The Weekly Selection

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation  //  Hourglass Rouge Opaque Liquid Lipstick  //  Benefit They're Real Mascara //  By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder

Some weeks, I struggle to find a brand new selection of products that have made their way into my daily routine, as often I find that I am using the same things, bar one or two. But others, I have an absolute plethora of goodies I can't wait to share, and it depends largely on how much I've been beauty shopping of late, or in this case, whether I've recently had a birthday! This year, I was lucky enough to receive lots of beauty-related gifts in honour of the big day - a huge bundle of Benefit treats from the hubby, some long-coveted Space NK products from my mum, and a cheeky couple of items I treated myself to with some money I was kindly gifted by my grandfather.

This is one of those weeks where I feel genuinely excited about all of the products I've selected for this post, and I'm sure it's not difficult to see why.

I recently found myself in need of a new foundation, and during my birthday shopping trip I happened upon a Laura Mercier counter. The Silk Creme foundation (£34) has been on my to-try list since the year dot, but with there being a severe lack of counters in my city I've always had to keep it on the backburner until the opportunity arose. Yes, I know I could have bought it online, but when it comes to foundations I'm simply not willing to take the risk and play a guessing game with the shades. So, this time, I made a beeline for the lovely lady on the counter and she was happy to match me up. I went for the shade Beige Ivory, which turned out to be absolutely perfect ( none of the usual scenario where it looks great in store, but horrifically orange / Casper white once you get out into natural light). This foundation leaves me looking flawless and glowing with health, and is everything I had hoped it would be. Well worth the wait, I'd say, and I'm really pleased with my purchase.

The Benefit They're Real mascara (£19.50) is another product I had long put off trying, albeit for different reasons. I simply couldn't bring myself to fork out so much money for a mascara, especially when I was perfectly happy with my L'oreal Volume Million Lashes at half the price.  But when I cracked open a vintage tin packed with Benefit goodies on my birthday, I was more than happy to find this inside. Nevertheless, I wasn't convinced it would live up to the hype, and I must admit, I was wrong. This lengthens, separates and volumises all in one go, and never before have I tried a mascara that so fantastically defines my lower lashes. Suffice to say, I'm an absolute convert, and I'm dreading the day I reach the end of my tube as I know I'll be opening my purse.

Next are two products I had been dying to get my hands on for an absolute age, but every time I ventured onto the Space NK website I'd leave feeling sorry for myself, unable to bring myself to part with so many pennies for what is essentially a facial powder and a liquid lipstick. Luckily, birthdays are the perfect opportunity to be treated, and when someone else is kind enough to do so then it's only the excitement left to deal with.

The By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder (£42) has been the ultimate dream, but at over £40 for the pot, it's not a decision to be taken lightly when there are so many other powders on the market. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one earned me all the compliments I had imagined it might - not because I am fabulous, but because the product itself makes my skin look glowing and flawless. I dust this on over the top of my makeup for nights out, and it really finishes the look, leaving me feeling polished and ready to go.

Last up, it's the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (£23), in the vibrant shade Riviera. A bright and punchy, very orange toned red, you apply with the doe foot applicator and leave to dry for a few seconds. This one stays put really well compared to some liquid lipsticks I've tried - Rimmel Apocalips, anyone?( I have, however, recently come across one with even more impressive staying power, which I'll be blogging about soon.) Riviera is an absolutely stunning shade and is perfect for summer. It doesn't leave my lips feeling dry or hydrated, and adds a gorgeous statement to the most pared down of makeup looks.

So all in all, a fabulous week of products. I absolutely adore all four of these, and they are bound to remain staples for a long time. 

