I thought I'd follow on from last weeks post on my favourite tanning products for body with my current favourites for your face. Both products are completely fool proof and provide a natural, build- able tan.

First we have an old favourite, Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster. This is a concentrated serum type tanner which you can customise to the depth of tan you want. One drop every day to give a light tan or keep your tan topped up and two or three drops for a deeper bronze. I mix a couple of drops with my night cream and wake up with a nice natural glow about me. I don't tend to use fake tan on my face as they generally break me out, I've never had any skin troubles with using this gentler alternative.

James Read Sleep Mask Tan is a product I've had in my stash for a while yet for some reason never tried, how stupid was I?! Sleep Mask Tan as the name would indicate is a product best applied before bed, it has all of the ingredients of nourishing skincare with the added benefit of tanner, ensuring you wake looking rested and with a natural glow.

If you're looking for facial tanning products which are both easy to use and give natural results, I couldn't recommend these two products enough.

May Skincare Favourites

My monthly favourites posts are usually about makeup so this month I thought I'd share my favourite
skincare products, two of which are old favourites and two of which are great new discoveries.

First up we have Clarins Double Serum which I have been using for around 7 months and have noticed a considerable change in my skins texture and tone. Having oily skin has kept those wrinkles at bay and I bought this more as a preventative measure as I turn 27 this year. I had some fine lines (or laughter lines) around my mouth which have faded a lot and the once large pores on my cheeks have shrunken considerably. I winced a little as I handed over £55 for the 30ml bottle but as it lasts (with daily use) for nearly 6 months I can live with a justifiable £10 per month for an anti-ageing product which works for me.

Next up we have Dr LeWinn's Overnight Exfoliator which after searching for a link to the product I have just discovered has been discontinued *sad face. I have been suing this amazing product 3 nights a week for the last 12 months and my skin has never looked better. I suffered with a terrible bout of acne a couple of years ago and this overnight Glycolic peel has faded my scars and evened out my skin tone. Finding a similar product with the same amazing results will be difficult...leave me a comment if you can recommend something!

I had read quite a few posts on Pai BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend and last month decided to take the plunge and add it to my routine. I am a fan of Rosehip Oil, after my acne bout it healed my skin and combined with a couple of other treatments really aided the fading of scars and brimging back the glow to my complexion. This facial oil helps fade acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and UV damage. I use this 3 nights after cleansing and before my night cream and my skin feels soft and radiant by morning.

Last but by all means least we have my second new skincare product for May, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. I had been dying to give this cream a try for as long as I can remember but was always put of by the price, luckily this cream came to me via a more affordable alternative to the regular £80 purchase price (via the You Beauty Discovery Box) and I have to say I'm impressed with the results so far. I have noticed a little goes a long way and I do find I have to massage quite well as it doesn't absorb instantly but my skin is guaranteed to be soft and supple in the morning, I'm looking forward to seeing the long term benefits of using this moisturiser.

Which are your current skincare favourites?

Last Week's Most Worn

Hello lovelies, I hope everyone is well and had a lovely long Bank Holiday weekend off work, I was working (boo!) and it was extremely busy so I thought I'd share with you today the products I reached for most last week to mask my fatigue in the office.

When I'm feeling tired the last thing I want to to is spend 30 minutes on my base and strangely enough I find the more foundation I'm wearing the worse my skin looks so I start with Topshop Beauty Airbrush Primer to help shrink the appearance of pores and just smooth everything out and then I apply the seriously impressive Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, this stuff does an amazing job of covering imperfections, evening out skin tone and leaving a healthy dewy glow. For my tired eyes I start with my holy grail eye product Bobbi Brown Corrector to counteract any darkness and then I use a light dabbing of Clarins Instant Concealer I also like to apply a little to my chin, nose and cupids bow as it leaves a gorgeous glow to your skin and brightens my face up. For cheeks I'm loving an old favourite which I dug out from my collection Bourjois Cream Blush 02 Healthy Glow, this colour blends seamlessly and lifts my whole complexion.

