Helping Hands for Hair

Everyone's hair needs a little bit of a helping hand at times, and mine is no exception. Although I've got mine through it's terrible 'frazzled' phase of last year, the warm weather and sunshine can still dry out my locks and leave them feeling less than silky soft, so besides my shampoo and conditioner, I have an arsenal of little helpers on hand to get  things back on track.

My trustiest friend when it comes to keeping my hair in tip-top condition is the Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe, a liquid treatment which is applied to clean, wet hair for 3-5 minutes. I have never managed to ascertain whether or not this one is supposed to replace a conditioner, but when I use this once a week I do tend to apply an extra one afterwards, as with this being quite runny in consistency, I sometimes feel that my tresses are asking for a little bit of something extra afterwards. Revitaluxe is a Bio-advanced restorative treatment to revitalise, nourish and repair, and it certainly does just that. With each use, my hair becomes stronger, smoother, silkier and more manageable,and as I'm coming to the end of this tube the full-size version is a must for my shopping basket.

A couple of times a week, I run two pumps of the Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment through towel-dried hair after washing and conditioning (excuse the sticky label mark - couldn't get it off for love nor money!). Rich in proteins, this helps to strengthen each strand and minimise split ends - it can't be used daily though, as too much protein can have the same effect as none at all: breakage.

On the subject of split ends, I recently picked up the TreSemme Split End Remedy, a spray-in treatment which aims to reconstruct the ends of the hair. I've been spraying this on liberally after washing, despite my scepticism - I don't personally believe that split-ends can be 'mended', at least not permanently. But anything that helps keep any nasty fly-aways at bay is worth a try in my book.

After a coconut oil disaster some while ago that left me with something of an oil slick on my head, I might well have been put off hair oils for life, but I'm so glad I persevered with them as they are now an integral part of my post-hair-wash routine. I apply a couple of pumps of the L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil (don't mind my foreign version in the picture) to my hair after blotting with a towel (if I'm using the Redken Anti-Snap then I mix the two together in my palms before smoothing through), and it makes a huge difference to the final appearance of my hair after blow-drying, leaving it much softer, smoother and shinier. I rarely to apply this to dry hair, as personally I don't find it hugely beneficial, but I will occasionally add the tiniest amount if my ends are looking overly frizzy. Generally though, I much prefer damp hair as a canvas, as I find that my locks just drink it up, with no hint of greasiness left behind when dry.

Last but by no means least is the Agadir Argan Oil Hair Treatment, which I stumbled across by sheer accident when looking for discounted Moroccan Oil on Ebay. This is my best find in quite a while when it comes to hair products, and is far superior to the Elvive Extraordinary Oil (which is pretty darn good in itself). This is a slightly thicker, more luxurious oil and leaves my hair feeling healthier and shinier than anything else I've tried. Unfortunately I only picked up a handful of samples, so I have now made it my mission to find out where I can get my hands on a full-size bottle - if anyone has heard of this brand before and knows the best place to buy it then do please let me know!

What are your favourite hair saviours? 

Are you a fan of oils?

xx

Review: L'oreal Nude Magique CC Cream Anti Fatigue

I'm sure most of you have either tried or at least heard about CC creams by now. Personally, I found the whole BB cream thing a bit of a let-down, and having tried several I can confirm that they definitely weren't for me. While they claim to help even out skin-tone, cover minor imperfections and redness and generally perk up a dull complexion, if anything I found them to do the opposite, leaving me looking grey and washed out. I wouldn't dream of replacing my tinted moisturiser with one, and would only ever use it as a base product underneath. If anyone has tried one that honestly did impress you then do let me know in the comments below, as I'd love to know if there is one that truly does cut the mustard.

So, what do CC creams have to offer that their predecessors didn't? Well, they claim to prime, protect, moisturise, control oil and fade dark marks and acne scars over time. On top of this, they aim to neutralise and brighten the complexion, so all in all a pretty tall order.

Of all the CC creams I'd seen, the L'oreal Nude Magique CC was the one that caught my eye, not least because it comes in three varieties: anti-redness, anti-fatigue and anti-dullness. Having tried some other items from the Nude Magique line as well as a couple of  L'oreal's primers and serums, and really enjoying them, I had confidence that this would mostly likely be one of the best on the high-street. I really like L'oreal as a brand in terms of their cosmetics, and as most of you know, I'm a loyal fan of their Volume Million Lashes Mascara and Youth Code Luminize Super Serum.

 I couldn't find many reviews to go by at the time of purchase, but I did see one or two for the anti-redness version, and I have to say that I was really impressed by the before and after pictures.

Personally, the variety that most appealed to me was the anti-fatigue version, so I popped online and made a swift order.

The Nude Magique CC Cream claims to transform into foundation and wake up the complexion for the perfect nude look. It also offers flawless coverage, perfectly even skin texture, a fresh dewy glow and 24hr hydration, and as an added bonus, contains SPF12.

The product itself is an apricot cream which is supposed to adjust itself to the colour of your skin upon application (hence there only being one colour for all skin tones), and is priced at £9.99 for a 30ml tube.