Which products have you been loving this week? Have you splashed out on any real treats, and if so, did they live up to the hype?

xx

Detox Masks

 Laura Mercier Deep Cleansing Clay Mask  //  Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask  //  Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask

Detox masks are an integral part of my skincare routine, and rarely a week passes by where I don't pop one on at least a couple of times to decongest my skin and keep it looking its best. If I am particularly breaking out then they are all the more essential, as the right mask can make a huge difference to active blemishes, bringing down the redness and sending them on their way a lot more quickly than if they were left to their own devices. My go-to mask in that situation is undoubtedly the Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask, which provides a rapid solution for spot-prone, irritable and reactive skin. With mineral-rich Amozonian Clay to eliminate toxins while gently exfoliating and softening, oat flour and Allantoin to resolve congestion and Manuka honey, aloe and calendula for their powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial action, this little beauty packs a real punch, and has become an absolute lifesaver when my skin is in distress. I tend to use this just on my t-zone, as my cheeks are pretty clear, and leaving it on for fifteen to twenty minutes leaves things looking a lot calmer. If I have a particularly nasty-looking blemish or two then I have been known to pop this on over night, and the difference in the morning is quite remarkable, diminished in size and redness by a considerable amount.

For keeping things clear in the first place, I usually reach for the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. This is great for maintenance, as the charcoal acts as a magnet to draw any nasty bits of debris and oil out of the pores, preventing them from forming into anything unsightly. Again, this one goes on for about fifteen minutes, and it dries to an absolutely rock-solid layer, so perhaps make sure you don't have to talk to anyone when you've got this on! A couple of downsides to this one - one, it doesn't manage to tackle the most stubborn blocked pores I have on my nose alone, but it does make extractions that bit easier (lovely - sorry!). And two, it's a bit of a pain to remove. It's almost black in colour too, so you can imagine that I've had to bin more than one or two muslin cloths since I first began using it. It's worth the effort though, as I find it a lot more effective than most other masks I've tried.

Last (and also least) is the Laura Mercier Deep Cleansing Clay Mask, which was probably one of the first face masks I ever picked up. Nowadays it's not the sort of brand I would usually turn to for skincare, and I must admit that this is not usually a mask I personally reach for, but I thought I'd share it with you because we are all different. It's basically your average clay mask, and I can't say I notice a huge difference after using it, but it's probably a good one for someone with minimal skin issues, as it will keep things clear if used regularly. It's pink too, which I know will appeal to some of you! 

I do love Laura Mercier as a brand, but I'm much more likely to be found browsing the makeup section, as there are certain ingredients I like to avoid in my skincare.

What are your go-to face masks in your skin's hour of need?

xx

The Duty-Free Wish List

DIORSKIN Nude BB Cream  //  YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick  //  Nars Creamy Concealer  //  Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation  //  Jo Malone Wild Fig and Cassis Cologne  //  Chloe for Women Eau de Parfum  //  Illamasqua Hydra Veil  //  Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow  //  Nars Sheer Glow Foundation  //  Marc Jacobs Oh Lola! Eau de Parfum

With my move home now just around the corner, I've inevitably got a lot on my mind. There's a new house to consider, a new job....and then of course, there's the Duty Free! 

The closer we get, the less I am able to stop myself dreaming about all those beautiful high-end products, and while there is more chance of me winning the lottery than actually buying all of this stuff, a girl can dream. So, I thought that in order to get it all out of my system, I'd pop together a 'little' wishlist of the bits and bobs that have been filling my mental un-shopping list over the past few weeks, and looking at it, it probably isn't even the half of it. Fingers crossed, I might be lucky enough to pick up a couple of bits in Paris, so I'm going to have to get narrowing things down to the bare essentials. 

Nope, not fooling anyone, am I - no essentials here. But they are just so pretty....

I know I said I'd had it with BB Creams, but a little voice has been nudging me in the direction of the Diorskin Nude BB for some time now, in spite of myself. For a start, it's Dior, and I can't imagine anything with that name on it being sub-standard. Today though, it's place on my wish list was cemented when I watched this Vivianna Does Makeup video and saw with my own eyes just how beautiful it is. It seems to give such a gorgeous, natural glow as well as evening things out quite impressively, so it's now become a summer must for me.

I'm also in need of a new foundation, and have had my eye on both the Laura Mercier Silk Creme and Nars Sheer Glow foundations since last year, so I'm hoping to finally pick one of those up. The Nars Creamy Concealer also looks promising for under-eye circles, so I've thrown that one in for good measure.

