Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso | rrp £5.99

I discovered Milani from a photo on my Instagram feed and instantly fell in love with their baked blushers, after reading a few reviews I decided to go for the shade Luminoso, the most gorgeous peachy gold shade which instantly lifts my complexion. The brand is american so it is a bit of a pain to get over here in the UK, there are a few eBay sellers and the website I got mine from afrohairandbeauty.com.

Eyeko Brow Gel | rrp £18

Eyeko is a favourite brand of mine, they seem to deliver great quality products in quirky packaging that sets them apart from other brands. This eyebrow gel is one of my favourites, the formula tames stray hairs and leaves brows looking glossy and perfected.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin  | rrp £21

This has long been my favourite primer, although I may stray at times I always return. The ultra fluid silicone formula smoothes out my skin and ensures my foundation has a perfect base. The primer has fine iridescent particles in it that leave my skin glowing.

Body Shop Honey Bronzer | rrp £13

Its not often I hit the pan on a product, Body Shop's Honey Bronzer will always be that one product I do. The buttery formula of this matte bronzer blends seamlessly and (shade 2) works perfectly on my pale skin.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara  | rrp £22.50

You will see this mascara feature in a lot of my posts, it does the most amazing job of delivering long, separated lashes with a glossy black formula which doesn't smudge or flake. Perfection in a tube.

Bobbi Brown Corrector  | rrp £19

Bobbi's corrector has been my miracle eye product ever since I discovered it 2 years ago. I've not found a product that does a better job of disguising dark circles and brightening the eye area than this.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick | rrp £34

When these beautiful shimmer bricks were released I tried to convince myself that I didn't need one, that I could create the same effect with products I already own but I caved in and I have to admit I was wrong. Pastel Peach is the most uplifting combination of colours that leaves my face glowing!

Lancome La Base Paupieres Pro Eye Primer | rrp £21

Currently my favourite eye primer, I don't often wear eyeshadows but I do find this does a great job of neutralising discolouration  on my eyelids and providing an even base for my eyeliner.

Clarins Instant Concealer | rrp £21.50

I must admit this concealer has grown on me, a few months ago I wrote a post on my dislike for it however lately I have been using it more and after finding the right technique for application (finger instead of sponge) I really like the finish.

YSL Touche Eclat | rrp £25

I know many a beauty enthusiast would gasp at me saying this but I'm just not that in to it and I'm literally just trying to use it up as I hate the thought of throwing £25 in the bin! Designed to conceal, highlight and brighten, I struggle to blend it properly and find I get better results from other highlighters.

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eye Liner | rrp £7.99

A smooth gel formula that glides on and is blackest black. I find the formula is great for a fine slick of liner above the eye however I do find it smudges and transfers when I go for a more bold look.

British Beauty Blogger Dream Box 2

As soon as I saw Jane Cunningham aka British Beauty Blogger's Youtube video announcing her 2nd Dream Box with Latest In Beauty I knew I had to be one of the lucky ones to snap one up, with only 2000 boxes available the website crashed with over 700 ladies taking to it at it's 12pm release time...luckily I managed to get through at 11:45am so all was well! So let's have a look at what was in this fantastic collaboration box...the Dream Box 2...

• Ciate Lashlights £14 rrp
• Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzer and Highlighter £7.99
• LOLA Intense Colour Lipstick £12 rrp
• Eylure Eyebrow Crayon £5.95 rrp

• The Body Shop Beautifying Oil £9 rep
• Mio Double Buff Body Scrub
• Kerastase Nutritive Irisome Satin 2
• 
  

• Nude ProGenius Omega Treatment Oil
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant £20 rep
• Burts Bees Cuticle Creme £5.99 rrp
• Baume De Jardiner hand cream
• Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 

• Ardell Natural Style Lashes £3.99 rrp
• Invisibobbles £3.75 rrp
• Essie Toggle to The Top
• Sleek Pout Polish - unavailable instore or online
• Agent Provocateur perfume sample

The cost of this box was a mere £21.95 including postage for a whopping £129 worth of products! I am more than happy with the variation of products, the opportunity to try some new brands and a top up off some of my already favourited products- Body Shop Beautifying Oil and Invisibobbles to name a couple.

