January Favourites

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter
Strobing is probably the biggest makeup trend at the minute & I couldn't be any happier about it. I am obsessed with glowing skin & practically bathe in highlighter. It makes my face come alive & balances out a matte base. BECCA have truly mastered the highlighter with liquid, cream & powder versions of their incredible Shimmering Skin Perfectors but I've recently been loving their new Backlight Priming Filter. It's a radiance-boosting primer that really gives you that look of being 'lit from within'. It is fairly similar to their original liquid SSP in Moonstone but slightly thicker in texture which makes it a better base for makeup. The sheen this gives the skin is beautifully pearlescent, never glittery & neutral in tone. Used alone it actually balances it out my complexion & gives me that perfect healthy looking glow that only catwalk models seem to have. Often radiance primers can disappear once you apply foundation but this stuff is still clearly visible under light, medium & full coverage base products. It instantly perks up dull skin & provides the ultimate dewy canvas for the rest of your makeup.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
My skin has been awfully dry lately thanks to a combination of cold weather & central heating. It was clear that I needed to make some minor adjustments to my skincare routine so I bought a couple of things to better nourish my skin. I normally use a cleansing oil followed by a gel cleanser twice a day but that's not really necessary in the morning. I decided to go back to using a balm cleanser & after avoiding the hype that follows this Oskia cleanser for so long I finally cracked. The Renaissance Cleansing Gel is enriched with pumpkin enzymes, vitamins A, C & E, starflower oil & MSM. This wonderful blend of ingredients gently exfoliates, restores & soothes providing all of the things that my skin was crying out for. The texture of this cleanser is unlike any other. It is dispensed as a pink gel, feels like balm, melts into the skin like an oil & then goes full circle, washing off with the ease of a gel cleanser. My skin is left feeling smooth, soft & hydrated without any residue. It also has a gorgeous rose scent that reminds me of Turkish Delight! I only wish I'd given in to the hype sooner.

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate
The other item I bought to sort out my dry/dehydrated skin was the Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate. I was in need of a new facial oil & considered repurchasing either Balance Me's Radiance Oil or Trilogy's Rosehip Oil. I also considered trying something new like Sarah Chapman's Morning Facial or Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. In the end I had a look in my skincare stash & found a tiny vial of this stuff. It's been a long time since I've used any Liz Earle products but when I first started getting into skincare I ordered from them all the time & they always sent out little samples of this oil. My skin absolutely lapped it up so I splashed out on a big bottle because I preferred the pump packaging to the rollerball. The Superskin Concentrate features plenty of skin-friendly oils including avocado, rosehip, argan, lavender, hazelnut, neroli & chamomile plus vitamin E. Massaging this into the skin feels like such a treat. The natural scent is divine & helps send me off to sleep quicker. The oil is really nourishing & whenever I use it I wake up with bright, fresh & dewy looking skin. It's more of a night oil but I do sometimes mix it in with my moisturiser during the day if my skin really needs it. I just love how it feels on my skin & it's a great solution for a dull, dry complexion.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep
I put a lot of effort into maintaining & filling in my eyebrows. I'm definitely one of those annoying 'brows on fleek' people & want them to look as good as possible. I adore all of my Anastasia Beverly Hills products but I was drawn to this brow gel from Benefit because the tiny brush seemed ideal for defining the hairs at the front of my brows. It's easy to control & the formula is fairly dry so you don't end up splodging excess product all over the skin which does sometimes happen with the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel. Just a few strokes deliver fuller, darker brows that still look natural. The water-resistant fibre gel adheres to the tiniest of hairs filling in gaps & keeping everything in place. It really beefs up the hairs so it'd be great for anyone with sparse brows. The Medium/Deep shade is a good match for me. It's cool-toned & not too dark so it doesn't make my brows look fake. It works well on it's own & also looks fab applied alongside my Anastasia products.

NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
I've been getting back into contouring this year & one contour product that I'd always wanted to try is NYX's Taupe blush. Often hailed as the quintessential contour colour for us pale girls, I'm not quite sure why it's taken me so long to purchase it. Although NYX is now stocked on FeelUnique & Boots I had to order it off eBay as NYX actually changed their powder blush formula. Apparently the HD version of this blush isn't quite as good as the original so I wanted to make sure I got the right one. Taupe is a matte cool-toned brown that mimics the appearance of a natural shadow. The pigment isn't too strong but that works to your advantage when contouring. It blends easily & you can build up the colour where you need to. It's a very flattering, natural shade that never looks muddy on the skin. The price is really affordable so I would recommend this product to contouring beginners & experts alike.

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Skin Soothing Sprays

Caudalie Beauty Elixir / La Roche-Posay Serozinc / Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner / Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner

For some reason toners are oft-neglected as part of a skincare routine. Just because it doesn't feel like they're doing anything for your skin doesn't mean that they aren't beneficial to it. In fact many toners that feel like they're 'working' on the skin have a high alcohol content. Alcohol is something you really should try to avoid when choosing a toner. It may look & feel like it's shrinking your pores when in reality it's just drying out your skin. If you're a fan of chemical exfoliants like me then it's important to keep your skin balanced by following up with something gentle & hydrating. This helps to maintain the skin's pH level which is important for preventing everything from eczema & redness to acne & wrinkles. Toner helps to bridge the gap between cleansing & moisturising so that your skin feels prepped for the products to come. Personally I prefer using spray toners as they feel so much more refreshing upon application than swiping your toner on with a cotton pad. In the Summer I also like to pop one of these sprays in my handbag as a quick pick me up for the skin. Keeping your toner of choice in the fridge overnight will further enhance it's cooling powers, leaving it perfectly prepped for a day out in the sun.

I've used various different spray toners over the years but the first one that I truly fell head over heels for was the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I will never get tired of it's wonderful scent. It imparts a minty tingle to your skin, perking it up & making it glow. I tend to keep this one exclusively for my handbag as not only does it freshen up your face but it helps to calm & clear your mind too. Ever since I tried La Roche-Posay Serozinc it has been a staple in my skincare routine. This is the one I reach for on a daily basis as it contains a zinc sulfate solution which can reduce redness & irritation. Zinc also has acne-busting properties so I use it to keep my blemishes in check. Combine this spray with a Zinc + Copper supplement to give cystic acne the boot. It's criminal that La Roche-Posay haven't brought this to the UK yet but it's well worth hunting down if you're holidaying in France. Alternatively you can get it on eBay.

I remember when I first started blogging that Liz Earle was the biggest thing in skincare. I subsequently went out & bought practically every product they made. Since then I've obviously moved on to other brands but there's still a few key products that I would recommend. I always pluck my eyebrows using the Instant Boost Skin Tonic. It makes it easier to wipe away the strays hairs & immediately calms down any redness in that area. The ingredient list is full of soothing ingredients including cucumber, chamomile & calendula. I enjoy it's soft botanical scent, it kinda reminds me of baby powder. I also used to really be into Dermalogica & have spent a small fortune on their products over the years. Their Multi-Active Toner remains a firm favourite due to it's skin balancing properties. It doesn't contain any alcohol yet it manages to keep excess oil production at bay. It also features arnica, cucumber and moisture-binding humectants to hydrate & smooth the skin. My latest toner love is the Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner. This toner is incredibly hydrating & smells amazing! It makes my skin feel really soft & look beautifully radiant. The formula is very gentle making it a great choice for those with sensitive or irritated skin. Use it sparingly as it can feel a bit sticky if you go overboard with it. Elemis make so many lovely skincare products, I want to try them all!

What's your favourite spray toner?

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The Eye Care Edit

Eye products are a funny old thing. With other types of skincare products you can normally tell within a few weeks if something is making your skin better or worse. Eye creams are more of a guessing game. How do you know whether something will stop you from getting wrinkles in the future when time travel isn't an option? I think that's why so many people don't actually bother with them. It's an easy step to miss out when doing your skincare routine but it only takes two seconds & can make all the difference when you do get older. Genetics & your overall health will dictate the natural appearance of your eye area but using a separate eye product can help to reduce puffiness, dryness, irritation, dark circles & fine lines. This product roundup is aimed towards us young'uns. We might not have huge puffy bags & crows feet just yet but it's so important to start looking after your eyes in your twenties. The eyes are one of the first places to show signs of ageing & prevention is always better than cure.



