Monthly Beauty Favourites | June & July 2017

It's extremely cliched at the end of each month to exclaim 'where did this month go' but really, where did July go? It was only as I was sitting last weekend thinking I really must sit down and hit publish on my June favourites when I realised that people were sharing their July favourites so in blogging terms I was definitely behind.

It then occurred to me that the month had moved so quickly that I hadn't even made my usual notes for the coming month of items that would appear the following month and it was still many of these being staples in my everyday routines.

Enough with the excuses and let's have a look at what products have made an impression of late, starting with Imperial Leather Banana Bath Cream. Yes Imperial Leather heard 'my' pleas and brought out the accompanying bath cream for my much loved shower gel. This makes a nice break from either the muskier or zesty scents I often find in my bath room and pairs wonderfully with the Coconut Shower Gel from Aldi if I want to have a little cocktail in the bathroom.

A frustrating hit in recent weeks has been the Lacura Hot Cloth Cleanser, frustrating as it was only available for a limited time and I didn't have the foresight to stock up. I do hear it's back in November so take note if you're looking for an affordable Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish dupe. As I shared when I first tried out this cleanser it's indistinguishable to it's higher end counterpart. I enjoy a creamy cleanser for days when I'm disinterested or too tired in double cleansing and the like and I find them especially nice for a morning cleanse of a weekend when I'm preferring to go make up free.

I wasn't too keen on Urban Beauty United Brush* No 22 (the brand has had a redesign since so products are numbered differently) for make up application and then one evening when I wanted to apply a clay mask I reached for it rather than using my fingers - especially with stiletto nails - and found I much preferred the application method. Using the brush to apply face masks has seen me using less than I need and distribute far evenly. How do you apply your face masks?

Finishing the skincare favourites is La Roche-Posay Anthelios Face Mist*, a new release in the Anthelios line. SPF is really key to your skincare regime but I must confess outside of my holidays I tend to rely on the SPF in my skincare and make up items than applying a separate cream but the new Anthelios Face Mist has changed that. I apply a layer after my moisturiser and only particularly sunny days over make up whilst it's handy size makes it perfect to throw in your handbag for touch ups throughout the day.

Whilst I wouldn't rely on this in sunnier climes for days when I only see the light of day during my commute to work I find it works perfectly. I was skeptical at it's mist name but it really does apply as such and has a nice scent which makes it a pleasure to use and again, how it would sit on top of make up was of concern but it doesn't interfere at all. It's a product I will definitely repurchase and use, even for my trip to Florida later in the year, this will be ideal throughout the day to add more coverage.

Before I would even call myself a 'beauty blogger' I shared my purchase of the Bare Minerals Foundation and it's one I've repurchased often although not used so much in recent years. Again please don't judge me for how old these foundations might be but I recently rediscovered it as I was working my way through decluttering my make up collection and have been using it regularly as skin has been oiler due to the (occasional!) warmer days.

Whilst the Bare Minerals Original Foundation as a loose powder isn't ideal for travelling at home I find it quick and easy to use, and it's allowed me to play with some cream products and change up the way I do my make up which has been fun. Such is my enjoyment of late I have already used up one pot and have started on a second I had in my stash.

When I'm in a hurry in the morning, or just feeling generally lazy about my make up and want to apply and go it's the GOSH Contour'n Strobe Kit* in Light I've reached for. As I shared in my earlier review this palette pairs perfectly with a red lip, another of my lazy day saviours.

When I first received the Nip+Fab Make Up Mascara* I compared it to the YSL and it's certainly proved as much as since I have been using it has dried up in exactly the same way as that would - luckily this is a much cheaper product for repurchasing and it's finish would see me do so without worrying that it does dry out and clump very quickly.

I'm not sure if my final beauty favourite is strictly 'allowed' as I have only used once but I loved it so much I felt it only right to share. Mac Fly By Twilight foiled eyeshadow was part of the Faerie Whispers collection I picked up over a year ago and a few weekends ago as I got ready for a party was the first time I'd used it since buying it.