If you fancy one of these collaboration boxes then I strongly advise keeping a close eye on Jane's blog and the Latest In Beauty website as these boxes are always guaranteed to sell fast!

Body Shop Skincare Picks

My relationship with Body Shop is still relatively new, aside from a few Christmas sets I've been gifted in the past, it's only been in the last 6 months that I've really started delving into the brand and it's products. Some products I've purchased have just been ok, but the three items I'm going to talk to you about now are incredible!

Shea Beautifying Oil rrp £9

I have the oddest skin ever, my face is oily/combination but my body has dry skin. I like to go for rich moisturisers or oils in the winter as my skin gets a little drier, being a lover of the Shea scent I thought I'd give it a shot...and it's divine! You only need to apply a few drops to each arm and leg, it absorbs quickly and leaves your skin beautifully soft! You can use this oil on your hair and face too, I haven't tried it on those areas yet but I love it for post shower moisturising.

Tea Tree Night Lotion rrp £9

This antibacterial gel-cream is designed to be applied at night to replenish moisture but keep skin matte at the same time. As well as moisturising and preventing break-outs it works on clearing your existing acne scars. I only get spots on my chin and jawline so I only apply to that area before bed and after around 4 weeks of use I can really see the difference! The acne scars on my jawline have faded quite significantly, so this is a product I will definitely continue using.

Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil rrp £13

What first attracted me to this product was the claim of 'eight hours sleep for your skin'...who doesn't want to look more rested in the morning? Whilst traditionally products containing Vitamin E are aimed at dry skin, this serum-in-oil works wonderfully with my oily/combination skin. I was really sceptical about the the claims of recharged and refreshed skin but it actually works! My skin looks, without sounding all la la, it looks glowy! Although it's an oil its incredibly fast absorbing and doesn't leave my skin like an oil slick and hour later!

What are your favourite Body Shop products?

August's Beauty Favourites

With August coming and going in a flash and September now upon us, reviewing my favourite beauty products from last month makes me kind of feel like I'm mourning the summer! I discovered some fantastic products throughout August and I'm going to be clinging to those summery buys until those early nights start drawing in. So here's my best buys of August, the products I've been reaching for everyday...

Body Shop Honey Bronzer

This amazing bronzer was also in my July beauty favourites, I did a post a few weeks ago with some swatches if you fancy checking it out for yourself. I've literally worn this bronzer everyday since I bought it, the shade (shade 2) is perfect for my fair (NC15) complexion and just gives you a totally natural, sun kissed look. 

N4 Super Comb Prep & protect

I discovered this gorgeous smelling leave-in conditioner in August's Birchbox. I did a post a few weeks ago about that box and the contents and this was my star product. Not only does it smell amazing but it leaves your hair so soft and more manageable. I loved this sample so much I went on to buy the full-size product and I must admit I now couldn't be without it in my routine.

Bourjois Cream Blush (R) Pink Sunwear

When Bourjois released their Summer 2014 products including these gorgeous cream blushers the blogisphere went nuts! Pink Sunwear was another product that featured in my July beauty picks. This subtle shade gives you a gorgeous glow and completely compliments my bronzer. I'll be sad to see this go in a drawer until next summer!

Essie Sand Tropez

One polish I've been taking off and reapplying straight away is Essie's Sand Tropez. This shade is the perfect greige that I will be wearing well into the Autumn/Winter. As with all of Essie's polishes that I've tried its fantastic coverage and I get around 3 days of wear before any chips appear.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Glow Booster

I did a post on this gradual tan a couple of weeks ago and I still feel now how I did then. This amazing gradual tan allows you do totally tailor your tan by controlling how many drops of serum you use a day mixed in with your regular daytime/nighttime moisturiser. This is one skincare product I will be rocking all year round.

Bobbi Brown Blush In Pastel Peach

I let out a little shriek inside when I saw Bobbi Brown had released new shades of their cult blusher. I hastily purchased two of the shades (post coming soon on those) one of them being Pastel Peach. This gorgeous shade looks great on cheeks for a little pop of colour. This is another shade I will be sporting for as long as the sun stays.

Lush Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask

This face mask is the best spot fighting mask I have tried in a long while. Anyone that reads my blog regularly will know that I suffer from horrible hormonal break-outs from time to time and this mask calms angry skin down and clears up break-outs. This is one mask I will be repurchasing now I've run out.