THE GELS: Personally I greatly prefer eye gels over eye creams. If dark circles & puffiness concern you then I would recommend using a gel. My eyes get easily irritated especially during the Summer so a calming eye gel is exactly what I need. Organic Surge Eye Gel* is the one I always reach for when my eyes feel really sore. It contains aloe vera, green tea, witch hazel & menthol which can help to naturally reduce inflammation, puffiness, sagging & dehydration. I think gels work best with a pump otherwise you can end up with far too much product on your finger. If the Arran Aromatics Feel Good Formulas Green Tea Eye Gel* came with a pump it would be much better. This gel has a really thick texture so you only need a tiny bit. It has an amazing scent & feels so cooling, especially if you pop it in the fridge first. As it's so thick I like to layer it on as a refreshing eye mask, leave it for five minutes & then blot off the excess product with a tissue. It's a great pick me up after a day of hayfever hell. I also like the REN Active 7 Eye Gel. The texture is very lightweight, almost watery but I find it takes a while to absorb properly. When it does absorb it effectively smooths away any fine lines & really tightens the skin. It's not so great at hydrating the area though which is why gels containing hyaluronic acid, like the next two, are more worthy of an investment.

HealGel Eye* is my current product of choice. If you can afford it then you should definitely buy this one. It sinks in immediately & firms up the skin. The problem with most other eye products is that you can't tell if it's making a difference or not. HealGel Eye has had a visible impact upon my under eye area and has actually reduced the discolouration of my dark circles. The effects are cumulative rather than just being a temporary fix. Arnica is a wonderful thing. Like I mentioned previously, it also contains hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture to the area & plump up any fine lines. Alpha-H Absolute Eye Complex is very similar to HealGel Eye but it's dark shadow correcting properties don't quite match up. Otherwise, it's pretty damn good.



THE CREAMS: Creams are the better choice if you need something really hydrating. I don't find them as effective for dark circles unless you want something that works as a temporary solution. Origins GinZing Eye Cream is brilliant at perking up tired eyes. It contains caffeine to tighten & depuff the area. I love the shimmery light reflecting particles. They help to brighten up dark circles meaning that you don't need to use as much concealer. Some of the best eye creams I've come across are from Lierac. They're a French pharmacy brand so their products are tricky to get hold of but I found mine in TK Maxx. Lierac Diopticalm is an instantly refreshing eye balm. It is incredibly soothing & gets rid of any dryness. You can use this as an eye mask too. Lierac Diopticerne is one of the few creams that works well on dark circles whilst also adding plenty of moisture. The only good thing about Clinique All About Eyes is it's moisturising properties. It does nothing for fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness or dark circles. However it does keep the eye contours well hydrated & gives the area a smooth base for makeup.



THE TREATMENTS: There's loads of home remedies out there for eye problems such as teabags, cucumbers & backs of spoons so you don't have to spend a lot for an effective treatment. One of the cheapest but most helpful things to carry around with you is a bottle of eye drops. I'm using Optrex Refreshing Eyes Drops to wash out any dirt & calm irritation. I get really bad hayfever so eye drops & baths are a must have for me come Summertime. I want to give one of their eye sprays a go as they claim to not smudge your makeup but they are a lot pricier. Something I cannot live without is Liz Earle Eyebright. It is my favourite ever Liz Earle product & it is a miracle worker on tired eyes. If I'm struggling to get out of bed in the morning I pop some on a couple of cotton pads and leave them on my eyes for a few minutes. I instantly feel more awake & ready to face the day. I've also used this to clear a mild eye infection when I couldn't get to a pharmacy. It's so cooling & refreshing - perfect for hayfever season too.

