Um where the hell did July go? Seeing July through is always an exciting one for me as birthday is at the beginning of August which mostly means new makeup! Last months empties were mostly the everyday essentials, how often do us beauty junkies actually finish a makeup product?!

Lets begin with a new favourite, Kèrastase Cristalliste Lait Luminous Perfecting Conditioner. This was actually a decent sized sample from My Little Box, I hadn't really heard of this conditioner before so it sat in my bathroom for a while but once I had tried it and saw what it did to my hair I was hooked! This conditioner is designed to be used on the mid lengths and ends of long hair, it helps detangle and leave your hair feeling light yet nourished. I have gone on to purchase the full size product as my hair can't be without it now!

Nivea In Shower Moisturiser is a product that I really love the concept of more than the product itself. I initially bought this moisturiser in the winter to save me having to stand cold and wet in the bathroom applying moisturiser after my shower, it didn't provide enough moisture for my dry skin at that point so I thought I'd put it aside for the warmer weather, alas even though I wear lighter moisturising lotions at this time of the year it still does not provide any decent level of moisture to my skin. This is one I shan't be repurchasing.

Aussie Miracle Shine Shampoo has been my go-to shampoo for the last few years, it leaves my hair glossy and smelling great. I use a couple of different conditioners throughout the week but my hair washing routine will always start with this product and I always have a couple of spare bottle in my bathroom cabinet.

Unfortunately Maybelline Baby Lips  are another product that I love the idea of more than the product. Sure they're affordable and they come in a wide variety of shades and designs but they just don't moisturise my lips! Lip balm is one of those products I rarely like to skimp on as you can really notice the difference to the moisture levels in your lips and you then have to spend a week getting rid of flakiness and rehydrate them. This is another product I won't be repurchasing. 

From a bad lip balm to a great one with Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. This is only a tiny 3ml sample but you need so little of the product it lasted and lasted, I applied before bed and my lips were always soft and smooth by morning meaning I need not worry about prepping for any type of lipstick, even matte shades. This is one i will be purchasing in the near future.

Soap and Glory Scrub Of Your Life was from a Christmas gift set, I have a regular favourite body exfoliator but I thought I'd give this a shot. I haven't used a Soap and Glory exfoliator in a couple of years, I used to love Breakfast scrub, not only did it smell divine but it did an amazing job of leaving your skin glowing, unfortunately Scrub of Your Life doesn't compare, it's more like a shower gel with a few exfoliating beads in it. 

I'm on about my third of fourth jar of Benefit's It's Potent eye cream, I love everything from the cute packaging down to the sparkle it gives back to my eye area. This will be a regular repurchase.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is a product I've heard so many people rave about, I've been using it for a couple of months and have to admit can't really see any visible improvement to my skin. I dispensed the contents of the jar in to a pump bottle (germ phobe!) and I still have a couple of weeks worth yet, I'm on the fence about repurchasing.

Benefit b.right! Radiant Skincare 6 Piece Intro Kit

I purchased a couple of these adorable sets just after Christmas in the sales, as a huge Benefit cosmetics fan I had been intrigued to delve into their skincare range for a while and what better way than with an adorable little kit like this?

For an intro kit that only costs £14.50 the set has an incredibly great quality feel to it with four of the samples housed in kitsch glass packaging. I'm a massive fan of my regular eye cream, Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream and I have to say that everything else that I have been trying is pretty impressive.

The set includes samples of Benefit's-

Foamingly Clean Facial Wash 8.9g

Refined Finish Facial Polish 8.9g

Moisture Prep Toning Lotion 8.9ml

Triple Performing Facial Lotion 8.9ml

Total Moisture Facial Cream 3g

It's Potent! Eye Cream 3g

If you, like I was, are intrigued to try Benefit's skincare range then I couldn't recommend this set more. Even if you don't enjoy the products just think how cute they will look on your dressing table!

Trial-Sized Tuesday - Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish

One of my (many) post Christmas purchases was the b.right! Radiant Skincare by Benefit 6 piece intro kit rrp £14.50 which really is the most gorgeous little set to help you get introduced to Benefit's skincare. Having a weakness for exfoliator's like I do their Refined Finish Facial Polish was the first item I wanted to try and when better than on my Trial-Sized Tuesday!

