Currently Obsessed With #4 The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter

Don't get me wrong, I love The Body Shop's shower gels and scrubs (who doesn't get nostalgia when using the strawberry shower gel?), but when it comes to the brand's skin care I've never been that fussed. So when I heard about the new camomile-based range with a make-up remover and cleanser, I couldn't have cared less. That was until the blogger recommendations started coming through, and I knew I had to try it.

For someone who is extremely fussy about cleansers and generally anything I put on my skin, it says a lot that I think this is one of the best cleansers I've come across in some time. It works like a cleansing balm - you massage it on dry skin and rinse it off with warm water - but it's so nourishing and moisturising that it literally melts into your skin. 

Not only does it smell amazing, it feels amazing too. If I wasn't so in love with micellar waters, I'd be stocking up on the camomile make-up remover immediately.

Have you tried this cleansing butter? xxx

Payday Haul: Skin Care, Make-Up & Hair

There's nothing better than payday and Friday and a well deserved trip to the beauty haven that is Selfridges. Naturally what started off as a trip to stock up on thermal water and foundation ended in several pretty things being purchased. Here's what I picked up...

SKIN CARE

Everyone who follows my blog will know that La Roche-Posay is slowly becoming my favourite skin care brand - its Thermal Spring Water has been a staple product in my morning and evening routines for a good few months now and I've repurchased it many times, so I did it again! 

As I love a lot of the products from the brand, I also thought I would try its micellar water for oily and sensitive skin. It's a little pricey at over £10, so I'll probably stick to my highstreet fave - L'Oreal Skin Perfection - in the future.

MAKE-UP

I don't know what's more shocking - the fact I bought an eye palette, which I never thought I would do anytime soon, or the fact I paid £39.50 for it. Either way, the Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate Eye Palette is full of stunning nude eyeshadows, a dark brown liner and a double-ended brush. It says a lot that I wanted it so much when I rarely buy eye make-up, so I was pretty impressed with it.

Then I bought one of my all time favourite foundations - Guerlain's Parure De Lumiere Cream Foundation. I've repurchased this about 3 or 4 times, but haven't bought it since my spending ban started or finished. I love everything about this foundation from the packaging through to the colour and texture - it's expensive but its also real winner.

One of my most exciting purchases was the OCC Lip Tar in Black Metal Dahlia - it's like a dark metallic red, which is so on trend right now and exactly what I was looking for.

HAIR

My final purchase was the Bumble & Bumble Creme De Coco Masque, which I've been wanting to try for a while. I really loved using the mending mask on my distressed tresses, so I'm hoping this one lives up to my high expectations.

Did you buy anything this payday? xxx

Olympia Beauty Haul: Make-Up, Nails & Nutrition

While strolling down the many aisles at Olympia Beauty, I had three brands on my mind - NYX Cosmetics, OPI and Inglot.  

NYX Cosmetics was absolutely buzzing with people, but I spotted the Cinammon Powder Blush almost immediately and picked it up for £4.50. This was my first ever NYX purchase and I'm excited to see what all the hype is about.

Then I went to OPI, which was equally as busy but had more floor space. I walked straight over to the Avojuice section as I wanted to buy another hand cream to replace the gorgeous Cran & Berry one I bought some months ago. I love variety, so I went for Sweet Tea this time around. And yes it does smell like tea, with a hint of melon. Love at first sniff! It cost me around £5 for 200ml.

Inglot was at the top of my list of stands to visit, as I've wanted to buy a blusher, nail polish and/or lipstick from the brand for a while. I couldn't take my eyes off the blusher selection and so went for the chic and wearable baby pink (shade 20), which cost me just £5.

But we all know that beauty lovers always buy more than they planned for, so here's a look at what else I got...

NAILS

I went over to the Color Club stand hoping to get my hands on an amazing metallic polish, but couldn't take my eyes off this bright pink neon shade (Warhol). This cost me £5.

Then at the end of the day I remembered there was an Essie polish I was lusting over from the new Fall collection - For The Twill Of It - so I walked (ran) over there to pick it up for £5.80. 

NUTRITION

Finally I got my hands on the much spoken about Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder from Aduna. I've heard such great things about it and have tried it a couple of times. It tastes great, but I think it would be better with yoghurt rather than cereal. I'm really looking forward to reaping the benefits on this one and will do a review very shortly.

What have you bought lately? Link your haul posts below xxx

Beauty Shots: Olympia Beauty 2013

Energizing Night Cream from luxury salon skin care brand Sothys.
Infused with Siberian ginseng to wake up tired, lifeless skin

Twelve of OPI's 18-shade Mariah Christmas Collection

Gorgeous selection of Inglot blushers on the stand!