I first discovered Talika when I tried their amazing Lipocils which is brilliant at growing back eyelashes & eyebrows. They have loads of amazing eye products including these unique Eye Decompress masks. You simply pop the white tablet into the blue fluid. The tablet absorbs the liquid so that you can then unfold it into a soothing eye mask. It really helps to reduce swelling & detox the eye area. It'd be great to take on a plane for some inflight pampering. I also like the Jamela 24k Gold Under Eye Masks*. They use pure gold leaf, hyaluronic acid and plant collagen to brighten & tighten the skin. They feel a bit weird & make you look a bit crazy. You have to leave them on for half an hour so I would suggest lying down in bed with them on so they don't slip off. Despite the weirdness, they do actually work quite well. Save these for a special occasion when you need to look your best.

What's your favourite eye product?

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Favourite Face Masks

Clearing
REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask, Bliss Steep Clean Pore Purifying Mask, Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask
These are the masks I rely on if I'm suffering from any breakouts. They all help to clear up my skin, shrink my pores & reduce any blackheads. My favourite one is the REN Invisible Pores mask. This is a fairly recent purchase but its worked wonders on my skin and clears up blemishes the fastest out of any other mask I've tried. Its a traditional clay mask that dries to a hard finish and weirdly you can see where all your pores are all over your face! If I could recommend any one mask, this would be it. I'm a big fan of Bliss skincare products and had two of their facials when I visited New York. Their facials are amazing as they're very technical and they give you very thorough extractions where they manually squeeze gunk out of every pore without leaving a single mark! The products they sell are the same ones they use in their spas and I had this mask applied during one of my treatments. The product comes with a dual pump where blue and green gel come out of either side. You mix this together to activate the exfoliating enzymes and rub it all over your face. It dissolves all the dead skin cells & deep cleans your pores leaving your face looking clearer & feeling softer. The Liz Earle mask is another clay mask but this one is a lot runnier than the REN one. Upon application it is instantly cooling and tingles slightly until it dries. It does a great job of clearing up spots and I like this one because it contains manuka honey which is great for calming and soothing the skin. The little facial sponges it comes with are pretty fab too.

Brightening
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask
I'm sure we all get those times where your skin just looks dull and tired. I like to use these two masks to perk up my complexion and bring some life back to my skin. The REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask is pretty much an all-rounder. It contains 6.5% glycolic acid which is a brilliant ingredient also found in Alpha-H's Liquid Gold. It helps to clear up spots, fade scaring and shrink pores. It also contains fruit acids which help to brighten your complexion and make your skin look radiant. The orange jelly consistency helps to hydrate the skin and plumps out any fine lines leaving your skin feeling super soft. REN recommend using this mask one night and then using the Invisible Pores one the next to get the maximum clearing effects. The Bliss Triple Oxygen facial is world famous and this mask provides you with the effects of that facial at home. Its an orange gel that foams up as you apply it to your face. This, combined with the vitamin C it contains, delivers the oxygen your skin which instantly makes your whole face look brighter and feel tighter. Blemish-causing bacteria are anaerobic, which means they are unable to survive with oxygen present so its really good at getting rid of blemishes too. This was always my face mask of choice following a messy night out. I find that it can be quite drying if you use it too much so I try not to opt for this one too often but my skin loves it when I do.

Hydrating
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask
My whole skincare routine used to be comprised of Dermalogica products. I've found better and cheaper products from other skincare ranges now but there are still a few hero products of theirs that I love. This mask is one of them. This tube is the old packaging which was horrible but they've now changed it to a normal plastic tube. Its basically a thick orange cream that becomes a gel on your face as it sets. It contains tons of vitamins and anti-oxidants which help to soothe irritated skin and restore moisture. This mask is ideal for mature or prematurely aging skin but I love this for when my skin is looking and feeling a bit dry. Apparently Victoria Beckham is a huge fan of this product too and always uses it after a long flight. If you're a regular blog reader I'm sure you've heard plenty of people rave about this Origins mask. This is unlike any other mask I've tried because you have to leave it on overnight. Its quite a thick gel-like mask but it soon sinks into your skin so you don't have to worry about getting it all over your pillow case. I don't think it gives you the immediate results that normal masks do but after using this for a couple of weeks I've noticed that my skin feels a lot more hydrated and plump the next morning. Its a brilliant product for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin and I'll definitely be taking it with me next time I go on holiday.

