Summer Beauty Essentials

When it comes to summer, we all have different ideas about which products are absolute essentials, but there are some things which we can all agree on. Today I thought I'd share with you my most reached-for products over the summer months, and it wasn't easy narrowing them down!

I definitely have to have a tinted moisturiser on hand in the summer, as when the weather heats up there is nothing I like less than the feeling of a heavy foundation on my skin. My current weapon of choice is the Caudalie Teint Divin Tinted Moisturiser in Light-Medium, as it blends easily, gives a healthy, dewy finish and adds a bit of colour without looking artificial. On my cheeks, I love a bright cream blush, and my favourite of all is the Topshop Cream Blush in Flush (yep, that old chestnut). I got this a couple of months ago and have been pretty much in love with the vibrant coral pink shade ever since. You may have noticed, since I have mentioned it a fair few times before! 

Bright lips and nails are an absolute must for me in the summer time, as I'm all for using cosmetics to reflect the current season. Vibrant shades tend to perk me up and leave me feeling energised, so I've been going for Revlon Posh and Make Mine Mango on my nails, and Mac Impassioned on my lips. Saying that, I do seem to have a plethora of orange, coral and pink lip colours on hand to see me through this time of year - other favourites include Topshop Infrared, and Mac Coral Bliss, Vegas Volt and Lady Danger.

Skincare-wise, I like to keep things light, and the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask is just the ticket when it comes to weekly treatments. The manuka honey intensely moisturises the skin, and helps combat blemishes with it's antibacterial properties all in one go. The Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner will also help to keep things running smoothly, aiding the skin's natural exfoliating process by sloughing away any debris and dead skin cells. The result? Soft, smooth skin. Do make sure you use a really high SPF on your face if you are going out in the sun after using this though - the AHAs it contains can make you more susceptible to sunburn, and nobody wants that.

In terms of moisture, I often struggle to find a cream that will keep everything balanced and hydrated without being too rich or heavy, but the Ren T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid does a great job.

I like to go for fruity-scented body products and fragrances when the sun is shining, so the Nip & Fab Mango Smoothie Body Butter and Nina Ricci Eau de Toilette make the perfect finishing touches. The former smells exactly as you'd expect, while the latter has a gorgeous aroma of deliciously sweet apples, and has been a favourite of mine for some years now.

What are your Summer essentials?

xx

Summer Skin

Whenever the weather starts to get a bit warmer, I'm the first to crack open the tinted moisturisers and lighter bases, and skin-permitting, I am much more of a fan of a barely there, natural look. For the last few months, however, as I'm sure you know, my skin hasn't been at it's best, which has left me reaching for medium-coverage foundations to hide a multitude of sins - otherwise known as unwanted hormonal breakouts.

With a few adaptations to my skincare routine (think AHAa), diet (lots more Omega 3 and minimal dairy), my complexion is looking a lot clearer now, and fingers crossed, is on the road to recovery. Currenty, I'm blemish free, so it's just a case of getting rid of the pesky scars that have been left behind (more on that in an upcoming post).

So, to celebrate my skin getting it's act together, I've been cracking out two of my favourite tinted moisturisers this week, the first of which being the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 in the shade Sand (the fourth darkest out of twelve options). It's such a light product, and blends seamlessly into the skin, giving a polished, dewy finish while still looking completely natural. Sand is the perfect match for me at this time of year.

I must admit that, were I to repurchase this product I'd be tempted to give the oil-free version a try, as my t-zone does tend to start misbehaving later on in the day and I really don't want to be using powder on my skin when I'm going for the natural look.

Another favourite of mine is the Caudalie Teint Divin Creme Teintee Tinted Moisturiser. This one is SPF free, which I like in the sense that my skin isn't always the best of friends with SPF, but on the other hand it is a necessity, and I'm not a fan of including it in my skincare routine, preferring to get my protection from my makeup. That aside, this is another nice, light option. It does look alarmingly orange and a bit too dark when you first squeeze some out of the tube - this is only available in light/medium and medium/dark (mine being light/medium), but once blended out it provides a lovely summer glow, giving my skin an extra hint of colour without being too mask-like or overpowering. It does look surprisingly natural, as it does seem to adjust to the skintone to some extent, but a word of warning for the palest of ladies - this one might not be the best choice for you.