Fresh-scented Apple and Cucumber Hand & Foot Scrub
from new nail brand All That Jazz

Handpainted patterns on gel acrylic nails from Perfect Nails 

Fab shots of Carrot Sun tan accelerators available in a set

Pretty pastel metallics at the Color Club stand

Day Cream and Moisture Mist from the Complexion
collection launched by organic skin brand Chulo Naturals

Last weekend marked my first ever visit to a consumer beauty expo - Olympia Beauty. With my Max Factor Ruby Tuesday lipstick and lightweight handbag, I went straight down to the social media hub to discover the latest launches from big beauty brands such as OPI, Sienna X and Dermalogica.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon grabbing some beauty bargains at the likes of NYX Cosmetics, Aduna and Color Club. Watch this space for my haul post...

Did you go to Olympia Beauty this year? xxx

Collection Eyeshadow Pencil in Gunmetal Glitz

When I first discovered the A/W 13 products from Collection, I was blown away. As someone who isn't a huge fan of drugstore make-up, aside from the odd Revlon nail enamel and Bourjois lipstick, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with a brand I perceived to be cheap and cheerful. 

But I was wrong. Collection's Work The Colour Eyeshadow Pencils are seriously impressive and the range of shades - including baby pink, smoky grey and chestnut brown - are wearable and appeal to all women. The one pictured above and swatched below is Gunmetal Glitz.

I love how the colour is so pigmented with a touch of glitter to give it an evening edge.  However, for me, the best thing about these Eyeshadow Pencils is their immense staying power - you really do need to rub and scrub them off to even to make a smudge. And they only cost about £3 each.

The truth is that Collection has grown up - by taking inspiration from beauty looks such as 20s Gatbsy glamour, its products are now clearly for young women in their 20s, and my lust list is growing in size by the day!

Have you tried Collection's Eyeshadow Pencils? xxx

*This post contains a PR sample. All views are my own

Currently Obsessed With #3 Shavata Brow Studio

If there's one thing I'm seriously shocking at when it comes to beauty and grooming, it's brow maintenance. I've never bought a brow pencil or kit, and I own several tweezers that never see the light of day. But one evening when I was strolling around the beauty hall at House of Fraser on Oxford Street I had a sudden urge to tackle the excess hair above my eyes and decided to bite the bullet and have my brows threaded at the in-store Shavata studio.

I have to admit that having my brows threaded wasn't my first request when I spoke to the therapist - I was really looking for a quick in and out brow wax. However, I was told you get a better shape and longer lasting results with threading, so I just went for it not knowing how it would turn out. And I definitely wasn't disappointed. 

Not only have my previously unruly brows been tamed, but the shape of them has enhanced the rest of my facial features, meaning that the money I dish out on eyeshadows, liners and mascaras is better spent. I was also blown away by the quality of Shavata's brow tamer gel, pencil and highlighter. #win

Have you ever been to Shavata? Where do you get your brows done? xxx

LFW Get The Look #2 Topshop Unique S/S 14

With the launch of the brand new Topshop Show Space at LFW for S/S 14, everyone's had their eye on the brand's latest looks. Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn made waves on the runway rocking the hangover hot look with grungey, shimmery eyes and a bronze complexion. If they can rock morning-after make-up, I'm sure we all can?!?!

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

Everyone's Talking About Essie's Fishnet Stockings

Everyone loves a red nail - it's a true London look for beauty novices and experts alike. At the moment, magazines and MUA of the moment Charlotte Tilbury are shining the red light on Essie's Fishnet Stockings as a firm favourite for A/W 13. 

Other red nail colours making waves this season are Orly's Haute Red, Rimmel's Salon Pro in Urban Purple and Chanel's Le Vernis in Taboo.

What's your favourite nail brand for red polishes? xxx

LFW Get The Look #1 Holly Fulton S/S 14

We've seen statement lips a la Marchesa and Henry Holland and contours galore, but eyes have been nude and sophisticated. Until now. I love the way the bright lilac lids pop and enhance the colours of Holly Fulton's garments on the runway, and I can see the colour translating easily to lips, nails and even cheeks. Bring it on, S/S 14!

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

Beauty Shots: Bora Aksu, London Fashion Week

This morning marked the first show at London Fashion Week - Bora Aksu. Inspired by Bora's background and culture as a Turkish man, the fashion and beauty looks for the brand's tenth anniversary were based on rural women in his country with a Victorian twist.

THE FACE

 

 

Make-up was fresh, dewy and youthful, prepared with Dermalogica skin care. The models wore Mehron's Lip Cream in Cherry Chocolate on the lips and cheeks and the Aura Bronzing Gel for radiance underneath a sheer base. Other make-up items spotted backstage were MAC Face and Body Foundation, Ben Nye Banana Powder and Bobbi Brown palettes.

THE HAIR

 

 

Hair was loose and 'windblown' in its style, pinned up into a vertical roll and perfected using KMS California's Silksheen Polishing Serum, Addvolume Root and Body Lift and Volumising Spray, Freeshape Hot Flex Spray, Tamefrizz Taming Creme and Hairplay Makeover Spray and Playable Texture and Hairstay Medium Hold Spray. The look was inspired by a young woman in the rural fields of Turkey who is easygoing and carefree. 