Unfortunately, this product wasn't a winner for me, as although it did perk up my complexion a bit and offersome very sheer coverage, unfortunately it left me looking like, well, an apricot. I didn't find that the colour adjusted well to my skin-tone, and I can only imagine how someone even paler than myself would find it.

I did find a way to make this work for me though, which involved wearing it underneath a light-coverage foundation such as the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup. However, unfortunately for me, this was also short-lived, as within a couple of days I was getting breakouts under and between my eyebrows and on my cheeks - areas which usually remain blemish free.

I haven't lost all hope though, as I do think the anti-redness version looks much better. At the time of ordering, this wasn't really a concern for me, but thanks to hormonal breakouts I now think that it could be of benefit to me. That particular variety is a greenish colour, which is designed to counter-act redness, and again, adjusts to the colour of your skin upon application, so I'd like to give that one a go before I write these off completely.

The L'oreal Nude Magique CC Creams are available from Feel Unique here and Boots here.

I think I'd like to try out the Clinique CC Cream next.

Have you tried any CCs? If so, what was your verdict?

xx 

The Daily Face

L'oreal Nude Magique CC Cream (Anti-Fatigue)  //  Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup  //  Mac Pro Longwear Concealer NC30  //  Topshop Brighten in Moonlight  //  MUA Pro Brow Kit  //  Topshop Cream Blush in Flush  //  Mac Paintpot in Groundwork  //  L'oreal Volume Million Excess Mascara  //  Mac  Lipstick in Impassioned

Hello, hope everyone is well and that you've all been enjoying the bank holiday!

Today I thought I'd share what I've been wearing on my face with you, as I've been finding myself reaching for lots of new products as well as some old trusties.

Now, I understand that these sorts of posts would probably benefit from a picture of me wearing this little lot so that you could see it in action, but unfortunately I'm feeling quite unhappy with my skin at the moment thanks to persistent hormonal breakouts and am avoiding selfies like the plague. I will, however, be sure to pop up some photos when I've got things under control again, which I hope will be soon.

Returning products in this little line-up are, of course, the MUA Pro Brow Kit and L'oreal Volume Million Excess Mascara, both absolute staples in my daily routine, and the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup, which I currently find myself selecting over anything else I've got in my arsenal. The reason I like it is because it feels really light, and looks really natural on the skin, and to me it seems like some sort of mid-ground between a tinted moisturiser and a foundation. It doesn't clog my pores at all, nor does in contain SPF - which can be both a good and bad thing, depending on how you look at it.

Underneath that, I've been trying out the L'oreal CC Cream (anti-fatigue), a review of which will be up tomorrow, so I won't go into that to much in this post to avoid repetition!

Concealer-wise, I'm still suitably impressed with the Mac Pro-Longwear concealer, which is an absolute gem for under the eyes. It hides dark circles really well and doesn't look cakey at all when applied with the Real Techniques Setting Brush, which is a huge bonus. On top of that, I've also been giving my Topshop Brighten in the shade Moonlight a whirl. This is really more of a brightening concealer, and is not dissimilar to the cult YSL Touche Eclat. I've only used it once so far though, so the jury is still out -watch this space for a review coming soon.

I've been really loving cream blushes of late, and the newest addition to my collection is Topshop Flush, which is a gorgeous bright coral pink. I like to apply it with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush, as it blends it down perfectly to a really pretty healthy flush of colour. It may look bright in the pan, but it's really down to you how intense you want the colour, as it's very buildable.

Topshop Cream Blush in Flush

On my eyes, I've been keeping it simple with my Mac Paintpot in Groundwork, which is a gorgeous creamy pigment with an almost glossy finish, which can be used as an eyeshadow base or worn on it's own, which is what I've been doing on a day-to-day basis. In fact, since I bought this, my previous staple, which was the MUA Undressed palette has been pretty much sidelined, as I just find that the Paintpot is so quick, easy and effective. I just apply it all over the lid with a fluffy concealer brush, and I find that it actually creates a lovely, polished look with minimal effort. Lashings of mascara is all that's needed to finish the look, and then with a slick of Mac Coral Bliss on my lips, I'm good to go. This is such a pretty, pinky-peach shade, which along with corals is what I'm all about at this time of year. It's really moisturising too, which is always a bonus.

So there you have it - that's pretty much all that has been gracing my face of late.

What are your favourite make-up picks for Spring?

xx

Review: L'oreal Professionel Mythic Oil Hair Masque

I'd heard lots of good things about the L'oreal Mythic Oil, and being a fan of the very similar Extraordinary Oil, which I use on my damp locks every time after I've washed my hair to help tame frizz and keep them looking smooth, I was excited to try the L'oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Hair Masque.

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The masque, which is suitable for all hair types, aims to transform the condition of the hair in just three minutes, leaving it glossy, nourished and soft to the touch. With an enriched formula of argan, avocado, cottonseed and grapeseed oil blends, it does its best to replenish tired, dull and lifeless hair and get it looking back to its best.

