Monthly Beauty Favourites | May 2017

I didn't expect to have many favourites this month as I went from enjoying my final days off to starting a new job and wanting to rely on products that I was familiar with but as I glanced around at those that had been reached for repeatedly I found I had a nice selection for you.

First is a product I wish I had stuck with my enjoyment of and avoided the trip to have my eyebrows threaded, Parissa Brow Shaper Mini Wax Strips*. I first tried these strips at the beginning of the year and whilst trying to adopt a thriftier lifestyle. As I shared in my full review of the Parissa range I found these wax strips easy to use and ideal to tidy up brows between threading appointments. Unfortunately in the days before I begun my new job I decided to 'treat myself' to having my brows threaded and the threader was rather overzealous and thinned them out a little too much than I would like. Apparently they were uneven! Now I'm debating whether to return (elsewhere!) for a tidy up and assist with the reshaping or tackling them at home with my Parissa kit.

One of the joys of working my way through my skincare cupboard has been rediscovering old favourites, one of which is the Trilogy Make Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm*. I first tested this product over a year ago and it had fell to the back of my stash in favour of oils, and a slight lax approach to my evening skincare regime. Interestingly during my time off work my evening regime became my favourite and reaching for the Trilogy Cleansing Balm has been a pleasure. I have not used many balm cleansers so I have little to compare this too but I find it removes make up and has a nice slip to move the balm around my face to add a little facial massage which again is not something I've been prone to do. Under £20 this is a balm that I would happily repurchase when the time comes and am pleased with it's make up removal.

Another cleanser that I didn't expect to favour so was Good things Stay Clear Purifying Cleanser* due to it's 'anti blemish' claims and it marketed for younger skin than mine. My skin does become oily in the Summer and I do have the odd hormonal spot at that time of the month but otherwise I'm pretty much in the 'normal' camp. Despite this, if only for the delicious smell it's become a cleanser I'm enjoying using as my morning cleanse and I can't deny this months 'visit' went by without my typical blemishes that would appear. Thanks to extract of mango, blueberry and willow-bark to purify and decongest the skin to manage oiliness it has actually come into its own the past week as I've battled the London Underground on one of the hottest weeks of the year. If oiliness or blemishes are an issue for you I'd recommend giving this affordable cleanser a try.

I reference The Hero Project and their Glow Drops* in my new in post last week and whilst I've not dabbled the past week with adding to my foundations due to the aforementioned Underground commute it's a product I was enjoying before my return to work and especially over the Bank Holiday when I abandoned make up and felt that just wearing the drops gave my skin a fresh radiance that meant make up wasn't necessary.

Two make up favourites were Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder and Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze and Glow*, the latter being another product I've never quite fallen in love with and been of the mind I could take or leave it. Starting a new job and again referencing that hot and humid weather and commute I wanted to look my best without piling on too much make up, and of course there were the early mornings when contouring to any degree was the last thing on my mind. Everyone loves the Filmstar Bronze and Glow palette and I've never quite understood the fuss. I won't go so far to say this is a must have but I'm certainly warming up to it. Using the bronze and glow adds enough definition and warmth without overkill and likewise the highlight is suitable enough for wear in the office. As I type I have no desire to swap this duo out any time soon.

Similarly the Coty Airspun powder is a product I picked up on a US trip due to many mentions by Glam Life Guru Tati. Typically I would use my Chanel Les Beiges powder but as you will see in a forthcoming post I need to replace and before I do so I wanted to tackle other products in my collection. Tati uses this to bake under her eyes and I haven't gone so far as that just yet but a dusting to set make up before a spritz of Mac Fix+ is working for me. The packaging is quite cumbersome and it's by no means suitable for anywhere other than the dressing table but it might add some longevity to my future Chanel powders, saving them for on the go.

And finally it's two tanning products I've shared with in their own reviews lately, St Moriz Dry Oil Self Tanning Mist* and Skinny Tan Ultimate Dark Mousse*. Both have found their way into my routines, namely due to how tired I may be feeling of an evening or how much effort I wish to put into my tanning efforts. Skinny Tan Mousse tends to form part of my Sunday evening back to work pamper routine and then adhoc through the week St Moriz mist works as any colour might be fading as I have to shave my legs whenever they will be on show. I was concerned the St Moriz mist might cause streaking from the Skinny Tan but so far I've been lucky and they appear to work in tandom perfectly.

What products have you been loving this month?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Maintaining Bronze Goddess Status

A month ago I was celebrating my birthday, sitting in my parents garden with the sun beating down yet today I'm typing away with the heating on - what is the weather doing? Nonetheless there are one or two ways I can pretend the sun is still shining.

First is a firm favourite from last year, Estee Lauders iconic fragrance for Summer, Bronze Goddess which is back at House of Fraser on 1st June. I picked this up in Duty Free last year and it was of course the scent I travelled to St Lucia with.

As soon as I spray the perfume I'm transport to warmed climes and reminded of my holidays which can be needed in less than desirable circumstances or weather. I find it's a scent that lingers well on the skin and one that people often comment on and ask what I'm wearing.

In my initial review I discussed how it can be more a growing in scent, first sprays I wasn't impressed with but do test it on your own skin to see how it settles as you might change any negative first impressions.

My only plea to Estee Lauder? Please bring out a travel friendly size for times when we're tackling limited luggage allowances.

My St Lucia tan is slowly fading so I'm currently dabbling with a few tanning products to ensure my legs don't return to their pasty hue, one of which is St Moriz Dry Oil Self Tanning Mist*. Usually I prefer a mousse for my faux tan but often it requires a little more care and attention to apply than I would like. All the prep and then time to develop when often I decide that I want to bare my legs with only a matter of hours to spare or don't want to fuss with washing off.

I first tried this out over the Bank Holiday weekend after stepping out of the shower and thinking it's now or never, especially as the dry oil will lock in moisture from the shower so even before we get into it's tanning qualities it creates a nice finish on the skin whilst keeping it hydrated.

You simply spray St Moriz Dry Oil Mist onto your skin and then using a mitt (I picked up one from Home Bargains recently that I'm really impressed with) blend into skin. In my opinion it is more spray than mist although not aggressively so and a few well distributed squirts work like any other product. I am always nervous when there is no guide colour but the oil formula allows you to pay attention to where you have applied.

You won't have a lingering 'fake tan' scent from St Moriz but there is a heavily perfumed one on applying that I'm not too big a fan of and it does smell artificial but dissipates quickly that I only remembered on spraying as writing todays review.

Usually I find myself walking around starkers when I've applied fake tan, or reaching for onesie as it dries but another point to St Moriz is the fast drying formula. It isn't greasy, sticky or tacky to touch and very quickly after applying I was able to dress, and even diced with danger and wore a white t-shirt and there was no transfer.

Your colour will deepen throughout the day, and whilst I applied of an evening before visiting friends it was certainly evident in the morning and as I sat Facetiming with Ben I kept brandishing my 'tanned arm' pleased with how it looked.

I have found the colour lighter on my legs which I put down to being over cautious when applying and will be a little more heavy handed next time but there is a bronzed glow which I appreciate and can see the appeal of applying this on the morning I head to work and leaving for drinks in the evening with pins I'm proud of.

As someone who likes quick and instant results created with ease this is going to become a firm favourite and a product I'll be reapplying frequently. If you're a faux tan newbie or perhaps want a more subtle glow to your skin do try out St Moriz Dry Oil Mist as I think you'll be impressed.

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links