Luxe Beauty | My Current Top 10 Beauty Products

I have tons of beauty products but there are ones that you always go back to or some that just stand out, here are my top 10 beauty products that I am loving at the moment...

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
These amazing ready to use pads exfoliate, tone and brighten all at the same time using a blend of ingredients that include glycolic acid, cucumber and lemon peel in the perfect amount to be just right for daily use!

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

I sound like a broken record...but I really can't get enough of this cleansing balm! The refreshing scent, luxurious texture and gorgeous result. If you haven't tried this cleansing balm then you need to!

Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes
I know using cleansing wipes is a little bit taboo but these are just too lovely. They smell like orange sherbet and they have a whole host of ingredients to keep your skin clean and glowing. I like to use them before the cleansing balm to get rid of the majority of my makeup. The resealable packet means they are great for chucking in your gym bag and travelling.

Benefit Gimme Brow
I have reviewed this fantastic product before (here), the easiest and fastest way to perfect brows...I am just a little bit addicted!

YSL Touche Eclat Wild Edition
I simply do not believe there is anyone who hasn't heard all about the Touche Eclat amazingness. Well, it just got a whole lot more amazing with the addition of leopard print (swoon), not only does it look even more gorgeous, it is also much easier to get enough grip to take the lid off (especially when you have makeup and moisturising cream all over your hands!).

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
Another product I have already reviewed quickly (here), this makes winged eye liner looks so easy it could be an every day look!

Colour Club Gala's Gems Nail Polish in Heirloom Pearls
I got this nail polish in this months BirchBox and it is perfect for Spring 2014! It hits the white nails trend with a hint of cream to make them look very classy indeed.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush
This brush was part of the Real Techniques core collection, it is to be used with powder but I also use it to buff out liquid foundation after using the foundation brush too to get a real natural finish.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Colour Awakening Lipbalm
This is such a gloriously luscious luxurious lip balm that I just can't get enough of! It looks so very pretty in my bag and it leaves my lips looking at their very best.

Payot Pate Grise
This is my miracle product for beating those below-the-surface blemishes from rearing their ugly head. Just a dab of this over night when you feel a red sore bump and you will see nothing more of it by the morning. It only works when the spot is below the surface though so stay vigilant!

Beauty | Skincare Basics - Why Are you Doing What You Are Doing?

The secret to a perfect look is having perfect skin as a base. We all know about what we should be doing to keep our skin clear, even, moisturised, etc. but do we know why? This post is going back to the basics of skin care and summarising why each step is important.

Why cleanse?

During the day the skin collects all sorts on it; makeup, impurities, oils and dead skin. All of these can equate to blemishes and clogged pores. Surprisingly, cleansing before bed also helps towards keeping your skin from aging as during the night is when skin goes through a recover and renew phase, if is unable to do this efficiently if it has a days worth of grime in its way. 

I always have a tub of Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm where ever I go, it is absolutely divine with it’s gorgeous scent and luxurious texture.

Why exfoliate?

Exfoliating is not something I would do daily, but certainly I aim to exfoliate 2/3 times a week. The main benefit being it removes all the dead skin from the surface and this will help to prevent pores from being clogged up. Also, in areas where hair is removed, exfoliating helps prevent in grown hairs.

My go to exfoliator is Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It as it works really well on blackheads and has a herbal/menthol frangrance.

Why tone?

As with all cosmetic products, there are so many different types out there doing slightly different things. The many benefits include removal of excess makeup and oils, balancing the ph levels on the surface of your skin (although some argue your skin is more than capable of doing this by itself) and closing up pores on your face after cleansing. Also, the moisture on your face from the toner enables the products you use afterwards to be absorbed easily (technically water can do this job for you too).

My favourite product is the L'Occitane Immortelle Essental Water as it feels so refreshing in the morning.

Why use serum?

Serum is formulated so it has very small molecules that can penetrate through to the deeper layers of your skin. These layers are skin that will be surface skin in a few weeks time...so we want to keep that layer as healthy as we can for when it makes an appearance!  Only a small amount of product is needed per application as they have very high concentrations of ingredients, so the small tubes/tubs will last a long time. Again, there are many types of serum, there are some to target specific skin problems and are meant to be used for just a few weeks at a time, or there are others which can be used daily.

