Nivea BB cream: review

I have never been a fan of foundations, I find them far too heavy and thick and I only end up with "cakey-face" where I haven't blended them properly. So when BB creams burst on to the market a few years ago (thank you Korean beauty world) I was hooked. And have been ever since.

my new fav beauty buy

Laura Mercier under eye concealer: review

I first discovered Laura Mercier beauty products and how much I loved them in the run up to my wedding a couple of years ago. I was on the look out for a tinted moisturiser that would give me a gorgeous glow on the big day and I stumbled on their illuminating shimmer tinted moisturiser (see the blog review here). 

coverage in a pot! 

Another one of their products I have to have is their "secret concealer" for the under eye area, for me it is shade 03, but they do 12 shades, so there is a shade for everyone.

Clarins BB skin perfecting cream with SPF 25: review

The BB cream. 

It is has been around for a wee while now but I am still loving them. It is safe to say they are firm fixture in my make up bag.

If you are new to the BB cream, let me share with you the wonders of this 5 in 1 cream.

Unlike a foundation, the BB cream offers a gentle coverage to your skin but at the same times, acts like a moisturiser so if you have dry skin like me, when you are looking for a helping hand in achieving an even skin tine and a little glow, BB creams are perfect!!

great coverage, colour and texture 

This week I have been in Rome and with the sun shining (and therefore drying out my skin) this BB cream from Clarins was my savior - it is thick enough to cover my skin evenly covering any skin imperfections but light enough to not look cakey. I didn't even need bronzer as it is such a lovely colour. 

NARS bronzer in 'laguna' and "casino": review

I LOVE bronzer and there is no way I would leave the house without it in my handbag - good job too as I got to work today and I forgot to put any on!!! 

Whatever the weather and season, just adding a hint of colour can really make a difference, giving you a healthy glow any celebrity that’s just come back from LA to be jealous of. My latest love ins are the ones from NARS in “laguna” and "casino".  

ok, I admit it, I am a bronzer junkie! 

love the gorgeous matte bronze colour

House of Holland stick on nail art in "neon nibs"

When I went to New York last Halloween, I blogged about these funky little stick on nails called "neon nibs" and before that, when I went to Ibiza, I blogged about these stick on nails called "game changer". Both are from Boots, from the 'The house of Holland' collection. 

neon nibs! 

As you can see, there is a pattern emerging ... holiday equals mental talons! 

This time round for Hideout festival in Croatia was these beauts - glittery, black and sleek! A little on the gothic side and I love them!!! They are even glittery on the reverse!

"Glitterbug" is the perfect name! 

get the gltiter bug  

shiny and sparkly!

Completely impacticle for typing, these are not work friendly for me but they are quite durable and usable so have found these ok to work with for normal chores and every day activities. 

24 nails in various designs 

The sets are completely OTT and fun. 

The red lipstick you should always have (and it's under a fiver)

Every girl should have a bright red lippy in their beauty bag. In fact my red lippy is a permanent in my handbag. I carry it with me always!!!

But getting the right shade isn't always easy as a bright red can sometimes make your skin colour look washed out. 

This red lipstick from Rimmel (with the perfect name of "alarm") is my must have and go-to. 
It is a popping red, bright and classic. 

Skin Doctors ingrown hair treatment: review

I have always seems to have suffered from ingrown hairs and whilst the pesky things aren't a health concern, the bumpy skin just isn't a good look, then they cause issues when you start to re-shave over them and sometimes they are a tad painful! All in all they are about as welcome in my life as flowers are to a hay fever sufferer!

One afternoon whilst in the park, moaning at my friend and picking at the unsightly buggers, she recommended that I tried buying a treatment for them. I must admit that I can't remember the brand she suggested but I took to the internet and set a budget and found this great buy.

this has been a beauty savior 

It is an ingrown hair solution from Skin Doctors. It is available on line and I have also recently seen it stocked on the shelves of some Boots stores (Putney was one of them FYI). 

I have never used an ingrown hair treatment before so admittedly I cannot benchmark it against other products but for me, this has worked well.

the tops of my calves are particularly bad 

Get super soft hands with this one trick

Winter plays havoc on most people's skin. The blasting cold air and the constant change in temperature as we go from freezing cold to hot central heating inside. In particular for me, it is my hands that take a battering and I am always left with sore, red, chapped hands.

But I have found a new trick which has left me with lovely soft hands this winter!

Ta-dah!

Sleeping in gloves!

doing my best Michael Jackson impression 

Yes, really.