I really fancy finally treating myself to one of the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks, another long-coveted product for which I just haven't been able to justify the price. They have to be the most beautifully packaged lipsticks of all time though, and one day a coral or peachy shade shall be mine.

Aside from that, I'm itching to give the Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow a go, as it looks like the perfect partner when it comes to contouring. The Hydra Veil has also been calling my name. It's a gel-powder base which is applied before your foundation for a flawless look, and to say I'm intrigued would be an understatement.

Last but not least, I need to stock up on perfumes, which is something I always tend to do when going through duty-free - I don't buy them for myself unless I'm travelling, and I'm running really low at the moment.

And that is it. I say this, but you know there are tons more things popping into my head as I write. Fingers crossed I won't have any currency in the airport, and then I won't be able to do any damage!

Ha. I jest. 

(Sort of).

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

Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 is a gem that's been lurking in my collection for a while now, and yet for some reason I haven't quite got around to reviewing it yet. Actually, doing so now is probably a little bit unconventional, as although Summer is on its way I've actually been using this for the past few months, and am only now starting to leave it in my drawer in favour of products that offer a bit more coverage. So a bit back to front, but this is what you have to deal with when your skin goes from being fine one minute to, well, not so fine the next. One thing I can say though, is that's it not a reflection on the product itself at all, and I'm looking forward to working this back into my routine on a more regular basis whenever my skin decided to cooperate.

There are a couple of versions of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser available, including an oil free one, but today I'm reviewing just the bog standard version, in the shade Sand.

Generally, I tend to wear tinted moisturisers throughout the warmer months, so the fact that this comes complete with SPF20 makes it ideal for the upcoming season. Personally, I like to use a tinted moisturiser on holidays and at the beach, which I know may be frowned upon by some, but I don't see why not - I'm going to need some sun protection on my face one way or another, and if I can even out my complexion while in the process then why not? For the record, that's pretty much all I do pop on on such occasions, and I have found that it serves both purposes very well.

The formula blends like a dream, and Sand is pretty perfect for my skin-tone, which is roughly an NW25, if anyone is wondering how the shades match up. It is obviously pretty sheer in terms of coverage, but it definitely does even things out a bit and I find that it leaves me looking quite fresh-faced and healthy, which is why I'm happy to opt for this alone when my skin is behaving itself - along with a bit of concealer for my dark circles and any remnants of past blemishes, of course.

The down-side? Well, it doesn't exactly come cheap, at £33 for a full-size 40ml tube (available here) and the flip-side of it containing SPF means you are left open to the inevitable ghost-face in photographs. Personally it doesn't bother me all that much though, as if I'm going out and want to look my best for pictures then I simply choose another alternative - I usually want something with a bit more coverage in such events anyway, for maximum flawless effect.

So that's my summer skin sorted, blemish permitting, of course! Do you change up your makeup for the warmer months? If so, what's your tinted moisturiser or foundation of choice?

xx

The Daily Face: Changing it Up

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Last Minute Mother's Day Dash!

Ren Moroccan Rose Experience Gift Set, Marks and Spencer  -  Spring Days Bouquet, Marks and Spencer  -  Orange Grove Signature Candle, The White Company  -  Indulgent Spa Day for Two, Marks and Spencer  -  Mini Macaroons, Marks and Spencer  - Home Scenting Gift Set, Neom  -   La Petite Patisserie Quartet in Creme de Pistache, Laura Mercier  -  Full Moon Soak, Soak Yourself

It's Saturday night. You've forgotten it's Mother's Day tomorrow. That, or you've been so busy all week that you just haven't had the chance to pick up something lovely for the special lady in your life. Cue a mad Sunday morning dash to the shops to find something equally special.

If that's you, then fear not, because there are loads of gorgeous gifts out there to please any mother, and here I've put together a selection of my top picks. 

First things first, why not surprise her with this Ren Moroccan Rose Experience Gift Set, which contains a selection of Rose Otto products, including body wash, body cream, bath oil and body oil. I nearly got this one for my own mum, as it's got everything in there to have a nice, luxurious Sunday afternoon pamper session. 