One of my favourite serums is Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Overnight Repair Radiance Capsules as the capsules have the perfect amount of product in for an application and my face feels lovely when I wake up the morning after. The texture is a little different than other serums, which tend to be more gel like, as this product has more of a silicon feel.

Why use moisturiser?

Just as we want to look after the layers of skin that will be on the surface in the future, we don’t want to leave the skin that is on show right now behind! Moisturising creams specifically target the surface layer of skin and act as a barrier to keep hydration on the surface. It is best to apply after your serum has dried (about 3 mins) and it is always useful to find a product that will focus on your skin type.

I sometimes wonder if I could live without Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, I feel genuine love for this product.

Why use a different moisturiser at night?

You may have seen some moisturising creams state that they are a day cream or a night cream and the difference between the two is quite important. During the day your skin is being subjected to lots of external environmental changes such as UV levels and temperature changes. So during the day you need a cream which will help protect your skin against these changes. Whereas at night, as I mentioned earlier, your skin is working to recover from the stress it has had to endure during the day, so a night cream will contain enabling ingredients for this such as Vitamin C and retinol, but will not have an SPF as it is not required.

I like the No7 Protect and Perfect Night Cream, it works really well with my skin skin type which is Normal/Combination.

I hope you have found this post useful, what is your day to day skincare routine? Any steps you would add?

Luxe Beauty Life | Makeup for Work Routine

Well, I don't know about you but in the morning before work I just want to get ready and out of the door as quick as possible... this means I get more beauty sleep (trust me I need it!). So the makeup I wear for work is about speed and ease of application. Top tip: Keep it all together in a separate makeup bag so there is no wasting time rummaging around trying to find what you're looking for. Before applying though I prep my skin...

Firstly I like to give my skin a bit of a boost so I use an oil cleanser in the morning, I find it gives a great base for makeup and the little bit of luxury perks me up. At the moment I am using the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil sample I got in a beauty box a few weeks ago, a little is going a long way! Then I spritz my skin with a brightening mist, it feels refreshing and acts as a toner - L'Occitane Immortelle Essential Water. I am currently using some No.7 serum and moisturising cream that I received in a gift set at Christmas, I really like the day cream in particular as it is fresh and light for the morning - No 7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum & No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream. 

After that routine my skin is in a good place for makeup application. I use a primer to ensure my makeup stays in place, again I am using a sample from a beauty box at the moment as I like to save my Laura Mercia for weekends and going out. The one I am using works great and gives a radiance boost (which I definitely need on a weekday morning!) - Monu Illuminating Primer. In work I like my makeup to be as natural and barely there as possible, I find CC cream to be the best base for this and applying is a lot faster than foundation, I love the Olay CC cream and it isn't hugely expensive. Dark circles are always needing tending to, in the morning especially and this one is my every day, night, weekend, holiday favourite - YSL Touche Eclat. I like powder finishes so I use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural which is such a great product, it perfects your makeup finish without leaving your skin overly made up and gives you a little bit of colour. I have used these blushers for years - Bourjois Blush in Rose de Jaspe, I have tons of other blush powders, tints and creams that I use at other times, but this is my go to in the mornings and the little brush that comes with it makes application so quick and easy. I use brown and black eyeliner all of the time but in work I like to play it down a bit so I use a dark plum colour, I find this works really well at keeping my eye makeup subtle. Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Perfect Plum is excellent for staying where it should do. When it comes to eye makeup I love nothing more than adding a bit of colour and blending till my hearts content, but there's no time for that in the morning so I grab one of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr colours, my favourites are Metallic Pomegranate, On and Bronze and Pink Gold. They work really well for staying in place, I find eye creams really easy to apply and keep the eyes subtle but interesting. I really like using stick highlighters when I am in a rush so the Kiko Cosmetics Creamy Stick Highlighter does just the job and saves time compared to liquid highlighters. Finally I finish off with some GOSH Growth Mascara, it provides great volume and it has the added bonus of having lash lengthening formula in it so that it is encouraging your lashes to grow while you wear it. If I am having a lipstick day then I usually opt for a nude (reviews here) or just keep my lip moisturised with whatever lip balm I have to hand.

What is your make up for work routine?