I tend to pick bronze and browns for my eye make up but I liked the change with some silver and this eyeshadow applied wonderfully. A spray of fix plus gave more pigment and sparkle but it was thick enough to not cause a bad finish on 'older eyelids'. It's definitely one I'll bringing out for party time in the future.

I'm going to end my favourites with something a little different and the website Foxella. It was mere days before I started my new job i saw a Tweet from Jane at BBB tagging Foxella, had a nosey as one does and then fell into a black hole of celebrity gossip and 'blind items'. In short Foxella is a celebrity gossip site that shares gossip about celebrities indirectly but adds the suggested celebrity the gossip refers to in it's post. As I can't bear to add views to the Daily Mail, even for their sidebar of shame, Foxella has filled that void so I can be sure to Keep Up With Khardashians and other such celebrities from the Z to A list. I follow them on Twitter and find it's the simplest way for me to keep 'informed' and will tell anyone who is a fan of such salacious gossip that this is the site to follow. Often I will print screen particularly 'interesting' gossip and sharing with friends creating shock, conversation or denial as we see fit. Predominantly it is American celebrities that feature and some I am not familiar with and will skip over but you find the odd British celebrity featured such as the Beckhams and One Direction members. One such hungover day I actually scrolled through the entries since I'd discovered Foxella and read every one - it was the perfect day. Judge me accordingly but I dare you to dip into the site and not become like me anticipating the next tidbit that appears in your Twitter feed. 

What have you been loving this month, or indeed the past two months?

*this post contains press sample and affiliate links

Products I Used Up | May 2017

May I continued to make headway with my mission to use up products I own but it's always sad to see Chanel in an empties post - and costly if I'm going to repurchase!

First is Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Twist & Spray travel set, the final bottle since recently appearing in my April favourites. A classic signature scent that I would typically repurchasing but for now I'll be enjoying my new Summer scents and other perfumes in my collection and I'll save the repurchase for later in the year when I hit Duty Free - now if there was ever a mission to declutter that perfume collection.

Once again another 'holy grail' and favourite product, Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder which due to broken packaging, not reaching for so often of late and it being the 'final dregs' I decided to say goodbye. I'm certain this will be a product I'll repurchase but for now I want to try and use and test alternative products I own before I do so. I'm not back at work and this was previously a handbag staple so I'm keen to see if it's absence becomes something I need to replace urgently.

Regular staples and repurchases come in the form of Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant* and an evening bubble bath. This month I'd tried Imperial Leather Relaxing Sleep Bubble Bath and unfortunately wasn't a fan. A strange gripe was that I found it 'dolloped' into the bath rather than poured out of the bottle. I don't know why this bothered me but it did. I also found it didn't create as many bubbles as I usually find with my Radox. For now I'm enjoying This Works Deep Sleep Bath Salts.

Two hand cream minis, L'Occitane Vitoria Regia and Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Repair both of which were enjoyable but nothing I'm rushing to repurchase. I found the L'Occtane a thinner formula than Liz Earle but the latter was a perfect mini size for travel or in your handbag.

I always enjoy when I find make up appearing in my empties, and more so at the moment as I continue my declutter. With a brand new Clarins Bronzing Duo sitting untouched in my drawer it was madness I was clinging to this older version to avoid wasting.  I've spoke of the Clarins Bronzing Duo often and remembered how much I loved it back in March this year and it'll be nice to make a dent in a fresh one.

Another product that I dread to think how old it is (but I know my Mac lipstick collection moved from my parents to my flat over 7 years ago!) is Mac Cremesheen Lipstick in Hot Gossip. I'm quite impressed that I obviously loved this product enough to have almost used it up but somewhere along the line it had become too hot and was broke and in a right old state so I've added it to a pile of products I have to 'Back to Mac'. For fans of Syrup lipstick from Mac you might like this shade. It's lovely for this time of year.

Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Mascara is your typical product of it's type which I enjoyed using. I have since repurchased L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper which is not dissimilar although as a slightly smaller wand to work with. With Wet n Wild not readily available on the high street it's not something I'd need to hunt out but I might throw one into my basket when I'm next in the US.

The Portuguese toothpaste, Pasta Medicinal Couto was one I used for travel and in later weeks everyday to use up and it's not for me. If you're a fan of the traditional toothpastes that taste more like bicarbonate of soda them you may favour this. The tube was also a nightmare to squeeze from.

