French / Paris Pharmacy Beauty Products and Paris Sephora Haul!!

Hi Cherubs!

My husband decided to surprise me on my birthday a few weeks ago with a romantic weekend to Paris! I was absolutely over the moon (not to mention shocked as this kind of thing happens very rarely these days!)

My first thought was what foods I wanted to try and my second thought went to all the amazing French Pharmacie products that I have been desperate to try.

I did my research and decided to visit City Pharma on Rue Four in St Germain du Pres as I had heard it was the best place for a huge variety of products and good value. St Germain du Pres is very pretty and also just a couple of Metro stops from where we were so it was not at all out of the way. At first when I walked in I was so overwhelmed with the amount of products and the number of people crammed in a relatively small store. But I soon got to work locating the products I had decided I wanted before-hand, and then moving on to some slightly panicked, impromptu buys. There are lots of staff on hand who speak several European languages to help you choose and who are very informative and professional. It really was an interesting experience. I could have spent days in there, not to mention hundreds of Euro but I was pretty selective and think I made some good choices. I came away with a huge bag of products which would have easily cost 3 times as much in the UK.

This is what I ended up getting:

Ducray Keracnyl Foaming Gel Wash

I bought this in my mad panic phase at City Pharma as it was on offer. I had always meant to pick something up that I could use on my body for any occasionally breakouts. Having been using this for the last 2 weeks on my back which had suffered recently with a couple of spots I have noticed an immediate difference in that they reduced in size immediately and overall the skin felt much cleaner and fresher. I absolutely love this for delivering exactly what is promised and for being kind to sensitive skin.

La Roche Posay Effaclar AI

I had heard so much about this brand and spent many a time gazing at the (almost) identical blue and white packaging in Boots, feeling ever so confused as to what to purchase. I finally took the plunge and, having consulted with the super efficient sales woman in City Pharma bought this for my oily T Zone. I mostly use this on my forehead which always breaks out every few weeks. This was a definite success! I applied this at night after cleansing my skin and the next morning my husband said he noticed my skin looked much clearer! It doesn’t dry my skin out at all.

La Roche Posay Cicaplaste Baum B5

This was bought on a bit of a whim since it seems to be one of those all purpose, wonder creams that you get lured into buying then never actually use, however, I have to say it is brilliant! It is described as a balm which always makes me think of something really rich and gummy, like Vaseline or something, but in fact it’s a white cream of average consistency. It disappears into my skin immediately with no residue and I use it only on areas of skin which are dry, tight and/or sore/irritated. I apply it at night and the next morning wake up with soothed and plumped, hydrated skin. Another great success!

Bioderma Crealine H20 Solution

I first discovered this when I lived in Dubai and absolutely adored it as a makeup cleanser. Since it ran out I didn’t re-stock as couldn’t find it in the UK. I therefore took full advantage of a double offer at City Pharma. What can I say about this? Well it has the consistency and soothing qualities of pure H2O, whilst being tough enough to completely remove even waterproof makeup. Best thing is it’s especially for sensitive skin so no irritation is experienced at all! I have to say is this is the best makeup remover I have ever used. Try it, you won’t regret it.

Bioderma Eye Contour Cream         

    

I picked this up because I have been looking for a trustworthy, sensitive skin eye cream which doesn’t cost the earth. Bioderma to the rescue! I am never quite sure what to expect from an eye cream, I suppose all I personally want is to be able to moisturise the under eye area without any kind of irritation or reaction. It’s going well so far!

Bioderma Moisturising Lotion for Oily Weakened Skin

 

Wow. I was seriously impressed when I spotted this. Now I wish I had grabbed two or three of these. It is a daily moisturising cream which is especially for oily, sensitive skin which suffers from breakouts. Simple enough but what it also claims to do is re-hydrate and strengthen oily yet dehydrated skin. I love the simplicity of a cream that I know will help with breakouts but not dry out my skin yet still keeps it soft and hydrated.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

This was a bit of a splurge because, truly, I am not sure it does anything better than a water mist or setting spray. But it comes in beautiful packaging, has top quality essential oils blended to a soothing symphony of smells and just feels luxurious when misted onto the skin. This will be coming with me on every flight so I can freshen up, protect my skin, lightly moisturise it and (more importantly for those economy flights!) scent the air with relaxing, aromatherapy!