Beauty | Kiko Cosmetics - Mat Mousse Oil Free Foundation Review

This was a product I picked up recently when I went a little crazy in a Kiko Cosmetics store (luckily their prices are good otherwise I'd be on bread and water!). I have to admit, and being a makeup addict, I am not sure I am allowed to, I am not a huge foundation fan. Shock horror. I much prefer tinted moisturisers or a BB/CC cream as it is hard to go wrong with them, whereas foundations get tricky in application and making sure you apply evenly. However, that being said, every now and then I wonder how lovely my face could look and I buy the odd foundation. Seeing the words mat (matte) and oil free, my foundation curiosity was peaked yet again and I though 'ah go on then'. So, is it any good? Well, as I am not an avid foundation fan, I would say yes. One of my faves is the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, but at a third of the price I would say the Kiko Cosmetics product is pretty darn good. It gives great coverage, matte finish, feels very light and natural and it smoothes skin tone really quite effectively. The products lasts really well too, I first used it without a primer and I have to say I didn't notice much difference after a few hours and the forehead shine I am a little prone to was kept at bay. I do love that is has SPF15 in there too to protect your skin. This product might well just creep it's way in to my weekend makeup! What is your favourite foundation?

Luxe Beauty Life | Wishlist March 2014

Well, it is that time of the month where pay day feels far away, I have no money, but I have a whole load of things that I am lusting after! Here are my top 5:

YSL Touche Eclat Wild Edition - Touche Eclat dressed up in leopard print, need I say more?

Ying Yu Rose Quartz Face Roller - I have been eyeing up a face roller for some time now as I suffer from the odd bit of puffiness every now and then, this one is just so beautiful.

Bobbi Brown Nectar and Nude Collection - I am trying not to look, or read, or try any of this collection, I already know I want it, and I already know I don't need it...maybe just one product won't harm.

Kissing Elixirs Vanilla Mint Lip Balm- You all know by now I love a good gimmick, this is probably one of them, doesn't make me want it less though. Vanilla and mint, yum!

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls Powder - Radiance in pretty packaging, who could want more??

What are you tempted by this month?

Luxe Beauty Life | Sunny Days Sunday

Aaaah give me sunshine! The last couple of weekends have been a glimpse of, hopefully (touch wood, fingers crossed, don't-say-it-out-loud), warmer months to come. In prepation for this warmer weather that (please please please) will be on its way I had a little sundance and started preparing. First thing first, some spring colours on your nails is a great way to get you in the mood and perk you up, I went for Cheeky Chat Me Up Nail Paint in Tongue 'n' Cheek (Click here). Lovely! Then I started on my feet, sandals will be incoming and my feet are not ready to be shown!! So I slathered on some Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream (Click here), it smells delicious, it doesn't leave your feet feeling sticky and warms up nicely whilst you massage it in...walking on a cloud right now! I use an epilator on my legs as I think it gives great results that last longer than shaving, and easier than booking in for a wax, but epilating does come with the down side of ingrown hairs. To combat this I exfoliate regularly and also use SkinDoctors Ingrow Go (Click here) which really helps prevent hair growing underneath the skin by cleaning and purifying pores and exfoliating the skin. The orange lips trend is perfect for a sunny day so I popped on some Revlon Colorburst Laquer Balm in Tease Seductrice. Top it all off with a spritz of Jean Paul Gaultier Summer Edition and now I am ready for some rays! What do you do to get ready for the warmer days?

Luxe Beauty | Yet Another Rave GlamGlow Review

The best face mask in the world is its tagline on the website...and I think it might be. I don't say that lightly at all but I have tried a LOT of face masks and none of them have been so instantly effective as this. I am sorry to be yet another blogger raving about GLAMGLOW, but how could I not?!

My skin has been a bit of a nightmare of late, spots, redness and shine galore! I received the try before you buy sample kit and decided this skin 'phase' would be a great test of just how good this product is. I whacked on the GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment like there was no tomorrow in a desperate attempt to clear up my hell skin, left it on for 20 mins and then cleaned off with water. I spent the rest of the day without makeup...my skin just felt way too gorgeous to be covering up. Not only was all signs of redness instantly cleared up, but my skin felt so smooth and even, like all was forgiven and we could be friends again.