Peel of masks have been one of the latest trends and a source of great amusement of late and even my friend tagged me in one on Facebook but I'm pleased to say that Superdrug Black Seaweed Peel Off Mask* isn't one of the pain inducing ones. If you are one of those people who was a fan of painting your hands with glue to peel off then pick up one of these affordable masks from Superdrug at just 99p.

Containing Seaweed and Sea Buckthorn which will cleanse and detox the skin I didn't find this harsh at all and skin looked fresh and cleansed. I kept on for approx 15 mins and some of the thicker parts were still a little wet and had to be washed rather than peeled off but I appreciated that it was less messy than clay masks so can certainly see the appeal.

Skincare products used up recently including ALGENIST Genius Ultimate Anti-Ageing Cream* after using in Center Parcs and my previous years holidays. As I've said in previous features it's a mousse like texture which is step up from a thinner lotion but not as thick as heavier creams. It's a high end brand so perhaps a little more than I'd like to spend but never say never.

The Hero Project is a brand I only discovered last month and the Hyasoft Instant Moisture Boost* was my least favoured of the products. It's a gel like product, similar to Pixi's H20 Skindrink Hydration Gel which I prefer.

Dermalogica is a brand I feature regularly and their Intensive Eye Repair* is a great eye product I enjoyed using and as you will hear me talking often in my reviews of late I do feel that I have seen a significant improvement in my fine lines around my eyes and dark circles resulting in my concealers applying far better than ever without any creasing to speak of thanks to my under eyes being so hydrated.

It may be surprising that the only purchases I made from Sephora when I visited Las Vegas last year were from the Sephora mask range. I'm not yet fully on the sheet mask band wagon although we did enjoy one or two in St Lucia and I do appreciate them for ease.

The Sephora Collection Eye Mask, Pomegranate and Sleeping Mask are the ones I used prior to my first day back to work and both were pleasant to use. The pomegranate masks are to 'awaken and tone the skin' and reduce the signs of fatigue so it's something I picked as I was typically in the 'always tired' camp through lack of sleep.

I used some DHC eye masks during my trip to St Lucia and they were amazing, they are scheduled for review and whilst the Sephora versions were nice enough for their price they felt inferior to the DHC offering. They felt very thin yet evident on the skin and not quite the 'right fit'. As I say these are only niggles and wouldn't stop me using nor repurchasing but not quite a must have.

The Sleeping Mask was very interesting. It's size makes it great for travel and I was able to get two uses out of this capsule. It was somewhat like applying jelly to my face and I was particularly surprised how cooling it felt on the skin so I imagine it would be a lovely product in the current weather we're experiencing in the UK.

Another sad addition to my empties bag this month was What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum* which is a saviour for tired, dehydrated or dry skin. I was introduced to the brand via PR and it's one I will repurchase in the future most certainly. You can read more about my usage here and I won't say much more because I just might have a little giveaway featuring this product very soon.

Maybe it's my age but I'm just not jumping on the full lip bandwagon so I was less inclined to be overly impressed with Transformulas Lip Volume* than others but I can't denying, whether that placebo effect or not as I added a swipe in the mornings by way of my skincare regime I did feel like my lips look plumper.

I used the This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow* as part of my Holiday Skincare Regime and continued using on my return. Interestingly it reminds me of my current serum from B. which I talked about in my New In Skincare post. This Works offers hydration but is a light formula so was perfect for the Carribean climate and would suit the current one in the UK right - the last thing I'm keen to do is pile too many oils and heavy serums onto my face. I'm also a fan of the pump dispensers. I'm currently experiencing a rage against pipettes which I find one a product gets halfway used they seem to stop picking up an product so instead I'm pouring onto my hand.

I am laughing to myself as a I have read the blurb on A-Derma Exomega Cleansing Oil* reading to link and have had the realisation that this cleansing oil is for the body not the skin which is how I was using it.  What is a shower product for eczema-prone skin I am able to tell you was amazing as a cleansing oil on my face so you could argue it does double duty. Perhaps not my smartest move and it'll teach me to read up about a product before I pile onto my face although it's a shame as I really enjoyed using this product.