Embryolisse Eau de Beaute Rosamelis

Ok. So I bought another hydrating, freshening, essential oil scented facial mist. This time by Embryolisse (who make awesome luscious moisturisers). This one has a gentle floral scent which is not at all sickening, it literally smells like fresh cut flowers! I bought it because it was so cheap (I believe it was 5 Euros) and I loved the smell, and just because I wanted it! So sue me..

Nuxe Baume Reve de Miel

Apparently one of these is sold every few seconds around the world. I wanted to see what all the hype is, especially as I already have found my Kiehls holy grail lip balm. I have to say it tastes yummy, feels luscious on the lips and lasts. But Kiehls already does this for me, so the reason I actually think it could be a contender is that it is matte, rather than shiny! I don’t always want slippery, shiny lipbalm, especially if I am applying it in preparation for a boldly coloured lip, so it is pretty awesome to get a matte finish. It’s fairly rare in lipbalms too. One definite downside is the packaging – very pretty but soooo impractical and unhygienic as it comes in a glass jar with screw top lid.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Mask

 

I actually haven’t tried this yet, but definitely want to test it out and compare to my also recently purchased NARS aqua gel hydrator. As usual from La Roche Posay I am expecting something fairly miraculous. A face mask that is plumping, hydrating, soothing and doesn’t irritate my skin or break me out. Not too much to ask, is it??

NARS Aqua Gel Hydrator

I adore NARS and, in my humble opinion, simply don’t own enough of their products (mostly because they are super pricey!). I was introduced to their skin care line by my wedding day makeup artist. The first thing I loved was the hydrating freshening lotion – I don’t think they make this anymore but I just love how clean and revitalised my skin feels, not to mention it totally eliminates dry patches! Anyway I am not here to review that! I tried this mask as I was looking for something nourishing that I could leave on my skin but also that was invisible and that I didn’t have to wash off. I applied it exactly as I was told to by the sales assistant. So you basically take a dollop of it, and massage into the face. At first it turns slippery, then once the initial slipperiness disappears it has sunk into the skin and is “activated”. It is not to be worn as a moisturiser but only as an overnight mask. So I did the honours and the next morning was pleasantly surprised to find this simple looking, white cream/gel which disappeared into my skin had a completely rejuvenating effect! My skin in the morning seemed plumper, fresher and very hydrated. I would love to use this every day but was warned not to by the sales assistant, and anyway, its way too expensive to do that!

Avene Cleanance Gel Wash

I had discovered this a couple of years ago in Boots and again, absolutely loved it. It is just a simple foaming face wash. It magically erases all traces of makeup (even waterproof mascara) and leaves my skin with that really clean feeling and best of all, it rinses properly away so you have no residue left. Just clean skin. I also don’t feel that my skin feels super dry or tight like with most cleansers. Of course as it is Avene it is great for sensitive skin too.

Bioderma Sebium Exfoliating Gel

I got this simply because I wanted the full set so to speak! So far, so scrubby! Does what it says on the tin. Given the La Roche Posay Effaclar AI, I don’t use this more than once a week and then only on my T Zone.

Sephora

I also popped into the vast Sephora on the Champs Elysses and picked up just 3, yes 3! items which were all very inexpensive – the Sephora lash amplifier tool, the Sephora French manicure stickers and a travel size Frederik Fekkai glossing cream. I haven’t tried any of these products yet but I am looking forward to it!

In conclusion, French Pharmacies are heads and shoulders above UK pharmacies (with the possible exception of large Boots stores) in terms of variety, customer service and sheer quality of average priced products. The vast majority of the above items were substantially cheaper that buying the same items online here in the UK. For those that have access to the popular French products like Avene, La Roche Posay, vichy etc do try them as I think you will be very pleasantly surprised at the quality. Boots currently have a 3 for 2 offer on Avene, Vichy and La Roche so have a root around.

