Cuticle Maintenance

It's certainly not the most glamorous of tasks, lets be honest. But a quick glimpse of my rather neglected cuticles the other evening told me that I had to do something, fast. There was a time when not a single cuticle product crossed my collection but having become quite a nail polish whore I have accumulated quite a selection. Whereas once 'sorting my cuticles' meant a quick massage and push back using my nails (cringe) in the bath I now reach for a triplet of products which see my nails go from shabby to chic in just a few minutes. 

For when my nails are OKish: When I have not left it too long between mani's I tend to find that a cuticle oil does the job. Sally Hansen's Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil pretty much does what it says on the tin. I like to apply around the nails bed and then either massage in with my fingers or use a cotton bud to push the product about. You need to give your hands a good wash afterwards with this one if you are planning on painting straight after and I recommend a quick swipe of nail polish remover over the nail to ensure that all the oil has been removed. I like to apply this after painting my nails too and on a general daily basis as it really does keep dry patches at bay. 

For in between manicures: Elegant Touch Cuticle Remover. Easy to find in most supermarkets and drugstores, it comes in at less than a fiver and pretty much does the job. I use this when my cuticles haven't been left for too long and just need a tidy. It comes with a brush,  which you pretty much apply like a nail polish all around the nail bed, leave for a few seconds and start pushing back with a cuticle pusher (if there is a professional name for this appliance then please let me know). Afterwards, wash and your ready to go.

When the big guns are called for: The latest edition to the 'cuticle family' is Sally Hansens Instant Cuticle Remover. I had been after this for a while, but not being readily available on the High Street it was going to have to be an Amazon job until I spotted this sitting alone on a shelf in TK Maxx for just £3.99. Heads up though that I have heard this could be making its way into selected Boots stores so sit tight. Unlike the aforementioned products, this is a gel like formula which you squeeze directly onto your cuticles, leave for 15 seconds and then start pushing back. The precision applicator and easy to squeeze bottle is pretty easy to handle and really does do the business. In fact my nails always look heaps better after using this. Word of warning though this is pretty harsh stuff so it does recommend only using twice a week. 

So if you are on the look out for cuticle taming products then I highly recommend throwing one or two of these in your basket next time you are in Boots... 

L'Oreal SuperLiner Brow Artist

If theres one thing that L'Oreal does well and thats eyes. Their recently discontinued (*sob*) Telescopic mascara has been my most re-purchased beauty item to date. So when they launched a collection of brow and liner products on the back of their 'Line of Beauty' AW13 trend I was all ears. Launched under L'Oreal's SuperLiner franchise the collection consists of 3 liners and a brow pencil - Blackbuster - a jumbo pen style eyeliner, Pefect Slim - a tiny 0.4mm precision eyeliner, Gelmatic - a gel liner in a pen applicator and finally Brow Artist* which I was kindly sent for review.

To give you a brief idea of what y brows are like - I have naturally unruly brows which over time have become rather sparse from being a tad over zealous with the tweezers. Whilst my brows have a relatively good natural shape they do require a little work filling in the gaps, and working on more of an arch as I attempt to regrow them. Lets just say I am certainly no Cara in the eyebrow stakes! As far as products go I have tried a fair few, with Cliniques Superfine eyebrow pencil tipping the top spot and MAC Espresso coming in a deserving second.  

Brow artist is sold as a 3 in 1 product, consisting of a brow pencil, wax and tamer brush all in one neat pencil sized portion. To start proceedings I have been using the brush to tidy up the brow area and prepare for shading, next up I fill in the areas needed with short strokes, almost like drawing fine hairs into the gaps, creating the shape I want. The pencil is quite dense, so I find running it over the back of my hand firstly softens it slightly and makes it slightly easier to work with.  Finally I use the brush end again to blend any harsh edges and give an overall natural look. For additional wear use the wax end around the edges to stop any movement throughout the day. 

