Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer

From the packaging to the quality to the price point - Tom Ford's beauty line absolutely screams luxury. I've loved the lipsticks and cheek products for years now (in moderation) and have recently been trying out the brand's newest foundation launch - the Waterproof Foundation Concealer. As the name suggests, this is a pigmented product that acts as a foundation/concealer hybrid, eliminating the need for two products in your routine.

The coverage you get from this is really impressive, and even with my undereye circles, I don't find myself needing to reach for concealer. I'd say the finish is demi-matte, and while it's definitely not dewy, it leaves your skin with a natural radiance. What I love the most about the formula is how light it feels on the skin for such a full coverage product and that I only need to use a pea-sized amount to perfect my entire face. The lasting power of this foundation really is amazing and far surpasses that of my other favourites (Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, Nars Sheer Glow) which makes it the perfect choice for long days or a night out. Curious about the waterproof element I actually splashed some water on my skin and was surprised to find that it just sat in little droplets on the surface of the skin and didn't interfere with the product at all! I also love the fact it is packaged in a squeezy tube meaning you can squeeze out just the right amount each time.

The high price point and full coverage mean that this base may not be an everyday foundation, but if you're looking to achieve a totally flawless, perfected, long-lasting finish then this is an amazing choice. Available in 12 shades (I use 6.5), it launches at Selfridges this October.

The Cream Eyeshadow Edit

For years now, I've always been confused when people describe cream eyeshadow as being easy. Whenever I took a shadow stick and simply swiped it over my lids and blended out with a finger I ended up with an uneven, messy finish and found the formulas to crease and fade throughout the day. I'm not quite sure what's changed, apart from possibly discovering the right products - but I'm a recent convert and have been wearing little else for the past month so I thought I would share the three formulas that have managed to change my verdict on cream shadows!

CHARLOTTE TILBURY EYES TO MESMERISE CREAM SHADOW

Possibly my favourite formula of the three, these cream shadow pots are just so easy to use! The shades have more of a sheen than a shimmer which creates a beautiful glossy effect on the lid. I have Norma Jean, an incredibly pretty and versatile champagne tone (which I've literally been using every day for months) and recently picked up Marie Antoinette, a muted, antique gold. I just can't get over how pretty the finish of these is and the formula is incredible too - staying put all day, even without the help of a powder shadow.

BY TERRY OMBRE BLACKSTAR

These long lasting, shimmering sticks have received their fair share of love online and I can definitely see why. Definitely more of a shimmer than a sheen these have some serious staying power. In fact, I've actually woken up after a night out to find my eyeshadow totally intact! I've got Blond Opal, Frozen Quartz (my favourite) and Misty Rock, but Ombre Mercure is next on the list!

LAURA MERCIER CAVIAR STICKS

I find these to be really comparable to the By Terry, but with less shimmer. I have Sugar Frost, Rose Gold, Amethyst, Khaki, Ganache and Aubergine which were all part of last year's Matte to Metal Holiday collection. Ganache (a rich, chocolate brown) is my favourite of the bunch, and prior to finding out that it's limited addition, I used it every day. (Now on strict rations). The formula can be easily blended, before setting to a long lasting finish, perfect for creating a smoky liner. 

An Introduction to Sunday Riley: The Power Couple Duo

Sunday Riley is the epitome of luxury skincare - but with quality ingredients and effective products comes a price point that was far too high for me to justify a purchase. However, I recently spied this Power Couple Duo: Total Transformation Kit when browsing the Sephora website, which contains half sizes of two cult favourites - the Good Genes Serum and the Luna Sleeping Night Oil. With the promise of plump, radiant skin in a bottle, Good Genes has been top of my wish list for as long as I can remember, and while Luna isn't a product I would deem necessary in my routine at the moment (it contains retinol, which is primarily an anti ageing ingredient) I've actually been really impressed with the effect it has had on my skin.