Finally is a travel size of Colab Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo*  a product I will certain repurchase in it's mini form as I love to have a supply of this in my handbag of desk at work to give myself a little volume throughout the day. I have talked about Colab many times if you'd like to read more.

There ends my bumper post of empties throughout May; what products did you use up this month?

*this post contains press sample and / or affiliate links

Products I Used Up | March 2017

A small handful of products were used up during March prior to leaving for my holiday that I have t share with you today, starting with a product that made an appearance in both April 2016 and my end of year of favourites. That product is the L'Oreal Brow Artiste Plumper in Medium which I will definitely be repurchasing. I've probably dragged out use of this product longer than necessary and naturally found that the coverage became lighter in the latter months of use. It seems to last longer than Maybelline BrowDrama and I find the smaller wand easy to work with.

I was surprised how quickly I went through L'Or Des Pharaons Face and Body Mist* since it's appearance in my Thirty Plus Skincare post and as I said in that post it was a lovely product to use, what product with 'nanoclusters of gold' wouldn't be but for around the £40 mark I'm looking for something more.

I've become a big fan of Imperial Leather in recent months, especially their Sweets range of which I've tried a number of the scents (my favourite is the Banana) but today it's the Imperial Leather Shower Cream in Sherbet Lemon that's found it's way into the empties pile. This is probably my second favourite and once I've completed my 'mission' to use up the numerous half used products in my bathroom I will be repurchasing. They have also brought out a Marshmallow Bath Cream
in the range to compliment so I'm hoping they add the other scents although following a tip from Caroline I did test this out as a bubble bath and it worked quite well so perhaps I won't need two separate products.

Another disappointment was the Zoella Fizz Bar. I appreciate I'm probably not the target audience and I think I pinched this to try from a stash of products I was gifting the teen daughters of friends I know. I am partial on occasion to bath bombs and the like but I found this, used with and without bubble baths didn't add anything but grit to my bath water.

Soap & Glory Orangeasm was limited edition and unfortunately no longer available which is a shame because it's a nice, more subtle scent to their sweet and citrus to Sugar Crush. I paired this with the orange scented Patisserie de Ban products I was enjoying recently which made for a great combination. Never fear all of the Soap & Glory scrubs are great but if you favour the tube style of dispenser then try Scrub of Your Life.

Keep an eye out as there will be a holiday installment of products I used up coming up soon.

*this post contains press samples and / or affiliate links

Finding a Good Nights Sleep

I've discussed many times that I have dreadful sleeping patterns and habits. I will sit flicking through tv channels till all hours and even worse has been the latter months of my time at home that I find myself unable to kick start my day until early evening and continue through the night.

As I have begun interviewing for future jobs and my return to work is imminent I'm conscious of my need to adapt to normal business hours and an early morning commute into London that means trying to find one or two rituals and products that help relax me of an evening before bed.

First up is a relaxing bath, I've not a big relax in the bath fan I must confess but it's something I've enjoyed more off whilst having time at home and I've been using Imperial Leather Relaxing Sleep Bath Soak of an evening to unwind thanks to the Camomile and Ylang which aids restful sleep.

One ritual I'm find an ease at following is spraying my bedsheets with a pillow spray. I've been using pillow sprays for sometime although it's somewhat nicer currently that I can spray in a timely manner rather than spritzing moments before bed. The two I have in rotation at the moment are at two ends of the price spectrum, Ragdale Hall Sleep Pillow Mist is a mere £5 from Marks and Spencer and the mist I was first introduced to. For someone who usually turns their nose up at anything too 'lavender' this is a pleasing version of the scent that enjoy smelling as I might initially toss and turn in bed.

A little more expensive and to evoke the spa experience is Champney's Heavingly Days Pillow Mist* which also contains lavender mixed with geranium and chamomile and is a slightly more sophisticated smell and I also love spraying a little on my bedside lamp so that the scent 'burns' in the room creating a haven for bedtime.

This Works are well known for their pillow mist but it's the This Works Skin Deep Beauty Oil* which I keep in my bedside draw and apply the oil to my pulse points if I need to 'enhance feelings of well-being' and relax after a particularly stressful or tense day.