On a side note I absolutely LOVED Paris! I had the most amazing time, it is a place that can be seriously underrated in the UK, but if you do your research and follow the French rules for etiquette and, most importantly, at least attempt to speak French, you will experience true hospitality and kindness, and some of the best food in the world!

How to Wake Up Beautiful!! 8 Amazing Tips!!

Hey my Cherubs!

I feel like I am always apologising for not spending enough time on this blog! So I am not going to this time, except to say that I missed you all! I got the idea of this post when a few weekends ago, a couple of my girl friends came over for dinner, drinks, movies and just a fun girlie weekend. They found my time consuming night time beauty regime completely hilarious but when I explained more they were really intrigued.

This is a guide to some great tips on what you can use before bed to ensure you wake up looking great, which may come in particularly handy for those of you who may be planning on waking up to someone special for the first time and dread that person seeing them first thing in the morning..

1. Overnight Beauty Moisture Balm for Hair by Umberto Giannini

I discovered this around 3 years ago. It is a "first of its kind night cream for the hair" according to the label! I love this cream which smells luscious and is really light weight as it works by adding and retaining moisture in the hair so you wake up with a smooth, glossy, non-greasy mane. I hate waking up with big, frazzled hair and this is an excellent way of keeping the ends tame and healthy looking through till morning.

2. Asda Little Angels Liquid Talc

This is a bit random, but really works! At night, in bed people naturally perspire, so sometimes putting moisturising products into the skin on the body just adds to that greasy feeling in the morning. This product is basically a liquid talc, i.e. liquid baby powder! So what it does is sink into the skin leaving it smooth and moisturised, but dries to an imperceptible powder finish onto the skin! It is beautifully scented of that clean fresh talc smell, leaves no traces on the bed clothes and leaves your skin feeling extra smooth to the touch, but not greasy! Best of all it controls any perspiration through the night so your body looks and feels fresh and smooth, not clammy the next day!

3. Silk Pillow Case

A good friend told me about an organic silk pillow case which apparently prevents wrinkles! Sounds too good to be true? Well it kind of is a myth as it doesn't prevent wrinkles, but what it DOES do, is stop you from waking up with those bed clothes creases on your face from cotton pressed against your face or cheeks all night. In addition, it causes much less friction with your skin and hair, preventing frizzy hair and rough skin, AND doesn't soak up any moisturisers you may have put on your skin or hair, which regular cotton pillow cases do, allowing you to fully benefit from the products! Now you must buy real silk, this will NOT work with satin or polyester! You can buy organic silk pillow cases online from just £20 and they also look and feel really luxurious!

4. Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

To wake up with soft, kissable lips, you can just keep regular lip balm by your bedside and slick on a bit, simples! OR you can try an overnight lip treatment, basically an extra strength lip balm which sinks in over night leaving your lips naturally hydrated by the next morning! Also simples! Try this Neosporin one which is available online for just a couple of pounds and is really, very effective!

5. Origins Eye Doctor

There are tonnes of night eye creams on the market all claiming to do lots of things. You should find one you like and use it every night, the benefit of using eye cream is obvious, it's a very delicate area of skin under the eye that is prone to over drying and sensitivity. Night is the perfect time to slather a luxurious eye cream to really allow it good time to soak in and activate. I personally love Origins products and Eye Doctor is one of my faves!

6. Origins Peace of Mind

Another Origins product which is a real life saver for me! Since a friend introduced me to it around 5 years ago it hasn't left my bedside table. Ok this isnt actually a beauty product per se, but what it does do is allow me to enjoy good quality sleep, in turn I wake up feeling rested and fresh, which of course has a knock on effect on how I look! I personally don't tend to sleep that well generally, but this is a menthol balm packed full of other natural essential oils and potions which just seems to lift any thoughts or troubles from my mind and lull me into a natural sleep. I rub a very small amount onto the centre of the back of my neck, ear lobes and temples and breathe deep.. Ahhhhhh!