Personally, I've suffered quite a lot with dry and damaged hair since originally having it ombred early last year, so I was really looking for a treatment that would help to soften up my ends and put some oomph back into my locks. So far, nothing I'd tried had made a major impact, and any improvements I had noticed were short-lived, as my ends were soon back to looking pretty dry and frazzled.

The treatment comes in a plastic tub with a screw top, making it easily accessible when in the shower or bath (and no worries about any product getting stuck in the bottom and going to waste). It's a thick, creamy and dense in consistency, making it feel quite luxurious, and it spreads easily and distributes evenly when combed through the hair or run through with the fingers.

While wet, the hair feels like silk, and while it did leave my hair feeling in better condition after the first use, I couldn't help but think that three minutes wasn't enough time for a deep-conditioning product to really do its work. After playing around with it a little bit and experimenting with leaving it on for longer and using it more often, I've found that I get the best results when I stick to roughly the recommended three minutes, but use it more regularly as a normal conditioner rather than just once or twice a week. It's definitely made my hair softer and more manageable, and along with a couple of other hair products I've been using it has really helped to combat that dryness. I'd say that the effect has been cumulative, as it does seem to have improved over time.

The L'oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Hair costs £17.95 for 200ml, and is available from Look Fantastic.

Have you tried this hair mask, or do you have another favourite you'd recommend for dry, colour-treated hair? I'm always open to suggestions and am currently on the look-out for a new leave-in conditioner too...any thoughts?

Hope everyone's enjoying their week so far.

xx

The Daily Face: Changing it Up

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The Daily Face

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup

Mac Pro-Longwear Concealer in NC30

MUA Bronzed Perfection Bronzer

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Year
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

MUA Undressed Palette (shades)

L'oreal Volume Million Excess Mascara

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Peach Play

MUA Pro Brow Kit

This has been a favourite look of mine over the past week or so, which came about when I realised that I was a little bit bored of sporting the same neutral eye on a daily basis (from the same palette - shades 3 and 5 - numbers go from left to right).

I decided on doing a subtle gold and bronze smokey eye using shades 6 and 7, and when paired with a peachy-coral lip (my favourite) I found that it really perked up my face and gave me a bit more of a healthy glow.

I really like using the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup as a base, as while it gives a bit more coverage than a tinted moisturiser, it still looks really natural, and blends in seamlessly, eliminating any concerns about lines or tide-marks. It matches my skin perfectly, and with MUA Bronzed Perfection as a contour and dusted lightly across my forehead and nose and blended well, it provides a nice, healthy base.

As I was going for a peach-coral lip, I chose the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Year for my cheeks. What I love about this is that with it's peachy-gold hue, it doubles up as both a blush and highlighter, so a small amount dusted across my cheek bones is all that's required.

As I've mentioned before, the MUA Pro Brow Kit is now an every-day staple in my routine, and something I can't live without. It's got everything I need to shape my brows and keep them looking neat and tidy all day (review here).

Mascara-wise, I'm still staying loyal to the L'oreal Volume Million Lashes, although I have now branched out slightly and am giving the Excess Mascara a go. I'm still undecided on which of the two I prefer, so keep an eye out for a comparison post, which will be coming up soon.

You may have noticed that the concealer seems to be a little darker than you'd expect. Well, all will be explained very soon, as I'm also getting ready to write a review on that and will tell you the whole story in that post!

So that's what's on my face today. What's on yours?

Have a lovely day everyone.

xx

Week in Pictures

1. Sushi for lunch with the hubby at the new shopping mall that opened this week

2. Having a sneaky Friday lunchtime pamper session with the L'oreal Mythic Oil hair mask and Elemis Tri-Enzyme Gel Mask

3. One of the week's healthy breakfasts - homemade orange, carrot, beetroot, spinach, acerola cherry and ginger juice, and greek yoghurt with banana and almonds.

4. Bit of a Saturday selfie - first time I've been able to curl my hair in ages as it's been so dry and damaged.

5. Simple Saturday makeup

6. A naughty McFlurry following the sushi lunch at the mall...not one for McDonalds but these are the very occasional exception.

7. Snuggled up in bed with tea, biscuits and my blog reading list on Friday evening.

8. Relaxing in the garden hammock at sunset.

9. Feeling ill on Monday so catching up with my Bloglovin' feed while the hubby watched sport on TV.

Hope everyone's had a lovely weekend.

xx

Monday Wishlist

Crop Tee, Topshop  -  Peach Studded Shorts, Miss Selfridge  - Necklace,  Miss Selfridge  - Aztec Ring, Miss Selfridge  -  T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid, Ren  -  L'oreal Paris Nude Magique CC Cream, Feel Unique  -  ClearCalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask, Ren  -  No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, Ren  -   Moisture Surge CC Cream, Cllinique

Wishlists are usually reserved for weekends, but with Mother's Day taking front seat this time around, there just wasn't time, unless I wanted to post twice in one day, which I didn't, as I was sure nobody would be back to read a second post. So instead, once again we are breaking the rules, and I've saved all my goodies for this dreary Monday morning. Now, if I was actually buying these then it would be a great way to start the week, but instead I'm going to have to make do with admiring from afar.

