SOS Special Occasion Skincare

Clay-Spray,Avene-hydrating-mask,hyadraluron,Murad-Pore Line-Minimizing-Hydrator,Pai-Rosehip-BioRegenerate-face-oil

It’s all too easy to let the skincare routine slide at this time of year and slip into a party-slump-party cycle, where anything requiring too much effort feels like a no-no.  Whether you’ve been neglecting your skin amid festivities, have a special occasion coming up, or want to undo post-party damage, these are the products I turn to for skin solace.

As a self-confessed skincare junkie, these options may be more than you’re looking for, so if you only take away one element of all this, let it be the 3 key steps: deep cleanse, (re)hydrate and nourish.

The Treatments

I’ve been kicking off with a weekly late night double mask session. I start by deep cleansing with Clayspray Pore Refining White Clay mask (currently on offer at Feel Unique), which acts as an exfoliant while drawing deeply embedded impurities to the surface (nice!).  Despite the name, this is more ‘clay pump or squirt’ than spray - you basically squirt it into your palm, spread a layer over the face and rinse off with a warm flannel when dry - genius and really quick and easy. 

I then go in with a deep hydrating mask like Avene Soothing Moisture Mask (currently 20% off at Escentual).  I’ve been adding an extra layer of moisture under my regular moisturiser with either Hydraluron - aka hyaluronic acid (serious moisture) in a tube, or Murad Pore & Line Minimizing Hydrator - a deliciously light textured hyaluronic acid packed hydrator that minimises pores, treats minor breakouts and generally makes my thirsty face swoon! 

Several times a week I’ll top this up with one of my favourite discoveries of the year, Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil.  A few drops of this massaged into my skin produces double take in the mirror results next morning, every time - softer, smoother, more plumped and rested skin - this is definitely one of the best facial oils I’ve used, at half the price of most.

Daily Cleanse & Hydrate

Pai-Cleanser,Pixi-Glow-Tonic-Toner-LaRochePosay-Serozinc-toner

A quicky late night cleanse is fine once in a while, but your skin will thank you for regular thorough cleansing and other products will perform even better.  There’s no need to use anything too harsh - I’ve been cleansing with Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser for a couple of months now and find it particularly soothing when my skin is playing up.  It’s packed with skin-kind ingredients that nourish without irritating and the creamy texture is easy to remove with a warm, damp flannel, leaving no residue.

Pixi Glow Tonic is the most gentle exfoliating toner I’ve come across, yet still tackles those pesky under skin bumps and blocked pores. One quick swipe with a few pumps on a cotton pad is all it takes - I get mine directly from the Carnaby St store in London, where it’s available to purchase by phone.  I picked up La Roche Posay Serozinc in France last year and now save it for when my skin needs an extra boost of soothing hydration. I lean back and spritz this so that the mist falls down onto my face and not a drop is wasted. Please LRP, bring this to the UK!  If you don’t have this, I rate the facial spritzes by Avene or Balance Me for an extra layer of hydration before applying moisturiser.

Pre-Make-up Nourishing

Beautylab-black-diamond-serum,Delarom-Lifting-Cream,Delarom-Eye-Contour-Lifting-Serum 

Skin prep is key to how your make-up performs and this super-lux trio creates the perfect balance for me.  I begin with a layer of A-lister favourite, BeautyLab London Black Diamond Energizing Serum, containing actual black diamond and multiple peptides to plump, smooth and add luminosity.  This gives my skin a great pre make-up glow without tacky residue, available at Harvey Nichols here.  

I follow this with a hyaluronic acid packed duo of DELAROM Objectif Jeunesse Lifting Cream and Eye Contour Lifting Serum.  The creation of Christine Benet - product developer for Darphin and Decleor for 20 years - this new paraben-free range is packed with ingredients to help revitalize, detoxify and balance the skin - tick, tick, tick!  Its sleekly packed, skin plumping, velvety texture is devine and an absolute pleasure to use.  My skin is loving it and I’m excited by this range made with simple, yet highly effective ingredients.  Five collections address individual skin needs and are exclusive to Urban Retreat Beautique.