7. H20 Plus lemon

The most embarrassing thing to wake up with? Morning breath, yuck! Good dental care is a must. Make sure even after any, ahem, tiring activities you make the time to floss, brush (teeth and tongue) and gargle before bed. Take a big glass of water with a couple drops of lemon juice to bed and when you wake up in the morning, take a big sip of the water and it will shake the cobwebs off and refresh your breath before you get a chance to brush your teeth again.

8. Sexy voluminous waves created while you sleep!

I mentioned above that big, frazzled hair in the morning isnt my idea of pretty, but what if you could wake up to a controlled yet sexy hairdo? No really? It is possible, And the best thing is you don't need to use any heat or products and it "develops" overnight so you wake up with fantastic hair! All you need to do is tie your hair into a high-ish pony, split the ponytail into four pieces and using two fingers, wrap each piece around your two fingers as if to create a loose pin curl and simply use a bobby pin to pin to the base of the pony. You end up with a cute bun so you still look good going to bed. When you wake up in the morning, just unpin your hair, take out the ponytail and loosen the curls with your fingers and you end up with soft, sexy waves! Voila! If you are not sure what to do watch this fantastic video by Lilith Moon (thats her in the pic above with the hairstyle results!)! You can thank me later!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho03t3OAAag&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I hope you all learnt something, what are your top tips to wake up looking gorgeous??

Xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Get Your Summer Glow On - On a Budget!! - The best drugstore products for the sun kissed look

Cherubs!

I am going to share some top secret beauty tips with you all today! Summer is coming and it is time to get your glow on!

Whatever your shade of skin, when the sunlight hits, you want to enhance the natural glow it gives you. A heavy, matt makeup look is not going to acheive this, instead luminous, highlighted skin that catches the light just so, soft natural gold and bronze tones that sparkle subtley.. thats what I go for anyway!

However what you dont need to do is spend a fortune to achieve this. I have hand picked and tested some really high-performing products that won't cost you the earth.

1. Sugar and Olive Oil Body Scrub

You may be showing a little more flesh when the weather is hot, so you need to make sure it is in tip top condition. Start by using a body scrub which is nourishing yet effective at sloughing off any patches of dry, dull skin. The best and cheapest body scrub is this simple sugar and olive oil homemade scrub. Simply mix equal quantities of olive oil and granulated sugar. Add a good squeeze of honey and a dash of rose water. Keep it in a plastic screw top tub in your bathroom. Simples!

2.  NSpa Indulgent Toffee Shimmer Body Oil

So now your skin is soft and smooth, now you need to lock in the moisture to get a head start on that subtle, bronzed sun kissed effect. This product is a non-greasy body oil which smells exactly like sweet toffee! It is pigmented with a bronze, pearlescent effect. Spray and gently buff into legs, arms, collar bones, shoulders and it makes your skin feel so silky and soft. Best thing is it makes you smell good enough to eat! This little bottle of liquid sunset costs just £1 from Asda!

3. H and M Eyeshadow Duo in Hot Sands

I picked up this eyeshadow duo on an absolute whim for just 99 pence and really wasn't expecting an awful lot but boy was I surprised! This eyeshadow has a fantastic, buttery soft texture and is really, really pigmented. The colours give the most perfect burnished coppery gold smokey eyes and you can even use the lighter shade as a highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones. All you need to do is take a fluffy blending brush and buff the copper colour all over the eyelid and into the socket too. Use the lighter shade on the area under the browbone and in the inner tear duct. Sweep the copper shade under the eye too and smudge black kohl on your waterline and voila! You have the perfect sexy, golden goddess look down. Love this!

4. UNE Sheer Lips Balm

To keep with the hydrated, youthful, beach babe vibe, the lips need to be kept simple (especially if you opted for the sexy copper smokey eye look detailed above). Lipgloss seems like it would be the obvious choice but gloss can be sticky, yet, ultimately drying on the lips, not to mention not always as natural-looking as you may want. Instead try these gorgeous UNE sheer lips balms. They are so moisturising and they are kind of lip perfectors, as they make your lips look like the best version of your own lips - if you see what I mean! The colours are so natural and, well, lip coloured. Just perfect! It is a little more expensive at £6 or £7 however, the high quality, not to mention the sheer genius in being able to produce shades that mirror actual lip shades make it worth it.