Until I got my hands on this at the end of last summer, I had no idea that Caudalie did any such products, and I'd love to see them dip their toe into the world of makeup a little bit more. I really enjoy using their skincare, and the standard is so good that I think they could be onto a winner if they were to branch out a little bit.

A quick word on BB and CC creams, if you're wondering why I haven't included any such products in my Summer picks: I'm not a fan. The BBs I've tried have been disappointing at best, leaving me looking washed out and grey. On the rare occasion that I have worn one out, I've been horrified to catch sight of myself in the mirror later that day and reached straight for my makeup bag to cover the damage. 

As for CCs, I was reluctant, but did decide to give one a go a couple of months back, holding out the tiniest bit of hope that they might be an improvement on BB creams. The result? A bright orange, broken out face. No thanks.

The full-size tube of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser is available for £33 from Space NK.

A 30ml tube of the Caudalie Teint Divin will set you back £18, and is available from the Caudalie Website.

What are your favourite Summer products for glowing, radiant skin? Do you favour foundations, tinted moisturisers, or just going au naturel?

xx

Beauty Haul: Caudalie, Mac, Nars and More.

So the plan was to get this post up much earlier on, but thanks to Blogger and Picassa being exceedingly uncooperative and refusing to let me upload any more images, it wasn't to be. Allegedly, I've used up all of my 1GB quota, although I fail to see how that can be the case. And then I find out that if you delete images from your Picassa web album then they also come off your blog. Nightmare! Anyway, Twitter saved the day once again, or should I say, some of you lovelies did - and I've been able to get my images up via Photobucket. If anyone else has this problem then just sign up to Photobucket or Flickr, upload your images and it'll give you a 'Direct link' for each one. All you have to do is choose 'upload from URL' next time you are trying to upload onto blogger (it's one of the options that appears down the side of the page when you have clicked on the little picture icon to choose your image). An alternative way is to go to Image Maps and you can map the images direct from your laptop to Blogger, but I haven't managed to do that yet - I will let you know more about that when I've had some success!

Anyway. Onto the matter at hand.

As promised, I do indeed have a little haul, consisting of a few bits and bobs I have purchased over the past few weeks.Unsurprisingly, perhaps, most of these goodies were purchased online, as that seems to be the place where my naughty little fingers sneak in a few extra keystrokes without my knowledge, and before you know it I have accidentally filled and paid for a virtual shopping basket of treats. I am usually a lady of some restraint these days, having learnt my lesson the hard way when I hit the age of eighteen and grown up a lot since then. However, of late, I have just been feeling the need, and this is what I've got to show for it.

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner

My hair is in need. I am a terrible offender when it comes to forgetting to use heat-protective spray, and haven't had my hair cut in a while, and both of these things have started to take their toll. I've been feeling that my hair is lacking shine for a long time now, so fingers crossed that this stuff will work wonders. I've already used it a few times, and so far, me likey.

Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days

This is not normally the sort of moisturiser I'd go for, and in fact, I never would have picked it up if I hadn't seen one or two Youtubers raving about the stuff. I usually go for rich body butters with gorgeous, intense fruity/yummy smells, but I was intrigued enough to give this a go and so far, I'm quite impressed. I in't realise my skin was in need of some extra hydration until I tried it, but alas, it was - my skin is now loads softer and smoother. Full review to come.

Hits Glitter Polishes in Rio and Rome

These two have already featured in nail posts, one yesterday and the other last week, as I just couldn't wait to crack them open before taking these photos. Rome contains flecks of gold, white, pink and blue, while Rio is choc-full of blue, orange, pink and purple. I adore both of them and have been loving them over a simple black polish, as this really shows them off in all their glory.