If this sounds like a whole lotta skincare, just remember the 3 key steps: deep cleanse, hydrate and nourish. Some of these products were sent for review and may be outside the average skincare budget, so please feel free to leave a comment below or email me if you’re looking for lower cost alternatives.

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Sparkling Party Mani Ideas

party-nails-nail-art

I recently ordered some nail sticks as I fancied experimenting with different colours and designs.  I had so much fun doing these - think kid in toy shop - and thought I’d share some pics in the hope of inspiring some of you looking for party mani ideas!  I promise they were all really easy to do and the only tool I used was the Bourjois dotting tool, though a bobby pin or cocktail stick would do the job!

nail art

I photographed the nails with the colours used for each look above each one, with the shade names noted below.

1. Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle & Mavala Sparkling Bronze #230

2. Butter London Cotton Buds with M&S Limited Collection Gold Shimmer (identical dupe of Estee Lauder Nouveau Riche - am convinced these are the same product!)

3. NYC Money Never Sleeps & Saffron London Silver Glitter (brilliant ebay cheapie glitter)

4. NYC Red Me The News, Saffron London Silver Glitter & Seventeen Deconstructed Nail Studs

5. Seventeen Deconstructed Suede polish + Nail Studs, Revlon Black Lingerie on tip, Seche Vite over studs.

6. Seventeen Deconstructed Suede Nail polish - this matt black with fine silver shimmer is opaque in one coat, love & the Nail Studs from the same limited edition set are really easy to use. I lift them with a dotting tool barely touched in wet polish and apply to wet nails.

 party nails 

7. Revlon Black Lingerie (best black I’ve ever tried) & Mavala Sparkling Bronze #230

8. Revlon Black Lingerie & Models Own Sparkler (love these chunky glitter strands - full review here)

9. Models Own Artstix Nail Duo in Blue Maldives & Sea Spray - icy blues like this work well in Winter too and make a refreshing change from the usual seasonal tones

10. Butter London Cotton Buds, China Glaze Snow Globe & Models Own Sparkler tips

11. Butter London Posh Bird & Bourjois Laser Toppings in Sunscales

12. Dior Red Royalty #999 (my all time favourite red - review here) with dots in Butter London Cotton Buds & NYC High Line Green and Saffron London Silver Glitter tips

My favourites are 2 & 7 - how about you?  Here’s a closer look…

 IMG_4182 IMG_4183 IMG_4188 IMG_4196 

 

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Beauty Sales: My Picks

After all that present shopping for others, we deserve a little treat for ourselves, right? Here are my picks from the best of the beauty sales….

bareMinerals Shine On Palette - feelunique.com ExclusiveReal Techniques Sam's Picks Collection

  • Bare Minerals Shine On Palette £24.99 £18.74
  • Real Techniques Core Collection £20.99 £15.74
  • Sam’s Collection £29.99 £20.99

All from Feel Unique here

  • Origins Moisturise and be Merry set £40 £26.66
  • Dior Multi use palette £70 £46.66
  • Benefit Luv it Up Cutest Nudist Kit £19.50 £13

All available at Boots here

 

Triple Oxygen & C Energizing CreamPulpe Vitamineé Anti-Wrinkle SerumPro Powder Brush

  • Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Cream £46.00 £18.40
  • Caudalie Vitaminee Anti Wrinkle Serum £35 £21
  • Japonesque Pro Powder Brush £30 £12

Find them at Cult Beauty here

 

And that’s just a little taster!  There are lots more sales coming up - with M&S 50% off sale starting today (Christmas Eve) at 12 noon, with an extra 10% off when you spend £75 or more here, 20% off across the site at Escentual here and 50% off L’Occitane here.

Happy shopping!