GOOD GENES

Good Genes is a lactic acid based serum that claims to brighten, exfoliate and plump the skin. The product is lemon scented (admittedly, slightly floor polish-y) and tingles a little when applied. It sinks into the skin quickly but does leave a slightly sticky residue which is better suited to an evening application. I never tend to use acid based products during the day, so this isn't a problem for me! Lactic acid combats fine lines and wrinkles as well as exfoliating the skin, making it a wonder ingredient for acne sufferers, or ageing skins. I found the results to be exactly as promised, fading scarring and pigmentation while promoting a plump, glowing complexion (yay).

LUNA

Luna is a retinol based, overnight treatment oil that promises to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as correcting damage caused by the sun and pollutants. Retinol is the only ingredient that has actually been proved to reverse signs of ageing, so if you are in your late 20s or early 30s it's definitely something you should be including in your routine. Being only 21, it's not something I need just yet - so I've only been using it occasionally and can't vouch for the anti ageing benefits. I've been using this as a one off treatment when my skin looks really run down as retinol is also wonderfully clarifying and clearing, evening out the complexion while still offering some hydration. Like I said, this potent a product really isn't needed yet, but the set is a great deal and even on my younger skin, the results are undeniable and perfect for combating a case of classic hangover skin. 

If you're looking to introduce yourself to the Sunday Riley range, this set is a great place to start. Both products are really powerful meaning that I only use a little at a time, so I can actually see them lasting me a while - Luna especially. The slight issue is that I'm now hooked (constantly wondering why I even introduce myself to these things) and also keen to try some other products from the brand - the Tidal moisturiser in particular. I'd love to know your recommendations, so let me know down below!

Hourglass Illume Sheer Colour Trio

Space NK has finally opened a store in Winchester, obviously meaning I had to visit - at the eager time of 9am I might add! Typically, I ended up picking up a few things,  one of which was this, the Hourglass Illume Sheer Colour Trio - a trio of bronzer, blush and highlight in a beautifully creamy formula. I'm a huge fan of all Hourglass's powder face products, but this cream palette is equally impressive!

When I swatched the shades in store I fell in love with their glowy finish, but the highlight in particular is stunning. The formula is champagne in tone and gives that really dewy, wet look finish that I much favour over powder alternatives, especially for daytime wear. The natural result reminds me a little of Perricone MD's No Highlighter Highlighter (review of that here) however I find this can easily be built up to a more intense finish if you wish. The blush shade is a brightened rose, that comes up almost peachy on my skin tone - which I adore. I'm glad Hourglass chose to include such a universally wearable shade in this palette, the blush has a lovely brightening effect on the skin, yet isn't too in your face to be worn with any lip/eye combination. The bronzer is nice and neutral toned, which makes it suitable for both warming your complexion or a subtle contour. Because of the easily blendable formula, I think even those with really pale skins could make this work, however it may be too light to be noticeable on a darker skin tone. I was initially worried about the staying power, due to the creaminess of the formula but the wear on these is comparable to most cream products I've tried (typically five hours or so for me). Although the palette is advertised as sheer, I found all of the shades to be really pigmented, but still very easy to sheer out to a barely there finish. I'm loving cream products at the moment so I can see myself using this all Summer long! What are your Hourglass recommendations?

Perricone MD Pre:Empt

If your anything like me, then you might be a little clueless about anti ageing skincare. While i'm definitely too young to start using anything too active or products aimed at 'reversing the signs of ageing', i'm not too young to be taking preventative steps and caring for my skin. Perricone MD's Pre:Empt Series is aimed specifically at women in our category, containing their 'Antioxidant Support Complex' - a powerful blend of antioxidants including turmeric, olive leaf, green tea and cress sprouts to prevent the accelerated ageing of the skin. The range contains a exfoliating pore refiner (acid toner), a skin perfecting serum, brightening eye cream and an oil free hydrating cream. For possibly the first time ever, I've actually been trialling this whole range at once (with the addition of an oil because I can't be without) for the last week and am loving the results on my skin so far, so thought I would share my first impressions!

EXFOLIATING PORE REFINER

Containing fruit extracts and DMAE (an antioxidant membrane stimulator which brightens skin and enhances the effects of other active ingredients - like the Vitamin C Ester in the serum!) this acid toner smoothes and brightens, yet feels very gentle to use. I really like how this toner is essentially prepping the skin for the serum and enhancing the effectiveness of your other skincare. 