Favourite Products Of 2011

I have probably spent more on makeup in the last 12 months than in any other year of my life. It sure is expensive work being a beauty blogger! Luckily it means that I've found some products that I really love and can see myself using for a long time to come. Here are some of my favourite things that I used last year. I liked a lot more stuff than what I've listed here but these are the products that really stood out to me.


Skincare
Clarisonic Mia / Liz Earle Eyebright / Dermalogica Active Moist
The best thing that I invested in last year was my Clarisonic Mia. There is no other skincare product or treatment out there that compares to what this will do for your skin. I love how it makes my skin look, almost like I've had a spa facial every time I wash my face. I love all the Liz Earle products that I've tried so far. I use Cleanse & Polish with my Clarisonic & follow up with their Skin Tonic too. Eyebright is a bit of a wonder product as it instantly cools & refreshes your eyes. Its brilliant if you've had too many late nights or need to look & feel more awake. Active Moist has been my favourite moisturiser for a while now. Its perfect on my normal/combination skin type. I haven't really liked any of the moisturisers I tried last year so I'll be sticking with this one for the foreseeable future.


Haircare
Tangle Teezer / Kerastase Ciment Thermique / Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo / Frédéric Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream
For anyone still wondering if Tangle Teezers work, yes they do & mine has saved me from some pretty horrific knots. I still really like the Kerastase Ciment Thermique & I don't think that any other heat protection product compares to this one. The grapefruit scent lingers on your hair & its absolutely beautiful. I only recently managed to purchase the XXL Volume Batiste as its been really hard to track it down. Its literally always sold out. I'm so glad I got this as although it does make your hair feel like utter crap, it does give you lots of volume. Just whack some serum on afterwards and you're good to go. The Brilliant Glossing Cream is kinda like a cream version of Moroccanoil so it helps to weigh down your hair more. Some people won't like that but I do as it means less flyaways & a more polished looking hairdo.


Base
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation / Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer / Bobbi Brown Corrector / MAC Pearl Cream Colour Base / Illamasqua Hollow Cream Pigment / MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Dior Amber Diamond
Last year I became obsessed with finding the perfect base products. I bought a ton of different products but these are my favourites and I use all of these every day. Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation has been a revelation. I finally have a foundation that matches my exact skintone and has no SPF in which stops the 'ghost face' that Estee Lauder Double Wear used to inflict upon me. Like everyone else I love that Collection 2000 concealer. Its practically opaque & covers pretty much everything. I couldn't live without my Bobbi Brown Corrector as although the Collection 2000 concealer is really good, this product colour corrects my dark circles making me look really awake & like I've slept for 12 hours each night. MAC MSF Natural has been my fave powder for ages, I just wear this with some concealer if I have no time at all to get ready. When I use the Illamasqua foundation I just use this to powder under my eyes because otherwise my mascara ends up all over my face. Pearl Cream Colour Base & Amber Diamond are the perfect highlighting duo. I've bought more highlighters than I can count in 2011 and these are the best of the best. I like a lot of glow so using a cream under the powder makes my cheeks look super shiny & it lasts all day. Hollow Cream Pigment is something I only bought recently but it is the best contour product ever.


Eyes
Lancome Doll Eyes Mascara / L'Oreal Carbon Gloss Superliner / HD Brows Palette / MAC Shroom & Patina Eyeshadows / MAC NC15/NW20 Pencil
The mascara that I've most recently fallen in love with is the Lancome Doll Eyes one. When I first got it the formula was a lot more fluid and didn't really give me the volume I wanted. But as it dried up a bit it got thicker and it is everything I could want in a mascara. It makes my lashes super long, thick & black. I use the L'Oreal eyeliner on a daily basis as I think I look weird without it. This one is really black, long lasting and pretty cheap too which makes it the best eyeliner I've bought this year. I love the eyebrow powders in the HD Brows Palette, they're so pigmented and just brilliant. I only use the one in the bottom right corner as the others don't suit me but I use the others as eyeshadows so its a fab product. The eyeshadows I've reached for most are Shroom & Patina by MAC. I don't really wear eyeshadow much but these are subtle enough for everyday wear. I love this MAC eyeliner pencil as it makes my eyes look bigger & brighter without being a really obvious white line.