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Gorgeous gifts you can find in-store

Christmas gifts

People have been referring to last minute Christmas shopping since 1st December this year, which I find hilarious, as to me *now* is the time for last minute Christmas shopping.  I’ve done the legwork for anyone who still has to make a mad dash and tracked down some foolproof gifts that I think most people would love to wake up to on Christmas morning.  The best bit is that you can find this little lot in-store, so no running around in a tizz!

  • The Zegna UOMO gift set with a wallet is exclusive to Boots, where you’ll find the lot for the price of the fragrance alone (alternative sets available elsewhere).  I love this energetic vetiver and bergamot based scent. £46.50 at Boots
  • The Black Iris Scented Candle is my pick from the Emma Bridgewater collection for M&S and smells as good as it looks. £18 at M&S
  • If you have a more generous candle budget, Diptyque Feu de Bois Candle has the comforting scent of an open fire. Want! £40 at Space NK
  • Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille is a soft, sophisticated vanilla scent for grown-ups… warm, sensual and very alluring! £69 at House of Fraser
  • Tom Ford Noir is officially for men but personally I adore it - spicy yet refreshing.  £60 at Debenhams
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Gadget Girl

Gadget-Girl

I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to gadgets, but like to keep my beauty routine as simple and streamlined as possible, so can’t be bothered with beauty gadgets unless they really cut the mustard.  For now, let’s ignore the neglected stash in the drawer and take a look at the winners I keep coming back to… 

Babyliss-New-Big-Hair 

Babyliss New Big Hair, £39.99 - £5 off at Boots - regular readers will know that I’ve loved the original Big Hair since it first launched.  I’m on my second and lived in fear that it might be discontinued, so imagine my delight to hear that they had launched a swish new model!  In all honesty, if you have the original, you don’t *really* need to make the switch as it’s not different enough to justify, but first timers, get in!  The styling is more sleek, the barrel larger and the mechanism slightly more sophisticated.  Since having my hair cut (more on that soon) I haven’t quite mastered the new technique with this, but it’s still my all time favourite beauty gadget, which big/long/fuzzy/thick/unmanageable-haired girls need in their lives!

Nude-Audio-bluetooth-speaker The-Wet-Brush-UK

Move M by NudeAudio, £39 at Amazon - I love to listen to a few tunes while doing my hair and make-up, especially when getting ready for a night out, and am loving this cute, portable wireless speaker which plays music from my phone or iPod at distances up to 10m.  Compatible with Smartphones, tablets and other devices that support Bluetooth wireless audio, I basically take mine everywhere I go as the sound is way superior to my iPhone speaker.  NB despite obvious connotations, NudeAudio is not waterproof, so no taking it into the shower!

The Wet Brush, £6.95 at Sally’s - a gadget in its simplest form, there is quite a lot of science behind the US version of a Tangle Teezer and America’s biggest selling hairbrush.  I’ve been a Tangle Teezer devotee for years, but prefer to use this now as the traditional shape is much more secure and comfortable to hold.  It’s also prettier (loving the metallic red for Christmas!) and the beaded bristle tips feel gently massage my scalp.  Having experimented on family and friends, this seems to work particularly well on thick wavy hair or fine straight hair.

Braun-Silk-Epil-Epilator-

Braun Silk-epil 7 - reduced from £129.99 to £83.99 at Boots. I’ve always steered clear of epilators and approached the experience with great caution, after a couple of close friends recommended taking the plunge.  I actually tested two different models for review in recent months. The first was a Remington EP70210, which did the job, but took a lot longer (and more ‘discomfort breaks’) to achieve the same results.  I think this may be more of a reflection on the price than the brand, as a friend tried a higher spec Remington with more positive results (read Avril’s review here).  Personally, I found the Braun Silk Epil much smoother, quicker and easier to use - long strokes instead of repeated circular movements, the option of using it wet or dry and hair growth seemed slower afterwards (around 10 days).  I will definitely continue to use this, though may be tempted to skimp a little post party-season until Spring!