SKIN PERFECTING SERUM

The serum is a milky consistency and feels instantly hydrating on application, however also contains the highest concentration of age preventing antioxidants in the range. My skin looks so bright and glowy after using this, so if your looking for a really active product to add into your routine, this might be the one to try! 

BRIGHTENING EYE CREAM

The brightening eye cream combats dark circles using Caffeine, as well as Peptides and DMAE to prevent fine lines. Eye cream is something I regularly neglect, but after sticking to this one for a week I've seen noticeable improvement in my dark circles and my sensitive under eye area feels fresh and hydrated!

OIL-FREE HYDRATING CREAM

When I heard the term 'oil-free' I expected the cream wouldn't be nourishing enough for my skin. However, containing Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B5, I actually found this to feel very hydrating and soothing on the skin. I think the test of a good moisturiser is if your skin still feels hydrated the next morning (which mine does when using this!). If it feels tight and uncomfortable, you know your night cream isn't working hard enough. 

I'm really loving the effects of the Pre:Empt Series so far, and I'm sure i'll do an update or feature some of these products again with a more in depth review after I've trialled them long enough to see the full results. The range is available exclusively at John Lewis until September when it will become widely available. Have you tried any of the Pre:Empt Series? This is my first delve into Perricone MD's skincare and I would love to try some more, so if you have any recommendations then please let me know!

Five Favourite Cookbooks

       Cooking is probably my number one hobby - I absolutely love food and trying out new recipes but along with that comes a slight cook book addiction. Although I really enjoy finding recipes online (my Pinterest recipe board is never ending) there is something lovely about buying a book and building up a collection. I thought I would share some of my favourites here - being vegetarian as well as fairly health conscious (despite battling an ongoing bread addiction) these might not be the most varied selection but are the ones I find myself using regularly and that have introduced me to some of my most loved recipes.

DELICIOUSLY ELLA EVERY DAY BY ELLA WOODWARD

Despite enjoying the original, I much prefer Ella Woodward's second book which is aimed towards making eating healthily quick and easy to fit around a busy lifestyle. Being a student, finding things I can cook quickly in the evenings with minimum work and clearing up is really important. The recipes are really simple and as long as you have a few basic spices and some fresh vegetables, most can be cooked with just store cupboard ingredients (tinned tomatoes, lentils etc). The veggie paella is amazing - as is the spicy lentil and aubergine pasta. 

VEGAN RICHA'S INDIAN KITCHEN BY RICHA HINGLE

I love Indian food and there is so much more to traditional Indian cuisine than what is available at your local takeaway which is anything but authentic. Veggie curries or rice dishes can be so quick to make and are are both delicious and filling. Richa's book literally has everything you need to create healthy Indian meals, from simple vegetable dishes to avocado naans (yet to try but wow). My ultimate favourite is the mango tofu curry - although I swap the tofu for cauliflower or some chickpeas as I'm not a fan. 

READY STEADY GLOW BY MADELINE SHAW

Ready Steady Glow features a mixture of quick, easy meals as well as more impressive, time consuming recipes. Although lots of the recipes are meat based, the book also includes several vegetarian options, a vegetarian meal plan and lots of the meat based meals are easily adaptable anyway. Standouts for me are the life changing spicy tomato soup that can be made in just five minutes (honestly), the gluten free raspberry and pistachio brownies or the pea fritters - which can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

MILDREDS - THE COOKBOOK

If you haven't been to Mildreds - go!!! It's a vegetarian restaurant with locations in Soho, Camden and Kings Cross. The cookbook is filled with some favourites from the restaurant as well as lots of other unique recipes, some of which are quick to make and some that are more elaborate. I really like the mixture of a cuisines, including a dreamy Latin chapter filled with burritos, quesadillas and guac or a whole chapter dedicated to veggie burgers. 

PLENTY MORE BY YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

If you have a little more time, Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty More has a middle eastern theme and is perfect if your looking for a really unique recipe to impress with. The recipes I've tried have all been amazing and although some of the ingredients may seem a little strange at first the flavour combinations always surprise me. That said, some of the ingredients can be a little hard to come by, so this isn't really a book you can just pull out to choose what to have for dinner as it requires a little more preparation. If you were having some people over for dinner or a barbecue then this is the book you need! I love the mixed vegetables and yogurt with green chili oil, the aubergine pahi and pretty much all of the interesting salads! 

