The Weekly Selection

Helena Rubinstein Color Clone Foundation  //  Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polish  //  Nature's Extracts Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil Moisturising Body Butter

Life has been going a million miles an hour at the moment, but one thing is for certain: This beautiful sunshine we're having is well worth slowing down for! Yesterday, after work, we went and sat outside one of our favourite places on the harbour for a nice cold cider, and being able to actually do something with my evening and enjoy the daylight made me feel so much more alive. Afterwards, we met up with some friends for tapas and a cheeky cocktail or two - not my usual Monday evening, but I have to say, it was a more than welcome start to the week.

I hope you've been able to enjoy the lovely weather, wherever you are.

Anyway, onto the purpose of today's post, which is to share some of my most reached- for products of late. I'm aware that I usually tend to do this towards the end of the week, but hey, who makes the rules? Last week was so hectic that I didn't have the chance, so here we are, on a Tuesday instead. I don't mind if you don't.

After running out of my previous foundation, I stumbled upon Helena Rubinstein's Colour Clone (shade Vanilla), which had been sitting patiently on my beauty shelf since late last year. I picked this one up on my way back from Amsterdam, but it was one of those things where, once you get home, it just doesn't seem to be the right shade. Now that winter is over, however, and I've got a bit more colour in my cheeks, I have fallen head over heels in love with it. Color Clone gives the most unbelievably natural-looking coverage, almost to the point that it looks as though I'm not wearing foundation - only with beautifully flawless skin. It does an amazing job of evening things out, with special colour-cloning pigments which clone the skin's colour structure, and has an incredibly light, barely-there feel on the skin.

There's very little not to love about this, and I am definitely going to be hunting down some of Helena's other creations as soon as I have the chance.

Next up, it's the beautiful Topshop Glow Highlighter in the shade Polish. A light, pearly cream, this looks perfect smoothed onto cheekbones over a pretty cream blush for a natural-looking highlight without the glitter. For a more glamorous look, it can easily be layered up - and if I'm going out, I apply some down my nose, under my brows and across my Cupid's bow for an extra glow.

I can't imagine that I'm alone in my love for fruity scents once the warmer months roll round, and the M&S Nature's Extracts Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil Moisturising Body Butter (whew-can you say that in one breath!?) is just divine. Light, juicy, with a hint of 'green' this one sells really natural and is not at all overpowering or sickly. Smoothing this on after my shower is an absolute pleasure, and it leaves my skin silky soft.

All three of these are bound to remain favourites well into the summer months, although no doubt there will be a few more beauty treats joining them before long.

Which products have you been reaching for this week?

Have you discovered any new or exciting brands?

Enjoy the rest of your week.

XX

The Weekly Selection

It's been a few weeks since I last did one of these, and suffice to say, there are one or two beauty treats I've been very much looking forward to sharing with to you. Ok, make that four.

I'm often found loitering around the Bumble & Bumble stand in Boots, desperately wanting to grab all they have to offer, throw it into my shopping basket and sprint for the till point. Alas, I usually have to summon the strength to peel myself away, as at pushing thirty pounds a pop, their products are definitely not cheap. Imagine my delight then, when I stumbled upon a little shelf of miniature Bumble & Bumble goodness, tucked sneakily away in the depths of the general haircare oil. For between £7.50 and £10, you can pick up all manner of coveted haircare products, for a fraction of the price of their heftier cousins, in miniature. Genius, I tell you. Needless to say, one or two items definitely did venture till-wards with me, one of those being the lovely Buble & Bumble Shine On Finishing Spray, £10 for 60ml. Granted, it might be still a little bit on the pricey side for the amount of product, but if you're a fan of trying before you buy full-size then this is a great idea. I've been spritzing this onto my dull mop after styling each day, for a bit of extra dazzle, and it's not half bad.

Speaking of lank locks, I couldn't help but pick up the Charles Worthington Salon at Home Moisture Seal Intense Rescue Melting Balm (aaaand breathe....), a novel concept if I may say so. Rather than slathering this onto wet hair as you would expect with a hair masque, this thick balm is rubbed between the palms where it becomes an oil, and slicked generously onto dry hair. Leave for twenty minutes, and hey presto, you're ready for your shampoo and conditioner as normal. Having only used this once, I'll reserve full judgement until later, but I did definitely find my hair to be more manageable after dipping my toe in for the first time.

Another new product welcomed into the fold has been the Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate, which has been on my shopping list for an age. I finally cracked last week, after much umming and ahhing over whether or not it was worth it, given that I already have and enjoy the Clarins Brightening Exfoliator Toner. Once again, we aren't yet full acquainted, but after a couple of uses I can report that this smells fruitily fantastic (much like the Glyco mask from the same range) and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth in the mornings.I shall report back soon!

Last but not least is this delightful Indulgent Fig & Orange Oil Moisturising Hand and Nail Cream from M&S. Smells divine and does the job, which is all you can ask, really!

Candle-wise, I've been loving the warming scent of my latest Christmas Yankee in Fireside Treats - sweet and toasty, without being sickly or overpowering. Definite winner.

Which products have been floating your boat this week?
Have you entered my Christmas Giveaway?

xx

The Weekly Selection

There hasn't really been anything to write home about this week in terms of new loves - I did go out and buy a few new beauty bits a couple of days ago, but I haven't had the chance to try anything more than once or twice, which means that my most reached-for products of late have definitely been the known and loved.

One product which has stood out to me, however is definitely the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil*, which has been lurking at the back of my collection for some time now, just begging to be loved. When I first received it, my skin was an absolute nightmare, and I had really scaled back my routine to the absolute basics as I was so afraid of making it worse. However, now that things are on a bit more of an even keel, I've been really enjoying slapping on a light layer of this before I turn in for the night. It's the nicest smelling facial oil I've ever had the pleasure of using, and leaves my skin feeling plump and nourished come morning. It also gives me a bit of an extra glow, which is something I'm always in the market for.

Next up is my beloved Mac Lipstick in Vegas Volt. This was my first ever Mac purchase many moons ago, and the vibrant coral shade still wows me as much now as it did back then. I actually went through a phase where I no longer thought this suited me, but when I found it at the bottom of my makeup bag last week and slicked some on, it was love - again. It's one of your typically perfect summer shades, and the creamy Amplified finish is an added bonus.
I've been enjoying using the Dove Summer Glow in light - medium to keep my limbs looking naturally bronzed of late (I know it has a different name in the picture, but that's because it's a foreign version!). I don't often go for this type of product, as I've had plenty of sunshine at my disposal for quite some time now. However, you do start to take it for granted after a while and before you know it you're looking a bit pale again as you haven't been out in it for a week.

Last but not least, it's the Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment, which has been a godsend following the DIY re-ombre-ing of my hair earlier this week. I first had my hair done some time ago now, and some of you might remember that my locks were left in a very sorry state afterwards, with weeks of complaining and attempting to nurse them back to help in the aftermath. Over time, I'd trimmed and trimmed the ends to the point where there really wasn't much of the ombre effect left, so this time I decided to take matters into my own hands, and do it myself. I have to say, I'm really pleased with the results - more so than when I paid to have it done professionally. And this time, I am determined to do right by my locks and give them all the strength and nourishment they need from the off.

Which products have been floating your boat this week?

xx