Magnitone Pulsar, currently half price - £65 at Boots.  Move over Clarisonic, there’s a new facial brush in town and it works on the body too.  This skin brushing/cleansing system removes impurities and helps slough away dead skin cells to reveal smoother, brighter skin.  I tested it on one side of my face for a week and couldn’t resist using it all over after that as the softness and clarity was distinctly better on the side where it had been used.  I use mine as a second cleanse on sensitive mode (with Pai Camelia & Rose, which I love!) several times a week - it feels very gentle and only takes one minute, so doesn’t prolong my regime.  Although I’ve tried the larger body brush head on my décolleté and dry patches, I haven’t used it all over regularly as I prefer a traditional exfoliator for all over body use, purely due to lack of patience!  I can imagine this being great to treat any self tanning mishaps mind you!

Babyliss Pro Porcelain Conical Wand, £23.95 at Beauty Bay.  I bought this last year in the largest barrel size - 19mm, which allows me to create large curls at the widest end and smaller ones at the narrow tip.  I avoid using direct heat styling products on my hair as much as possible as they dry it out, but on special occasions when I want to make an extra effort, this wins over all of my heated rollers and fancy pants styling devices every time. Why? It’s so quick and easy to use - I can get a whole head of long lasting curls in around 10 minutes. Result.

What are your favourite beauty gadgets?

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LACOSTE Touch of Pink Giveaway


Lacoste-Touch-of-Pink-Giftset
LACOSTE Touch of Pink is a young, feel good fragrance that combines a burst of blood orange and fresh coriander, with sensuous notes of jasmine and violet.  A refined dry-down of sandalwood is enhanced by lingering vanilla.

Fragrance notes

Top Notes                                Heart Notes                           Base Notes
Coriander leaves                       Jasmine                                   Sandalwood
Blood Orange                           Violet leaves                             Vanilla
Cardamom                               Carrot seed                              Musk-like notes


“The Touch of Pink woman is above all - joyful.  She loves the energy she gets from always being busy and LACOSTE personifies her uplifting, sparkling feminine vitality. She has a fresh, fun, feminine attitude to life with no pretensions, just the captivating élan of a girl who is completely at ease with herself.”

If this sounds like someone you know, then you may have just found the perfect Christmas gift!…
Lacoste Touch of Pink Gift Sets start at £26 and are available from Superdrug stores nationwide including http://www.superdrug.com/

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a LACOSTE Touch of Pink Giftset!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congrats to the winner, Kat C - please email your details to strawberryblondebeauty@gmail.com to receive your prize!


*sponsored*
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Smells Like Christmas! Festive Candles & Home Scents

Neom-Real-Luxury-Candle,Laura-Mercier-Creme-Brulee-candle

One of my favourite things about Winter evenings is lighting candles.  Apart from how pretty and atmospheric they look, there’s nothing like a gorgeous scent to welcome guests into your home at Christmas.  Add a few fairy lights into the mix and you have a little twinkling slice of heaven right there.  For all day long scents that are safe even with children (& animals!) around, diffusers are the way to go. Here are my picks to suit every purse.

NEOM Organics Real Luxury Candle £39.50 here - I can’t do a post about home scents without mentioning this favourite.  Real Luxury is a blend of smooth, calming blend of Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood oils.  Burning this makes me feel like being wrapped in an imaginary cashmere blanket - unobtrusive, warming and enveloping - I can’t imagine anyone not loving it.

Laura Mercier Crème Brulee Candle - I bought this last year and while I can’t find the full size version online, it’s available as part of a cute votive set here. Imagine the comforting scent of French Patisseries and caramel and you’re pretty much there - not sickly sweet, just divine! 

Muji-Log-fire-candle,Rituals-Fragrance-Sticks 

MUJI Log Fire candle £3.50 here - the best budget candle around, this little beauty smells similar to Diptyque’s Feu de Bois for a fraction of the price. It may not throw the scent as far, so best for a small room (unless you buy several) but it really does smell like an open fire, great for those of us who crave one!  [One word of warning though - blow this out just before it gets to the very end as mine turned into a huge flame, which was a little scary!]