Blusher
Illamasqua Katie / Illamasqua Thrust / NARS Deep Throat / Topshop Head Over Heels
I like to wear a lot of blush as it adds some pretty colour to my deathly pallor which saves me from bronzing my whole face to an unnatural colour. My fave blusher at the moment is NARS Deep Throat, I think its the perfect colour for me with just the right amount of sparkle. I adore Illamasqua's powder blushers. Katie is a lovely pastel pink & Thrust is a bright magenta. It looks so scary in the pan but its a gorgeous colour if you apply it with a light hand & blend it properly. I want to try some of Illamasqua's cream blushers next as they seem really good too. The only cream blushers I own are from Topshop but they are great quality for the price. I like the shade Head Over Heels best as its a very pretty peachy colour thats perfect for Summer.


Lip Products
Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight / Beaute Wanted Weightless Lip Creme / MAC Hue Lipstick / MAC Enchantée Kissable Lip Colour
I bought a lot of lipsticks this year. In order to keep my lips lovely & smooth I use Philosophy's Kiss Me Tonight lip treatment. Its a balm that you put on before you go to bed and you wake up with beautifully soft lips. I also put some on before I do my makeup then blot it off when I'm ready to apply my lipstick. I bought the Beaute Weightless Lip Creme in Wanted after I heard that Kristen Stewart loves it. Its a lovely nude thats halfway between a lipstick and gloss. The MAC Kissable Lip Colours from their Peacocky collection use a similar formula. I love the colour Enchantée which is a cool toned bright pink. My fave everyday lipstick is MAC Hue. Its the most perfect pinky nude that looks brilliant on everyone.


Nail Polishes
Illamasqua Jo'Mina / Models Own Utopia / Models Own Pink Punch / Barry M Peach Melba
This was such a hard decision as I adore all the nail polishes I bought last year and believe me, I bought a lot! These ones stood out to me as unique colours that I always get complimented on. They all apply really well and don't chip too badly with some Seche Vite on top.

Clarisonic Mia

As you might have seen in my latest monthly favourites post I bought myself a Clarisonic Mia. Incase you've never heard of a Clarisonic before its basically an electric facial brush. It uses the same sonic technology as electric toothbrushes to thoroughly cleanse your face. You might think that using a regular cleanse, tone and moisturise routine is good enough but this method often leaves you with impurities still on your skin. The Clarisonic is said to clean your skin six times better than using a cleanser alone. The vibrations it gives off gently massage away anything trapped within your pores and it actually prepares your skin for better absorption of toners, moisturisers and serums.

There are quite a few different types of Clarisonic available including one you can use on your body. It would be perfect for treating stretch marks and keratosis pilaris (those horrible red bumps you get on the tops of your arms). I opted to get the Mia because I figured I only really want to use it on my face and it was the cheapest. The Clarisonic Mia is the baby of the Clarisonic family. It only has one speed. There is now a Mia 2 which has two speeds but I just have the original Mia. For me, the one speed is fast enough and I think that anything stronger might be a bit too abrasive on my skin. When you first get it you have to charge it up for a full 24 hours. This will then last you for about 20 washes before you need to recharge it. The charger is really cool as well, its magnetic so you just have to place it on the bottom of the Clarisonic. Its very petite which makes it ideal for traveling with and its waterproof so you can use it in the shower.

I bought mine from Space.NK in Leeds where it retails at £120. Some of the profit from all the pink Clarisonic models goes towards a breast cancer charity so you can do some good as well as getting a cute product. The sales assistant gave me a full demo which I really appreciated. She put some of the Eve Lom cleanser on my hand and then used the Clarisonic on it for one minute. I could immediately tell the difference as my hand looked brighter and felt a lot softer than the other one. She very nicely gave me a sample of the Eve Lom cleanser and some shampoo & conditioner sachets. I always get the best customer service in Space.NK. She even told me that she'd recently lost over two stone and because she had been using the Clarisonic on her body her skin felt tighter and she didn't have a single stretch mark. Maybe that was just an attempt to sell me the body one but I believe her.