On the subject of baths and pampering, I can't imagine any mother who wouldn't be thrilled to bits to receive the Soak Yourself Full Moon Soak Box, which is packed with goodies such as handmade soap, candles and a relaxing blend of tea. It's quite pricey at £40, but I love the idea and think it would be perfect for unwinding at the end of a stressful week.

There seems to be a bit of a theme here, as next up is the luxurious Neom Home Scenting Gift Set, containing aromas of lavender, jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood. You get a warming candle designed to evoke feelings of peace and tranquility, a gentle pillow spray for refreshing sleep and of course, a diffuser through which to enjoy the wonderful scents provided. I think this is probably my favourite of the lot, and it comes in at £50 - not cheap, but just think how much enjoyment can be had from it.

I have been lusting after the Laura Mercier La Petite Patisserie Creme de Pistache Quartet since Christmas. All the products smell absolutely divine, from the Souffle Body Creme and Creme Body Wash to the hand cream and Eau Gourmande - literally like you have just stepped out of a French bakery. I don't know a mum who deosn't like hand creams, and I think the scent of this little lot is enough to win anyone over.

If you're after something calming and relaxing, but without the hefty price tag, then I love the look of the The White Company Orange Grove Signature Candle, which is a more purse-friendly £20.

And if all else fails, you can always give her an Indulgent Spa Day Experience (£199), some delicious Marks and Spencer Mini Macaroons, or of course the classic bunch of flowers - my favourite this year is the Marks and Spencers Spring Bouquet, £30.

I hope this have given you a few ideas if you were feeling a bit stuck, and if not then perhaps you've seen something you might like to treat yourself to!

What are your plans for Mother's Day?

I hope you have a lovely day.

xx

Sunday Sessions: Pamper Party

Mini Facial

You will need:

A facial cleanser

A good exfoliant or thermofoliant

A clarifying face mask (if you have dry skin then you may want to skip this step)

A moisture mask

A flannel/muslin cloth

Numerous cups of tea

Copious amounts of chocolate.

What I use:

1. Pai Camellia and Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

First, I cleanse my face and neck using gentle, circular motions, remove gently with a muslin cloth, rinse and then pat my skin dry with a towel. If I was just doing my usual morning or evening routine, I'd spend more time gently exfoliating my skin with the cloth by rubbing it gently in (again) circular motions, but as we are going for a full on pampering session here it's not necessary (the second step takes care of that).

2. Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermofoliant

Next, I gently exfoliate my face using - again - the circular motions. I always try not to be too aggressive with this step as I don't want to leave my skin red raw - remember, we are trying to give the skin a treat, not a punishment. I usually exfoliate for 1-2 minutes and then rinse and pat my face dry.

At this stage, it's quite nice to steam the skin, which can be done in a couple of ways. You can either fill your sink or a large bowl with hot water and place a towel over your head, letting the steam permeate your skin and open up your pores, or you can soak a washcloth in hot water, wring it out and place it over your face for a few minutes. If you go for the latter then you may need to replace the cloth a few times to keep it hot, but either way, this is a great way to prepare your skin for the clarifying mask as it will make it easier for it to get into your pores and remove any impurities.

3. Laura Mercier Deep Cleansing Clay Mask OR Nourifusion Multivitamin Clarifying Mask

I tend to alternate between these two masks. I'm not really sure why - it's just because I've got them, really. I do enjoy using both though and think that perhaps each one might bring some slightly different benefit to my skin.

With the Laura Mercier mask, I apply it and leave it for 10-15 minutes, while the Nourifusion one can stay on for up to 20. Both masks will dry within this time, so to remove them I just add water and gently massage my skin. The mask softens and washes away. I normally have to rinse my skin a couple of times afterwards with warm water and grab the muslin cloth to remove any last little bits of residue.

Keep your eyes open for reviews of both of these masks coming up very soon.

4. a) Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask

Now, at this stage you could really just spritz on some toner and apply a nice luxurious moisturiser (more on that later), but personally I like to give my skin an extra treat by slapping on a moisturising mask. Don't worry, this won't counter the effects of your clarifying mask - the first mask removes excess oiliness and impurities, while your moisturising mask will replenish your skin's moisture, leaving it smooth, supple and soft.