For an easy to use brow pencil this pretty much hits the spot. The formula is slightly waxy and does need a good blend with the brush to take away the harshness and avoid being left with a scouse brow.  The waxy formula, however does negate the need for the 'finishing wax' and whilst the wax end is a nice extra, I am not sure it contributes any real benefit to the product other than giving it an added 'selling point'. Colour wise you are limited to only 3 shades - blonde, brunette and dark brunette. I have been using 03 Brunette - a straight up dark brown which I am pleased to report has no signs of an orange undertone. I would like to see L'Oreal extend the colour range, as I think red heads in particular have been left off of the shade chart. But as far as brow pencils go, this does exactly what it says on the tin, and is a pretty good pencil for its mere £5.49 price tag. 

Will you be trying any of the L'Oreal SuperLiner collection?

*PR Sample 

Review | L'Oréal 3 in 1 Micellar Solution

A recent weekly shop saw the latest Micellar water from L'Oréal land in my basket - Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Water. Since Bioderma took the beauty world by storm I am pleased to see that many high street brands are following suit, with L'Oréal being the latest to serve up their own version. In case you have been residing under a rock for the past year then micellar waters have been the latest innovation in makeup removing, promising to dissolve and remove makeup. Whilst I rely on cleansing balms for a deep down clean, I don't rely on them to remove my makeup and tend to take a 2 step approach when it comes to cleansing.  I have been using this pre-night time routine to remove my makeup before moving onto a proper cleanse and I have to say I am impressed. I like to use one large cotton pad, sweep over my eyes and then move over my face. I will sometimes use 2 pads dependent on how heavy my makeup is that day. Boy does this remove, as a waterproof mascara gal this takes it all off. No more morning panda eyes when traces have been left behind. My only niggle would be that it sells itself on unclogging pores and clearing impurities, which for something that only works on the surface I struggle to believe, I certainly would not skip a proper cleanse afterwards.  If however, you are looking to adding a pre-cleanse to your skincare routine then I certainly recommend giving this a try. And for £5 a pop, whats not to love?

Introducing: Glo Minerals Makeup

Mineral makeup has never really been on my radar, its something I saw pop up on the shopping channel on a lazy Sunday afternoon but it just never really pushed my buttons. The thought of combining both skincare and makeup together was something that I had previously dismissed, strictly keeping the two separate. But a few weeks ago I made a pact to forget my negative pre-empt judgement on mineral makeup. So when I was given the heads up about a UK launch of brand from across the pond I decided to embrace it. After all theres only so many times you can eyeball the mineral shadows in House of Fraser without wondering whats the deal... 

Glo minerals is a brand from across the pond. Launching in 2002 its already become a hit in the states and has just recently touched down on British soil. An award winning brand priding themselves on not only promoting flawles, high quality makeup, but makeup that benefits the skin too. Packed full of skincare goodness, the brands makeup comes complete with sun protection - Hello heatwave...

I briefly touched on their powder SPF in this post, and given the recent heat wave it has been proven to be an essential in my handbag. Their lip tint/gloss has proven to be the most non sticky formula of a gloss yet to date and whilst I was not overly keen on the liquid bronzer (a tad too sticky for my liking), the highlighter, a pearlescent subtle cream formula has been making an beeline for my cheekbones giving a subtle, natural glow. I like to apply under my foundation for a dewy natural look. My favourite of the bunch though has to be the eyeshadow trio in Amethyst,  a mix of aubergine and mauve, its the perfect collection of colours for a smoky eye with a pop of colour. Pigmented, long lasting with not a crease in sight on my oily lids - these get a big thumbs up from me.

Whilst I can't speak as to whether these really do benefit the skin for ladies that actively seek cosmetics free from parabens, fillers and nasties then I certainly recommend that you give these a try. Could I be a mineral makeup convert?

Glo Minerals are available now on the UK website - www.glo-minerals.com.

*PR Samples

Weekend Wishlist #10

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

I think its safe to say that after my card got rather a battering this weekend that these items shall remain firmly on this post.  However I hold no promises and with summer approaching and a beach wedding/holiday on the horizon its about time I started thinking about my summer essentials. 

1. MAC Face and Body foundation 50ml - I have always had my eye on the F&B foundation but the mahusive bottle always put me off. Although MAC have now released the smaller 50ml bottles which are much more travel friendly for the everyday beauty obsessive. 