Diptyque L'ombre Dans L'eau

If you've read my previous posts, you may know my love for Diptyque's Baies candle. Fresh and delicate, L'ombre Dans L'eau is the fragrance equivalent of Baies and is scented of roses and blackcurrant leaves. In a sea of sweet and coconutty (is that a word?) summer scents, I love how refreshingly unique this perfume is. Although I have the eau de toilette, the fragrance really lasts on my skin and develops beautifully throughout the day. The packaging is obviously absolutely beautiful, as with all the candles and scents in Diptyque's range. Have you tried L'ombre Dans L'eau?

Perricone MD No Highlighter Highlighter

Perricone MD is the range of skin care and make up created by dermatologist and nutritionalist Dr Perricone, focusing on reducing skin inflammation which can lead to premature ageing. The brand's cosmetics are also infused with skin benefitting ingredients and present a very simplistic, natural take on make up with a limited range of products and shades.

The No Highlighter Highlighter (all the brand's cosmetic items are named this way) is the first product I've tried from Perricone MD. Although sometimes I do favour an intense look, I find heavily pearlised, powder highlights can often be too much for daytime, especially when paired with a lighter, glowier tinted moisturiser which typically what I go for in Spring. This liquid highlight offers a more natural sheen and meshes seamlessly with my base to deliver a lit from within glow - minus any shimmer. The perfect product to create a beautiful strobed effect, I love to dot this over the cheekbones, nose, cupids bow and have even been using it to subtly highlight the centre of my lips - it's an extremely versatile product! Although the formula looks a pearlescent pink, this tint isn't visible on the skin and I think it would suit a huge variety of skin tones due to it's natural finish. The product doesn't drag or disrupt my foundation on application and lasts as long as my base does. I can't say much for any skin care benefits due to the area of application being so small, however I really love the ethos of Perricone MD and the idea of fusing cosmetics and skin care to create a beautiful, healthy finish. The No Lipstick Lipstick and No Blush Blush are next on my wish list, as well as trying some of the brands actual skin care line! Have you tried anything from Perricone MD or have any recommendations? Let me know!

Bedside Beauty

Despite most of my beauty routine taking place in my bathroom, there are a few bits I keep on my bedside table so that they are within easy reach when I'm unwinding in the evening, or struggling to wake up in the morning. The first is the Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Candle, a warm, dark, fruity fragrance that really helps me relax before bed. Although rich, the scent isn't overwhelming and although this is definitely a Winter favourite, I love it all year round. Jo Malone candles are always great quality and the scent lasts for hours after I put it out.

I'm absolutely terrible at remembering to moisturise my hands and body, so I like to keep a moisturiser right by my bed so it's impossible to forget. My all time favourite is the Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream. It's creamy and hydrating enough to soothe and soften my skin, yet not too thick that it's uncomfortable to apply right before bed which is the problem I have with most thicker formulas. This also smells absolutely incredible and reminds me slightly of the Diptyque Baies Candle I spoke about in my last post.

Lastly is the The Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist,  a hydrating facial spritz containing orange blossom, rose, sage and apple pectin. Sometimes I wake up to my skin feeling uncomfortably tight and this provides instant relief and hydration, as well as helping me to feel awake and refreshed. The mist has a gorgeous, spa like scent however definitely isn't the most affordable option. I have since found the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist which provides comfort and hydration to the skin at a cheaper price point. What are your bedside essentials? Let me know in the comments!

Diptyque Baies Candle

Diptyque Paris is inarguably one of my favourite candle and fragrance brands, from the quality and uniqueness of the scents, to the beautiful monochrome packaging. Each candle is a mixture of up to eight or nine mineral waxes and each scent is blended to reach the right melting temperature, which is apparent in the strong fragrance that fills the room when one of these candles is burning. Baies is described as "a bouquet of blackcurrant leaves and Bulgarian rose" and finds a beautiful balance between fruity and floral. There is a sharp edge to the scent and to me, it smells summery, fresh and green.

