Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50

Calling all holiday goers - this one's for you. Whatever you've heard, there's no denying that using sun daily protection will protect your skin, prevent damage and premature ageing and help to keep the skin moisturised when exposed to excessive UV light. So it's time to stock up. 

Top skin brand Dermalogica has developed Protection 50 Sport SPF50* (£29.90), which has all-important backing by the The International Dermal Institute. It can be used daily on the face and body, saving vital suitcase room and valuable time. After testing it on the top of my hand, I was impressed with the lightweight feel and how well the product spreads. It doesn't leave a white film and is absorbed fairly quickly by the skin. 

To get the best out of this product, it should be applied generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. It also has 40 minutes of water-resistant coverage, but everyone's skin is different - if you feel burning, it's time to reapply. Your skin will thank you for it. 

And then there's the part when you get back to the hotel room. Every good sun screen needs an aftersun to soothe and cool the skin and Dermalogica has paired the protection product nicely with the repackaged After Sun Repair* (£29.90) with calming camomile, lavender and one suprising ingredient - Szechwan pepper?!

What is your go to sun protection product? 

*Free samples. All opinions are my own

Boots & Superdrug Haul: Face, Eyes, Body & Hair

Yes, I've been shopping again. And I'm very happy about it.

Like many shopping trips, this one was totally spontaneous. I went in wanting one thing in particular, but every beauty lover knows that the 'just one thing' rule never applies once you start scouring the shelves. Or ever. 

FACE

How cute are these 99p wash flannels? Such a bargain! In my experience, it really makes a difference to use a fresh flannel when cleansing to minimise the skin's exposure to bacteria. And let's be honest - who could say no to the cotton candy colour and sky blue shade?

EYES

Moving swiftly on to eye products, I've been eyeing up the new Scandaleyes Shadow Paints for a while, so decided to give the beautiful bronze Rich Russet a go. I've also never bought an eye primer, even though I have tonnes of gorgeous shadows to take advantage of, so I picked up Revlon's Photoready Eye Primer & Brightener and will have a review up as soon as possible. 

BODY

I know that dry body brushing is good for cellulite reduction and keeping your skin smooth and buffed, so I picked up the Botanics Detox Brush, which has a lovely organic feel to it. I will use this a couple of times a week and see if it makes any difference. Watch this space!

HAIR

Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Colour range is my go-to product for dyeing my hair at home, and it's time to top my roots again. I bought the Iced Chocolate shade, which is a lovely deep, shiny brown. I highly recommend Olia to anyone who regularly colours their hair at home.

Have you tried any of the products I bought? Leave your review links below! xxx

Beauty Looks A-Z: Pearl

I'm just going to come out and say it - I love shiny things. Anything that glitters, sparkles and shimmers should have my name on it #fact.

I think pearly, glowy highlighters are perfect for the summer, as are metallic, shimmery nail lacquers. So, for this week's beauty look, I've chosen P for Pearl.

Here's the products you need to be pretty in pearl:

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Nail Polish in Pink Pearl (£11)
Giorgio Armani Cosmetics Madreperla Veil (£34.50)
Sjal Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask (£138, 60ml)
Suqqu Limited Edition Face Colour Palette (£50)
Lancome Genifique Yeux Eye Pearl (£45,20ml)
Estee Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick in Brilliant Bare (£20)
Max Factor Max Effect Dip-In Eyeshadow in Silver Lounge (£5.99)
Pearl Drops Daily Tea and Coffee Toothpaste (£3.99, 50ml)
Butter London Pearly Queen Nail Lacquer (£12, 11ml)
Nivea Pearl & Beauty Roll-On Deodorant (£2.10, 50ml)
Soap and Glory Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder (£11)
LOOK Nail Pop in Pearl Effect (£5, 10ml)

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

Beauty Looks A-Z: Lemon & Lime

Given that the sun has had her wide-brimmed hat on, I've been so excited to do this week's beauty look on lemon and lime products for face, nails and hair.

It looks like Summer is finally here...

Here's the products that are giving me zest:

Nails Inc Mexican Lime Heel Balm (75ml, £11)
UKA 13:00 Mint and Lemon Nail Oil (5ml, £18)
Mavala Mini Colour Nail Polish in Lemon Cream (5ml, £4.50)
Benefit Lemon Aid Colour Correcting Eyelid Primer (£16.50)
Hawaiian Tropic Lime Coolada Body Butter (200ml, £5.24)
LUSH Lemony Flutter (£6.25)
Ole Henrikson Lemon Strip Flash Peel (£35)
Mary Greenwell Lemon EDP (100ml, £90)
Essie Nail Polish in Mojito Maddness (£7.99)
Barry M Nail Paint in Lemon Ice Cream (£2.99)
NARS Cosmetics Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Celebrate (£18)
GHD Candy Collection GHD IV Lemon Styler (£110)