5. Osmo Matt Sea Spray

The best thing about hot weather for me, is being able to really relax in terms of hair. I can just wash it, towel dry it and while its still damp, spray one product and leave it to set in the sun into perfect, beachy waves. The wonder product I use is Osmo's Matt Sea Spray. You can get this at those little hair product stands that sell all the Tigi products in the mall, or at Sallys Beauty Supplies or online for around £4!! I love that it gives a matt finish, because for me, beach hair is not greasy looking, but tousled, wavy and textured, as if you just spent the morning surfing! 

6. Rimmel Instant Tan Makeup

Now, my skin tone is around a MAC shade NC42 and I go up to NC44 with a tan, however, I still love to enhance the tan to give it that subtle bronze glow. The toffee shimmer oil mentioned above doesnt deepen the skintone really, so if you want to create a more tanned effect, without splashing out on expensive and time consuming spray tanning, nor spend hours exfoliating and buffing in the fake tan only to get an orange glow, try this little miracle instead! I use the medium shade which looks pretty scary as it is a deep deep dark copper colour, but it really sheers out.  For the face, the best way to use this is to mix a pea sized amount with your foundation or tinted moisturiser and using a brush, buff into your skin. It does contain shimmer so if you prefer shimmer to be restricted, just buff over your cheekbones, sides of the temples, across the bridge of the nose. Trust me on this, the effect on darker skins is absolutely gorgeous. For the body, if your arms and legs have been deprived of sun and you need a little pick me up - get some gloves on and smooth into your skin. The best thing, besides the price (just £6 for a bottle that will last years) is that it washes off!

7. Collection 2000 Shimmer Shades in Way to Glow

If the thought of using instant tan makeup is too much, I have found the perfect glow-maker for you! It is very long lasting and in a range of peachy, rather than golden, tones which very cleverly brighten the skin and give the perfect amount of luminosity for just £4. Think Jennifer Lopez. Collection 2000 is one of my favourite drugstore brands! Between Collection 2000 and Sleek you can get top of the range makeup quality for teeny prices. This 4 shade peach blusher can be swirled together to create that gorgeous flush of colour, or individually to contour and highlight. I use this every single day as, regardless of weather, when I put this on in the morning I look fresh, revitalised and glowy. I honestly will go and stock up on like 3 of these as I never want to run out, I love it THAT much. I just can't fathom how it doesnt streak throughout the day, it just really stays put. It is so unique - please go and try it! The pic below does it no justice at all, go try it next time you are in Superdrug or Boots, trust me.

What products do you use to get your glow on? Have you got any budget friendly wonder products you can recommend??

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Indian Bridal Style Soft Cut Crease Peach Pink and Green Gold Makeup - Client Portfolio

Hi Cherubs!

I wanted to share the makeup looks I did for some lovely clients on Saturday!

Apologies the lighting in the hotel room was poor hence the slightly washed out tones : (

The focus was to enhance her natural features and to complement the beautiful saree she wore.

The makeup look was natural glowy skin, glossy natural hued rose lips, soft cut crease pink and peach eye slightly smoked out with deep brown in the outer v and gold glitter in the inner corners of the eyes. Finally the look was made slightly dramatic by applying lots of mascara (no false lashes) and a double wing eyeliner.

I also did the makeup for her glamorous mother too! She was wearing a deep green and gold saree which she wanted to match her makeup to. Like most mature women, her eyes were hooded so I kept the lid a warm indian gold shade and blended a metallic forest green (one of the MAC's Mega Metal colours from the Peacocky collection) into the outer corner but faded this into a matt brown towards the inner corners of the eyes. Shimmery colours all across the socket area are not very flattering on hooded eyes. For the lips, I used a burnished wine shade in MAC's Supreme Sheen formula called "Can't Resist".

I really enjoyed the assignment, and hope they did too! A big thank you to both of them for allowing me to share their pictures with you all.

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Insanity Workout Review by a UK Woman!