Caudalie Teint Divin Tinted Moisturiser

Recently, having overhaule my skincare regime, I've found that I haven't really needed to use such full-coverage foundations, and despite it being winter, I've found myself favouringtinted moisturisers. I bought this in Fair to Medium, and while I haven't yet tried this out, I'm a bit worried, as it does look quite orange when I squeeze some onto the back of my hand!

And finally, onto my favourite purchases!

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Light Year

I have had my MSF in Soft and Gentle for about a year now, and have been using it every day. Though I adore it, I wanted to mix things up a bit, so I decided to go for this warm-toned MSF in Light Year. The gold swirl through the middle is quite glittery, which I didn't realise when choosing, so I tend to avoid that when swirling my brush around the pan. It comes out a gorgeous medium peachy colour, with hints of pink (and obviously some gold shimmer, if youpick that up on your brush) and you could easily use this as a blush as well as a highlighter. So far, I think this is really pretty, but I won't go into too much detail as I will be writing a full review on this very soon - keep your eyes open for that if you'd like to know more.

Nars Powder Blush in Deep Throat

My first purchase from Nars! The photo really does not do it justice, as it's nowhere near as orange as it comes across  - it's a much lighter, peachy-pink, not too dissimilar to Benefit Coralista, as far as I can see, albeit with a touch less pink, but the same amount of gold sheen. I haven't used this bad boy yet, but am really looking forward to test-driving it tomorrow.

Mac Lip Pencil in Cherry

I am one of those people on whom lip products just do not last two seconds. Ok, make that five minutes if we're being pedantic. But anyway, I have been meaning to pick this beauty up for ages. It's a blue-toned red, highly pigmented and slides on extremely easily - to the point that it's really quite difficult to apply neatly. 

Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Craving

Amplified Creme is by far my favourite finish from Mac, so when I saw this gorgeous plummy-pink shade, I just had to go for it. It's perfect for the Autumn/Winter seasons and is such a wearable shade - I'm already hooked after one day.

And that's the lot!

Hope you enjoyed having a little nose into the contents of my shopping bags. Have any of these products tickled your pickle?

Have a fantastic weekend lovelies.

xx

Weekend Wishlist

1. Studded Bralet   2. Louise Gray Brush Set  3. Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Day Fluid   4. Studded Bow Bag   5. Owl Jumper  6. Striped Tee   7. Studded Ankle Boots   9. Bee Print Scarf   8. Studded Clutch   10. Lace Print Trousers   11. Embroidered Faux Leather Peplum   12. Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base

Hello my lovelies, hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. 

A bit of a mixed bunch on my Wishlist this week, my favourite items being the gorgeous faux leather peplum and boots from Zara and the Studded Bralet, which you can find in Topshop.

I also really want to get my hands on this snuggly owl jumper as I've been getting so cold in the evenings lately and have even thought about putting the fire on once or twice!

Cosmetics-wise, I am desperate to get my hands on the Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Day Fluid and Le Blanc Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base, admittedly after reading this post over on Ghost Parties. The lovely Kate posted a picture of herself with the most beautiful glowing skin, and as this is something I am constantly aspiring to, I am eager to try out the products she'd used to create the look.

What's on your Wishlist this week?

xx

August Empties

Caudalie Eau Demaquillant Cleansing Water

(I know that this is clearly full in this picture, but I had to use an old photo of it thanks to my hubby throwing away the empty bottle before I could snap it! All the other pics were taken today, though.)

Probably my favourite product of the month, this micellar solution is great for those lazy evenings when you just don't have the energy to cleanse at the sink. Just pop some onto some cotton pads and wipe over the skin to remove makeup. I usually then do this again to make sure that my skin is lovely and clean if I am not doing my usual thorough routine (which would involve a hot cloth cleanser - Liz Earle or Pai).

I love that this is gentle enough to use on the eyes, and that it removes every last scrap of mascara without stinging or irritating. For my full review on this product, head over here.

 Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo

This is my all-time favourite shampoo, so it's nothing new, but I was fairly sure it was worth sharing with you given that I go back to it again and again. I LOVE Aussie shampoos - they smell amazing and always leave my hair feeling lovely and soft. I'm not sure that this one does make a huge difference volume-wise on it's own, so don't expect miracles, but it smells divine and does leave my hair feeling somewhat thicker. I tend to alternate it with Aussie's Mega and Miracle Moist shampoos, depending on what I feel my hair is most in need of at the time. Find my review of both Aussome Volume and Mega Shampoo here

Clinique All About Eyes 

I got this little pot of eye cream free in a little goodie bag I was given a while ago when I popped in and bought a few bits from my local Clinique counter. To be honest, I've only recently felt the need to use it, as (and I have mentioned this more than once on here of late) I have suddenly started waking up with really puffy eyes, with dark circles which last throughout the days. All About Eyes is designed to help with both of these issues, so I have been applying it every morning along with my moisturiser. It does seem to help the puffiness go down a bit, but unfortunately I can't say it does anything for the dark circles.

 Eucerin Dermo-Purifier Exfoliator

I picked this up abroad after forgetting to take some of my skincare products with me, and I've been quite enjoying using it a couple of times a week. However, I don't really find exfoliators necessary when I am using a hot cloth cleanser on a regular basis, as the muslin cloth does a pretty good job of sloughing away any dead skin cells to reveal soft, smooth skin.

 Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

And another bottle of this lovely stuff bites the dust. I am a huge fan of Liz Earle skincare, and of all the products I have tried, I adore the fresh, gentle scent and refreshing feel of this on the skin the most.

Recently though, through the summer months, I have found myself favouring a nice facial spritz such as Pai Peppermint Spray Toner or Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I just find them really refreshing, and they seem to be really beneficial for my skin. However, I am in no doubt that I will repurchase this product as I just love it so much.

 The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

I was recently rummaging in my stash of body moisturisers and came across this deliciously fragrant mango Body Butter. I've actually had this for a good couple of years, but had forgotten all about it, so the summer months seemed like the perfect time to dig it out. I love the texture and the feel of Body Shop Body Butters on the skin, and for me, they moisturise better than anything else I've tried. Plus, who doesn't like smelling like tropical fruit?

Palmolive Naturals Shower Cream in Yoghurt and Fruit

This is another product that I picked up whilst abroad. I always enjoy using Palmolive Shower Creams, and I would say that they are my go-to brand for these sorts of products. They feel really luxurious and moisturising, and - as many of this month's empties do - smell fantastic.

I'm also a huge fan of their Aromatherapy shower gels, which are great for a pick-me-up first thing in the morning. I will definitely be stocking up on a few more of both of these soon.

So, that's it for this month's empties, hope you enjoyed having a little nose.

Which products have you finished off this month, and which was your favourite?

xx

Weekend Wishlist

London Pop-up book, £5, Topshop/ Printed Headband, £10, River Island/ Caudalie Divine Oil, £25 (100ml), Caudalie/ Nars American Dream Palette, $55, Nars/ Tiger Beret, £10, Topshop/ Studded Bralet, £26, Miss Selfridge/ Cake Cases, £1.99 for 54, Hobby Craft/ Tribal Shorts, £32, Miss Selfridge/ Ram Head Studs, £5, Topshop/ Origins Spot Remover Blemish  Treatment Pads, £24, Boots/ Leopard Skater Skirt, £18, River Island/ Chain Peplum Top, £39, Rare at Topshop

Hi lovelies, hope you've all been having a great weekend so far and making the most of the sunshine. Apparently, it's going to last throughout the remainder of August, so hopefully that means finally getting some wear out of all the gorgeous Summer pieces we have been stockpiling since Easter!

I must admit, for once in my life, I felt a little bit uninspired by the 'New in' sections this week. I'm not sure whether it's because all my favourite clothing and accessories stores are a bit 'in limbo' at the moment, with a mixture of Summer's leftovers and new Autumn/Winter bits, but I think that must be it. Understandably, after the lack of sunny weather so far this year, I'm not really ready to start thinking about my Winter wardrobe yet. However, aside from clothes, there are certainly a few other random bits I'd be more than happy to get my mitts on, whatever the weather.