The candle burns beautifully and is very strongly scented, but in a way that is never overpowering. I was praying that Diptyque made a perfume with the same scent and apparently L'Ombre Dans L'Eau is the fragrance equivalent of Baies, so I will have to give that a try soon as it would make the perfect Summer scent! What are your Diptyque recommendations? 

The Dry / Dehydrated Skin Edit

 

 I've spoken in recent posts about the terrible state my skin got in recently, the cause of which I'm still trying to work out. I have suspicions that a few products are to blame however I'm hoping it was just the change in weather as I really don't want to have to stop using them! I've always had dehydrated skin that is slightly on the sensitive side but recently it has become unbearably tight and uncomfortable, with some pretty sore and unsightly dry patches that only get worse when make up is applied on top. I've had to make changes to my skincare routine to deal with the problem and these four products are what I've added into my routine to heal my skin and ensure it gets all the hydration it needs.

EXFOLIATOR

I always make sure to include some AHA's in my evening routine to keep my skin looking smooth, radiant and even. I switched to the Alpha H Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream when I found my usual favourites to be too harsh for the delicate state of my skin and were making the problem worse. I did a full post on this cream a few weeks ago so won't go into too much detail, but the combination of moisture and exfoliation that this product gives was exactly what my skin needed at the time, resurfacing and smoothing my complexion without irritating and still providing a dose of moisture.

SERUM 

The next change I made was to add a hydrating serum to my routine in order to squeeze in as much moisture as possible. Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Serum feels refreshingly lightweight when applied and provides instant relief to dehydrated, sore skin. I have been using this before my moisturiser both morning and evening and have noticed that my skin no longer feels tight when I wake up or after removing my make up and looks smoother and plumper too. What I love the most is how soothing this serum is and how you can instantly feel the effects on your face.

OIL

I also switched to the most hydrating oil that I've tried - The Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil. The texture is thicker than some other oils, but sinks into the skin quickly, leaving behind a radiant glow and a soothed, hydrated complexion. On days when I was working at home I would reapply this throughout the day and thoroughly massage it in (almost like a mini treatment) and noticed such a change in the plumpness and radiance of my skin.

BALM

Lastly, I needed a product to actually heal those dry, sore areas and after some research picked up a tube of the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. This French Pharmacy skincare line is known for it's simple yet effective, problem targeting formulas and gentle products so is perfect to look in to if your looking for a solution to any specific skin issue. Described as a 'soothing repairing balm', this compensating formula targets chapped, intensely dry skin with it's active ingredients of panthenol, madecassoside, copper, zinc and manganese working to boost collagen, repair skin and reduce inflammation. The texture is very thick and is definitely a targeted product instead of an all over facial cream but this little miracle has cured the dry patches around my eyes, nose and cheeks and will be wonderful to have on hand for any similar situations in the future.

The combination of these lovely products have not only managed to get rid of the dry patches and return my skin to normal, but have also helped manage my usual dehydration. Have you tried any of these products or have any recommendations for managing dry or dehydrated skin? Let me know!

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In A Palette

As you may have guessed from previous posts, I am a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury's make up line. I haven't yet tried a product I don't like and so when I saw she was releasing a full face palette it was pretty much a given that I would be ordering one (although I successfully managed to hold off for two whole days). Aiming to create the perfect everyday look in five minutes, the Instant Look In A Palette contains three shadows, the bronze and highlight duo from her famous Filmstar Bronze & Glow and two blushes - designed to be applied using the same 'swish & pop' method as her usual blush line.

I am absolutely terrible at travelling light when it comes to make up and am very guilty of stuffing a huge wash bag full of every product I think I might possibly need. As someone that travels between uni and home most weekends (although not too far), overpacking is definitely not the most practical habit. However, so far this week I've found myself only reaching for this as for me, it contains the perfect selection of shades for every day. The eyeshadows included are a brightening pale pink, lovely champagne shimmer and a warm, matte medium brown which makes a perfect crease shade. It's really nice to see some matte shadows from Charlotte Tilbury as although a few of her eye palettes do contain mattes, the ones I own are very shimmer based which isn't always great for creating a full eye look. The shadows are all have great pigmentation and blend really easily over the eye. I must say I get the least use out of the pale pink however it does make a nice inner corner/brow highlight or could be used with the brown for a fully matte eye.