2. Glamorous Kimono - Love love love this kimono from Glamorous and after seeing Milly rocking it on her blog it has been firmly planted on my 'need/want' list. Shame that this is sold out, but its so pretty you can kind of understand why. This would be perfect to dress up or just throw over a bikini with some denim shorts to rock around the pool. 

3. Zara Neon Bag - I thought its about time I added a spruce of colour to my handbag collection and a solid black bag isn't going to cut it on holiday. Trust Zara to come up with yet another gooden', and this bright  number is big enough for all my airport essentials. Love. 

4. Disney Couture Bangle - I have mentioned before, bar a watch I am not really a jewellery person. However this bangle really caught my eye and I love the inscription 'Have Faith in Your Dreams' which is very apt as I am a big believer in following dreams whatever others may say. Apologies for getting a little deep...

5. Chantecaille SPF50 - When I saw the price of this I had to take a deep breath. I mean what makes a grown relatively sane woman throw down the best part of 100 notes on a sun cream right? I am yet to find a face sun cream that isn't greasy and the reviews on this have been nothing but praise. Not one to be seen bare faced on holiday this could be the ultimate primer whilst protecting our most valuable asset. I have said it before and will say it again, you only get one face so if you are going to splurge on anything then ensure that it is skincare. 

Mont Bleu - Handbag Essentials

Some time ago I was sent a couple of items from Mont Bleu*. A brand which I was not familiar with, they are based in the Czech Republic and specialise in decorative beauty tools, all handmade. Not one to turn my nose up at an embellished tool I quickly welcomed these items to my handbag and thats where they have remained firmly since. First up is a compact mirror, silver, with a cute array of Swarovski crystals this is bound to gather a few admiring glances on the train. Next up is something I was most looking forward to trying - the crystal nail file. I am always looking for a good quality nail file and generally stick to cheap ones from Boots but they never last. This files my nails like a dream, plus comes with a rather handy little pouch so you dont have to worry about it scratching other items in your bag. I highly recommend getting your hands on a crystal nail file if you have not already. You can check out the range from Mont Bleu here. Its definitely worth a peruse if you are on the lookout for gifts.

*PR Samples 

Illamasqua Blushers

There's one thing I can't do, and thats walk past an Illamasqua counter without swatching at least 2 of their blushers. But the one thing I have failed to do is ever actually purchase one. For that I apologise Illamasqua. So when I casually went on Twitter during my lunch break last week its like fate was on my side when they were offering a whopping 50% off. Cue a quick browse online and I ended up securing 2 blushers - Nymph and Sophie. I'd had my eye on Nymph for a while. It was a toss between Nymph and Well Dressed by MAC. And the sheer pigmentation for the former won me over hands down. A bright bubblegum pink, this applies ever so naturally for a flush of colour during the day. This is the one I am wearing in the photo and has been my weapon of choice for the latter part of this week. The second was Sophie - a blush made in honor of Sophie, a girl who was tragically killed for daring to be different. This is a story that really struck a chord when it hit the headlines back in 2007 on my birthday to be exact. I urge you all to read about it here if you have not already. Illamasqua describe it as a golden coral shimmer, and I can report that this is a pretty good description and it definitely has an aura of Nars Deep Throat about it which is a favourite of mine. 

Both blushers are soft, pigmented, easy to apply and above all have amazing longevity. In fact I don't know why I waited so long to purchase. Now just to find a place to store them amongst my overflowing collection of blushes, but everyones allowed a weakness right?