I love Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish so thats the cleanser I've decided to keep using with my Clarisonic. You do the same as if you were using Cleanse & Polish normally by massaging a couple of pumps over your face. Rather than using the muslin cloth to wipe away makeup or dirt, you then wet the Clarisonic brush and move it round your face in circular motions. You need to spend about 20 seconds on each area of your face and it then turns itself off to tell you its been one minute. Its gentle enough to use morning & night for one minute each time. You need to use a normal cleanser rather than one with any kind of exfoliant in it as the particles combined with the brush would be too harsh on the skin. Thats why Cleanse & Polish is the perfect partner for the Clarisonic. It leaves my face feeling ridiculously soft, my pores looking smaller & my skin tone looking brighter and more even. I have normal/combination type skin and don't really get too many spots anymore. I tend to just get bumps under the skin on my cheeks and forehead. I bought a Clarisonic to get rid of these bumps and its done exactly that. My makeup would often highlight these bumps but now my skin looks really great under foundation.

The only bad thing I've found with the Clarisonic is that when you first start using it your skin goes through a 'purge'. Like I say I don't really get spots anymore but I broke out in places I don't normally do like on my chin and nose as well as my forehead. This continued for about two weeks but my skin never looked too bad because using the Clarisonic helped the spots to heal as quickly as they had appeared. All the blocked pores & blackheads I had on those areas feel smooth and are now barely visible. So even though it might mess up your skin to begin with if you persevere with using it, your skin will look amazing in the end. I've been using it for about two months now and I could never go back to any other form of skincare routine. There are only a few things I would be willing to spend such a large amount of money on but I'm so glad I decided to splurge on this product. It has completely transformed my skin and I wouldn't be without it.

May Favourites

Bobbi Brown Corrector
Sometimes when I apply concealer I notice that my dark circles are still really noticeable. This is because concealers tend to cover up just one colour shade. In order to really eradicate dark circles you need a different coloured corrector underneath. This product is the perfect dark circle corrector. It blends easily, doesn't cake under the eyes and it really does help to brighten your whole face. I would suggest getting matched at a counter as the colour of your dark circles will define whether you need a bisque or peach shade rather than your skin tone. I use Light Bisque and find that it is the perfect colour for me. You only need the tiniest amount too as you pat it directly onto the discolouration rather than underneath your whole eye. It works amazingly well with the Collection 2000 concealer.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
I had to see for myself why this concealer was getting so much hype. It really does its job well. The quality of this product is pretty much on par with the Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer so its definitely worth the miniscule price tag. I prefer this to the Doublewear one as the Fair shade I use is actually a bit lighter, meaning that my under eye circles are barely visible & any imperfections are pretty much eradicated from sight. I like to use my Bobbi Brown corrector, apply my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua with a MAC 187 brush and then blend this into my skin with the same brush. Flawless skin in a flash.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion
Although every Liz Earle product is perfectly lovely, my favourite would have to be Eyebright. This was especially welcome on my eyes this morning after getting drunk last night. Its so cooling and refreshing on my skin. This is the perfect cure for tired, puffy eyes and it really helps to wake me up in the morning. It works even better if you keep it in the fridge.

L'Oreal Renewal Lash Serum
I posted about it when I first bought this product and now I've had a chance to trial it properly I can safely say its worked wonders for my lashes. All the gaps in my eyelashes have filled in and its helped my eyebrows to grow a lot too. I still don't like the applicator as I don't think it fits around my lashes properly making it really cumbersome to actually put on. The actual serum however works really well and is a lot cheaper than the likes of RapidLash.

Beaute Luminous Volume Gloss
I have a lot of Beaute lip products as I love the colours, the application, the feel and the longevity. The only thing I dislike about them is the price tag which is quite frankly ludicrous. This lipgloss cost a whopping £21! If you're willing to pay that however you're left with a magical product. It plumps up your lips slightly giving you really lovely kissable lips. The formula is a bit on the sticky side but I think that helps the lipgloss to last. This shade is called Medusa and its a gorgeous creamy pink beige. Its all I've worn on my lips lately. It photographs beautifully which I think is probably why all the Beaute lip products are favourites of many celebrities. I also love love love the Weightless Lip Cremes.