Rituals Spice Trail Fragrance Sticks £22.05 here - I keep this in my hallway and am greeted by its delicately spiced perfume every time I come home.  I expected it to be stronger and more cinnamon based, but it’s really well balanced.  The bottle is very elegant and its pretty presentation box only requires a bow if you choose to pass it on as a gift!

Orla-Kiely-Myrrh-diffuser-candle-set

Orla Kiely Geranium & Myrrh Mini Candle & Diffuser set £19.99 here - I had to show you this little set in its presentation box as it’s just too cute and would make the perfect gift (yes, for you too).  It smells divine and looks adorable together, perfect for a double dose of fragrance or to split between two rooms. Although dinky, the candle burns for 50hrs and the diffuser lasts around 2 months.

Do you like to burn candles at this time of year? Please leave me a comment below with your favourites! x 

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Christmas Stocking Fillers

Stocking Filler Beauty Gifts 

I have some last minute stocking filler gifts that are still available online for you today!

1. Set of 8 Kiko Sugar Mat nail polishes £19.90 here - amazing mix of jewel, dark and neutral shades with a fine grit matt texture.  Kudos to Kiko, which has mastered this texture better than Nails Inc and Butter London.

2. Washi Skin Polishing Kit £5.95 here - if you’ve finished your Christmas shopping, treat yourself to these. Since discovering them I use nothing else to remove cleanser. Thinner, smaller and lighter than a face cloth; more effective than a muslin, they do their job gently and dry out quickly.

3. L’Occitane Rose Shower gel £13 here - the packaging has changed since I bought this one but this is a beautiful delicately scented product that you might not buy for yourself, always the best kind of gift in my book!

4. Affinity Bay Hand & Nail Cream in Rose Romance £8 here  - this handy pump bottle of rose scented cream is moisturising and sinks in quickly. One for my mum!

5. Too Faced Jingle All the Way Iphone Palette £20 here -  11 eye shadows, bronzer and blush in a cute little palette and usable Iphone case - great for on the go touch ups this is the perfect teenage girl gift!

6. NEOM Organics Mini Bath Indulgence Set £19 here - a brilliant way for someone to discover their favourite Neom scent, each oil is designed to give a specific treatment, like a mini home spa!  NB 20% off Neom today here.

7. Weleda Mini Pomegranate Hand Cream £3.50 here - love these hand creams and this one is the perfect stocking filler size in dinky cracker packaging.

8. Steam Cream £12.95 here - dinky pots of light, non-greasy, do it all moisturiser - perfectly sized to carry everywhere!

How is your shopping going? Mine has barely begun!

weleda-steam-cream-neom-organics-bath-oilsKiko-Mat-Sand-nailpolish-set (2) Too-Faced-iphone-palette

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Perfume Gifts I think most women would love

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Perfume is one of my favourite gifts to receive… I love that I can enjoy it all year around and am reminded of the person who gave it to me each time I use it.  Unless you know exactly which kind of scents people love, it’s a difficult one to choose, so this carefully edited list includes fragrances that I personally adore and think most people will enjoy wearing.  Generic and wishy washy they are not; just inarguably gorgeous.  The exception may be the Jo Malone, which is a bit more full on, though every one I know who has tried this loves it too.

 Jo-Malone-Dark-Amber Ginger-Lily, D&G-Dolce&Gabbana-Intense

Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne Intense - £100 here (only available in 100ml - ie it’s huge!)

The only Jo Malone I’ve ever owned, this is my second bottle, which my husband bought me for Christmas last year.  As the name suggests, the scent is both dark and intense - rich, spicy and warm, yet smooth, well rounded and sophisticated.  An oriental with amber, black orchid, black cardamom, ginger and water lily, this is my go-to on cold winter evenings.

