Ford Indian Pink

2013-02-26T10:28:00.001Z

Over the Winter months my nails have rarely been any colour other than red. I find red nails so classic and versatile that it has become my go-to nail shade, despite the hundreds of other colours I own.

In an attempt to shake things up again I've been sporting the most beautiful shade of pink on my nails instead.

Tom Ford's Indian Pink Nail Lacquer is the most beautiful, vibrant hot pink shade with an unbelievably glossy, high shine finish.

I can foresee that I will be wearing this a lot through the Summer, I can imagine it will look beautiful on the toes with sandals and flip flops. It is such a vibrant hot pink that looks blue based but contains just the right amount of warmth to counteract the cool tone.

I am absolutely in love with this colour and formula. This is still going strong after 6 days of wear with minimal tip wear.

The Perfect My Lips But Better Lipstick? Burberry Lip Mist - Field Rose

2013-02-20T21:27:00.001Z

I've got strange coloured lips. In fact, they aren't really coloured at all. They are very, very pale with the slightest undertones of pale mauve pink.

I have tried for years to find the perfect 'my lips but better' shade of lipstick. Something easy to slap on that goes with anything and everything for those days when I'm either not wearing a lot of make up or want a polished yet understated look.
Most of the MLBB favourites amongst friends and bloggers are totally unsuitable for me. Usually too dark, too intense, too brown (hello, 90's!) or too pink and even some were a bit orange. They look obvious and a bit wrong on my pale lips.
I used to own the most perfect and beautiful Dior shade, back when their lipsticks looked like this:

Oh it was DIVINE. The most creamy shade of pale mauvey-pink nude that matched my lips so perfectly. I was around 16 and remember almost everything about the lipstick. I remember the gorgeous texture, the pigmentation, the colour is forever etched in my memory. The only thing I can't remember? The shade name. Typical. If I could get my hands on the names of that long discontinued range of lipsticks I would be eternally happy.

However, I digress.
My point, in a round-the-houses kind of way, is that at 16 I had the perfect MLBB shade and haven't had one since. I have tried and failed to find something that compared, even if not perfect- a happy compromise. But no, I either wear really nude lips, really red lips and the occasional coral in the summer.

That is, until a few months ago I made an order for what I thought was a dupe for my beloved and long gone Dior MLBB shade. I thought I had memorised the name of the lipstick I wanted to order but I must have been having a mind blank that day, because I ordered totally the wrong lipstick.
I placed an order for Burberry Lip Mist - Field Rose.

When the lipstick arrived I realised my error and was more than a little bit annoyed at my mistake.
I opened the lip mist out of curiosity and the shade looked really pretty and appealing, despite not being my desired shade so I swatched it and my intial thought was...MEH.
It is a glossy lipstick much like the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines/Tom Ford Lip Shines and the colour appears nothing like in the tube.
However, I tried it on my lips and couldn't believe the similarity to the natural colour of my lips.

This may not quite be the creamy MLBB shade I had hoped for, but despite being ordered by mistake it may well be the ultimate 'My Lips But Glossier' shade.
It evens out my lips and adds a delicate gloss. Dare I say it has a plumping effect?

The lipstick itself feels glossy without being sticky and feels comfortable and slightly balmy on the lips. Lasting power isn't great, but it rarely is with these lipstick/gloss hybrids.
I absolutely love the case, the magnetic lid especially. The metallic pewter case feels heavy and luxurious and the Burberry branding is subtle and classy. The lid must be replaced a certain way due to the magnets and when it closes it delivers that exquisite, expensive clicking sound that I love.

This lipstick is so well used and loved - as you can probably tell. It's the sort of colour you can wear with absolutely anything. Field Rose now lives in my handbag because I know I can apply it with anything and it will look great.

I've been intrigued by Burberry cosmetics for a while now, but up until this point not really intrigued enough to actually purchase anything. I'm not really a huge fan of Burberry but my interest in the cosmetic line has certainly been piqued...I can't wait to try the lip covers and eyeshadows next.

Poshé Super Fast Drying Topcoat

2013-02-12T10:29:00.008Z

I've mentioned this topcoat numerous times on the blog but never really given it it's own post, which it truly deserves. Most recently, it was the topcoat used in my Ciate Paint Pots - Mistress post.