Birchbox - April 2013

Birchbox April 2013* £10 plus p&p

I initially heard of Birchbox via Youtube a couple of years back when I would see YouTubers from across the pond reviewing this box which they were sent monthly with a selection of high end beauty products to try for a monthly subscription fee. I was intrigued and immediately went in search of a similar concept in the UK which is when I was introduced to Glossy Box. From the moment Glossy Box went on sale I have been a sub, and like most serious relationships there have been some ups and downs. We have fallen in and out of love more times than I care to count and sometimes it has surprised me and others it hasn't. But ultimately we are bound together. That was until this week when I cheated on my beloved Glossy Box and tried out the other side. The original beauty box that is Birchbox. It came to the UK earlier in the year and is set to be a big competitor in the beauty box stakes. Offering high end samples each month for £10 plus p&p this box comes beautifully wrapped in your generic beauty cardboard box with the products enclosed in a pretty handy drawstring bag. This month I was sent the April box* to test the water. I was presented with 6 products, all deluxe sample sized with a full sized lip pencil. Despite being brands which I was unfamiliar with I actually enjoyed discovering newer brands and this was the chance to try those that I had not heard of before, plus the cute mirror will definitely be a handy addition to the handbag! Although the soap I think I shall be passing onto my mother. Ultimately I would have liked to have seen a few recognisable brands, I think it helps you feel like you are getting more for your money none the less there are a good few items which I am looking forward to trying. If you fancy giving Birchbox a try for yourself then check out their website here. Plus if you sign up for a yearly subscription then you get 2 boxes absolutely FREE. 

*PR Sample

THE PERFECT RED? DIORIFIC 014 GRAND BAL 2012

Last Saturday I had no plans for NYE but I did know that whatever we were doing I wanted the perfect red lippie. I put the question out on Twitter and amongst the rec's Dior seemed to be a contender. So whilst mooching around Lakeside I took a detour into Boots and found myself hovering over the Dior counter. I told the assistant I was looking for a red lippy, no pink undertones, it had to last and had to be matte. Based on this info she sent me to the mirror with lip brush in hand with shade 014 - one application and it was a done deal. A seal of approval from the bf and I was good to go, new lippy in hand and £25 lighter (oops). The ultimate post box red, this will see you through the night with minimum need for re-application. After several drinks last night plus a cheeky kiss at midnight and this was still going strong and I am pleased to report back that this literally did not transfer at all - no red lips for the other half, much to his relief! I hope you all had fun last night whatever you were doing. Now I must go and catch up on some sleep zzzZZZ 

NICKY CLARKE DESI RED HAIRDRYER

When it comes to Christmas presents some may say aka the 'the boyfriend' that I am a nightmare to buy for. Personally I don't think this is the case, I am grateful for everything and like most things, within reason :-) but I have an issue writing a 'list'. I don't know what it is, I just hate asking for things but this year I knew I had to get a new hairdryer (I was sick of banging the old one every morning to kick start the motor haha) so I used this as the ideal opportunity to make things slightly easier on the other half by 'mentioning' that this was what I needed. Rather than pick one and make things easy for him I gave him 2 rules - it must not be pink and it can't be an identical replica of my existing, so off he trotted and Christmas morning I awoke to this little beauty. 

Colour and aesthetic wise this ticks all the boxes for me and is simple enough for my needs. I mean come on its a hairdryer right? I don't need any fancy gizmo's as long as it fulfils its purpose within a reasonable speed. The Nicky Clark Desi Red boasts a good 2000W with 3 heat settings, 2 speed settings plus an ionic option. It feels sturdy yet light enough for me who can be rather cock handed when drying my hair so the last thing I need is some hefty monstrosity! 

I use this with the detachable nozzle and a flat brush. I can't say that the ionic option which claims to make hair softer, and frizz free makes much of a difference but it is a welcome extra. The hairdryer definitely does the business as far as hairdryers go plus it looks rather pretty on dressing table! So 10 points to Chris! This year the boy done good! 

Now as this post is scheduled for today 'Sunday' I should be at my parents right now just in time to do a daughters duty - raid their fridge and make use of their super fast broadband!

NEW CID COSMETICS I FINISH TRANSLUCENT POWDER

For the past couple of weeks I have been road testing a new loose powder. Come the winter months I can find my skin a tad dryer and therefore more often than not skip this part of my routine or just usual a light dusting of my usual Laura Mercier pressed powder around the T zone. However when I was given the chance to try a new loose powder by New CID cosmetics* I thought it was time for a change. CID cosmetics are a newish brand to me with the exception of seeing some pretty rave reviews throughout the blogging community. As a bit of a stickler for fancy fancy packaging I have been displaying this with pride on my dresser. The powder itself is a translucent powder with a hint of colour and would suit most light to medium skin tones. I have been using this on top of my usual Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, applying it with the large Real Techniques powder brush and it gives a lovely smooth finish without looking powdery which I find can be the case with some loose powders. As with all loose powders I can find them a tad messy and hard to travel with. The lid inside has holes which disperse the powder after a slight shake which makes this a little easier to work with however I think I will be sticking to pressed powders for travelling after a slight handbag mishap :-). Overall though I have been enjoying this and it is definitely a welcome addition to my collection. 