This exfoliator boasts natural ingredients (winning me over already!) such as natural clay and seaweed extract rich in minerals and natural sugars known to purify the skin. Benefit claim that this exfoliator when used once or twice a week will help minimise the appearance of pores, purify the skin and leave you with a more radiant complexion.

I don't know why but I was expecting the exfoliating particles to be a little finer than they are. The formula is quite thick and creamy which is great as you can really work it into your skin without it just rolling straight off. Although the formula is quite creamy it didn't leave my skin feeling greasy as some other exfoliators have and it left my skin feeling very soft. One thing I will say is if you have sensitive skin or don't like scented skincare then this may not be for you, I found the product to have quite a strong shampoo like smell.

Overall not a bad little exfoliator, I don't know if I would rush out and purchase the full size product but it's definitely not the worst I've tried.

Dr Lewinn's Skin Renewal Overnight Exfoliator

I introduced Dr Lewinn's Overnight Exfoliator rrp £36 into my skincare routine a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to give it a proper trial before I was able to say...that I absolutely love it!

Products that promise a celebrity like glow with little effort always catch my eye and this one does not disappoint! Dr Lewinn's Overnight Exfoliator is a non-abrasive exfoliator designed to improve clarity, tone and the texture of your skin whilst you sleep. 

I cleanse and tone as normal and then apply a liberal amount before applying my night serum...when I wake up my skin is a smooth as a babies bum! This smoothness has probably got something to do with all of the naturally derived ingredients it has in it, extracts of Sugar Cane and Sugar Maple to gently exfoliate skin, Orange and Lemon Fruit extract to resurface and purify, Witch Hazel to clarify and tone and Vitamin A to rejuvenate. Not only does it sound good enough to eat it truly makes skin glow!

With Regular use it's been reported that it can help fade sun spots and pigmentation, effective on ingrown hairs and has even reduced the appearance of acne scars. Oil free, gentle and yet effective it is suitable for all skin types. Not the cheapest exfoliator I own but definitely the easiest and effective!

Jodie xoxo

March Favourites..

It was really hard to pick just a handful of products to choose as my favourite beauty products of March as I had purchased and discovered some fabulous products last month...even though I was on a beauty product ban! So here's some products I just can't put down...


Premae Mild Pro Dermabrasion  £17.50

I've made no secret of my love for Premae's products and this has now become a firm favourite in my skincare regime. This is a mild exfoliant with gently ground Olive pumice in it, helping to lift away dead skin cells and leave a more radiant complexion. I like to leave it on my face for 5-10 minutes before gently buffing into my skin, I then rinse off and follow with Premae's cleansing Balance Rescue Face Wash...my skin feels so soft and deeply cleansed afterwards.

Barry M Gelly Nails in Sugar Apple £3.99

I literally can't stop wearing this colour since I bought it! I love the transition of Winter to Spring and all of the fresh colours that come with it. Sugar Apple is a gorgeous pastel mint colour, I find 3 coats give a total opacity, glossy and long wearing this nail polish will get a hell of a lot of wear from me!

Benefit Stay Don't Stray £20.50

I've never really been blown away by Benefit products but I now couldn't live without this primer! I have terrible dark circles so I use a concoction of colour correctors and concealers to disguise them but I find at times creamy concealers can slide about a bit...queue Benefit's Stay Don't Stray! I bought it in Light/Medium and it is perfect for my skin tone, not only does it keep my concealer in place but it's a perfect concealer in itself!

Models Own HyperGel Polish in White Light £5

Nothing more chic than a white mani in the spring...other than all the gorgeous pastel shades that are popping up this is another favourite of mine. I have read blog's where its been claimed you only require one coat, even though this polish is quite thick I personally find I need 3 coats to give full opacity. It wears really well, very glossy and chip resistant for at least 3 days (if I can keep the same colour on for that long!).