For the past few years I have been on a mission to find a less toxic and less flawed alternative to the raved about Seche Vite. I like Seche Vite, but it contains ingredients I would rather steer clear of and I find it causes awful tip shrinkage, whatever polish I apply it over. Yes it dries in the blink of an eye but it also leaves garish white tips where the polish has shrunk back, no matter how I apply it. It is also incredibly drying on my nails causing them to peel and split - and so my search for a new holy grail topcoat began.

I've tried many supposed fast drying topcoats over the years - some with great success and some that ended up straight in the bin.
Poshé is definitely the former.

The consistency of Poshé is much thinner (without being runny) than the fast drying topcoats I am used to, making for easier and quicker application. It flows on to the nail smoothly and is self leveling which results in a perfectly smooth and glossy finish. It maintains it's shine and never dulls the polish and I have never noticed any yellowing when using Poshé.

On average, a manicure using Poshé as my topcoat lasts 4-5 days which is exceptional for me, as a mother of a very active little boy I can't be precious with my nails. Tip wear is minimal, if noticeable at all after this period of time and I have never experienced chipping. As a topcoat, Poshé is incredibly strong yet flexible, so if your nails take a blow then the polish isn't going to chip away or flake off.

A big plus for me with Poshé is the lack of toluene, formaldehyde and pthalates (the 'big 3') - these ingredients are what I believe dry my nails out to the point they break, peel and split (Seche contains all 3) Where possible these days, I try and stick to nail products that are big 3 free, with a few exceptions.

Drying time with Poshé is on a par with Seche Vite, nails are touch dry in seconds and fully dry and set in a few minutes.
I am yet to find a nail polish brand that doesn't work with my Poshé topcoat.

A bottle of Poshé topcoat usually lasts me around 6 months (this is my 4th bottle) the fomula does thicken over time, but not to the point it become unuseable. Also, Poshé sell a thinner, much like Seche Vite, to return the formula back to normal.

Posheé Super Fast Drying topcoat costs around £7.95 - £8.50 depending on retailer. When I first started using this, I had to order via eBay from the USA but now there are a few UK retailers stocking Poshé. I recommend Cult Beauty.

NOTD and all time favourite: Ciate Paint Pot - Mistress

2013-02-09T11:24:00.000Z

This weekend I am wearing one of my all time favourite nail polishes...Ciate Mistress.

A classic bright red with strong undertones of hot orange and perfect consistency, this is holy grail material.

Despite my burgeoning nail polish collection I always return to the same few polishes - generally orange toned reds. Mistress is well loved and well used because of the beautiful formula and perfect colour.

The brush is just the right size and length for my tiny nails and the long handle makes for easy application.
The formula itself is smooth, creamy and applies like a dream.

I apply two coats and seal with a quick drying topcoat (Poshe) and this manicure usually lasts around 5 days chip free and with minimum tip wear. These photographs show my nails on day 3 of wear.

Ciate polishes are a firm favourite because their formula is excellent and the packaging is irresistible...I'm a sucker for a pretty bow.

Do you have any ciate favourites?

A Snowy FOTD

2013-01-28T21:22:00.001Z

South Wales was hidden under a thick blanket of snow last Friday and due to being snowed in I had a little more time than usual to organise and play around with my make up and beauty products. I cleared my dressing table and the make up bags, boxes and handbags full of products, I've organised all of my storage and in the process found some new and unused products and some old favourites.
This was much needed because I had fallen into a real make up slump - relying on the bare minimum to get me through the school run.

I have worn this one particular FOTD, or a variation of, in the past few days. You will see Tom Ford products feature heavily. In fact, all bar two products are TF!
You may also notice there is no foundation in this routine. This is because the snow and cold weather absolutely ravages my sensitive-combination skin. While the t-zone still produces oil - albeit at a much slower rate- the rest of my face, particularly cheeks, really suffer with extreme dryness and rosacea. I am yet to find a suitable foundation that is both moisturising and feels comfortable on the skin without sliding off the oily parts so I often forego foundation and just dot concealer on the worst areas and add a touch of Chanel's creamy bronzer - Soleil Tan De Chanel to warm up the skin and hide my deathly pallor!

Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer under eyes/dotted on imperfections

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor - Taupe

Tom Ford Silvered Topaz Eyeshadow Quad

Tom Ford Extreme Mascara - Raven

Tom Ford Cheek Colour - Love Lust

Tom Ford Nude Vanille Lip Colour

Tom Ford Sugar Pink Ultra Shine Lip Gloss

This is an incredibly quick and easy look but still looks bright and fresh faced. The Silvered Topaz quad is a collection of four beautiful shades that blend together beautifully and can be worn as an everyday look excluding the top left glittery shade, or for a more dramatic smoky, glittery evening look.