The new CID i-finish Translucent Powder is available at Hairtrade and you can buy the product for £17.41 here. 

Have you tried the new CID range and what did you think?

*PR sample

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NAILS INC - BAKER STREET BLUE

So yesterday I finally got my hands on the infamous Baker Street by Nails Inc. This shade first sent the beauty world into a frenzy when none other than Beyonce was seen sporting this on her talons after the birth of her daughter. I have searched high and low and am yet to find a colour that comes close so I had to bite the bullet and buy the original. It is certainly a step away from my usual muted tones but 'I like'. After one coat I was a bit 'meh' but 2 coats and wham its a completely opaque blue. Finished off with lashings of Seche Vite top coat and I was good to go!

 Have you tried this colour?

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PERRICONE MD - NO CONCEALER, CONCEALER

When it comes to concealers it's safe to say that I have tried a fair few so when this latest little bottle of Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer* landed on my door step I was intrigued to say the least. Firstly don't be fooled by the rather lengthy name. Expecting some miraculous serum promising to banish dark circles I was presented with what appears to be a standard concealer in a rather fancy pump action container. Unlike generic concealers though this little albeit pricey (yes it will set you back £37) formula is packed full of age fighting ingredients including 'neuropeptides' (an ingredient promising hydration, elasticity and firm -yes please) and Vitamin C plus a hefty dose of SPF (35 to be precise). Now I am no boffin when it comes to skin care ingredients but anything promising to assist with the signs of ageing is perfect for the skin conscious approaching 30 year old such as myself! So recently I have neglected my usual combo of the body shop concealer and the infamous Touche Éclat in favour of this. And so far so good. Rather than use the pump action which tends to disperse a tad too much product for my liking I have been dipping a cotton bud in and then dabbing under the eye area, using my fingers to gently press into the skin. Rather than sit on the surface this sinks into the skin perfectly and since I have been having to leave the house that little bit earlier lately in the morning this as definitely been my beauty weapon of choice in the mornings for fighting the fatigue look I have been sporting lately. Being a makeup and go kind of girl I rarely touch up my makeup during the day so I am happy to report that this stays put all day without creasing bar the fact that it does fade as the day goes on, by which point my usual caffeine intake has kicked in and I am looking slightly more bright eyed by then. 

Now don't get me wrong the coverage of this is pretty good but if you are looking for a full coverage concealer you might want to step away now. Verging on almost a hybrid of a concealer and an eye cream in one this gives just enough boost to brighten the eye area whilst hydrating at the same time which is perfect for those that don't have time to faff around with eye creams and potions so early in the morning.

I have to say that initially I was shocked by the price however to put it into perspective, being an avid buyer of Touche Éclat suggests that this is a better deal for my money, considering the former costs £25 for a mere 2.5ml and this gives you almost 4 times the amount then it is pretty good value for money in the long run. 

If you fancy trying this for your self then you can buy it by clicking here.

*PR Sample

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

Hello there friends! I am back from Paris and currently awaiting a delivery van to come and pick up the mountains of boxes which have been moved to the hallway of my parents house. So what better way to fill the time than a little blogging! This review has been a long time coming and I wanted to give the product a full test before I could report back to you guys and I have to say that even now I am still on the fence about this product! 