The final product is Melatonin in tablet form which is a manmade version of the hormone produced in the brain that helps regulate your sleep and wake cycle. My understanding is that it is only available to purchase over the counter in the US, where I picked up my stash and they have been used as an alternative to treating insomnia and for me they are priceless.

I had heard a lot about these through the wonder of the internet and finally purchased in Las Vegas last year but forgot about them as I struggled to fight my jetlag, when I finally remember I had them it was amazing at how they worked. My issue is primarily falling asleep and I find it difficult to switch off but all I need to do when I'm really struggling is to pop one of these tablets and find I drift off very quickly and easily.

So there are a few of my tools for finding a good nights sleep, what are yours?

*this post contains press samples and / or affiliate links

New and Old Favourites in my Bathroom

Its not all luxury skincare and red lipsticks that put a smile on my face, there are many daily essentials I wouldn't without. Today I'm sharing a few of mine, both new and old favourites that are currently sharing space in my bathroom.

First is the old favourite and another product I've mentioned many times, Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant*. Repeatedly appearing my monthly empties posts I think there is no doubt readers are aware that this product isn't going anywhere soon. Sometimes curiosity leads me to try other brands, question whether Sure Maximum Protection really is good as I think it is. The answer is, it is and will always be a product I rely on and return to. If you're trying to step away from aerosol deodorant than this could very well be what you're looking for. A cream product which doesn't dry or irritate after shaving and it even has an innovative formula to provide a protective layer across your sweat glands. You'll be protected no matter how much sweating you're doing on the underground (in my case more likely than sweating it out in the gym!).

Moving on to shower gel, of which I need no more than an eskimo needs ice, but one whiff of the new Banana scent from Imperial Leather and it was thrown into my supermarket trolley. I've tried a few from this scented range including Fruit Salad and Lemon Sherbet. Interestingly I don't eat bananas but it seems I do like their scent. If you see it on the shelf on your next shop I recommend you having a sniff.

Another old, but new favourite is Batiste Marrakech Dry Shampoo* (currently on 3 for 2 at Boots if you're interested) replacing Batiste Sweetie, that as I expected my niece duly saw and asked if she could have. It's worked out far better because I definitely prefer the more maturely scent of Batiste Marrakech, inspired by the aromatic sights and sounds of Morocco's bazaar's I've actually found myself spraying more for the scent than anything else. Does it leave a white/grey powder when I spray it on my brown locks, yes but it brushes out easily and doesn't leave any unsightly residue.

Finally I think I have found a hair duo that is here to stay, the newly released L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and Conditioner. It was released around about the time I was in need of a purchasing replacements and when I discovered it was for oily roots and dry ends it sounded like it was made just for me. Apparently the effects will last for 72 hours and I certainly haven't found that but my hair is looking cleaner and more healthy and I haven't had one of those days where despite washing my hair still looks greasy of lank. Whilst I dispute the 72 hour claims I have found that my hair doesn't look as greasy the next morning as I would usually expect. I wasn't too tempted with the clay masque pre-shampoo treatment but I am now.

I know one shouldn't worry too much about these things but the scent of the shampoo and conditioner is lovely and the only complaint is a regular one with L'Oreal bottles and the conditioner will sit upside down in the bathroom but I can forgive them.

So there's a peek into what products I'm enjoying that are the less than exciting ones that often forgotten.

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

August 2015 Favourites

This months favourites post you could call a little teaser as in a couple of instances I have specific posts on the product, brand or range. For that reason I'll try and keep today's post a little short and sweet so that I can delve a little deeper on the others.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow
It's been a long time since I've treated myself to anything from Chanel and with the exception of the cream eyeshadows I can't actually remember ever owning any eyeshadows from them. Walking through Boots I couldn't resist purchasing it, yes it was a complete impulse buy but I'm still thinking of the last limited edition palette that I resisted purchasing and I didn't want to make that mistake again.

To some it might be a boring browns but that was what appealed to me. In one sleek compact palette I had everything I would want on a day to day basis and as such since I purchased it has remained in my make up bag and works fabulously alongside the Glo & Ray quad you can also see above.