Origins Spot Remover Blemish Pads are not something I would have needed to consider purchasing until recently. Even as a teenager, I had perpetually good skin, and luckily for me, outbreaks have always been rare. However, more recently, my skin has been starting to play up a bit. I think this is probably down to my recent experimentation with skincare, and I now need to let my skin settle down into a routine, but while I am doing that I would very much like to try out these pads. Origins always come up trumps with their skincare, and I have heard good things about these, such as that they are gentle and do not strip the skin as many blemish-fighting products can do. They are, however, a bit on the pricey side at £24.

I've also got my eye on the Caudalie Divine Beauty Oil, which may sound odd given that I was just talking about my forehead being a bit oily, but I have again heard fantastic things about this and am keen to give it a try. It's a multi-use oil, so it can be used on the body and hair, as well as the face.

I'm still feeling a bit patriotic after the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games, so I fell in love with the idea of the pop-up London book from Topshop. Granted, I am not a tourist, but I really like the idea of having a pop-up London landscape at my fingertips. Plus, I love books and like to collect quirky and unique ones from time to time.

I have been promising myself I'd find the time to bake for ages now, and I finally did  last night, when I made some scrummy banana bread. The hubby was more than impressed, and it has inspired me to get back into baking on a more regular basis (not TOO regular though, ashaving cake around all the time can only end in tears!). Next up, I'm planning to make some beautiful cupcakes in a selection of flavours. I'm thinking cookies and cream, caramelised apple and cinnamon, and peaches and cream, but if you've got any other suggestions then I would absolutelylove to hear about them in the comments box below! :) Anyway, the plan is to get a few of these pretty cake cases and a cake stand and to hold a little afternoon tea party, because let's face it, who doesn't love those?

The Nars American Dream Eyeshadow palette also caught my eye this month. Do I need to explain why? I don't think so, but let's just say that it's pretty, and it's Nars. As much as I love my beauty products and makeup, the one thing that I just can't seem to get the hang of is creating pretty looks with eyeshadow, and it really annoys me, so I'm hoping to be inspired to try again. Sadly, this is not yet available in the UK, but click on the link and you can buy it from the U.S. site.

I won't go on about the clothes, as I think they are pretty self explanatory. I just like them. Bralets, peplum tops, animal jewellery and Aztec print have all featured heavily across my Wishlists in recent weeks, and these are just the latest creations I have been admiring.

Are you ready to start stocking up on winter warmers, or are you still stubbornly holding out for more sunshine?

What's on your wishlist this week?

xx

Caudalie Eau Demaquillante Cleansing Water

Selling at £9 for 100ml on the Caudalie website, which you can find here, the Eau Demaquillante Cleansing Water is a micellar solution designed to remove your makeup before cleansing. You just apply a small amount to a large cotton pad and sweep it over your face and neck, repeating as necessary until you are satisfied. In fact, you could actually use this product alone, but personally I like to either exfoliate or cleanse my skin with a hot cloth cleanser afterwards in the evenings,to ensure that my skin is completely clean. In the mornings, however, I am happy just to use this to wipe away any oil or grime that may have accumulated during the night and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed, soft and clean.

Being a micellar solution, this product is very gentle, and yet it still removes all traces of makeup with ease. This is designed for use on the eyes, too, and it doesn't sting at all, nor is it oily, which are both huge bonuses in my opinion. I have quite sensitive eyes which are easily irritated by a lot of products, and I really dislike having to use anything unneccessarily oily on my face.

I usually tend to give my skin a couple of sprays of the infamous Caudalie Beauty Elixir after use, and I feel that together, they really leave my skin feeling supple, smooth and 'awake', without a trace of oil. I then moisturise as normal.

A quick summary:

                                                    The Good                                                  

  Gentle on the skin

Gentle enough to use on the eyes

Removes all traces of makeup

Leaves skin feeling refreshed and soft

Practical and easy to use, as it doesn't require water. Perfect for use on the go.

                                                          

    The Bad

A little bit on the pricey side at £9 for just 100ml, especially as...