Having gone through a phase of trying out some skincare products that didn't agree with me, my skin has not exactly been looking its best lately, so I want to get settled into a regular regime and not bombard it with too many different ingredients at once. That said, I still stand by not wanting any nasties in my skincare, so I'm going to try and switch my day-to-day routine over to Ren. Of course, I'll still reserve the evening slot for trying out new products, but I'm going to be a lot more careful about checking out the ingredients first and making sure there are no comedogenics (pore cloggers) in there before forging ahead.

I'm intrigued by CC creams at the moment. Having been thoroughly disappointed with BB creams, I'm hoping that this time, there really is something to shout about. Two of the best I've heard about are the L'oreal Paris Nude Magique one (available in three varieties - anto-fatigue, anti-redness and anti-dullness) which rings in at just £9.99, and the Clinique Moisture Surge CC, which I can't actually find for sale anywhere as yet.

Besides that, I'm lusting after some Spring clothing and accessories. and could have included far more here, but I decided to exercise some restraint. These items are my top picks from the lot, and it's torturing me.

Well, that's it for this week's wishlist, I hope you've seen something you like.

Have a great week.

xx

What's In My Makeup Bag? (Every-Day Makeup)

Today I thought I'd share the current contents of my makeup bag with you. When I say makeup bag, I mean the bits from it that I am finding myself reaching for the most - if I showed you the entire contents then a) it'd take an absolute age, as it's huge, and b) goodness knows what we'd find in there!

So, without further ado, here they are.

IT Cosmetics Concealer (shade Neutral Medium)

I had never heard of this concealer before, but whilst on the hunt for something industrial strength to cover my dark circles and replace my Benefit Erase Paste. I actually found this on Ebay, and while I would never usually buy makeup on there, this was from a trusted seller from whom I have bought other types of products in the past. Anyway, I thought I'd give it a try. This is a thick, pale concealer with a dewy finish, and it does leave my under-ee area looking quite refreshed and bright. But it's not a miracle worker. Nothing is.

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup

I got this one back in the summer, and during the warmer months I found myself wanting to reach for tinted moisturisers more and more. This has actually continued on into the winter, bucking the usual trend, as I just haven't wanted to go back to the feeling of something heavy on my skin. It helps that my skin is in pretty good condition at the moment thanks to a good skincare routine, so I don't find that I need too much coverage. This Invisible Fluid Makeup literally blends straight in with my skin. It's so light, and matches my skin-tone perfectly, evening it out and giving me a healthy-looking complexion. I actually haven't done a full review of this one yet so watch this space as I'm planning on writing one soon.

Caudalie Teint Divin Tinted Moisturiser

This is another light skin product I've been reaching for, and whilst this looks scarily orange when you first squeeze it out, it does blend nicely into the skin and leave you with a nice glowy complexion. To be honest, I've only been using this one for a coupleof weeks, but so far I'm quite liking it.

Benefit The Porefessional

I got this little tube of goodness free with Glamour magazine about six months ago, and it's still going strong despite it's tiny size. I do only use this on my t-zone, but I really like it for mattifying the area and creating a silky-smooth base for my tinted moisturiser to glide onto. I really like the fact that it keeps oil at bay and have already got my hands on a stand-by tube for when this one runs out.

Benefit Hoola Blush

Please excuse the scruffy packaging. For a start, this is only a sample size, and secondly I did try and give it a good scrub so that it would look it's best for the cameras, but it just wasn't cooperating.

Actually, this is not my favourite bronzer ever, and whilst I do find it ok, I was a little bit disappointed with it considering how hyped up it's been. I much prefer the L'oreal Glam Bronze Blonde Harmony, which is the perfect shade for me despite being a brunetter, and leaves my skin looking really healthy. Like Hoola, it's a matte blush, so no disco-ball effect to worry about.

I'm using Hoola at the moment because I haven't got anything else.

Nars Blush in Deep Throat

This is a really pretty light peachy-pink shade, which I have been really enjoying using since I got it a couple of weeks ago. I had run out of my all-time favourite blush (Benefit Coralista, if you're interested), so I thought it was time I finally took the pricey plunge and tried out some Nars. This has fast become a favourite of mine, although it still hasn't knocked Coralista off the top spot.

Mac Mineralise Skinfinish in Light Year

I actually posted a full review of this beaut last week. Being a huge fan of the MSF in shade  Soft and Gentle I was keen to get my paws on another one, and this one was so beautiful it just jumped out of me. This is a peachy-pink with gold shimmer, and looks really pretty worn both as a highlighter and as a blush.

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Craving

This is a gorgeous dusky berry pink shade, and is actually darker than it appears in the photos. I am really loving this lipstick at the moment and find it the perfect colour for the winter months. The staying power is actually pretty good too, and that's saying something if you're me, as nothing lasts two seconds on my lips.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

I got his one back in the summer, but have resurrected it for A/W. It's a highly pigmented berry-pink shade which applies easily and moisturises the lips. Win.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

This has become my go-to on those days where I feel like going for more of a natural look, or I can't be doing with the maintenance of a bold lip. This really is a classic 'your lips but better' shade and so I always carry it with me in my handbag. Being a balm stain, this is also quite moisturising, which - let's be honest - we could all do with a bit of help with in the colder months.