Not wanting to stop there I thought my dark circles could do with a zap so I peeled open a GLAMGLOW BRIGHTMUD Eye Treatment, I was a little frugle and only used one portion for both eyes. Left it one for 3 mins, it tingled like crazy (I am guessing that is the peppermint) and the result was really shocking! I have a slightly olive complexion so I am prone to terrible dark circles which I am forever trying to sort out, after 3 mins with the eye mud on, they were visibly reduced, and continued to reduce over the next hour or so as some of the product is left on when you wipe away with a dry tissue.

The next day I thought I would complete the set and give the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD Tinglexfoliate Treatment...wowza! This is some serious face treatment, the 10 mins of tingling and tightening followed by an intense exfoliation as you wipe it off, leaves you feeling like you have a new face. I can completely see now why so many people rave about this and it is used my so many celebrities.

You can buy the pictured try before you buy sample kit here to try out all three but if you have the money I would just go all out and invest in full size as this is going to be a weekly treatment for me and, I imagine, the majority of people who try it!

Luxe Beauty Life | Mothers Day Present Ideas

This might be a little premature but Mothers Day will be here before we know it (30th March) so I thought I would write about some present ideas to spoil our lovely Mums.

Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Replenishing Hand Cream
I just love hand creams and I think they make a lovely gift, at £10, this Molton Brown hand cream is a great price, smells divine and leaves hands moisturised without feeling greasy - click here

L'Occitane Free Gift Code
L'Occitane has hundreds of fabulous products and what is more, enter the code ADYY (valid 1st - 31st March 2014 when you spend £30 or more) and you will get a free Revitalising Spring Collection (worth £21.50) so you can give your Mum an extra gift - or keep it for yourself! - click here

Montagne Juenesse Gorgeous Gift Pamper Pack
I am a massive fan of these face masks and they are a great price at £5 for a gift pack - click here - and if you are lucky you will get to try one out too while you have a gossip over a cuppa.

Elemis Sparkling Beauty - Advanced Skincare Set
If your Mum really deserves a treat then this Elemis gift set will definitely get her smiling, and to save you wrapping it up it comes in a lovely gift box...smiles all round! £49.50 - click here

I hope my suggestions have given you some inspiration, have a great Mothers Day!

Luxe Beauty Life | Beauty A-Z

I love a good list (it might be the logical engineer in me) so I thought I would put together an A-Z of beauty to sum up my favourite products and beauty tips. Here goes...

A is for Ambient Lighting Powders by Hourglass. This is a new find of mine and I have written about them in Ethereal Glow - click here - they are great for reflecting light from imperfections and highlighting the areas you want.

B is for Beauty Flash Balm by Clarins. It doesn't matter how many great products I try, I always go back to this one, it tones up, brightens and smooths skin instantly and the fragrance is light and refreshing.

C is for Confidence. It is an old one, but true nonetheless...nothing more beautiful than a confident lady.

D is for Dry Shampoo. This is a hair care requirement, not only does it buy your hair an extra day before washing, but it also buys you more time in bed! I have found Batiste to be the best I have tried and they do a brunette version to save you from a head of white powder.

E is for Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. I can't possibly stress how useful this product is, it has countless uses and is super effective. A few of my favourite uses include; eyebrow taming, dry skin smoothing and cuticle soothing.

F is for Fake Tan. Winter is almost over and who can blame us for needing to fake a bit of natural glow??

G is for Graze. I love this concept (I know not technically beauty) but lots of yummy healthy treats to choose from, posted through your letter box as often as you like. Read more on a previous post I have done - click here

I is for Invisibobble. So you want to tie your hair up while you go to the gym, put on a face mask, do the hoovering, sleep, etc. but you don't want a kink in your hair? Well, this invention is just for you. I must say, it probably doesn't keep your hair quite as secure as a normal hair band, but the hair band kink drives me crazy!

J is for Jean Paul Gaultier Classique. I have a crazy amount of different perfumes but I always go back to this scent. I can't get enough of it, it is the scent that describes feminine in my view, floral, sweet and a signature scent that changes depending on the wearer.

K is for Kérastase Nectar Thermique. I have raved about this one before - click here - enough said.

L is for Laughter lines. We are always trying to fight the signs of ageing with numerous anti-wrinkle creams but when it comes to laughter lines - bring it on! I don't want an old face that never smiled.

M is for Makeup remover pen. Having one of these pens handy is a god send when you are doing your eye makeup as you can easily correct any little smudges or wiggly lines caused by shaky hands!