..100ml doesn't tend to last long

I would definitely purchase this again. I have been using a hot cloth cleanser for a while now, which I love, and while I really like the fact that I can use it to remove makeup and cleanse all in one go, I hate that I end up with mascara stains all over the muslin cloths and can never use them more than once or twice without having to throw them in the wash! It's so much better to use this Cleansing Water first, as I can dispose of the used cotton pads and then cleanse with a nice clean cloth along with my hot cloth cleanser.

If you are new to Caudalie then I would definitely recommend giving this a go, as it is one of the cheaper products available, and a 100ml bottle is not a huge commitment to make. I went for this size in order to try it out, and now I know that I will like it, I will go ahead and buy the larger one (200ml for £15).

Have you tried anything from Caudalie? 

What are your favourite skincare brands and products?

xx

July Favourites

, I can´t BELIEVE it is already the  of July! This year is going ridiculously quickly, and I feel like I haven´t done half of the things I wanted to yet!
Anyway, one thing I have, of course, managed to do, is to buy and to use plenty of beauty products, so without further ado, here are my favourites for this month.

Bach´s Rescue Remedy

I haven´t really mentioned this before on my blog, and I´m not going to go on and on about it here, but for the last year or so I have been suffering from anxiety. It´s not the kind of thing where I feel nervous before a stressful event, or when in a difficult situation - of course, I do feel like that, but this is more of a physical thing where I feel permanently on edge and cannot relax, even when I have no reason to be feeling this way. It´s more a case of my body than my mind (although of course it is probably my mind that is causing it, one way or another), and so this Rescue Remedy, sprayed twice on the tongue whenever I am feeling it, really helps me to relax. It´s not a miracle worker, but knowing that I´ve got it to hand is reassuring. It contains Cherry Plum, Clematis, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem and Impatiens, which all have calming properties.

Do any of you study from stress of anxiety? If so, how do you deal with it? I´d love to know if you have any tips!

Caudalie Eau de Beaute Beauty Elixir

I don´t think this one needs much of an introduction, given it´s popularity within the blogosphere. I am quite sure that you will have read at least one post about this before, if not many more!

Anyway, I got my hands on this a couple of weeks ago and have been using it daily ever since. I generally have very good skin, but recently I seemed to have started getting some unexplained breakouts. I´ve found that this stuff has worked wonders in clearing them up, and my skin feels soft and looks radiant after using it. I usually use it after cleansing, morning and night, and find the menthol scent really soothing and invigorating. However, I haven´t had as much success using it as a ´refresher´on my makeup throughout the day, as many people have raved about in their reviews - for me, it doesn´t seem to make much of a difference!

Revlon Photoready Foundation

This has become my daily go-to foundarion and has been a real ´grower´, considering I was on the fence about it in the beginning. I reviewed this product a couple of weeks ago, so if you are interested in reading that then you can find it here.

Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask

This is a product I´ve had for a while, and which, despite my general love for Liz Earle skincare, I wasn´t too impressed with. It´s a mask which is designed to be applied to the face in a thick layer and left for around fifteen minutes after cleansing, and to be honest, I never really noticed much of a difference in my skin after using it. However, recently, I was in need of a face mask as my skin was asking for some TLC, so I decided to try applying this at night and leaving it on while I slept. Well, I´ve got to say, using it like this has made all the difference. In the morning, there is no residue to rinse off as my skin drinks all the moisture up, and is left feeling lovely and baby soft.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous

I´m going to be reviewing this one later in the week, so I won´t say too much now. But I must say, I absolutely love this shade and have been wearing it almost every day since I got it.

Benefit The Porefessional Primer

I wouldn´t say that I LOVE this or find it amazing, but I have been finding it quite useful when applied to my forehead, which can tend to get a bit oily, as this does a good job of mattifying it and creating a better base for my foundation. I also like to use it on my nose, to hide the obvious pores I have there. But I wouldn´t use this all over my face, as I much prefer a dewy, glowing finish.

Benefit Coralista and Benefit Dallas

I´m going to review both of these soon, so again, I´ll save my chatter for then. But I will say that hey have fast become favourites and go-to products in my daily routine, and when I use Dallas as a contour, together they are the dream combination for me.