This mask is recommended to be left on for 15 minutes, but I'll be honest with you - when I do this, I don't really feel the effects. What I really like to do is apply a thick layer and then just leave it on. Yep, that's right, I don't rinse it off at all - I go to bed in it, and by the morning, mys kin has absorbed every last bit, leaving it ten times softer than it otherwise would have. Being a cream mask, this won't dry out and leave your skin feeling tight while it's on, but nor will it stay wet and sticky, so there is really no problem with sleeping in it. However, you might not want to sit around with it on your face all evening as it doesn't really mix with eating/drinking, so I usually make sure I do this not long before I go to bed, although on occasion I do remove it after a couple of hours and continue on to step 4b - it's really down to whatever I'm feeling like doing at the time.

OR

4. b) Suti Peppermint Water Organic Facial Toner 

You can spritz this onto you face and gently pat it in to tighten your pores and refresh your skin, and follow it with...

Herbalife Skin Activator

Pop on a nice thick layer to moisturise and hydrate your skin.
If before bed, you will probably want to use a night cream instead.

When I'm having my pamper session earlier in the evening, the next step is usually to get into some comfy loungewear, settle down with a nice big cup of tea and maybe some chocolate and watch some of my favourite Youtubers' latest videos. And catch up on blog reading, of course (I usually have my litttle sessions when I'm on my own so that I can 100% do what I like).  I might also throw a pedicure, some nail painting and maybe some hair masks into the mix, but that's a whole other story - I can't really suggest anything in the way of hair masks as I am still searching for one that has any effect whatsoever on my locks!
Before bed, I often slick some coconut oil or Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on my lips and apply some foot cream before popping on a pair of socks - I like Sanctuary Moisture Rich Foot Butter at the moment.

What's your idea of a perfect pampering session, and what products do you like to use?


xx

Beauty SOS (September)

In last months's Beauty SOS (here), I asked for you lovely people to call upon your vast experience with beauty products and help me out with four beauty emergencies. Let's do a quick recap on what those were, the suggestions I received and whether or not I've had much luck with them, before moving onto this month's beauty nightmares!

I asked you to suggest the following:

1. A good clay face mask

Suggestions included Origins Clear Improvement, Queen Helene Mud Pack Mask and Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask.

Well, I must admit that I've been trying to stash away some pennies this month, so unfortunately I haven't yet been able to try out all of these suggestions. I did have a look for the Queen Helene mask, but as yet I haven't been able to find it, so if anyone knows where I might be able to get it then please do let me know in the comments below. As for the Ren and Origins masks, I have been wanting to try both for a long while now, but as they don't come cheap Im am holding off on purchasing them until next month. This month, however, I have tried out a couple of other masks, those being the Laura Mercier Clay Mask and the Nourifusion Multivitamin Clarifying Mask, as I was able to get them both for a good price, so I will be popping up reviews of those two in the not too distant future. If you were one of the lovelies who suggested the other masks then please don't think that I have ignored your advice as I genuinely am itching to try them and will be doing so just as soon as my bank balance allows.

2. A moisturising facemask

I was given one suggestion for this, which was Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask, and I actually did purchase this today, so I'm looking forward to trying that out.

3. Something to banish dry lips once and for all

Some of you suggested coconut oil, and one of you suggested Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Lip Protectant. I'm already a huge fan of coconut oil for various other uses, and I do take a spoonful every day for it's wonderful health benefits, so I was more than happy to slather this yummy-tasting stuff on my lips. I was also given a sample size of just the normal Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Cream this month (review here) so I've been giving that a go, and between the two of them I must say they have left my lips feeling softer, smoother and without any flakiness. Hurrah!

4. An amazing deep-conditioning hair mask

I was recommended Aussie Three-Minute Miracle, which I actually already use, and again, coconut oil.