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme Intense EDP - on offer at £36.95 for 50ml here (site says 25ml but is actually 50ml)

I’m a long term fan of D&G scents.  The original D&G EDT in a red velvet box was my signature scent years ago and I’ve dabbled in Light Blue and The One.  The new Pour Femme Intense is my favourite of the lot… I literally swoon (yes, at myself!) when I wear this.  When describing it, it’s hard to get past the phrase sex in a bottle as it’s an incredibly sensual skin scent. Green mandarin and neroli balance heart notes of tuberose and orange blossom, with sweet marshmallow and sandalwood.  There’s a little bit of spice, but it’s mostly velvety soft and warm, not particularly intense as the name implies, but weak-at-the-knees gorgeous.  Oh and did I mention that it comes in a plum velvet box?!

Loewe-Aura-Perfume,Michael-Kors-Amber-Sexy-perfume

Aura Loewe - £53.50 here (with free body lotion)

If, unlike me, you have a 4 figure handbag budget, you may like to check out Loewe bags… for the rest of us mere mortals, smelling expensive is as good as it gets!  Aura Loewe is an elegant woody floral, which makes me feel rather lady-like when I wear it.  Pink Pepper, Violet, Sandalwood and Leather are among its notes, which work together to create a smooth, creamy scent that’s gorgeous for daytime.  A heavy glass bottle and leather label (does that count as a sliver of handbag?) add to its aura of luxury (see what I did there?).

Michael Kors Sexy Amber - £34.20-£49.50 (on offer) here

All three Michael Kors new scents are pretty darn hot  (Sporty and Glam are Sexy’s sisters), but for me, it was love at first sniff when I encountered Sexy.  Amber wrapped in sandalwood and musk (3 of my favourite notes right there), with orange, mandarin and white florals, this fragrance ticks a lot of boxes for me. This is grown up, sophisticated, come back for more (no not that ‘that’) Sexy and is unlike anything I’ve smelt before. Warm and sensual, yet fresh and energetic, this is a real feel good, wear it anywhere perfume.

I hope that little round up has been helpful for some of you and that someone (maybe you!) will wake up on Christmas morning smelling gorgeous!

 

ps the Christmas decorations in these pics were all hand-made by friends of mine who recently started their own craft business, Rustle & Stitch - details of loads more gorgeous things available here.

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Sheer Cover Studio Mineral Make-up: Review

SheerCover-Studio-Kit-contents

Sheer Cover Studio’s mineral range is the make-up of choice for many make-up artists working with TV and red carpet stars.  The products have been reformulated recently, the main difference being Trueshade Technology, which means the colour adapts to suit your skintone. This is a big plus for a range that is only available online and definitely worked in my case.

Here’s the lowdown on the Introductory Kit, what you can achieve with it and how I use each product…

Perfect Shade Mineral Foundation

SheerCoverStudio-Mineral-foundation-Light  SheerCover-Studio-Mineral-Foundation-Light-swatch SheerCover-Studio-Mineral-Foundation-Light

Although it looks quite yellow tinged in the pot and when sprinkled on my skin, you can see how the colour lightens when slightly blended, and even moreso when completely blended.  It’s important to let mineral make-up settle on your skin before making up your mind if it’s for you… personally I find that it looks best half to one hour after application, when it loses most of the powdery-ness and has a much softer, more natural finish.  Sheer Cover Studio has impressive coverage and probably leaves me more flawless than any other foundation I’ve tried.  I do think the new formula is slightly more mattifying than the original, so oily or combination skins may like this even better.

Conceal & Highlight Trio

SheerCover-Studio-Concealer-Trio-Light-Medium SheerCover-Studio-Concealer-Trio-Light-Medium-swatchSheerCover-Studio-Concealer-Trio-Light-Medium-blended 

Again, don’t be put off by the depth of colour as these tones are very blendable. This is my favourite product in the kit and I use it most days. Creamy and well pigmented, this covers dark circles and blemishes completely. The white highlight shade is very sheer and works well on browbones and as an inner eye highlight next to the tear duct.  I find this also works well on cheekbones to add a little sheen to the mineral foundation.