So, that´s it for July. I have really been genuinely loving all of these products, and it hasn´t been like some months where it´s hard to choose anything that has really floated my boat. To be fair, it might be because I have ácquired´more products than usual. Not that I´m meant to be on a spending ban or anything. Ahem.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed having a little peek into my makeup bag and the like. Have you tried any of these products? What are your current favourites?

xx

Mini Skincare Haul!

 1. Caudalie Eau Demaquilante Cleansing Water (Micellar solution)

2. Eucerin Dermo Purifier Exfoliator

3. Caudalie Eau De Beaute Beauty Elixir

4. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel (sample sachet)

5. L 'oreal Paris Pure Zone Peel-off Mask (sachet)

Hey lovelies, how are you all today? I would imagine you're all pretty happy that it's Friday! I know I would be too, but as I've mentioned before, I'm taking my holiday from work, so I have been off all week!

I've purchased and acquired a few new beauty products this week, so I thought I woud share them with you all now, and then write some reviews on them later on when I've had a bit more experience with using them.

So, first of all, I picked up the Caudalie Cleansing Water. I have just finished my big tube of my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and while I will definitely be repurchasing, I thought it might be nice to try something a bit different in the meantime. Actually, I wanted to get a cleanser by Caudalie too, but as it wasn't available from the store I purchased the other items from on Ebay, I decided to wait, and use the Micellar solution in conjunction with my travel-size Cleanse and Polish. Then, as I was buying something by Caudalie anyway, I thought I might as well give in and finally purchase the massively hyped Beauty Elixir! It's not so much that I'm behind the times on this one as that I wasn't intending to try it any time soon, as I often find that such raved-about products can't live up to my expectations. But I've got it now, so I shall let you know!

When my bits from Ebay arrived, I found that the seller had kindly popped a sample sachet of Dermalogica's Special Cleansing Gel in with them. I really like Dermalogica, so I was happy to try this, although as it only contains about two applications, I don't really feel that I'm going to have had enough experience with it to review it fully. I think that you really need to try out skincare products for a good couple of weeks - preferably more - before you can possibly start to talk about the effects they have had on your skin, although some products to seem to make an impression straight away, in one way or another.

My skin has been looking a bit dull this week, so I decided to try out this L'oreal Pure Zone Mask, which is designed to be applied only on the T-Zone and dies to form a peel-off layer. I like the fact that my local pharmacy sell this in sachets, as buying large tubs or tubes of face masks can be quite expensive, and it's really nice to have a chance to try before you buy. The mask claims to banish excess oil and to help clear blocked pores, and if you read this my Beauty SOS post this month, you'll know that this is one of the things I've been on the lookout for, as I do tend to suffer from blocked pores on my nose.

Last but not least, I grabbed a Eucerin Dermo-Purifier Exfoliator, as let's face it, we all need to slough away those dead skin cells every now and again. I usually do find that my Cleanse and Polish does a good job of keeping my skin looking bright and fresh, but sometimes it just seems as though it could do with a little extra help, usually in the winter or when I have just been ill.

So that's my little lot! I hope you enjoyed having a nose at my stash and you can expect some reviews on these coming up in the near future.

What are your current favourite skincare products? Have you tried anything by Caudalie, Eucerin, Dermalogica or Liz Earle?

xx

Weekend Wishlist

Hello!

Hope everyone is having a nice relaxing weekend so far, whether that means letting your hair down and partying it up, or having a cosy night in with your favourite people!

This week has just absolutely flown by again. I know I do tend to wish the working week away, but when it does end I am always surprised that a week I thought was dragging by has suddenly come to an end.

I've been really busy with lots of paperwork to get sorted, but I did. of course, manage to squeeze in some shopping time, so I will be putting together a mini-haul post for you very soon. I say mini-haul because it really is going to be very little - I bought a foundation and a lipstick, and then I've got two pairs of shorts which arrived from Ebay, and a lovely bag, courtesy of my lovely other half!

But anyway, it's not haul time just yet.