Ok these aren't gloves in the sense of thick winter outdoors gloves. These are specifically for wearing at sleepy time. 

L’Oreal’s anti aging collagen wrinkle decrease filler: review

Ahh the quest forever maintaining our youthful skin. If it’s not on your wish list, it is certainly on mine. There are many factors that add up to skin appearing less youthful, including sagging skin, patches, sun spots and most commonly, wrinkles!!! 

Whilst there are many lotions and potions out there to prevent as many signs of aging as possible, sometimes we need a cream to help us reverse the onset of those appearing fine lines.

the wonder duo 

Whilst at dinner this week with a friend, she asked me what beauty products and creams I was using. Cue me going on about how much I love L'Oreal's Collagen Filler. I swear by it! This works! Cue me also having to blog about it. 

Environ pre-cleansing oil: review

We've all heard the importance of cleansing, but what about pre-cleansing?

Last Autumn, I went for a facial at Harvey Nicks in Knightsbridge and was introduced to the concept of "pre-cleansing" which is exactly what it says on the tin... it is a cleanse before a cleanse. At first I thought it sounded like a waste of time, an extra step in my beauty regime that I didn't need. But since using a pre-cleanser, I am sold. 

pre-cleansing oil

I have been using this one from Environ. An oil based pre-cleanser, it helps remove that stubborn layer of grease and oil from your skin, leaving your skin refreshingly clean and clear. And because it is an oil based one, it doesn't dry your skin out at all (I thought a double cleanse would). 

the cleanse before the cleanse 

Khiel's midnight recovery serum: review

For my birthday my lovely in laws gave me a bottle of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum, something that has been on my wish list for a while now, well a few years actually. Often reviewed in beauty sections, I wanted to see what the fuss was about for myself.

Kiehl's midnight recovery serum 

After using this serum on my face for about 6 weeks, I can see why people love it! Usually at this time of year my skin is parched, dehydrated and full of dry patches. Whilst it isn’t looking amazing (thanks Christmas boozing and over indulging) considering that I haven’t been doing the usual to look after skin (early nights, lots of veg and litres of water), it is looking fine!

skin saviour 

just needs a few drops 

Nivea Q10 firming body oil: review

The older I am getting, the more I am thinking about beating the signs of ageing. But not just my face. My body too! Whilst you don’t quite get the same wrinkles on your limbs at the same rate as you seem to on your face, I am well aware that skin does also lose its firmness. So I have started using body lotions that offer firming benefits as well as moisturising properties.

Nivea Q10

My favourite one so far is the Q10 firming body oil from Nivea.


With coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and avocado oil, it nourishes and firms skin to firm and soften. We’ll have to trust the science here as only time will tell if it is keeping my skin from sagging!

The "validation facial" at Lush Spa

For my birthday last year (a whole 13 months ago!) the Boy treated me to three spa treatments at the Lush Spa on Kings Road in Chelsea - the sound bath, a tailor made massage (read the blog about that here) and a validation facial. If like me, you didn't realise that the Lush cosmetics company also did spas, then look into it! They are so amazing and nothing like other beauty spa treatments you might have tried before! 

ready for my facial!

The year has gone so quick and I still hadn't made it back for the facial, but with a trip to New York coming up, I felt that last week was as good as any time to have it.

spa treatment room 

Having had two gorgeous treatments there already I knew I was in for a treat and I was right. If I could some up the treatment from start to finish, it would be "wonderful".

Lush seem to employ the happiest, friendliest and most relaxed staff and just talking to my softly spoken therapist made me feel ten levels calmer.

my skin was in need of a facemask! 

Asking about my skin needs, he took me through the shop, giving me the chance to play with the products, smelling them and touching them, to see what ones I would like to use in the treatment. Plopped on to a round slate, by the end it looked like an artist's palate! Let's hope it can make my skin a work of art!

the beauty products I chose 

Beautiful bold eye brows – benefit brow zings: review

Big, bold brows – love them or hate them, Cara Delevinge has officially made big bold brows something to talk about! Personally for me, I love bold brows. Obviously there is a limit tough - I think the “scouse brow” might be a bit too much for me. 