Ben & Jerry's Fairly Nuts Ice Cream
Mmm this is the best ice cream I've tasted in ages. Got this by accident as Asda didn't have any Cookie Dough left. Its caramel ice cream with praline almond clusters & caramel swirls. I could sit here right now and eat a whole tub. Yum.



Bones
I harp on a lot about how much I love Bones on Twitter but this show has been my life for the past month. Every night before bed I watch a couple of episodes and have almost made my way through the whole box set. I'm halfway through season 5 at the moment. Seriously its so good. If you like crime solving shows with amazing character development & interaction then you need to watch Bones. Apparently the 6th season isn't as good but I'll still download it. Dreading the inevitable drain that will be on my bandwidth allowance! Now that I've nearly finished watching this, I'm looking for some new TV shows to watch. Any recommendations? Pretty much all the good shows have finished for the Summer and the only thing to look forward to now is True Blood. Tell me your faves!

Crimbo Haul

I know Christmas was quite a while ago now but my mum and sister got me some stuff in New York that I wanted to show you as well and they only got back a couple of weeks ago. First of all heres some stuff I've bought myself lately:


Liz Earle - I went to the new Liz Earle shop in Leeds because I was desperate to try Cleanse & Polish after reading so many reviews on the stuff. It definitely lives up to the hype. The limited edition tin is really cool. I love the toner I got too, it feels really refreshing on my skin. I also got the Bust Treatment because having a baby is not good for your boobs! Not tried it yet, but I'll let you know how it goes ;)


Yankee Candle - I really wanted wanted one of these massive candles after watching one of Fleur's videos. I totally fell in love with the strawberry buttercream one in Clintons, it smells delicious. It reminds me of the birthday cake body butter I got from Dylan's Candy Store a couple of years ago.


Sigma Brushes - I ordered these on Black Friday because they had free shipping. I really wanted some brushes for contouring my face. Unfortunately they sent me the large powder brush instead of the tapered face brush and I had to pay more money for it afterwards because of their mistake. Bleh. Although I like the brushes I'm not gonna order from them again. I didn't like my experience with their customer service.





MAC - I was quite excited for the Cham Pale collection and was tempted to order the special highlighting powders but when I tried them instore, I didn't really like them. Instead I just got the NC15/NW20 & I Get No Kick pencils. I love both of these, perfect for the waterline without looking too fake. I also got Harmony blusher for contouring as recommended by Pixi2woo and Amber Lights & Naked Lunch for my eyeshadow palette.



Bow Satchel - So this is the fake Miu Miu Vitello Lux I ordered off ebay. I'm not very impressed with it, it was a bit of a waste of money, so it might end up back on ebay. Its too hard and looks very cheap. I also got this weird coin purse free with it, at least that made me lol.

On to the stuff I got given:


Marmite Mug - My friend got me this epic mug! I love Marmite, I always add a thick layer of the stuff to crumpets and toast. Now I can drink hot marmite in my mug too :D


Bones - My boyfriend got me the Bones season 1-5 box set. So excited to finally watch it all!



M&M Pillow - Last time we went to New York I got the massive Reese's Peanut Butter Cups pillow so this time my mum got me the M&M one from M&M World. Its so soft and lovely to stroke. She also got me loads of American sweets such as Lifesavers, Tootsie Rolls & Cookie Dough Bites. Yum!


Sephora - My mum knows how much I love all the stuff in Sephora. I didn't ask for any of these, she just has fab taste. I got By Terry Touche Veloutee which is the best concealer ever. Its like Touche Eclat but about a million times better. Theres also a mini Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Lorac liquid eyeliner, Marc Jacobs Lola rollerball, mini Nars Orgasm Illuminator & two random Sephora nail polishes. I've been using the Orgasm Illuminator every day since I got it and it looks amazing on my skin. It gives your cheekbones a beautiful peachy pink highlight. Its a wonderful product.


Chanel Bag - Okay its a fake but what a good fake it is! Its really soft, well made and looks just like the real thing. Plus my mum haggled with the seller so she bought it for the grand total of $20! Thats like 12 quid! Love love love this bag and love love love my mum :)