When I'm feeling/looking tired I like to keep my eye makeup quite fresh so I start with Lancome Base Paupières Pro to keep my eyeshadow in place and then apply a light sweep of the lightest shade from L'Oreals Color Riche La Palette Nude Beige being sure to apply in the inner corners of my eyes. I then like to apply a thin line of Illamasqua Precision Gel Liner to my lash line and the instantly brightening Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in the shade nude to my waterline, this instantly makes me look more awake. For lashes I am loving Clinique Lash Building Primer to really add body and volume to my lashes and then finish with a sweep of my favourite mascara Lancome Hypnose. For brows I am loving Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade as it has everything I need to quickly fill in sparse brows and stay put all day. To set everything in place I'm absolutely loving NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder as it sets everything in place but doesn't take away the glow of my base and enhances the glow of my skin.

Phew it seems like a lot of products but we're actually talking about 20 minutes in the morning from looking half dead to healthy! Do you see any of your favourites here or anything you'd want to try?

April Empties & Repurchases

I didn't want to be the one to say it but where the hell did April go? Spring seems to be flying by and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's excited about the prospect of summer being on our doorstep. So as we say hello to May and goodbye to April here's my empties and a few repurchases...

Clarins Double Serum | £55 30ml

Being in my mid-twenties I wanted to start using something for preventative measures against ageing and Clarins Double Serum was my first choice as it's a multi award winning anti ageing product. Suitable for all skin types this powerful serum helps shrink pores, firms skin and helps smooth wrinkles. I use at night and over the last 6 months have seen a dramatic change in my skins texture, my pores are considerably less visible and my complexion has an all round glow to it. A definite repurchase.

Botanics All Bright Micellar Water | £2.99 250ml

I bought this micellar water on a bit of a whim as there was an offer on in Boots. This micellar water claims to not only remove makeup and cleanse skin but also contain a natural mild exfoliator to leave skin brighter. I found this micellar water to be ok, not as great as my favourite (B. micellar water from Superdrug) and I certainly didn't see any improvement in my skins appearance from using it. Unfortunately not a repurchase.

B. 4in1 Cleansing Wipes | £3.50 25 wipes

These wipes are the best I've come across. The B. range from Superdrug offers some seriously brilliant skincare products, these wipes along with their micellar water gently remove all traces of my makeup and leave my skin feeling soft and smooth. These wipes are a regular repurchase.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Lotion | £11 200ml

I had high hopes for this toner after reading so many shining reviews on it but unfortunately my skin didn't reap any of the benefits it claims to give. Despite this toner claiming to be free from alcohol the scent tells me otherwise and it really dried my skin out (and I have pretty oily skin!). Definitely won't be repurchasing this one.

Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil | £7.50 1.8ml

For my pre mani cuticle treatment I use Leighton Denney's Slick Tips, a great product but not practical for when you're on the go as it comes in a glass nail polish style bottle so queue The Body Shop's pen style cuticle oil. I usually keep one of these in my handbag and one on my keyboard at work, because it comes in a pen style applicator it's such a quick and easy product to use. A definite repurchase.

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover | £1.60 100ml

This has been my favourite nail polish remover for what seems like forever. It does a great job of dissolving polish quickly and leaving my nails feeling moisturised and clean. The formula also helps whiten nails so it's great for those times you forget to use a base coat and are left with some staining. A regular repurchase.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara | £22.50

I adore this mascara, I have raved about it in a previous post as it does the most amazing job of lengthening and giving volume to my lashes without leaving them looking clumpy and loaded with mascara. I love the fact I can wear this mascara all day and not need to worry about smudges or any dry flakes. Already repurchased another one of these little beauties.

Number 4 Lumiere d'hived Super Comb Prep & Protect | £20 200ml

This was actually a sample from a Birchbox from months ago that I totally forgot about. This stuff smells divine and really helps to seal the moisture into my hair after washing and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. I've gone on to purchase the full size product from the Birchbox shop as I couldn't find it anywhere else in the UK.

Did you see any of your favourite products here or anything you'd want to try?

Most Worn | This Weeks Makeup Bag

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.