To finish off the eyes I added a couple of coats of the Extreme Mascara in Raven. A very nice mascara indeed, but does require several coats to make a real impact.

Love Lust cheek colour, as described in this post, gives the cheeks a radiant flush of pinky-peach and due to the glow, you don't need a separate highlighter.

Nude Vanille is a gorgeously creamy, very pale peach toned nude lipstick that can border on conealer-lip colour depending on skintone. I can wear it much more easily in the winter months when I am paler...with a tan it looks to stark in contrast to the rest of my skin.

To warm the lips up a little, I added a coat of Sugar Pink Ultra Shine Lipgloss, the most beautifully creamy barbie pink gloss.

This seems to have broken my make-up slump and I have found that I am using a much wider variety of products now, rather than relying on the same thing all the time. I'm even lusting after some new make up, which hasn't been the case for a while now!
Firstly, I need to find myself a nice winter foundation - please recommend if you know of any for sensitive-combination, dehydrated skin.

Tom Ford Blush Comparison: Love Lust & Frantic Pink

2013-01-21T10:18:00.000Z

I was recently asked how two particular Tom Ford blush shades compare to each other, because at first glance they do seem incredibly similar. For £46 a piece, you don't really want to end up with two near identical shades, do you? (Blush addicts like myself, you don't have to answer that one)

Here are the two shades side by side in natural daylight. It may have been snowing and my fingers nearly dropping off, but there was sunlight!

As you can see, to the untrained eye these blushes are almost identical.

Here are the two shades indoors, under the flash from the camera....

It is only with the camera flash that you start to notice the slight differences in these two blushes.

Love Lust is a soft coral with the most delicate hint of pink to offset the peachy coral tone. The shimmer looks both silver and gold depending on the way the light hits it in the pan but on the skin translates to a radiant sheen as opposed to shimmer or glitter.

Frantic Pink (reviewed here) is a light pink with just a whisper of peach, shot through with subtle silver shimmer. Again it is so refined that on the skin it makes the cheeks appear to have a sheen rather than be overtly sparkly or glittery.

Here are the blushes swatched on my hand in natural light

L: Love Lust R: Frantic Pink

and under camera flash

L: Love Lust R: Frantic Pink

So there you have it. One is a Pinky-Peach and one is a Peachy-Pink. Only the most obsessive beauty connoisseurs will know that this is not at all the same thing!
The subtle nuances between the two are more apparent on the skin than in the pan.

Personally, I am glad I own both and I do find the subtleties between them to be apparent enough to warrant owning both.

Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer

2013-01-15T10:34:00.000Z

No Concealer Concealer is name I have tried to understand, but in my opinion is a total misnomer.

If anything, this product should proudly call itself 'THE concealer' because this is the absolute best I have ever tried.

Concealer, especially under eye concealer is such a tricky product to get right. I often find concealers either too sheer, too heavy, too cakey, too greasy or too dry.

I know this makes me sound a little like Goldilocks, but a good undereye concealer is a must have product but it is also a must get right.

Too sheer does not address my toddler induced dark circles, too heavy looks obvious and feels uncomfortable. Too cakey, well that's an obvious one. Too greasy slides off my face and drags my foundation and eye make up with it and too dry gathers in fine lines and causes the delicate skin under my eyes to feel tight and sore.

All I want from a concealer is: easily blendable, good coverage, lightweight and long lasting without being heavy or drying and moisturising.

Which is where Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer comes in and is elevated to hero product status. Not only is this a concealer, it has skincare benefits. This is a big bonus for me, because if I am honest I am rather lax when it comes to eye cream. I own eye cream but I am yet to find one that I really love enough to use on a daily basis. In reality it ends up being a 'when I remember to apply' job and that's just no good, especially because I am prone to dryness in this area.

Using this concealer at least gives me the added bonus of neuropeptides and vitamin c ester - known for their anti-ageing benefits. It also contains SPF35 to protect the delicate skin under the eye.

I have been using this concealer for a few weeks now and in this time have used nothing else. The texture of the concealer feels like satin and is the perfect compromise between moisturising and drying.

It feels nourishing without being overly moisturising and stays put all day without being drying and cakey.

There is no discernible scent to this concealer and it has caused no issues with my sensitive and reactive skin. It is also a fragrance free product which I generally prefer, especially this close to my eyes.