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

Feel Unique Pay Day Haul

Where there's a pay day, there's always an online beauty haul - so why would this month be any different? There's a few things I've been really lusting after this month and I've always loved the range of brands stocked at Feel Unique. This month, I bought four beautiful things to add to my growing collection of make-up, skin care, hair care, nail polishes and accessories.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush (£10.99)

This is actually my second Real Techniques Stippling Brush - I decided to get another one so I could use my first one for my base make-up and the new one as a blusher applicator. I completely love this brush for applying my foundation - it's so easy to use and maintain. I think £10.99 is a decent price for a durable, high-quality beauty accessory.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment (£4.90)

This luxurious hair oil was at the top of my wish list this month - I haven't come across one bad review of it yet. I decided to buy the 10ml bottle just in case I didn't like it, but after hearing so many positive things about the entire range I am fairly confident I will love it.

I don't think Macadamia Oil Treatment has a particularly strong scent. It actually smells quite natural and has a subtle 'nutty' fragrance. I do like natural hair products, as I don't want to overload my tresses with artificial, heavy-duty products. I'll let you know how I get on!

Essie Nail Colour in Beyond Cozy (£8.99)

Ever since I first clocked eyes on Beyond Cozy, I decided it was going to be mine! And seeing it shimmer and shine in the flesh was ten times better than looking at it online. I think this Essie nail polish is a thing of beauty and I'll be applying it ASAP.

Dr Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Body Moisturiser (£22.95)

I haven't really been that drawn to Dr Hauschka products, but I've always loved an invigorating citrus scent and need motivation to continue my with my body moisturising phase in this cold weather! 

I'm really impressed with the formula of this lotion - it's serum-like and light. The only thing I'm not sure about is the smell - it's oh SO sweet and a bit like lemon drizzle cake. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I think I wanted more fruit and less sugar. However, considering the formula is great, I think I can live with an extra spoon of sweet stuff.

What do you think of my haul? Have you bought much this month? xxx

Daily Beauty Essentials - Face, Hair and Body

It's all well and good splurging on the latest eyeshadows, body oils and hair elixirs, but everyone needs a stash of daily essentials to get them through the week. A busy lifestyle calls for simple, staple beauty routines, but as I am a beauty addict at heart, I often buy products that I don't use and they end up exceeding their shelf-life.

However, I am pleased to tell you that, after years of spending around £50 per shop on lotions and potions that don't do much for me at all, other than damage my bank balance, I think I've nearly cracked my daily beauty bread.

CLEANSER

Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Cleansing Gel

No other cleanser does a better job than this one. You know that fresh feel-the-air-on-your-face feeling you get after using a brand new cleanser for the first time? This one gives me that feeling every time and keeps my skin well under control.

CONCEALER

Benefit Erase Paste in Fair

Believe me when I say I have tried and tested a LOT of concealers. I always end up disappointed with either the colour, texture or coverage, but this one has really become a make-up bag regular. Thick, creamy coverage in just the right shade for my skin.

Don't be fooled by the packaging - it lasts ages!

MAKE-UP REMOVAL

Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2-in-1 Make-Up Remover
Boots Cosmetic Oval Pads

After years of using face wipes, I decided to make a change and separate my make-up removal from my cleansing. Since then, the Garnier 2-in-1 remover has been my go-to product, with a helping hand from Boots' oval cotton pads.

LIP BALM
Vaseline Limited Edition Pink Bubbly

Nothing beats a limited edition vaseline for a daily dose of lip moisture, and I love the colour and smell of this one. It's so pretty!

INTENSIVE HAIR CONDITIONER
Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner

Because I have coloured my hair a lot and used heat straightening a fair bit in the past, I find that I really need to use an intensive conditioner every time I wash my hair to restore any damage. I've only used the Dove intensive repair conditioner twice, but I already love it.

 HAIR BRUSH
Tresemme Paddle Brush

I went through a comb phase, then a tangle-type brush phase, and now I have found paddle brushes to be the perfect fit for my medium-length, thick hair.

DEODORANT

Nivea Pearl & Beauty Roll-On Deodorant

When it comes to deodorant, I always use a roll-on. I spent years using sprays and found them irritating and far from long-lasting.

Nivea roll-ons are great and I take one with me everywhere. It's good to note that some of these deodorants are also suitable for sensitive skin.

FRAGRANCE
Left: Giorgio Armani, Acqua di Gioia
Middle: Van Cleef & Arpels, Oriens
Right: Elie Saab, Le Parfum

These are my current go-to fragrances. I like to wear different ones every day depending on my mood and what I am doing that day. Acqua di Gioia has a fresh, light citrus scent; Oriens is a fruity favourite of mine and is perfect for day and night wear; and Elie Saab's Le Parfum is a really 'feel expensive' elegant English fragrance.

SHOWER GEL
Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

This is a really lovely invigorating, moisturising shower gel for daily use. You get a lot of product for your money and this baby lasts me absolutely ages.

What are your beauty essentials? xxx