 

THE CLOTHES

What do you think of the Bora Aksu S/S 14 look? xxx

NYFW Get The Look #4 Lela Rose S/S 14

Girls, meet neon in a way you've never seen it before. The Lela Rose look stood out by a mile in New York this week and left many searching their stashes for the perfect lime eyeshadow. Who would have thought green and velvet pink would be a match made in make-up heaven?

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

NYFW Get The Look #3 Monique Lhuillier S/S 14

If there was an award for the most timeless and chic beauty look at New York Fashion Week, it would surely go to Monique Llhuillier. I'm in love with the white and red contrasts in her collection and I'm always all for wine-tinted lips. 

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

NYFW Get The Look #2 Prabal Gurung S/S 14

Who needs an excuse to hit the OCC Cosmetics counter and pick up the hottest lip tar shades for the coming season? That's right, nobody does. Thanks to style guru Prabal Gurung, we'll all be lining up for the likes of Lydia, Psycho and Anime to perk up our pouts. I'll see you there!

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

NYFW Get The Look #1 Zac Posen S/S 14

From neon matte lips to rainbow half-moon nails, New York Fashion Week has outdone itself with beauty looks for S/S 14. This week I'll be showing you the key products to use to get next season's key looks, starting with Zac Posen's standout updo, lashes and lips. 

What do you think of this look for S/S 14? xxx

Street Beauty #2 Romantic Fire

If I was going to find inspiration for my street beauty series anywhere, it was going to be at Company magazine's event with Origins. I loved this girl's soft but edgy tousled, fiery tresses and her make-up was fresh and dewy with pink pop lips. She was wearing MAC's Face and Body Foundation as a base, The Body Shop Bronzer to highlight her cheeks, Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, L'Oreal Lash Architect Mascara and Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick.

Do you love this look? xxx

Street Beauty #1 Geometric Pastel

Currently Obsessed With #2 Nails Inc Monogram Manicure

Instagram has been going crazy since the launch of Nails Inc's Monogram Manicure was announced, and rightly so. Last night I tried it out for myself at the flagship nail bar on South Molton Street and fell in love. It's one thing seeing it in a photo, but another experiencing it. 

You can have any colour you like as the base (I went for the stunning dark chocolate 'Victoria') and then black or white letters on top. My nails say 'Ooh La La!'.

You'll be able to get a Monogram Manicure from the 9th of September, and from what I hear the monogram letters will be free with any manicure. That means there's no excuse for you not to try it!

What will your nails say? xxx

Beauty Looks A-Z: Walnut

With A/W 13 just around the corner, it's time to get deep when it comes to make-up for work and glam nights out. I can't think of a more gorgeous colour than walnut to get us beauty lovers in the mood for cosy knit jumpers, mugs of hot chocolate and movie nights.

Here's the products I'll be reaching for this month:

 Charlotte Tilbury Rock'n'Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Barbarella Brown (£19)
Sisley Hydrating Longlasting Lipstick in Golden Copper (£33)
Clinique All About Shadows in Black Honey (£16)
Montagne Jeunesse Nut Oil Masque (£1)
MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked (£12.50)
Original Source Mint and Walnut Scrub (250ml, £2.65)
Tom Ford She Wolf Ombre Eye Colour Palette (£50)
Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Colour in Mahogany Brown (£6.99)
Essie Nail Polish in Chocolate Cakes (15ml, £7.99)
Batiste Dry Shampoo Brown - Dark & Deep (200ml, £3.99)
Clarins Limited Edition Colour Breeze Gloss Prodige in Chocolate (£17)
Everyday Minerals Brow Color Selection (£5.95)

What do you think of this week's beauty look? xxx

A for Atomic
B for Burlesque
C for Caribbean
D for Dynamite
E for Enchantment
 F for Fantasia
G for Gatsby
H for Halo
I for Indigo
J for Jelly
K for Khaki
L for Lemon & Lime
M for Morello Cherry

N for Neverland
O for Ocean Blue

P for Pearl
Q for Quads

R for Riviera

S for Scented
T for Texture
U for Unisex

V for Velvet

Payday Weekend Haul: Champneys, Vichy, MAC, Body Shop & Rimmel

When payday comes around, it doesn't take long for me to pay a visit to the likes of Boots, Superdrug and Selfridges - you name it, I'll be there with my debit card burning a hole through my handbag.

This weekend, I popped over to Boots to take advantage of the Champneys offer (free Distant Shores body scrub when you spend £10 or over) and bought the invigorating Energising Lime Foaming Body Scrub. I also grabbed the Vichy Thermal Water (my skincare essential) and added the Golden Bronze Scandaleyes Shadow Paint to my collection.

Then I got the gorgeous Ruby Woo Retro Matte Lipstick at MAC. I nearly bought Cyber too, but I think it looked a little too gothic on me - wish it was a little bit lighter!

Finally I shot into the Body Shop to buy my new skin care favourite - the Camomile Cleansing Butter. I got a sample of this a couple of days before and it's so lovely to use - it melts into your skin and leaves it clean and soft. If you love skin care, it's well worth a try.

I'll be back later this week with my Feel Unique purchase...

What did you buy this weekend? xxx