As much as I will miss the summer and will relish in those last few sunny days we have left, I am really looking forward to Autumn/Winter as there are some great products lined up for release and I can't wait to be sporting my favourite vampy lip and nail colours.

Bronzers for fair skinned beauty's - Body Shop Honey Bronzers

It is with great pleasure I bring to you THE perfect bronzers for us fair skinned gals...

I ordered these bronzers on a bit of a whim last week when they had a 50% off offer running, at £6.50 each I wasn't to fussed if they didn't suit me but much to my delight they are perfect!

Shade 1 Light Matte

Shade 1 is a more pink/red toned bronzer so this would be more suitable to fair skin with a pink undertone.

Shade 2 Fair Matte

Shade 2 has yellow undertones to it so is more suited to skin with yellow undertones such as mine (I am NC15 for colour reference.

Apart from the bargain price of £13 and the generous 11.5g of product in the pan, what I absolutely love about this budget bronzer is the finish. Having fair skin I usually have to tread carefully with bronzers as they are nearly always on the red side and way too harsh against my skin tone, shade 2 is perfect for my skin as it compliments by yellow undertones and looks completely natural.

L Shade 2 Honey Bronzer
R Benefit Hoola

Just for colour reference I've added a picture of Shade 2 against Benefit's Hoola, you can really see that Body Shop's Honey Bronzer is less of a muddy colour.

Left Shade 1
Centre Shade 2
Right Benefit Hoola

If like me you're faired skinned and always getting it wrong with bronzers then I urge you to try Bodyshop's Honey Bronzers! Not only are the shades perfect for injecting a little life into your complexion without leaving you looking dirty but the formula itself is silky, completely matte and completely foolproof!  I have tried many high-end bronzers and this is by far my favourite, it's taken place in my daily routine and I can't see it being replaced all summer!

You Beauty March Edition Review

You Beauty March Edition 

This is my first review of one of the beauty box subscriptions I have and this subscription is possibly my favourite. You Beauty is fantastic value for money at £6.95 per month including p&p. They email you at the end of every month giving you a sneak preview of what will be available to choose from the 1st of the month. You choose two items of your choice and then they top it up with a few lovely extras. To be sure to get the items you want I always order my box on the 1st of the month and it is promptly despatched and delivered a few short days later. So, here's my choices and extra's for this month....

BeautyLab Glyco Face Wash

One of the best-selling products in the range,BeautyLab®London GlycoWash is a high performance, multifunctional wash - the perfect cleansing solution for most skin types as it removes impurities, unclogs pores and accelerates cell renewal cycle, resulting in fresh, radiant and youthful looking skin. 

The BeautyLab®London GlycoWash combines five high performance ingredients to visibly improve the skin’s texture and tone, leaving it thoroughly cleansed and refined. 

Ingredients:

GlycoPure™ Glycolic Acid (5%) to promote and increase cellular regeneration.  

• MultiSal™ Salicylic Acid is a cell renewal active encapsulated for triggered release technology to efficiently work for longer on your skin.
• Pomegranate Enzymes gently exfoliate the epidermis giving a fresh and healthy appearance. 
• Willow Bark acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
• And Lavender helps to calm and soothe the skin.

Suitable for: Dull and Congested Skin, Enlarged Pores, Ageing Skin, Uneven Pigmentation, Sun Damaged Skin, Acne Prone Skin

Retails at £32 for 100ml

Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter & Muslin Cloth

The Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter:

This cleanser is an indulgent make-up remover for the whole face. It gently and efficiently melts away make-up and impurities, leaving skin feeling clean, refreshed and pampered.

• Gently melts away make-up, leaves skin feeling clean and petal-soft and removes all types of make-up.

Retails at £12 for 90ml

Now onto my lovely added extras...

The Vintage Co Tweezers

Retailing at £8, these gorgeous floral patterned tweezers are made from a high quality stainless steel and are a make-up bag must have for every girl! 

Dragonfly Tea

I received two sachets, each different blends, these were Moonlight Jasmine (organic green tea) and Swirling Mist (organic white tea) which I personally cannot wait to try as I love my herbal tea's!

All-in-all You Beauty's March Edition was excellent value for money filled with high quality items of which I can't wait to try!

Jodie 

xoxo