I've never gotten around to picking up the Filmstar Bronze & Glow although I've only heard good things about it. The brown shade is definitely more of a bronzer than a contour on me but isn't too warm that you can't get away with applying under the cheekbones to add a bit of shape to the face. I don't like my highlight to be too intense in the day time so was pleased to find the one included provides a lovely natural glow without being too in your face. The blushes are beautifully brightening pinks, a darker rose shade (Swish) and an uplifting pale pink (Pop). The packaging is sleek and gorgeous, as per from Charlotte Tilbury and I love the fact it's been kept really slim, unlike palettes from other brands that are just too chunky to fit in a make up bag. Although obviously still a luxury purchase, I think the price point is actually really good for the amount of product you get in this and none of the pans are so small you can't easily dip your brush in.

Surprise surprise, I absolutely love this and it's inevitably earned a permanent place in my make up bag (which no doubt will still be overflowing, but I really just can't pack light). However if I was just staying overnight or wanted to bring something out with me, this palette has the perfect selection of shades to really be all you need for every day.  Have you tried the Instant Look In A Palette?

Alpha H Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream

Alpha H's Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream is a nourishing moisturiser containing a magical combination of Argan Stem Cells, Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid, working to increase the production of Hyaluronic Acid, boost radiance and reduce hyper pigmentation. As a long term fan of the original Liquid Gold overnight treatment, I pretty much knew from the start that this would be for me. 

My skin is usually dehydrated, but thanks to a recent cold combined with crazy uni deadline stress I've developed some very sore patches on the skin around my eyes, nose and chin. All of my usual exfoliating favourites have helped to get rid of any dry patches, however seemed to harsh for the sensitive state of my skin and left it feeling stripped and dry. The hydrating, creamy formula of this moisturiser feels beautiful when applied and manages to exfoliate and smooth, while replenishing the skin. I use this in the same place of my routine as I would my acid toner, after cleansing and before any serum, moisturiser or oil. 

The pot has a press dispenser in the lid, a packaging feature I love as not only is it very satisfying, it keeps the product more sanitary and prevents any air from ruining the effectiveness of any active ingredients. It's unique multi tasking qualities mean I don't actually own anything else similar and have found myself reaching for this as a more hydrating way to exfoliate my skin. Have you tried the Alpha H Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream?

Dior Hydra Life BB Creme

 Following on from a recent post here about a fresh, light foundation routine for Spring - I have a new base obsession in the form of Dior's Hydra Life BB Creme. I first picked up a sample of this last Summer and loved it, but when I went back to purchase accidentally ended up leaving with the Dior Skin Nude BB Cream (which is also lovely). When I realised my mistake, I also realised that this is actually super pricey compared to the Nude BB so forgot about it until recently when Escentual were running their 25% off promotion.

Described as an 'Enhancing moisturiser for immediate beauty' you wouldn't expect this to be very covering (one of the reasons I've never paid much attention to BB Creams) however I found it to be easily buildable, offering a light/medium coverage. Available in three shades: Luminous Beige, Golden Peach and Sunny Amber, all of which seem to be warm in undertone, the smooth cream feels very hydrating when applied to the skin. The moisturising formula has been an absolute godsend as since being ill recently, my skin has become seriously dehydrated, with dry patches around my nose and eyes. This manages to smooth over these imperfections without clinging to them and making them more apparent, as well as feeling comfortable to wear without that horrible tight feeling throughout the day. The finish is really lovely, not overly dewy but leaves the skin looking naturally radiant and perfected - the perfect base for 'no make up make up' days. For such a light, hydrating formula I have been impressed by the lasting power, sticking around all day with just a touch of my usual Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light dusted on top. An added bonus is the inclusion of SPF 30, meaning I don't have to worry about using a separate SPF underneath my make up making this perfect for quick Summer mornings. It's the best quick, easy everyday base and I can see myself loving this throughout the warmer months. Have you tried the Dior Hydra Life BB Creme?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in That Glow

Since their January release in America, I have been eagerly waiting for these Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kits to be brought to the UK. The brand released two palettes, Gleam (cool in tone, lots of icy pinks etc) and the one I purchased, That Glow. That Glow is contains four, warm toned illuminators, described as - Sunburst (bright luminous gold with a metallic finish), Golden Bronze (sultry, warm bronze with a gold flecked finish), Bubbly (rose champagne with a pearlescent finish) and Dripping in Gold (lavish gold with a vivid, reflective finish).