N is for Nars Orgasm Blush. The most popular colour in the Nars blusher range, everyone seems to either own or want to own this one! The high pigmentation, the perfect amount of gold shimmer, and a natural pink colour and I can see why it is the must-have blush.

O is for Oil. Oil isn't a new thing by any stretch, I have been a little behind the times on this one though and now I just can't get enough of it. One of the most versatile I have found is Josie Maran Argan oil, you can use it after cleansing whilst your skin is still damp to capture moisture, you can use it on your cuticles and nails, on scars and stretch marks, on dry hair ends, a generous amount can be used as a hair treatment overnight and wash out in the morning...the list just goes on.

P is for Peppermint Tea. I have been a peppermint tea convert for a long time, it soothes your tummy, aids digestion, caffeine free and apparently it can give your oestrogen levels a slight boost which has a great effect on your skin and combats acne.

Q is for Quick Drying Nails. If your nails take ages to dry after you paint them then there is a high chance you are going to smudge them, I use Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Spray once I have painted to keep them looking good.

R is for Real Techniques Brushes. Makeup brushes can be really pricey but a good brush is essential for perfecting the desired effect. I have found these brushes to not only be really good quality, and easy to use, but also a great price.

S is for Skin Doctors Ingrow Go. I epilate the hair on my legs so this is an essential for me, it doesn't smell great but it certainly helps in the fight against unsightly ingrown hairs!

T is for Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent. Who doesn't have this? This cult product is a must have for highlighting and covering up the dark circles under your eyes

U is for UV rays. As much as getting some sun is glorious and getting vitamin D is important, protecting your skin from UV rays is really important. So many products now have SPF which makes it easy to be part of your beauty routine, and wearing sunglasses in the sun ensures protection of the sensitive skin around your eyes.

V is for VO5 Give Me Texture Dry Texturing Spray. This spray is amazing for adding texture and it is a bargain price to boot. Sometimes you just need a bit of grime in freshly washed hair to style it or to achieve the bed head look. Personally, I use it on my fringe to give it a choppy, messy look.

W is for Water. This one is on every one's list - drink more water! Not only does it help detoxing your body and keeping you hydrated, but it also aids excess water retention so your skin isn't so puffy. Buy a funky water bottle to keep with you while you are at work or out and about and you will be sipping away without even realising.

X is for X-rated. Having some fun between the sheets burns calories, lowers your stress levels, helps you sleep...do we need any more reasons?? Beauty wise, surely nothing beats the post-fun glow!

Y is for You time. This one is simple and free, take some time out just for you, even if it is only a few minutes. Breathe deeply, clear your mind, relax, pamper...whatever you choose to do, being kind to yourself with some you time will help you get those stress levels down that can all sorts of horrid effects on your skin, never mind help you with Z.

Z is for zzz's. Everybody knows this but getting enough sleep is so important to make sure your skin is in the best condition and keeping on top of those dark circles...but if you can't resist the party then you can always rely on T.

There we have it, a beauty A-Z. I hope you found some useful tips or products you can use!

Luxe Beauty | Skin Consultation at L'Occitane

I am a self confessed makeup obsessive, but it isn't to be underestimated how important it is, and how irrelevant awesome makeup is, that your skin is in the best condition it can be so I thought I would show it some love. We are in the run up to spring now and hopefully the weather will start to get warmer and skin will get some much needed vitamin D! Until then, I though I would pop down to my local L'Occitane to get a skin consultation to see how it was coping with this long autumn/winter. First things first, my skin hydration level was checked, I was confident this wouldn't be too woeful as my skin doesn't tend to feel dry apart from in very concentrated areas, I was right, at 62% hydration my skin isn't doing too badly at all. Clair was the lovely lady doing my skin consultation today and she got to work by clearing my skin of face paint using the eye makeup remover and milk makeup remover from the Immortelle range. A top tip I picked up here was when you are putting product onto cotton pads you should use damp cotton pads rather than dry so the product isn't absorbed and you get more onto your skin. The makeup removers worked well and let my skin feeling refreshed and decongested.