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

This is my all-time favourite mascara and I'll repurchase it again and again. It leaves my lashes looking really long and voluminous, but they also look nice and natural - none of this clumping or spider-leg effect. Love.

Topshop Eyes Kohl Liner

This is a deep, dark navy blue, the name of which I unfortunately have been unable to find out. To be honest, I haven't been using much eyeliner of late, but if I do fancy something to define the lower outer corners of my eyes then this is it.

You might have noticed that I haven't included and eyeshadows in here, and that's because I rarely wear them nowadays. However, in the last week or so I have found myself getting really into Tanya Burr's makeup tutorial videos over on Youtube, which has resulted in some experimentation of my own. So watch this space - we may make an eyeshadow wearer out of me yet.

Well, that's it for my current makeup-bag favourites, hope you enjoyed having a little rummage and a nose around!

What are your makeup staples this season?

xx

L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil

I have always been reluctant to use oil on my hair. When I first started hearing about people doing so, I thought they were mad, imagining that it would turn their locks into a greasy oil slick rather than do any good.

The first time I relented and tried Argan oil on my hair, my suspicions were confirmed - I applied it to the ends of dry hair, as instructed, and sure enough, my barnet soon became an oily mop. After that, I decided not to dabble in using such products again.

That was, until I heard about the L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil (please excuse the fact that mine's a foreign version - it is exactly the same thing), Glowing review after glowing review persuaded me to give hair oils one more go, especially after reading time and again that this one did not weigh down your locks.

This oil can be applied as a pre-wash treatment (massage it into your hair and leave it for an hour or two, before washing as normal), or can be applied to wet or dry hair. Having had a bad experience applying to dry hair in the past, I thought I would give the wet hair option a try, and I'm glad I did.

One or two pumps is enough, even for long hair - with hair oils, less really is more. Just run it through, from mid length right down to the ends, avoiding the roots (and fringe, if you have one), and blow-dry your hair, just as you normally would.

It really is true that this oil doesn't leave the hair feeling heavy or greasy. Instead, it leaves me with soft, smooth locks that are much more manageable than usual. My hair is really quite dry at the moment, and while this doesn't leave me looking as though I've just stepped out of a salon, it's not all that far off. My hair is in dire need of a good cut, so it's more of a challenge for this product than most people's hair, I think!

I do sometimes use the oil to tame fly-aways once my hair is dry, but in this instance I would use the tiniest little amount, as it does seems to leave more of a coating on the hair when used in this way.

I now use this oil on my hair regularly - after washing and before drying - and am really enjoying the difference it makes to the condition of my hair.

xx

June Empties

Not many empties for you this month, and as you can see, most of the ones I do have are Liz Earle!

Liz Earle Energising Body Wash

At £11.50, this body wash is not something I would usually go for, as I don't like to spend too much on shower gels. I just think that they get used up so quickly that it can become an expensive habit, and there are lots of lower-end ones that smell delicious! However, last time I ordered my Liz Earle skincare from the site, I was kindly sent this as a free gift, and I must admit, I really like it. The naturally active ingredients are Damask Rose flower water, sweet orange oil, pure essential oils and Vitamin E, which made me think that it would smell really sweet and fruity (which would have been fine for me - I love fruity shower products!) but actually, it's got quite a strong, almost menthol scent to it, which is really rather invigorating first thing in the morning. It really does wake you up, which is something I think we could all do with a bit of help with most days!

Would I repurchase? Yes, probably, though I wouldn't go to the site specifically for this product. I might be inclined to slip it into my basket next time I pop on to replenish my skincare products, though.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

You all now how much I love this, and you can read my review of Liz Earle skincare in  this post. Cleanse and Polish is my holy grail cleanser and I am extremely upset to have run out before having had the chance to purchase a new one!

Would I repurchase? Absolutely, time and time again.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser

Again, I have already reviewed this in the post linked above, so I won't bore you by rehashing all the details about why I love it. It's not exactly big news any more, as it's constantly featuring on other blogs.

But yes, again, I would - and will - repurchase.

Palm Olive Naturals Hydrating Shower Cream

I actually picked this one up in Brazil, so I'm not sure of the exact name of the 'scent' in the UK, but on the bottle, it is fruit and yoghurt. This is literally like washing yourself with strawberries and cream. It smells gorgeous, and is an all time favourite. I love Palm Olive shower gels and creams in general, so it came as no surprise.

Would I repurchase? Definitely.

L'oreal Glam Bronze Duo Sun Powder in Blonde Harmony.

This is actually the best bronzer I have tried in a long time. The compact contains two shades, split down the middle, so that you can blend the perfect colour for your skin tone. It has a matte finish, so it's greate for contouring as well as just for giving a nice, all-over glow without looking like a disco ball. Actually, I must confess that I didn't exactly finish this one by choice - I dropped it on the floor and smashed it! I know, clumsy, clumsy me. It was only a few days after I did the same thing to my Mac Studio Fix, too. It clearly wasn't my week.