No7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush in Mango Sorbet £9.95

Another product that I have worn everyday since I bought it...I have a really addiction to blushers, especially cream versions! This blush is a gorgeous peach shade in a convenient stick, great for when your on the go. The results are a very fresh, healthy pop of colour and it lasts a good 6 hours on me before it needs touching up.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in In Love With Ginger £6.49

Another product I am addicted to...red and red/orange lipsticks! I haven't bought a lipstick by Rimmel for years but after reading a few good reviews and it's purse-friendly price I thought I'd pick it up to add to my collection...I'm pleased to say it doesn't disappoint. The formula is very nourishing and moisturising and the colour is a gorgeous, bright coral

Bobbi Brown Rouge Pot in Hibiscus  £19

Bobbi Brown's products take up a huge amount of space in my make-up collection...her blushers are divine...when I saw a limited edition Rouge Pot was coming out I knew I had to snap one up! This is an excellent multi-tasking product for your make-up bag. Hibiscus is a gorgeous bright red coral and looks great both on your lips and cheeks. Another firm BB favourite for me!

No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter £9.95

I'm usually quite wary of cream highlighters as I find that they can lift my quite heavy foundation, so I usually just use a powder version such as MAC Mineralize...but this cream highlighter is fab! I've been wearing this most days alongside the Pop and Glow blusher, applied on cheekbones and below the brow it gives just the right amount of glow without looking like a disco ball! I apply straight form the convenient stick and blend using my Real Techniques Expert Face brush and it blends seamlessly with my foundation.

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Mask £5

There's nothing I love more than a nice relaxing face mask on a Sunday night to prepare me for the week ahead. This is a fab, deep cleansing yet non-drying formula in a super convenient squeezey bottle.

I'm super excited about spring and all of the new beauty offerings that come with it!

Jodie

xoxo

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

Xen-Tan Transform Luxe Gradual Tanner Review

So I thought I'd share with you my first ever experience with Xen-Tan Gradual Tanner in Light/Medium. Now I am a fake tan virgin, I do however use a gradual tanner all year round which is Dove's purse-friendly Summer Glow. Whilst the scent of Dove's Summer Glow isn't the best, just the usual biscuity mushroom smell that you get with all the others, it does give a lovely, even and subtle glow. Back to my experience with Xen-Tan...

I was really excited to try Xen-Tan, before purchasing I had read many glowing reviews from people that were dedicated to this brand for excellent salon quality results. I probably wouldn't have purchased it at it's full retail of £39.95 but as it was in the ASOS sale for £18.50 I thought this was a reasonable price as the gift set included an exfoliator and tanning mitt.

 The products came in very luxurious and informative gold and cream boxes enclosed in a transparent re-usable cosmetic bag. The gradual tanner and exfoliator themselves were very generous sized 236ml bottles with the gradual tanner having a screw top and the exfoliator having a nice and easy flip top.

So that evening I showered, shaved and exfoliated in preparation for applying the gradual tanner. Just touching on the exfoliator, it was a very refreshing and non-abrasive scrub...some scrubs can leave my skin feeling dry and taught but this didn't. Straight after my shower I slathered on E45 cream...I do this every night regardless of applying my usual gradual tanner or not. Now onto my experience with the tanner itself...

Firstly, the scent is delicious! Its got a fresh vanilla scent to it which only slightly changed to that biscuity fake tan smell around 3 hours later and even then it wasn't as over-powering as some other brands I have tried. The lotion itself made my skin feel moisturised and was easy to apply. Now the set came with a tanner mitt...as this is labelled as a daily gradual tan I threw caution to the wind and applied it with my hands...big mistake! Although the rest of my body tanned evenly and streak free the colour was anything but a subtle light/medium. I love the colour, it was a deep olive, I have an olive tone to my skin anyway so the tanner only enhanced this. Although I had washed my hands thoroughly after applying to my body and rubbed a small amount to the backs of my hands using my wrists and the back of the opposite hand to rub in I ended up with a disaster on my hands that I don't usually get!

As you can see from this photo the colour difference is so dramatic! I love the colour it's very natural but I know now why it came with a tanning mitt and will definitely be using it on my next application! My disappointment of this not being as easy to use as my usual drug-store brand gradual tanner has been overshadowed by the luxurious colour and feel of Xen-Tan.

I may be converted....

Jodie
xoxo