The bottle is such a lovely addition to my make up bag. I love the medicinal, tincture feel to the packaging - a brown glass bottle with a black pump dispenser. YES. Pump dispenser. I could not have been happier to see this included. A much more hygienic and less wasteful way to use the concealer.

A full pump may be a little too much for just the under eye area so I use the remaining product to dab on to my eye lids also...this makes a great base for eye make up. Be warned that this is very easy to overload under the eyes so dab lightly and don't apply too much.

I have even used this on the post-Christmas detox spots that have appeared and it works fantastically on these too.

Going back a few sentences, I used a key word. DAB. Learning how to correctly apply this concealer was important for optimum results. I have tried applying this on fingertips and rubbing in (a big no-no) and also using an under eye concealer brush. Neither of these really work - the best application is to pump on to ring finger, then warm between the other ring finger and use each finger to dab lightly under each eye.

The difference is really noticeable - the undereye area instantly looks smoother, brighter and free of dark circles. This has become my school run saviour - I have applied this and only this on those dark, hurried mornings and I am much less frightening to small children and I can fake a well rested face!
Below, you can see the difference in my before and after. Before, I look tired and spotty. After, I think my skin looks fantastic! In the after photograph I used the concealer under my eyes and remaining product on blemishes and redness. The finished result is a soft matte finish that looks pretty flawless.

One drawback that comes to mind with this product is the shade selection, or lack thereof. This concealer comes in just one shade, a soft peachy colour which is luckily just perfect for my skin tone and colouring but I can't see this working for the ladies at each end of the skin colour scale. This is a shame because Perricone MD seem to be catering to a very small section of the market - those with light-medium skintones.

Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer costs £37 for 9ml of product, however so little is used each time I can imagine this bottle is going to last a very long time. I will be reviewing this product again a few months down the line to report if there is any improvement in my under eye area from prolonged use of No Concealer Concealer.

You can purchase Perricone MD products from www.perriconemd.co.uk

Disclosure: PR Sample.

December 2012 Empties

2013-01-09T11:05:00.000Z

A little later than planned, here are the products I used up towards the end of last year. These kind of posts are a rarity from me, because I don't tend to use things up very quickly or very often!

Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche

Perhaps an odd choice given the season, I used the last few spritzes of this up last year. This is usually a Spring/Summer staple for me as it is incredibly fresh and zesty, but I had a new bottle waiting ready for the warmer months and a few sprays left in this bottle, so I was using this after a shower as a body spray. I have been using this on and off since it launched in 2007 and it remains a favourite of mine.

Lush Snow Fairy

As you can see from the packaging, this is the old style bottle from 2011! I like to stock up on Snow Fairy as it is limited edition and only released at Christmas. I used the last of my 2011 supply up at the beginning of December 2012 - just in time for Lush to start selling it again. There is something about this pink, glittery body wash that smells of pear drops that I can't get enough of!

Body Shop Satsuma Body Scrub

My love of the Body Shop's satsuma range knows no bounds - you can read more about that here. This is a lovely 'scrubby' scrub with nice rough textured particules that really feel like they are sloughing away at dead skin. Nice.

Smell divine too.

TIGI Bedhead Some Like It Hot Shampoo

My local TK Maxx has started selling these giant salon sized TIGI shampoo and conditioners, so I thought I would try them again. I used the range almost religiously in my teens - favouring the Dumb Blonde range at the time. I am pleased that TIGI have started making a lot of their shampoo free of SLS now - including this one. I used the majority of this up through the summer and also on holiday last year. It is a very strongly lemon scented shampoo that is nice but distinctly average. I wouldn't purchase this particular one again.

Soap & Glory Righteous Butter

Another Righteous Butter bites the dust! I love this stuff. It's inexpensive and a damn good moisturiser for the body. The scent is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. I've already started a new tub of this, thank you Santa!

Liz Earle Orange Flower Body Wash

I've lost track of how many bottles of this I have gone through now, it's such a lovely body wash to use. Smells beautiful and feels moisturising. Definitely a bathroom staple.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser

Another staple for every make up bag. Simply the best and the ONLY tinted moisturiser I use. Amazing coverage and flawless skin. New one on the way to me!

Original Source Mint Chocolate Shower Gel

In this household, we go through many, many bottles of this stuff. My husband is a big fan so I decided to try it out and I really enjoyed using it. It smells AMAZING. In fact, it smells so good you would believe it is edible. I'm a bit addicted to anything mint chocolate flavoured or scented - I just wish the scent of this would linger round for a bit longer after a shower.