This is one of those products I'll be reviewing another time as I have so much more to say about it but for now know that it's keeper.

Vichy Idealia Eyes*
This is one of those products that makes its way into a favourites post, not because it's new but because it's rediscovered. I initially reviewed the Idealia Eyes and Serum back in October last year and this is my second tube. Whilst I test other products this is my familiar, go to morning eye cream. It brightens the appearance of dark circles like no other and is a hero product for my late night loving self. I've said it before but it's silicone applicator is a faff, I pop onto finger and apply that way.
If you're looking for a high street range and your lifestyle is a little bit more rock and roll then you could do worse than checking out the Vichy Idealia Range (which is currently 3 for 2 at Boots!). Spoiler alert, I'm also testing out the new Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep night cream and as expected, I love it.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Purifying Mask*
If you saw the photo I posted on instagram a couple of weeks back you'll be aware I have a large number of face masks to work my way through. Palmer's Purifying Mask* was one of those products that I'd had for what felt forever but not reached for so I decided to give it a go and as is typical cursed myself for not trying it sooner.

Filled with essential oils and a natural green clay it unclogs pores and draws out inpurities like it's pricier equivalents. Caroline Hiron's told me herself when I had my skincare clinic with her to not spend a lot of money on clay masks that she recommended I should be using. As a smoker I'm more likely to suffer from blackheads and clay masks are my saviour. Priced at £5.99 for a large tube this is a bargain product that works a treat. One use and my skin appeared brighter and moisturised and it's led me to diligently apply more so than any other mask I've tried.

Dr Organic Coconut Lip Balm*
Give me a product with a coconut scent and I'm happy so I was more than happy adding Dr Organic to my lip balm collection. I received this with some other products from the range and popped the lip balm on my dressing table to reach for as part of my 'testing process'. More than any other it's become very much of my routine, very much proving the out of sight out of mind theory. It's place on my dressing table means every morning as I'm applying my lotions and potions I apply an application of this lip balm containing shea butter and beeswax (which unfortunately it does taste of rather than coconut) to my lips. Because I don't often apply my lipstick till I'm on the train (and after I've finished my morning coffee) this gives my lips an opportunity to be hydrated and fight any elements my journey to the station will throw at me.

Glo & Ray Mariposa Quartet Eyeshadow, Twilight Nude*
Through the beauty of blogging (no pun intended) I was recently introduced to Glo & Ray and sent a package of products to try. It was this eyeshadow quad that made me instantly swoon and despite annoyingly being in the throws of enjoying my new Chanel palette I added to my make up bag. What I discovered was that with the two palettes I had everything I needed in my make up bag to create all manner of looks. In fact I have no desire to swap either of these eyeshadow palettes out of my rotation. I'll have a post with more info on Glo & Ray next week so stay tunned but for now check out this gorgeous Autumnal quad, Liquid Metal which is being added straight to my wish list.

Imperial Leather, Fruit Salad Shower Gel
If you read my post on Tuesday about the Sweet Shop Range from Superdrug it'll come as no surprise to see the Fruit Salad scented Shower Gel from Imperial Leather featuring in this months favourites. If there was any doubt of my love of a novelty product I think I'm proving my point. When I saw someone share a photo of the range which also includes Lemon Sherbet and Marshmellow I just happened to pass them whilst in Tesco doing my weekly shop. All three, despite needing more shower gel as much as eskimo's need ice, were thrown into my basket. Fruit Salads are actually one of my favourite sweets so there were some high expectations to be reached and reached it did, the scent is spot on. Of course Imperial Leather are known for their shower gels and they've managed to match a fun scent with a good product perfectly. Whilst I daren't upset anyone by mentioning the C world I think these would be a great Secret Santa or stocking filler for Christmas, especially if you added some of the retro sweets to the gift.

That's my favourites for the month of August completed, any thoughts on my picks for this month and which of my forthcoming posts mentioned are you looking forward to?

If you enjoy reading my blog posts it would be fantastic if you could take a moment to nominate me for the 'Best in Beauty' category in the Cosmopolitan awards here. I will love you forever!

*This post contains press samples