Now, I had tried coconut oil on my hair once before, and I must admit that it really didn't seem to make much of a difference. But I thought I'd give it another go, since many of you swear by it and, as I mentioned before, I am very much a fan of it for other uses. Well, I'm sorry to say that for whatever reason, it just doesn't work for me. It left my hair feeling limp and slimy despite a couple of good, thorough washes, and after I did eventually manage to get my locks clean they were much the same as they had been before the treatment. My hair seems to be resistant to EVERYTHING I put on it, so I guess there is just no helping me! :(

Now for this month's beauty emergencies. The idea of this series, by the way, is that you can all gain a bit of inspiration from the lovely suggestions left by others in the comments box and perhaps find a solution to a beauty problem of your own, so do pop back and have a look to see what ideas other bloggers have got, and let me know if any of them work for you.

1. A Blemish-Fighting Product.

I keep getting blemishes on my chin of late, since my t-zone has become more oily, so I'm on the hunt for something that'll clear the little blighters up quick-smart.

2. A Good Volumising Product for Hair

I am after something that will give me big hair without any stickiness or crispiness, be it a shampoo, spray or something else.

I'm just going to stick with those two for this month, as I have already been chatting to some of you on Twitter about a couple of other things and received some great suggestions for those. I will be sure to include the details in next month's Beauty SOS, along with my verdict on the suggestions I receive for these two, and I will also strive to get my hands on those facemasks from last month and try them out!

If you have any ideas for this month's SOS issues then do please leave a comment below with the deets.

Hope everyone has a great week!

xx

Laura Mercier Cinema Noir Collection A/W 2012

Inspired by the film era of the late 1940s and reminiscent of such big screen icons as Ingrid Bergman, Katherine Hepburn and Rita Hayworth, Cinema Noir is based upon a time where black and white was slowly giving way to colour. Focussing on soft shades and flawless finishes, the collection has a number of sumptuous new products to tempt us with sultry lip shimmers, luxurious nail lacquers and glamorous face powders and eyeshadows.

Shimmer Bloc in Starlet Mosaic

Ground Espresso and Deep Teal Tightline Cake Eyeliners

Eye Colour Duet: Suspense

(There will also be another duet, Mystere, available, featuring a taupe and a midnight blue, which looks really pretty.)

Burgundy Longlash Mascara

Creme Lip Colour in Raspberry Sorbet

(There are also Creme/Shimmer Lip Colours in Passion Fruit, Tea Rose and Fresh Brown).

Nail Lacquers in Cocoa Suede, Organza and Nude Silk

I love the look of the Shimmer Bloc and think it could be the perfect all-in-one bronzing and highlighting product. Actually, this is something I probably would have enjoyed using during the summer months to get that healthy holiday glow, but I'm sure a bit of bronze won't go amiss in the Autumn/Winter when our cheeks have faded to a deathly shade of pasty (pastey? Basically, I'm not talking about the Cornish pastry treat we know and love in the UK!) white.

I'm definitely finding myself intrigued by the burgundy mascara. I don't really know what to expect from it, if I'm honest, but I'm all for trying something a bit different, as so many of the cosmetics that come out these days are a bit samey. Burgundy might perhaps make for a dramatic evening look....or 'been punched in the face chic' if it decides to rain when I'm wearing it. Let's be honest, that's quite likely in our delightful climes. Either way, I am looking forward to giving it a try, and if I do so happen to end up looking like I've been on the wrong end of someone's fist then I will just have to find a way to make it work for me. Fashion is all about making statements these days, no?

I will probably also be slipping the Tightline Cake Liner in Deep Teal into my online shopping basket, though knowing me, this will be indecisively emptied and refilled several times before I finally actually give in and  make the purchase. it's a battle of wills. My wallet almost always loses in the end.

I like the look of Raspberry Sorbet, being a fan of a good berry lip in the Winter. In terms of the Eye Colour Duos, as I mentioned before, I am way too indecisive to choose just two shades, so I think I'll be sticking to bigger palettes which provide me with an array of shades, although I'm sure these little beauties will be perfect for some of you to slip into your handbags for day-time touch-ups or nights out.

All in all, I think I like the glamorous air this little lot gives off, and some of these will definitely be making an appearance on my Christmas list if I am still grappling with my online basket by then.

The collection is now available from Space NK, Harvey Nicholls, Selfridges and other departement stores.

What do you think of Cinema Noir? Have you seen anything that is very much your cup of tea?

xx