But anyway, I scrabbled around and collected all of the remnants I possibly could, and they were soon used up.

Would I repurchase? Yes!

So as you can see, I quite enjoyed all of this month's empties, though there are, of course, plenty more products I have been using, some of which I have not felt so positively about. I haven't finished them yet, but as soon as I do, you will be the first to know my thought!

Sorry about the rubbish photo, and lack thereof - it's been so grey and overcast here for the last couple of days, and my camera just wasn't feeling it. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a better one, which is in no way broken! And while we're on the subject, a tripod too. I really want to do some outfit posts, but this is currently proving impossible! Oh well, I will get there eventually!
(Please also excuse the broken Skin Repair Moisturiser lid in the picture - yet ANOTHER thing I dropped on the floor!! I'm a nightmare.)

Hope everyone has had a marvellous week so far!

Lipsticks I Can't Live Without!

(L-R) Tracta Hydrating Argan Lipstick in 01, L'oreal Color Riche Serum in Radiant Rose, Topshop Infrared, Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt, Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart, Clinique Ciderberry

I have been going a little bit mad for lipsticks and other lip-related products over the past six months, especially nice bright, zingy shades, and don't seem to be able to stop buying them! There are so many gorgeous options out there, and I'd happily buy up the whole selection in Topshop or Mac without a second thought, if my bank balance was that way inclined (and that full of pennies!)

But despite my recent panic-buying of gorgeous shades and formulas, as always, there are definitely some lip products that I just keep going back to again and again, and I don't seem to be able to find anything to beat them. So I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, my six absolute favourite lipsticks in the world, ever. Ok, so maybe that's a little bit extreme, but I do love them, so I thought I'd share.

I'm not going to do full reviews of all of them in this post, purely because the post would end up being a million miles long and I doubt you'd ever make it to the bottom! But do keep your eyes peeled, as I will be posting separate reviews for some of these very shortly.

Topshop Infrared

First up is Topshop's Infrared, a gorgeous bright orange with a hint of red. This is definitely not one for shrinking violets, and may not be very flattering to the absolute palest of skintones, but aside from this it is actually a very wearable colour, and as an added bonus, makes your teeth look whiter. Win!

I love Topshop lipsticks and find them to be excellent value for money. The formula is fairly moisturising, although with this colour, I do recommend a good exfoliation and a slather of lip balm before you apply, as it will show up any flakey or dry bits you may have. In terms of wear, I'd say it's not that great, and I have to reapply it several times throughout the day. But it's a deliciously bright and juicy colour and looks great with a tan!

Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt

My favourite of the lot. This is a gorgeous bright coral, and any regular readers will know that I absolutely adore a nice bright coral lip. Being an Amplified lipstick, this is really creamy and glides on like a dream. It doesn't cling to any dry bits and is reasonably long-wearing (I've mentioned before though, that no lipsticks I've ever tried seem to have lasted more than about two minutes on me!) It's highly pigmented, but buildable, so you can go for a statement lip by layering it up, or rub one coat in with your fingers for more of a stain effect. This one will take some beating.

Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

This one is brand new, but has already made it onto my favourites list, which I'm sure many of you Lip Butter lovers will find unsurprising. I'm not going to say too much about this one, as I shall be doing a full review of it over the weekend, but as you can see, it's a lovely shade of cherry red and is so, so wearable. I am completely loving this as a pretty day-time red for summer. I do know it's not, strictly speaking, a lipstick, but that's fine by me - it just had to be included because I can't stop wearing it!

Tracta Hydrating Argan Lipstick in 01 

I picked this little beauty up in Brazil, and surprise surprise, it's another coral. This is actually very similar to Vegas Volt, but is slightly more orange-toned. Again, it's creamy and moisturising, thanks to the Argan oil it contains, and last reasonably well. I also wanted to point out that the packaging of this one makes it feel like quite a luxurious purchase, as it looks quite expensive, but actually, it only cost me about £6.

Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SP15 in Ciderberry

This is a product I have had for an absolute age, but haven't used in a really long time. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it until I moved house recently, and found it while I was packing things away. Clinique lipsticks are actually pretty pricey, at £16, and I don't usually pay that much for lip products. I don't even remember it costing that much really, but a quick browse on Clinique's site has revealed that to be the case!

Ciderberry is a lovely rich deep red. It's a nice alternative to really bright, pillar-box reds and I would imagine it to be more of a wearable shade for all skin-tones. I feel like I am repeating myself here, but I assume you will want to know that yes, again, it is moisturising, and yes, it is also long-lasting - in fact, I'd say that this is the best of the bunch in that respect.

L'oreal Color Riche Serum in Radiant Rose

A stunning medium fuchsia

I have not long reviewed this beauty, so if you would like to know a bit more about it then you can do so by reading this post. I don't want to bore those of you who've already read it by repeating myself again, but I will say that it is just the perfect shade of pink, and looks particularly pretty with really dark hair! When I first bought this, I had just dyed mine a gorgeous deep chocolate colour, which has sadly now faded (but I'm planning on doing it again over the weekend!)