Hey Cherubs!

I have been trying lots of ways to lose weight and tone up for some time but honestly my will power is none existant! Consequently I haven't managed to lose anything and keep it off consistently! Eek! My job is very sedentary as it is office based, this coupled with generally getting older (in my early thirties if you want to know!) I have noticed some small effects on my health - IBS, feeling tired all the time, bloatedness, skin issues...

Sooooo I decided to kick start my fitness with the Insanity Workout! Yes it is kind of extreme but simply going to the gym wasnt cutting the mustard. So I roped in my husband as a daily support system and workout buddy and dived in.

OK so firstly what is Insanity? Well it is a tough, cardio and resistance circuit training workout that focuses on max interval training. MAX Interval Training replaces your standard moderate intensity exercise with maximum-intensity exercise, and your short intervals of intensity with short periods of rest. Adding high-intensity exercise, during which your heart rate is raised to 80 percent or more of its maximum capacity, forces your body to use fast-twitch muscle fibers not normally engaged in cardio exercise. These fast-twitch fibers continue burning extra fuel even during lower-intensity exercise.

It is a 60 day program via dvds. You dont need any equipment, just the dvds and the workout calendar. You workout 6 days a week with one day of rest. Each workout dvd is around 40 minutes.

The first day is a fit test, so you can track your fitness levels. Let me tell you, the fit test was super hard! But that was NOTHING compared to the workouts themselves. Insanity is not even an exageration! It is sooo tough! Its so painful I couldn't walk for like the first 3 days of workouts. Literally I was hobbling at work as my muscles were in so much pain.

I am now on the 3rd day of my second week and I am noticing some slight changes - for instance, I am not in as much agony the day after a workout, my muscles and joints are already getting stronger.

Secondly, and this is kind of gross but if you suffer from bloatedness, IBS and constipation (as I know many women do!) this really gets your body detoxing - I mean really! LOL! Sorry just had to share as it is such a relief to get things moving again properly!

I would love to say that I have actually lost some weight too in just over one week but although my official weigh in day is Wednesday I had a sneaky check of the scales and have lost nothing so far (well actually 0.3 of a kilo but that type of fluctuation can happen anyway). One point to note though is that I have not changed my diet at all. In fact due to lots of social stuff we have even been eating out a lot too so I have made no real effort to change my diet. However starting this week, I am going to do so.

In terms of enjoyment, the workouts are in a weird torturous kind of way, fun! Shaun T the trainer is really hot (which helps! lol!) and he pushes you yet encourages at the same time, and his on-camera students are really motivating too, even when they are lying on the floor crying in pain (yes, really!!). BUT the workouts are flippin hard as nails and you really have to "dig deeper" and force yourself to push yourself. You too will be dripping in sweat, collapsing on the floor in agony and screaming, shouting and grunting your way through - if you are doing it properly that is!

If you want to literally kick your butt into gear, get a partner who won't flake on you, commit to 60 days, shut those curtains, check your shame and pain threshold at the door and DO IT!!!

I will keep you updated on my progress, please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Check out the infomercial for a taster!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J1fJv-S3BY

And check Youtube for some unbelievable yet authentic before and after shots of ordinary people who have completed the programme.

Have you tried Insanity? Would you? Let me know!!

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Top Ten Best Beauty Items Of the Moment!!

Hey Cherubs!

There have been a fair few beauty items that I have been using consistently recently, simply because they really work well and deliver every time. So I thought I would share ten of my favourites with you!

1. It's a Ten Miracle Hair Mask



Now I have tried a variety of deep conditioning treatments, and none of them have given me the results I was seeking, which is silky, nourished hair from root to tip. I have even tried the famous Moroccan Oil but honestly it didn't do anything for me! Now, just to explain I have very fine, wavy hair, but lots of it! It tangles so easily it's ridiculous. It's a Ten however gave me a fantastic surprise as it truly does what it says on the tin! It has ten USPs which I won't list here but suffice to say it conditions and detangles like crazy. Rough looking ends are transformed. You can buy this at Sally's Beauty or online at Amazon. It is more readily available in the US.