Some time ago I bought the REN Glycolactic radiance renewal mask after hearing some other bloggers singing its praises. After buying the full sized bottle which is a hefty £38 for 50ml I was actually sent the sample sized via Whats in my Handbag. In hindsight I wish I had waited for this as I am not sure whether I would of purchased the full sized after trialling it. The idea of the mask is that rather than exfoliating the top layer of skin it actually penetrates through the layers to enable new skin cells to grow thus leaving you with a more radiant complexion. I used this after cleansing my skin. I usually use an old foundation brush to apply masks but this worked better using my finger tips to massage it into the skin, although it was rather messy and stick and what I can only describe as rubbing honey or jam all over my face, a very strange formulation to say the least. The aroma however is something I like, almost citrusy like bitter oranges. I know that this is going to be a love it or hate it scent. After about 10 minutes, I use a muslin cloth to remove. This is the nasty bit, even after several rinses I can't help but feel that there is a sticky residue left? Maybe this is just me? My skin definitely feels softer after using and a tad more plump, but for almost 40 quid I want the WOW factor with immediate results and unfortunately it did not give me that. Yes its a nice mask but the price tag alone puts me off purchasing again which is a shame as I am a fan of REN skincare. 

Have you tried this and what were your thoughts? Yay or nay?

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish | Review

Liz Earle is a brand that I go back to time and time again and over the past year I have come to own a plethora of their cult products. The one product which I will always use is their Cleanse and Polish. Renowned in the blogging community for its amazing cleansing abilities this is the one product I will always return to when my skin needs an immediate boost.

Designed to suit all skin types it is packed full of natural ingredients such as eucalyptus and cocoa butter and is designed to fully cleanse the skin whilst helping to clear and smooth at the same time. As with all Liz Earle products this has a distinctive herbal aroma, something that I personally find pleasantly soothing.

The product itself is designed to work in 2 phases. The first phase being to cleanse. I add a pump and a half between my fingers and then work into my skin. The great thing about this product is that you can use it across the eye area without worrying about it stinging. I tend to do my face first and then the eye area last to save smudging mascara and other eye makeup across my face. The second phase is to polish. You do this using the soft muslin cloth which comes with the starter kit however you can buy these separately for a few quid! I will soak the muslin cloth in as hot water I can handle and then start removing the product using circular motions which means your skin gets a good exfoliation at the same time. Unlike some cleansers I have tried this does not leave my skin feeling tight nor dry just ridiculously smooth and moisturised.

In my own opinion this is like magic in a bottle, seriously and I love the fact that despite being of the higher end range you won’t break the bank purchasing it. The starter kit* is available for £14.25 and includes a soft pouch, a 100ml bottle of Cleanse and Polish and 2 muslin cloths, so its an absolute steal. If you are looking to introduce someone or even yourself to this cult product then this is definitely a good start.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is available from John Lewis and all larger department stores or you can visit the Liz Earle website by clicking the link to find out further details about the brand

Do you use the Cleanse and Polish?

*PR Sample

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil | Review

This months Glossy Box paid tribute to 'International Superstars' by combining a selection of goodies from all over the globe. In light of the Olympics coming to an end this was a nice touch in my opinion. However as with all Glossy Boxes there are the odd duds but every now and again you come across a gem which prompts me to purchase the full size. This month it was the DHC deep cleansing oil from Japan. 

I had been looking into cleansing oils for a while now with the Shu Uemera one being a constant on my wish list. But I never know how my oily skin is going to react so I was happy to try this sample size of DHC to see how my skin reacts to oil cleansers. The sample I received was a generous 30ml. I love the fact that you literally shake it into your hand via the small hole in the top which means no messy spillages. The product itself promises to dissolve dirt, oil and makeup even waterproof mascara which is a winner for me as its the only type I ever wear. The oil formula is enriched with rosemary and olive oil and whilst there was only an ever so subtle hue of rosemary I could definitely catch a good whiff of the olive oil, not in a potent way though. The instructions state to massage into a dry face and then rinse. I did this before bed massaging it around my face and then gently rubbing my eye area before rinsing with a muslin cloth. Now, let me tell you this removes waterproof mascara and eye makeup like an absolute dream. It literally washes away every last dreg. Sometimes I will think I have removed every drop of my mascara but then still wake up with panda eyes, this was not the case with this as it removed every last drop! My skin felt thoroughy cleansed yet plumped at the same time and it definitely had a touch of radiance the following day. 

The sample size I received was 30ml whereas the full size 200ml retails at £18.50 and is definitely something I would consider purchasing in the future. With a weekend away on the horizon I will be saving this to take with me as the perfect travel companion! 

Did you get this with your Glossy Box? What were your thoughts?