Next step was some brightening water which worked as a toner after cleansing, this didn't have a drying feel to it at all which really showcases the benefits of the natural ingredients as I find many other toners can dry out the skin. Serum was then applied (which I forgot to picture, d'oh) which made sure the deeper layers of skin got some pampering too. Another top tip, apply the serum by dabbing your palms on your skin in a bouncing motion rather than rubbing in to encourage the serum to get as deep as possible. Eye balm was applied next to focus on some of the fine lines my eyes are accumulating, this eye balm had a lovely cooling effect that soothed the skin, I imagine this would be lovely on a morning when you are feeling a little delicate. To finish off some precious fluid was used, this was a really interesting product as, unlike a normal moisturiser, it has a very runny consistency rather than being more cream like. The effect of the fluid is a dewy, moisturised texture which has lasted for the last few hours.

My skin feels lovely after that pampering session and I have learnt a lot about treating your skin kindly...hopefully I will reap the awards with a youthful glow when I am older! Thanks Clair from L'Occitane, Stratford upon Avon for your time and all your interesting tips.

A couple of other products I had a good look at were the Brightening Instant Exfoliator, which has a great texture for those who like to really scrub your face clean, and Brightening Moisture Mask, which doesn't need long on your skin to work its magic but really brings out the radiance of your skin and moisturises at the same time.

Luxe Beauty | Make Over at Space NK with Emma Hardie Facial

I have just got back from having brilliant time with the girls at space NK Stratford-upon-Avon, and naturally, I didn't leave empty handed...

There was an event on today where Space NK were offering complimentary make overs if you booked in beforehand. When I got there is was handed a glass of fizz (always welcome!) and Kate from Emma Hardy treated me a fantastic facial. Now I feel like I may have been kept out of the loop on Emma Hardy as this was the first time I have come across the brand, but it won't be my last!  The facial started off using the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, this was absolutely divine, the smell was delicious and the oils gave the balm a luxurious spa feel to it. My skin felt lovely and refreshed and super smooth afterwards. Then Kate used the Emma Hardie Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash which really made sure all the last remnants of my make up was well and truly adiosed, this foam felt very natural unlike others due to the natural foaming ingredients used. Again, the cleansing wash felt very luxurious and premium. After my face was thoroughly cleansed, the Emma Hardie AM/PM Treatment Moisturiser was applied, leaving my skin super smooth and well primed for make up. I had a really interesting chat with Kate about Emma Hardy and how although only having been started up 4 years ago, it has already gained a strong reputation within the beauty industry having won 17 awards so far. The Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm was my most favourite product used and interestingly it can be used in a variety of ways such as a face mask as well as a cleanser and it can also be used to fight against skin conditions such as eczema due to all the natural ingredients balancing skin to a normal healthy level. If you want to find out more about Emma Hardie then here is a link to the website for more info... http://www.emmahardie.com

 

After being pampered with Emma Hardie goodies, it was then time for my make over curtesy of Pam (Space NK, Stratford-upon-Avon) using a number of different products. The products I took note of because I really liked them were the following...

By Terry - Wrinkle Control Serum Foundation in Fresh Fair 

This foundation gave an absolutely flawless but natural finish. It doesn't feel heavy and Pam found the perfect colour match in Fresh Fair. When I need a new foundation I will be investing in this one as it really did give the perfect finish and I would say it is worth the high price.

Laura Mercia - Eye Basics in Buff

I have been searching for the perfect nude eye look for a while and I think I have found it! Very easy to apply, builds up to create different looks, matte finish and long lasting, this is a bit of a revelation for me. I am very excited about wearing this and I think it will be a great natural look for work and for day time.

Kevyn Aucoin - The Expert Lip Colour in Bloodroses

This lipstick was such a gorgeous colour, a really deep, dark red and even better it moisturised my lips too and lasted a good few hours. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the colour, hopefully the picture below does it some justice. This is an expensive lipstick but I really loved it and I think it might have to be a payday present to myself!

Hourglass - Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Glow

This is a new product to me but it is applied on top of your makeup to reflect light to cover up imperfections and highlight. It really was interesting to see the effect and I think it is a great product for photo finish make up for when you really want to make an impression. It comes in a variety of colours that offer a slightly different glow, I went for a translucent one but there were others with more colour in them.

I bought a few things afterwards and received these product as a complimentary gift so more reviews to follow! Thanks Space NK, Stratford upon Avon and Kate from Emma Hardie for a great and educating time!