L-R: Clinique Ciderberry, Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart, L'oreal CRS in Radiant Rose, Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt, Tracta 01 and Topshop Infrared

(As above)

I hope you enjoyed reading, and that perhaps I've given you an idea or two if you're on the hunt for a new summer shade, or if you're finding yourself stuck in a bit of a lipstick rut!

What are your favourite lip products this summer? Is there one shade in particular your lips are just too embarrassed to be seen without? I'd love to know, as I am always looking to build up my collection, and sometimes I find I have been missing out on some absolute gems when I see them on you lovelies and read about them in your posts!

Hope everyone is really well and has a fantastic weekend planned! If you don't have anything planned at all, then worry not, as I find that those often tend to end up being the best ones! And who doesn't like a bit of relaxation!?

Enjoy!

xx

L'oreal Color Riche and Color Riche Serum Lipstick Review

(L-R) 390 Nude Treasure, 102 Beige Praline, 453 Rose Creme.

Color Riche Serum in S103 Radiant Rose.

I recently picked up a pack of three L'oreal Color Riche lipsticks from the Duty Free shop at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, on my way back from a trip away.

The pack contained three colours: 390 Nude Treasure, 102 Beige Praline and 453 Rose Creme, and to be honest, I grabbed them in a bit of a rush, having just stepped off a long-haul flight and feeling very much the worse for wear. I had been looking for some nudes to add to my collection, as I didn't actually own many at all, but have recently found that I quite enjoy having them in my make-up bag for low-key, day-time looks.

I'll be honest. When I first got home, took them out of the box and swatched them on my hand (there hadn't been any testers available in the Duty Free shop), I was disappointed to find that these shades all contained gold shimmer. My bad for not being more awake in the airport. I was really looking for long-wearing, moisturising lip colour with a matte finish. 

While the shimmer was not my cup of tea, though, I was pleased to find that these lipsticks do apply really smoothly and are not at all drying on the lips, as they are enriched with Omega oils and Vitamin E.  They are quite sheer, but they're buildable, so with a couple of coats you do get a more intense colour, and the rich texture and gold packaging gives them quite a luxurious feel.

Nude Treasure was definitely my least favourite shade, as despite being a really pretty sheer beige-gold, it is just far too light for me and doesn't suit my skin tone.

I found Beige Praline to be a lot more wearable. It's a much richer shade of bronzey beige and is a fair bit darker than Nude Treasure.

But my favourite of the three is definitely Rose Creme, which is a pretty, dark beigey pink, again with a little bit of gold shimmer, although I found it to be more subtle in this case.

I wouldn't say these lipsticks are particularly long-wearing. As they are quite sheer and of a thin, slippery consistency, they do tend to slide off pretty quickly, especially if you are me (no lipstick ever seems to stay put on me for more than a couple of seconds!).

Something else I wasn't a fan of was the strong, perfumey scent these lipsticks have, and the fact that they tend to leave a soapy taste in the mouth if I drink through a straw while wearing them! I do find this really off-putting, as I do not like to taste my lipsticks at all, unless they are specifically designed to have a nice fruity flavour (rare!).

Color Riche Serum in Radiant Rose S103

(swatched above alongside others)

Containing collagen and Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate, plump and moisturise, this lipstick is much more up my street.

It's a beautiful medium fuchsia and is more pigmented than the normal Color Riche lipsticks, and it really does feel intensely moisturising, even as I apply it. Again, it glides on really smoothly, and the wear seems to be slightly longer, but I'd put that down to the higher level of pigmentation.

I did want to show you some pictures of me wearing the lipsticks, so you can really see what they look like on, but I didn't have a chance to get any when I was taking the photos for this post. I am hoping to do so this weekend, but in the meantime, you can see me wearing Radiant Rose in my blogger profile picture. It's actually become on of my favourite lipsticks.

Have you tried any lipsticks from L'oreal's Color Riche lines?

What did you think of them?

xx

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara: Review

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara, £10.99

This is currently my absolute favourite mascara, and I can honestly say that is the best one I have ever used.

I usually wear it in brown, but I do also have a black one which I like to switch it up with for nights out, for a more dramatic look.

As you can see, it comes in this lovely sturdy gold packaging,which I think is really nice and expensive looking.

Before

After (one coat, top lashes only)

The mascara comes with a plastic wand and an anti-clump wiper inside the tube.Personally, I cannot stand having clumpy, spidery looking lashes. It completely defeats the object of mascara, in my eyes. I don't want to look like I'm wearing loads of mascara, I want to look as though I have naturally gorgeous, long, voluminous lashes!

Now, something I will mention just because I know there are a lot of you out there who can't stand fragranced cosmetics, is the fact that this one does have quite a strong, perfumey smell. For me, it is by no means unpleasant, and actually, I hadn''t even noticed it until I saw someone else mention it in a review! After I saw it, I went straight to get my mascara and took a big whiff, and was surprised to find that the reviewer was right. However, I still can't smell this when applying it unless I am really looking for it.