I've found myself lusting after SO many things recently, and I just can't have it all. So for this week's Weekend Favourites, I sat down and asked myself which of the things I really need in my life. I say need, but what I really mean is, which of the products, items of clothing and accessories could I really just not stop thinking about. I often have moments of being desperate to purchase something the instant I see it online (although I generally refrain from doing so), but if I'm really honest with myself, I've usually forgotten all about them a few days later. But some things really aren't just passing fancies, and I still find myself longing for them weeks later.

So, without further ado, here are the goodies that made it onto that list.

I need them in my life!

1. Studded Collar Shirt, Zara

I keep seeing this and so I can't forget it! Originally, I tried to put it to the back of my mind, because the price is not something I'm particularly willing to pay. But it keeps popping back into my mind! I'm a little bit obsessed with anything studded at the moment, so I think I'm going to have a little look on Ebay and see what I can dig up!

2. Benefit Hervana Blush

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S.

That's all I have to say about that.

3. Stila 'In The Light' Eyeshadow Palette

I really love the look of this, and I'm really excited to hear that it contains four matte shades as well as the shimmer shades, unlike the Urban Decay Naked palettes. I do love those, but I missed having matte shades for a lower-key day time look.

For those of you who don't know, this is a neutrals palette (as are the Urban Decay Naked palettes) with lots of gorgeous, wearable every-day shades. They're super pigmented too, which is always a major bonus. The Stila set comes with a Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in shade Damsel, which is a matte chocolate brown, and I have heard amazing things about these, too.

4. Studded Cropped Tee, Red Rock

This is my favourite of everything on this list. I have only recently discovered Red Rock and I am absolutely loving their vintage and handmade clothing and accessories, which are all created in the UK.

This top is a pretty pastel pink, toughened up with gold studs and is perfect for wearing with high-waisted shorts, a staple in my wardrobe. I seriously do have to have this one.

5. Bleached Crochet Shorts, Topshop

Bleached denim. Crochet. What's not to love? These are really relaxed and summery, and will go with everything. All that's needed now is some sun!

6. Studded Collar, Topshop

As I mentioned before, I am a little bit in love with studs, and the same also goes for pointy collars. The fact that this is made from leather too seals the deal. Plus it's black, so it'll go with everything.

7. Mac Lipstick in Hue

There are lots more exciting shades than this one, and I am always drawn to bright shades. But I have been meaning to pick up Hue for a while now, as it's one of those nudey-pink shades that suits absolutely everyone, and is needed by absolutely everyone. I have somewhat neglected my collection of nudes, and now I'm finding myself drawn to them on those days where I just want a relaxed, natural look.

8. Caudalie Organic Grape Water

This stuff sounds amazing! I've been hearing so much about Caudalie on the blogging circuit of late, but I came across this delicious-sounding spray on their website and am now eager to give it a try.

Here's what Caudalie says about it: 

100% organic Grape Water: extracted straight from the grapes during the grape harvest, this mist refreshes, tones and moisturizes the skin at any time of the day. For all skin types, even the most sensitive, Organic Grape Water refreshes whenever you need it.

                                                 Doesn't that just sound amazing?

9. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Again, something I've been hearing loads about of late, mainly from other bloggers. There seems to be something of a craze surrounding it, and given that it's a low-budget high street/drugstore brand like Rimmel, I'm intrigued. I have been using higher-end brands such as Clinique and Mac for foundation for years, as I generally find them to be, out of all cosmetics, the one product that it's really worth spending that bit more on. You usually do get what you pay for, and after dabbling in brands like Rimmel Maybelline and Bourjois in the past, I was even more convinced of this (although for the record, I do really enjoy other products from such brands).

However, recently, such brands really seem to have upped their game, and there are now a selection of high street foundations I am interested in giving a go after hearing rave reviews on them. Rimmel Wake Me Up definitely tops this list, as I always wake up looking really tired, and could do with all the extra help I can get in that department! It's also really affordable, so I'm planning on picking it up asap.

I'll leave it there, and give you a little update on my week in a separate post. Hope you enjoyed reading about my current lust-haves!

What's on your wishlist this week?

xx