Sunkissed Bronzing Minerals

Sheer-Cover-Studio-Sunkissed-Bronzing-Minerals-swatch Sheer-Cover-Studio-Sunkissed-Bronzing-Minerals-swatchesSheer-Cover-Studio-Sunkissed-Bronzing-Minerals-applied

The three shades in this are designed to work with every skintone… I’ve no idea whether this would show up on darker skins as it works so well on my pale face, though perhaps the Trueshade Technology applies here too?  I really like the cool tones and lack of orange. The palette design allows you to lift each colour separately for contour use, though I generally swirl the two matt bronze shades together, then use the pale gold sheen as a highlight.

I’ve previously written about the mascara and lash fibres in detail, with pics of it applied here - in a nutshell, they work.  The set of 3 brushes (worth £50+) are currently included as a bonus with the kit. The tapered bronzing brush is pretty good and I like the concealer brush a lot for mixing the shades together and applying around the eye area, though I use a softer brush (or ring finger) to blend the product. As the bristles are quite stiff, the tip is also good for detailed concealing.  I personally get best results when applying the mineral foundation with my Real Techniques buffing brush as its smooth, dense bristles work the product into my skin and give an airbrushed finish on pores, whereas the Sheer Cover brush is much looser and sweeps over the surface of skin.

The lasting power of these products is excellent. They provide medium to full coverage and a ‘perfect skin’ finish, which doesn’t look overly heavy or made up, though a touch more matt than I’d normally go for.  I save this for early starts on days when I need make-up to last, bad skin days or hot weather.  You can see pics of me wearing the original formula here - this one is just slightly more matt, but with the same level of coverage.

Only available at sheercover.co.uk, worth keeping an eye on for offers as it’s in the middle of 12 Days of Christmas offers. 

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Dear Santa… my Christmas Beauty Wishlist

I imagine my friends and family would gasp in horror if they thought I wanted *more* make-up, but a girl can dream - and if Mr Claus happens to be reading, here are a few things that I’d love, but would feel a little indulgent splashing out on for myself….

Charlotte-Tilbury-the-sophisticate-eyeshadow-quad 

Charlotte Tilbury The Sophisticate may appear to some as the least inspiring of her beautiful new eyeshadow quads, but I’m all over these matt neutrals and am loving a brown/bronze and grey eye combo at the moment.  I could see myself using this daily.

jouercosmetics_oohlalabag 

Jouer Ooh la la leather cosmetics bag - This pale vintage pink leather make-up bag with gold detailing is the ultimate slim and chic make-up storage, which no doubt would be whipped out for touch-ups at every opportunity.

 

DIPTYQUE-50-years-set

Diptyque 50 Years of Creation Candle Set - Despite being a self-declared candle addict I have yet to try a Diptyque and this set of minis seems the perfect way to try some of its signature scents.  Out of this little lot I’m most drawn to Figuier, though if I were to choose a single full sized candle, it would be the woody, smoky Feu de Bois.omorovicza_deepcleansingmask

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask - I’ve heard so many raves about this skincare line I’m now desperate to try it for myself - and this product seems to be the stand-out.

 

ByTerry-BaumeDeRose

 

By Terry Baume De Rose - a good friend raved about this when it first launched years ago and while I’ve never been able to justify £35 on a lip balm, I can’t deny that I’ve been intrigued ever since (nothing to do with the rose scent and cute pink & gold pot)

 dior-diorific-dolce-vita-red

 

Dior Diorific Dolce Vita Red Lipstick - you can’t beat a true scarlet lipstick at Christmas - and just look at that lux gold packaging!

Essie_Festive-Fingertips 

Essie Festive Fingertips - this cute limited edition gift set is only available at Boots and expected to be a sell out, not that this would sway me at all!

 

Do you like my choices - and what’s on your list?!

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