The inclusion of a range of finishes makes the palette really versatile and you can create a lovely multidimensional look using more than one shade. I've been loving using Bubbly as a bronzer to add a pearlescent glow to the skin before sweeping Dripping in Gold over the cheekbones and bridge of the nose for a beautiful sheen. My skin tone is light/medium and I find all the colours totally wearable with a light hand, the lovely thing is that although these powders are well pigmented, they are not overly so can used subtly during the day or be easily layered for a more intense evening look. The pans were far larger than I expected, almost full size so this palette is actually very good value and I really like the way the illuminators are removable so you could pop one in a Z Palette or something along those lines if you wanted to travel with just one of the shades. Anastasia Beverly Hills previously released some individual illuminators and I managed to get my hands on Peach Nectar (which makes a pretty blush but sadly is too warm/dark to be a highlight on me) but missed out on the gold tone, So Hollywood so am very happy to have gotten my hands on one of these before they sell out! Have you tried either of the ABH Glow Kits? Let me know..

Easy Eye Duo: The Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Jean & The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Ganache

As much as I love experimenting with different products, most mornings I just don't have time for anything complicated so end up reaching for the things that can do the job as quickly as possible. My eyes lack any natural definition and despite having dark hair my lashes are blonde, so I'm not lucky enough to be able to run out of the house with no eye make up on without looking halfway dead. What I've been opting for recently is a wash of brightening cream shadow with a chocolatey liner stick blended around the lash line for the illusion of thicker lashes - perfect for everyday definition.

The product I've been loving for this recently is the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Jean, a glossy, sheeny champagne gold that highlights the inner corners and brightens the lids. I'm in love with this formula, on first application the mousse has a lovely cooling sensation and is easily blendable before setting in place and lasting all day.  I find this works beautifully alone or with a powder shadow applied on top and I've had no problems with creasing. The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick's are perfect for if you want to add any depth in the crease or for simply defining the lash line, my favourite shade is Ganache - a rich chocolatey brown. I tend to apply products like this with a tiny pencil brush in a naturally winged shape, but if I'm in a serious hurry I'll just line the outer corners and soften the colour with my finger.

The result is a sheeny, golden, softly smoky look that lasts all day without budging or creasing. What are your favourite speedy eye combinations?

A Fresh Spring Base Routine / ft the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

I may be massively jumping the gun here, but the second I see a hint of sunshine I snap into full Summer mode. For me this means barbecues, cocktails and fresh, glowy make up - however seeing as it's actually still freezing outside only one of these things has been at all realistic. I've gone back to an old favourite tinted moisturiser from last Summer paired with some more recent discoveries in the way of an illuminating drugstore primer and light concealer.

The Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser was a favourite of mine last summer for it's gorgeous glow giving formula that can be built up to cover what you need it to, with the help of a little concealer. The product does look slightly shimmery when squeezed from the tube but once blended onto the skin this disappears and leaves behind a radiant, dewy finish. I actually use my fingertips to apply this, which makes for a speedy application in the mornings with the added bonus of including SPF 20. As far as tinted moisturisers go, this product has pretty decent staying power, however recently I've been pairing it with the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Magique Primer - a sheeny, hydrating formula that has been helping my base stay put all day. I love this under more velvet finish foundations such as the Nars Sheer Glow to give a radiance boost, but it's still really wearable when paired with something already illuminating, like the Laura Mercier. Finally I've been loving a touch of the Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand to brighten my under eye area and conceal any dark circles, patted in with my fingertips.