Volume Million Lashes is an absolute pro at separating and lengthening the lashes, and the formula is relatively thin compared to some other mascaras, which presumably helps to prevent clumps along with the 'wiper' inside. 

In the picture above, I am only wearing one coat of the mascara, but applying a second coat does plump up the volume a bit more and give you nice thick lashes, without looking too artificial. Something else I love about it is the staying power - after a full day's wear, it still looks freshly applied and my lashes remain beautifully curled, making my eyes appear nice and big. I actually haven't curled my eyelashes in the picture above because I wanted to show you what the mascara can do on it's own.

I've been using this product for about six months now and will most definitely be re-purchasing it. In fact, I have already stocked up on three more, thanks to the Boots three for two offer that was on including all cosmetic products for a while and ended a few weeks ago.

I love the beautiful, long, natural looking lashes Volume Million Lashes gives me, and would highly recommend it!

What's your favourite mascara?

xx

Weekend Favourites and Little Catch-up

Hi everyone, hope you've all been outside sunning yourselves, or alternatively, sipping a cool drink in the shade on this gorgeous weekend! Sunny weather must have the most made of it!

Sadly, though, I have not been able to do so myself, as I have been holed up in bed with a nasty cold all weekend, and it's showing no signs of letting up any time soon! Not best pleased about that, as besides the sunshine, I had several beauty review blogposts planned for you lovelies, but as you can imagine, I didn't really think my face was up to being photographed at the moment, and I really want to show you the products in all their glory! So, for now, I will just share my usual Weekend Favourites with you, and will press on with reviewing those goodies as soon as I am feeling better.

 To give you a taste of what to expect, I've got some L'oreal Colour Riche lipsticks, an Urban Decay Midnight Emergency palette, L'oreal Volume Million lashes mascara, Mac Mineralize blush in Dainty, and a Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart all ready to go, plus a Mac foundations comparison post, an Ebay Haul and the remaining two posts in my Favourite Hair Products series. Phew! And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I also just wanted to say a quick sorry for letting the frequency of my posts slip over the last few weeks. I have been having a really busy time of it, what with working more hours, moving house, and life just generally getting in the way. From now on, I hereby promise that you can expect five posts from me per week - no excuses!

So, on to my Weekend Favourites.

This week, the theme of my little selection for you is my favourite products of the moment!

So here are a few of my top picks.

Favourite Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser:

Estee Lauder Invisible Makeup in shade 2WN1.

I actually got a sample of this free in a magazine (I think it was Glamour?) a few weeks ago, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Despite Estee Lauder being a high end brand, I have never really been one for tinted moisturiser type products, as though I have good skin, it does still need evening out in tone, and all the tinted moisturisers I've tried before have been disappointing (bar Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint).

How wrong could I be? I used this little beauty over the space of a week and was wearing it every day, and I can honestly say that I absolutely love it. Of course, it was good luck that my sample shade was the perfect match for my skin tone. But when this goes on, it literally disappears into your skin, somehow seeming to take all the little imperfections with it! It is a really light, liquidy formula, and really doesn't feel like you've applied anything more than a moisturiser. It evens everything out and gives you a really pretty, healthy glow. I was devastated when the sample ran out, and am going to be buying myself some more immediately! When I do, I will provide you with some photographic evidence of how lovely this is, as I stupidly didn't think to take any snaps at the time!

(£27 for a full size bottle).

Favourite Mascara

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

(£10.99)

Now, I'm not going to go into too much detail about this one, because I have a full review with demonstrative pictures coming up this week, and believe me, you need to see those pictures to see how good it is.

What I will say is that I am rarely impressed with a mascara, as I feel that they never do what they profess to, and I feel like I have found a mascara for life here. I have no need to change because this one is just great. 

I use brown for day and black for night.

Favourite Lipstick(s)

Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt

(£13.50)

Sorry, but it's going to take a lot to knock this one off my topspot. I got this back in March and I still can't get enough of the gorgeous coral shade. The formula is creamy, moisturising and long-lasting. What more could I want?

Favourite Nail Polishes

Essie Sure Shot

Essie Mint Candy Apple

A gorgeous, long wearing raspberry metallic polish with subtle flecks of blue glitter and a cute Spring pastel. I can't decide which one I like the most! 

Essie Polishes are £9.95 from Nails by Mail.

Favourite Highlighter (liquid)

Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator

(£20)

I am currently using shade 01 (Natural) mixed in with my foundation, and I love the dewy glow it gives. Liquid highlighters are so versatile, and that's what I love about this one.

Here's a swatch for you (below right). (On the left is Clinique Almost Makeup Tinted Moisturiser, which I have yet to experiment with).

I think I'll leave it there for now, as I don't want to make this post ridiculously long - so many lovely blogs for you to catch up on!

Please feel free to let me know what you'd like to see in my favourites next weekend, you are always welcome to leave suggestions in the comments box below, and I'd also love to hear your thoughts on this week's picks!

xx