 2. Babyliss Pro Curling Wand



Staying with the hair theme, I am loving the results of my Babyliss curling wand! I bought the larger barrelled wand and it's fantastic in that it takes just seconds to heat up, gets extremely hot and stays hot, it's ionic so gives a great shine and best of all it holds the curl all day. Really. Plus, it takes me 7 minutes to get gorgeous waves all over my head. The only downside is it takes a little getting used to.

3. Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara


Wow. Now this is a true false lash replacement! Simply the best mascara I have ever tried. Very carbon black, perfect formula and a curved wand which cups the lashes. However there is a rather large downside to this product - it is frikking expensive! However if you are fed up with lack lustre performance of drugstore mascaras, spend the extra and you will not be disappointed!

4. Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre


I bought this at IMATS this year as it is raved about all over the net. I now see what the hype is about - it's just THE perfect moisturiser for normal to dry skin. It feels so rich but sinks in almost without a trace leaving your skin feeling very naturally hydrated. Again this product is only available online unless you happen to be in France or Canada!

5. ELF HD Powder



I bought this like 3 years ago but that same pot is still going strong. It is the perfect setting powder for the under eye area. It sets cream concealers really well and stops creasing of concealer, it blurs fine lines, and it keeps the area looking bright as it is translucent, rather than skin coloured. Best thing is its only £6!!!

6. Garner BB Cream


I blogged about this a while back, and I still adore it. I use it every day for work as it is the perfect all in one product, SPF, moisturiser, touch of coverup, and generally brightens my skin. An awesome product. I am, however, every eagerly waiting to try the NARS tinted moisturiser which should be out about now, but at around £7 a tube I don't thinks the Garnier can be beaten!

7. China Glaze  Nail Polish in Oxygen


I am still loving this milky nude colour! I know brighter pastels are all the rage at the moment, but there is just the simple freshness of this creamy snow shade that makes me feel sophisticated and on-trend every time. I've almost used up a whole bottle already!

8. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat


Speaking of nail polish, I still don't enjoy sitting around waiting for it to dry. Luckily Seche Vite has massively helped with that as it is the fastest drying top coat EVER! It's NOT just a clear nail polish, it's very unique in that it actually permeates all the layers of polish to transform the consistency, enabling it to set like stone very fast. And it makes the polish even more glossy so you get a glass like shine. Highly, highly recommend this product. Again I got this from Sallys but I am sure most good nail salons will stock this.

9. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black



Although I love MACs fluid line, the Bobbi Brown gel liner just pushes past the winning line. I think it's the longevity and the intensity of colour I prefer. Also, a little trick is to dip your kohl pencil into this and use it on your waterline for the longest lasting eye kohl. I would love to get some of the other shades..

10. Lancôme Teint Miracle Foundation

 

A very new discovery, this foundation is giving my absolute all time favourite NARS Sheer Glow a run for its money! It's very similar to the NARS but is a little more dewy and natural, and it's cheaper! So far I only have some very generous testers but I am ready to buy it now! I will do a full review once I purchase.

What are your favourite products at the moment??

xoxo A xoxo

Oscars 2012 Make Up .. and earrings!

Hi Cherubs!

As always I settled down to watch the Oscars, both red carpet and awards ceremony and as usual was just astonished by the beautiful gowns! The makeup was a little less astonishing with endless variations on traditional looks such as smokey eyes and pale lips, bold red/orange lips and delicate shimmering eyes with flicked out liner. Here are a collection of my favourites. Added bonus, you get to check out some bling earrings too! In my opinion, I would award the Oscar to Jennifer Lopez for her bold, cut crease gold and silver eye look, take a look..

Classic Red Lip Brigade

Shimmery Golds

Blues and Grey Smokey Eyes

Cat Flick Eyeliner

Golden Globes and Grammys! Awards Seasons Favourites So Far

As you all know I ADORE the awards season! Its a veritable fashion, hair, makeup, beauty, celebrity all-you-can-eat buffet!

Here are a few of my favourites so far, YUM!

 

 because I love him..!