The result of these products is a dewy, fresh base that lasts all day with a dusting of my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light. I gravitate towards this kind of finish all year round, but particularly in the warmer months when it's all about looking glowy, awake and healthy. Have you switched to a lighter base recently or tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

Becca Afterglow Palette

Becca's Afterglow Palette was a winter release last year, containing three shades of the Shimmering Skin Perfector and two of their Mineral Blushers, one of which could be used as a bronzer. Although sadly no longer available, all of the shades included can be purchased individually so I thought it was worth sharing my thoughts.

The Shimmering Skin Perfectors are definitely internet/cult favourites (I'm still dying to try Champagne Pop) and this palette contains Moonstone, Rose Gold and Topaz. Moonstone is the perfect everyday illuminator, starting off with a subtle pale champagne glow that is incredibly buildable. I like to use Rose Gold in the place of a blush, brushing it over the cheeks and forehead to add colour and luminosity to the skin even when I'm pale. Topaz was the shade that I felt slightly apprehensive about, being a deep bronze, however I've found it to be surprisingly wearable when used lightly in the place of a bronzer and I've found myself constantly reaching for this for nights out!

I had never tried any of Becca's Mineral Blushers before this palette, but have been really impressed by both the shades included. Wild Honey is a warm peachy shade that works perfectly as a pale bronzer on my skin tone and Flowerchild is a beautiful bright coral pink that has a lovely brightening quality that seems to wake up your whole face. Every powder included in the palette is of a really lovely quality with incredible pigmentation and I've already been having a snoop around online to see what other gorgeous shades are available.

I love the fact I can do my entire bronze/blush/highlight routine with this palette and this seems to have shunned all of my other cheek products from my make up bag lately. There are definitely a few shades in here that don't think I can live without now (Moonstone & Flowerchild in particular) so the full sizes will have to be added to my ever growing wish list once I've used them up. Champagne Pop obviously needs to happen soon and now I'm eyeing up all the Mineral Blush shades too! Have you tried any of Becca's cheek products? Let me know in the comments!

Soap and Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sun Shield Superfluid SPF50+

It's quite ironic that for someone that loves skincare as much as I do, that the one element I am laziest is probably the very most important - SPF. The main reason is a lot of the foundations that I use regularly contain it, but I've also had a few bad experiences with facial SPF products irritating my skin and causing breakouts. However most foundations only contain SPF 20 and some have none at all so I decided I needed to up my game - particularly as I use a lot of AHA's that make skin more susceptible to sun damage.

I considered forking out for the highly praised Keihl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence but when once I read Lily Pebbles post about the far more affordable Soap and Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sun Shield Superfluid I thought I'd give it a go first. Luckily for my finances, this is lovely. Less greasy than others I've tried, this super light fluid glides onto the face, creating a matte finish ready for foundation to be applied. I haven't had any problems with blemishes, irritation or noticed any impact on the wear of my foundation. I'm so pleased that I've managed to find a great product that does the job without having to spend a small fortune, especially as this is something I've been wearing most days.

As usual let me know if you've got any recommendations for me, or if you've tried this and loved it too!

Charlotte Tilbury Luxurious Eyeshadow Palette in The Golden Goddess

Yet another Charlotte Tilbury post today, is it clear that it's one of my favourite brands? I do want to keep my content varied but if I love something then I want to talk about it, even if I think that a brand has been popping up a lot in recent posts.

 palette in The Golden Goddess is my latest favourite, containing four buttery shadows - a pale champagne, cool brownish taupe, warm bronze and a dark brown glitter. Something I love is that this palette contains both warm and cool shades, which makes it really versatile. The greyish taupe shadow reminds me a lot of Burberry's Pale Barley in the way its perfect to use as a wash of colour all over the lid for daytime, while the bronze works beautifully in the crease or can be built up to an intense smoky eye at night. The glitter is subtle, but adds a very pretty depth to the look when patted over the top. All of the shadows have great colour payoff and although they are all shimmery there is minimal fallout.

This has been my go to for a couple of weeks now, I do have a couple of other Charlotte Tilbury palettes which I love equally but the versatility of these neutral shades in such a compact, easy to travel with palette has had me reaching for this every day. Have you tried any of Charlotte Tilbury's Luxurious Eyeshadow Palettes? Let me know!