Clarins Double Serum 2 Month Review

With being in my mid-twenties and starting to notice those little fine lines appearing I decided towards the end of last year to find an anti-aging product for preventative measures. After a lot of shopping around and reading a ton of reviews I decided to go with Calrind Double Serum (prices from £55) and I have to say it's incredible!

So the serum is a two-phase system (meaning it dispenses two products together) and contains 20 natural plant extracts to help boost the skins vital functions. The serum promises to minimise pores, smooth skin and skin firmer and glowing. After 2 months of use I can honestly say it really has delivered on those promises!

Like I mentioned I only really have fine lines and some expression lines which were getting more prominent but I can see those expression lines on my forehead are less visible and my skin definitely looks and feels more firm. The absolute god send of this product is that it's actually shrinking my pores! I have tried oodles of products which promise to smooth skin and erase pores but none have delivered so effectively and as quickly as this serum has. 

Double serum is suitable for most skin types, including oily skin like mine, as my skin is quite oily have found it best to apply the serum only at night although you can use it morning and night for better effectiveness. It may seem a little on the expensive side however with the small amount needed and the fact 2 months into use I'm not even half way through the bottle I see it more as an investment.

If you're looking for a preventative measure like I was then I would definitely recommend Double Serum, it's no wonder it's won so many awards!

Trial-Sized Tuesday's - Clarins Skin Smoothing Eye Mask

After a long, busy day sat in front of my pc in the office yesterday I had a dig through my drawer of samples to find a little something to try for my Trial-Sized Tuesday's spot and rejoiced at the little box of  Clarins Skin Smoothing Eye Mask staring back at me. I've been meaning to try this stuff for a while and boy did my tired peepers appreciate it afterwards.

Clarins Skin Smoothing Eye Mask does just that, it's an intensive mask blended with Wild Rose, Apricot and Rose Water that helps energise tired eyes and minimise the signs of fatigue. The formula is smooth and creamy and doesn't tug at your eye are when you're applying it. You simply apply the cream to your under eye area and after 5-10 minutes gently wipe away with a damp cotton wool pad. I did find whilst it was drying it felt a little tight under my eyes but after I wiped it off the skin under my eyes felt so soft and refreshed. 

At £30.50 for 30ml it may seem a little on the expensive side, however for the very little amount that you need for each eye it will last forever and it's probably the most energising under eye treatment I have tried.

Clarins Instant Concealer Review

After reading Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup's review on Clarins Instant Concealer I felt compelled to rush out and buy it. With claims of giving instantly refreshed, radiant eye's, with a fluid texture that blends seamlessly and a just a good old multi use product in general I just couldn't wait to give it a try.

I went for shade 01, the fairest, which is a tad more pink toned than I'd like but I can make it work if I'm wearing it under my eyes alone. So, did it give me instantly 'refreshed, radiant eye's'? No. It's very watery (which I was expecting thanks to the heads up from Anna's post) and very sheer so it did little to disguise my dark circles. Ok, but did it 'blend seamlessly'? Not exactly. With it being more pink toned and my foundation being yellow toned I have to take more care with blending and the concealer kinda settles into the creases under my eyes effectively making me look more tired than before! 

With all of the amazing reviews on Clarins website and Anna's post I'm disappointed that this concealer doesn't work for me or fit my needs, at £21 this purchase didn't exactly break the bank but it was a wasted one none the less.

Trial-Sized Tuesday's - Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

My quest of trying to utilise my drawer of samples and trial sized products continues with Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm rrp £19 for 15ml. 

I'm relatively new to Clarins products but can hand on heart say I've enjoyed using every product I have purchased so far and with Clarins offering 3 free samples with every online order it gives you an excellent opportunity to try more from their ranges. A couple of orders ago I selected this lip balm as one of my samples and with the cold weather here I thought it a perfect opportunity to give it a try. 

HydraQuench Lip Balm has a very thick texture, think Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, only it melts on to your lips not only healing chapped lips but preventing moisture loss. This intensive balm is infused with Rose Wax and Shea Butter and it has a delicate pink tint to it which leaves lips looking lovely.