Dior Addict EDP

According to my mother, this is the scent she most associates with me, from when I still lived at home. It is possibly one of my most repurchased perfumes and I'm only loyal to a very select few perfumes. This is definitely one of them. To me - this is sexy, sultry and just divine. I love it. I received a nice big bottle of this from my parents for my birthday, to replace this.

Dior SkinFlash Radiance Booster Pen

This is Dior's equivalent to YSL Touche Eclat - except it is 100% better, in my humble opinion. This hides tired, dark circles and highlights cheekbones beautifully. Also contains enough pigment to be an effective concealer, too. A definite repurchase.

Body Shop Body Butters - Satsuma & Mango

These two bring it to a grand total of three body butters used up at the end of 2012 - can you tell my skin was suffering with the cold weather and central heating?

These two are always either in my bathroom or bedroom - love the scents and love how they moisturise my body. Already repurchased!

Nailtiques Formula 2+

This is my go-to nail strengthener and the only thing that works on my brittle, peeling, soft nails. This give incredible strength and make them grow faster than I have ever seen. I made a huge mistake of not repurchasing this straight away and trying other strengtheners - Essiw Grow Stronger/Faster and OPI Nail Envy actually made my nails a whole lot worse and they are back to being short, broken and in a terrible mess. Eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new bottle of Formula 2+ - I will NEVER stray from this again.

My Christmas Beauty Gifts

2013-01-03T13:54:00.000Z

I am going to share with you the gifts I received this Christmas - well the beauty related ones anyway.
These two items are stocking fillers that my husband picked out - one of which I had been trying - and failing miserably - to get my hands on for a long time and the other a lovely surprise. He certainly knows me very well.

Firstly, the one I had been trying to get hold of for ages is YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 13 'Le Orange'.
I first swatched this at a counter a few months back and HAD to have it. I wasn't looking for anything in particular but this creamy, bright orange red stood out from the lipsticks on offer and I fell in love. You only have to look back through my blog to know that I love my reds to be very orange based and very bright. I tried to buy it, but was thwarted. Out of stock. This would be the story for the next few months.

I tried many different stores - Boots, John Lewis, House Of Fraser, Debenhams and various locations but to no avail.
I just couldn't get my hands on Le Orange. I googled it one day and suddenly it was made clear- this is apparently heavily endorsed by a Kardashian (just so happens, my favourite Kardashian) Kourtney. Yes I am a Kardashian fan. Sue me.
Kourtney has raved about this lipstick and therefore everyone who wants a tiny sliver of the illustrious Kardashian life wants this lipstick.
I gave up hunting but my husband didn't, bless him. He spent hours trawling the many YSL counters in Cardiff and eventually found Le Orange for me, after nearly giving up but striking lucky as John Lewis had a last minute delivery.
He is a good one, I think I will keep him.

Here is Le Orange in all it's glory. From the gorgeous gold case to the rich, creamy and divine texture of the lipstick this is such a luxurious lipstick. The colour is just to die for.
If you have olive undertones I urge you to try this lipstick. I will post a FOTD with this lipstick in the near future, so keep your eyes out.

Knowing my love for orangey-reds my husband slipped another excellent gift into my stocking this year - Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in 'Coral Blame'.
He knows that you can't go far wrong with Tom Ford but it is getting increasingly difficult to purchase something I don't already own, but he pulled it out of the bag with this nail polish.

Coral Blame is a red-coral and such a beautiful colour. This is certainly going to be worn a lot, whatever the season and looks gorgeous on fingers and toes.

These photographs show just one coat of Coral Blame and you can see how opaque and glossy it appears - this is with no topcoat.

This polish also matches really well with Le Orange, so it was lovely to receive them together.

Did Santa bring you any beauty gifts this year?

Happy New Year

2013-01-02T20:44:00.004Z

I have taken an extended break from blogging over Christmas & New Year... I have been far too busy eating, drinking and being merry and spending time with my family to sit down and blog but now the festivities are over I am back...hopefully with a vengeance!
I have so much to blog about over the coming months so please bear with me as I get back into the swing of things.

I would also like to wish you all a very Happy New Year x

Nadolig Llawen Pawb / Merry Christmas Everyone

2012-12-25T00:08:00.001Z

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, I hope it it is filled with love and laughter xx