 

brow zings in dark 

Even if I am not wearing a full face of makeup, I have to have my eye brows filled in – it really helps frame the face and helps hide the fact that I have over plucked in my teenage years!

comes with instructions

just a few minutes on the browns makes such a difference

There are now a whole host of make up staples for your eye brows, but for me, it has to be Benefit’s “brow zings” kit (in dark). A touch pricey with a RRP £23 but it lasts for ages, about 9 months at least! I have just bought a new one though after only a few months because I accidentally dropped my open bag at a wedding as we were leaving the church and the brow kit came flying out, smashing on the floor. I was so pissed off! I had to scramble down from my 6 inch heels, on to my hands and needs, pushing the make up to the side so that the bride didn't get it on her dress as she left the church. Although I think that the 10 Royal Marines were a tad more annoyed as they were saluting with their swords at the church steps in the traditional military wedding style, holding this position still as I delayed the exiting of the guests! Opps. 

No 7 micro-dermabrasion face exfoliator: review

This is not a new beauty buy for me, although I did get some as a pressie from my lovely brother -in-law for my birthday so I do have a brand new tube! My love in with this beauty product actually started when I bought a bottle in Koh Samui, Thailand in 2008!!!! And I still love it!

still a beauty fav...6 years on! 

This is more than just your average face scrub - this is a micro-dermabrasion exfoliator! This beauty bad boy from no 7 will slough away that layer of dead skin, rejuvenating the skin underneath to reveal fresher skin. 

this is hypo-allergenic 

Garnier BB blur cream: review

I’m not a foundation wearer but I swear by BB cream. My favourites so far being Clarins and Garnier’s BB cream (in medium). But then Garnier came up trumps with this…

BB and blur!!!!!! 

BB cream PLUS blur!

My face is so excited!

One swipe of this soft cream and my skin in the morning has gone from being blotchy and uneven to glowing and smooth!

my fave new beauty buy

This is a BB cream and a primer, which just gives that edge for smoothing the skin’s texture, blurring pores and fine lines and offering an overall even finish. It is also a moisturiser with SPF 30 (more than the normal BB cream which has SPF 15). This is a moisturiser, primer and foundation all in one! A great time saver in the morning before work!

Nude nails from "Jessica": review

As we transit from bright summery days, to well, I am not quite sure what the weather is doing right now, I have opted for a nude nail during the week, that way ensuring it always compliments my outfit... whatever the weather is doing and what I am wearing! 

my perfect nude nail 

I love fancy nail art (check out these funky bad boys from House of Holland that won loads of compliments on holiday) and bright colours but every now and again there is something refreshing about a nude nail. 

goes with any outfit 

It is a sophisticated, grown up, and simple look. 

Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (illuminating shimmer): review

Who doesn't like a soft, shimmery glow on the skin??? 

Personally I LOVE a little shimmer! 

Back in September last year, I blogged about my latest beauty addiction, which was Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer,  in the illuminating variety for a touch of shimmer (although they do one without if you are not a fan). A year on I still love this product, so am re-posting. With all the products I have used over the past 12 months, the fact that I am still loving this must be a good sign! 

still loving this product 

Not only is it a gorgeous shimmer, it is also hydrating as it's also a moisturiser and therefore won't dry your skin out and neither will it grease your skin as some shimmer oils do. Plus it contains an antioxidant vitamin complex to protect the skin! 

They do a range of shades too. 

love the gorgeous shimmer 

Environ hydrating oil capsules: review

A few months ago, I had a skin analysis with Environ at Harvey Nicks, and left there not only with a clearer understanding of my skin but also a few samples to try at home. One of the products that I had were these hydrating oil capsules. 

Environ 

A concentrated facial oil containing antioxidants and Vitamin A all in a tiny skittle-shaped capsule. 

Your skin is actually your largest organ and as such needs nutrients just as much as your insides do. The key ingredient here is vitamin A, perfect for hydrating your skin. 

these are bursting full of nutrients

Sleek trio of blushers in 'pink lemonade': review

Back in December, I blogged about my love for Sleek's blush by 3, a trio of blushers in Pink Sprint, a collection of bright and colourful blushers in a small, compact case. Since then I have discovered a lighter and fresher trio of blushers in the palette Pink Lemonade.

blush by 3 in pink lemonade 

pretty in pastels 

The three shades are irresistibly cute and sweet coloured. My favourite is icing sugar on the left. It adds a soft sheen with a slight shimmer (but nothing OTT so good for the day time too). 

perfect for a subtle sheen 

The middle blusher is a gorgeous cream blusher - I am not normally a fan of the cream blushers, but this is so easy to apply and sets as a powder almost. It also adds as a great base for laying under another blusher for a longer staying power.

love the texture of this cream blusher 

Each blusher palette is £9.99, a pretty good price I think for what you get. The quality is good too, and lasts a while. I also love Sleek's eye make up palette's - check review here

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