I've found with all of the lipstick wearing I've been doing lately my lips haven't so much become chapped but they are definitely a little dry and tight and applying this balm last thing at night has restored my lips come morning. I've had the 3ml sample of the go for around a week now and it's showing no signs of running out as you need so little, I definitely will be purchasing the full size product when the sample is done!

Trial-Sized Tuesday's - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

On my quest to get through my ever increasing sample stash yesterday I tested Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. I know this product has achieved cult status by make-up artists and beauty fanatics alike so I was really excited to try it and had high expectations for the results.

Beauty Flash Balm is said to be the ultimate pick-me-up for tried and dull skin, helping to eliminate fatigue resulting in a radiant complexion. Containing Olive and Witch Hazel reputed to help smooth the skins surface and Bisabolol to restore a youthful glow. Sounds too good to be true right?

Although this product has a balm like texture it is said to be suitable for normal, dry, combination and oily skin so with mine being combination/oily I thought it would be suitable for me, however after a few hours of wear my t-zone turned into an oil slick! Rather than rub the product in like a moisturiser you smooth a small amount over your skin and either wear alone or apply make-up directly over the top. The initial finish of my foundation over it looked dewy and my skin looked well rested, however like I said before after around 4/5 hours my t-zone was really, really oily (way beyond the help of powder) and by the time I got home from work my skin felt congested and I couldn't wait to wash my make-up off.

I really think this product would be suitable for dry/normal skin types...it certainly didn't bode well with my combination skin. Such a disappointing product for me as I know loads of people that have raved about it for years.

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.

Trial-Sized Tuesday - Clarins Eye Contour Gel

Last week whilst stocking up on my favourite Clarins product (Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster) I selected a few samples before checking out (you can choose 3 free samples with every order!) one of which was Clarins Eye Contour Gel. I really feel my eyes are the only thing that are starting to give my age away, I've inherited some lovely dark circles from mother and any product that promises to aid with puffiness and lighten the bin bags under my eyes is going to catch my attention.
This eye gel promises 'Expert eye care to fight puffiness and dark circles. A refreshing gel that reduces puffiness and minimises the appearance of dark circles.' Now I've only used this for the last couple of mornings so I can't comment on it aiding the reduction of my dark circles but I can say that this is a refreshing product to use in the morning to help freshen tired eyes. The sample size is a generous one, the full size product is 20ml (around 3 months of use) and the sample 3ml so I expect it will last me a couple of weeks.
Clarins is a new brand for me, not that I've only just heard of them but i am only just delving in to their products and I must say I'm enjoying what I've tried so far. I'm looking forward to trying some of their make-up products, have you tried any? What are your favourites?

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

I've been using this product for around 3 weeks now, long enough in my opinion to give a review. Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster is a self tanner but in a concentrated form meaning you can add it to your usual serum or moisturiser with no nasty streaks or an orange result. 

The concept is simple, you add the desired amount of drops (3 are recommended) to your usual serum or moisturiser, mix in your hand and apply as usual. Once you reach your desired level of tan you can either continue using daily with just a drop in your usual moisturiser or serum or just apply every few days. This is still a tanning product so be sure to wash your hands afterwards.

This product is absolutely incredible! How no-one came up with the idea before is beyond me, the concept is a simple one yet it has vastly improved my complexion. I regularly use tanning products on my body but I avoid at all costs using them on my face as most tend to clog my pores leading to (more!) spots, this has evened out my face and decollate to the same colour as my body with no nasty streaks. What I really love about this product is that you are in control of the development of the tan. If 3 drops didn't give you the depth of colour you were looking for the night before then you can simply add more the next night. 

If you regularly read my blog you will know I have oily skin and suffer from hormonal breakouts. I haven't found my skin has been any more oily or any more prone to spots than usual, intact it's pretty traceless apart from the glowing results you get the following day. Not only does my skin look more tanned but it looks healthier, skin tone more even and it makes my acne scars less apparent.

This product will forever (as long as it's available) be in my skincare routine.