Clarins Opalescence Face and Blush powder

Clarins Opalescence Face & Blush Powder*, £30
available online and on Clarins counters

With every new Clarins makeup launch you can guarantee there will be a gorgeous beauty powder to compliment every new collection and their recent Opalescence Spring makeup release is no exception. This limited edition face and blush powder is housed in a rather space-age, opal palette revealing a mattifying peachy powder studded with polka dots of dusky pink powder, spheres of bronzer and a golden overspray detail, which sadly disappears after the first few swirls of your blusher brush.

This powder is a lovely, universal product that is versatile and can be used to set your foundation, mattify the skin or add a touch of warmth and colour to your skin for a soft, natural finish. The dominant shade is a peachy-beige that can be used lightly all over the skin to give a satiny base or concentrated in more specific areas to add definition and colour to your cheeks, forehead and nose. The bronzed shade is cool-toned and pigmented enough to delicately contour the cheekbones or lightly sweep across your temple to give a sun kissed look. The spots of dusky rose powder are tricky to use on there own but when swirled together with the peachy beige powder give the cheeks a natural flush. This luxe powder is finely-milled and feels luxurious on the skin and instantly boosts your complexion with warmth and a soft, matte finish.

I am wearing this new face and blush palette all over in the above photos - firstly swirled together and applied lightly over my foundation with a large bronzing brush. I then took a slightly denser brush and focused on the bronze shade from the palette to add definition and warmth to my cheeks, along my forehead and down my nose and then finished with a pinch of the dusky pink hue on the apple of my cheeks. However, because I am one to never stray too far away from my beloved highlighted cheeks, I did pop a little bit of MAC Soft and Gentle mineralised skin finish over the top just to give me a little bit of a glow and to complete the simple, bronzed look! Are you excited about this Opalescence face powder from Clarins?

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Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster Made to Measure Self Tan
A faux glow, for your face

If you are an avid follower of the new beauty products set to create a stir in 2014, or happened to glance at Stylist magazine a few weeks ago, you would have heard about Clarins’ latest addition to the fake tan market…a faux glow for your face. Clarins Radiance-plus Glow Booster Made to Measure Self Tan (and breathe!) is a little tube of golden elixir that is simply added to your night cream or moisturiser to transform your skin from pale to sun-kissed overnight. If you are a slave to the self-tan then you will know that finding a product that is suitable for you face that doesn’t break you out or leave you feeling (and looking) a little muddy is a tricky one. I personally don’t like to fake tan my face at all for fear of streaks or spots, so this new product from Clarins is such a revelation in my eyes and is so simple and fool-proof to use. 

With the golden glow booster in one hand and a palm-full of your night cream in the other, you are your own tanning mixologist! The intensity of the tan that develops overnight is dependent on how many drops of the apricot-scented oil you add. At first this may be a bit of trial and error but for a medium, natural-looking tan I would punt for two drops. One less is barely noticeable and one more will give you a bit more of an obvious, golden glow – perfect if you wanted to forego the foundation or bronzer for the day and just slap on your mascara and lipgloss for a no-makeup makeup look. And now for the science bit - apparently the golden-glow booster interacts with the amino acids in your skin to create a custom-made shade that oozes radiance and a healthy golden glow, without feeling heavy or sticky on your face. I was lucky enough to get my mitts on a sample whilst I was in Paris with Clarins last month and already know that it is going to be a big hit this Summer. I love the ease and control you have with this product, seamlessly mixing it in with your favourite moisturiser to guarantee you a warm, glowing complexion when you wake! I have been using it once every week or so recently, usually just before the weekend when I want my skin to look its best, giving me the perfect bronzed base for a flawless finish or simply the confidence to opt for a fresher face with just a stippling of BB cream and a slick of gloss! 

The Clarins Radiance-plus Golden Glow Booster is released on 30^th March 2014, available online and on counters, and will cost £18. Any you tempted by these golden elixir?

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YSL Flower Crush blush palette

YSL Limited Edition Flower Crush rosy blush collector face palette*
£42.50, available from Selfridges and YSL counters

You cannot deny that when it comes to aesthetically pleasing makeup and packaging, YSL have it down to a fine art. When I first laid eyes on this limited edition rosy blush collector palette, there may have been a little gasp of excitement when I lifted the graphic-etched lid and a hard-to-fight urge to swatch the medley of golden and pink shimmery powder. YSL's new Spring 2014 collection brings us this beautiful face palette that promises to give a blossom-soft, spring touch to our makeup and to illuminate and brighten our complexion with a few sweeps of this feminine powder.

This blush is definitely more of a highlighter, illuminator or a powder to add a little hint of colour rather than a full blown blusher for rosy pink cheeks. The powder is soft and delicate yet studded with quite obvious shimmer which is pretty when on the skin but could be a bit disco-ball for some people. The sheer colour looks perfect when applied to the cheekbones to add a subtle sheen and rose-tinted flush, with the gold powder giving you a lit-from-within warmth to your makeup look. It is the perfect powder for that healthy, natural glow and adds a gorgeous radiance when applied over the top of a matte blush or bronzer.

Are you left swooning over this new blush from YSL?

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Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream Foundation and Eye Cream

wearing my Mint Julep necklace from Saras Secret Boutique

Bourjois CC creams for the face and eyes, available from Boots and Superdrug
CC cream foundation £9.99 | CC Eye Cream Concealer £7.99

When it comes to drugstore foundations and concealers I think Bourjois do it best; in fact, some of their base products could rival the higher end options that fill my collection. Their 123 Perfect foundation has brilliant coverage and lasting power whereas the Healthy Mix Serum foundation is perfect for that dewy, fresh look. So needless to say, when Bourjois released their new CC foundation and concealer range at the end of last month, I knew they would be worth a try and I wasn't disappointed.

The Bourjois CC Cream Foundation (available in four shades) is a quite a loose, oil-free texture that is light and luminous on the skin, blending in with ease using your fingertips or a stippling brush. I was dubious at first to try the new CC creams as I was never much of a fan of the former BB generation of base products, but this one ticks all the right boxes. It is more of a foundation than a tinted moisturiser but still feels incredibly light on the skin and gives your complexion a lovely, blurred quality whilst keeping it natural. It contains 3 colour correcting pigments that helps erase redness, diminish dark spots and awaken any dullness whilst giving your skin 24 hour hydration and SPF15. This CC cream foundation offers a light to medium coverage and although won't cover 100% of all blemishes and redness, it gives a lovely, satin-matte base to either wear alone or complete with the CC concealer and a dusting of powder.

The Bourjois CC Eye Cream Concealer (available in two shades) has the similar skin-loving qualities as the cream foundation - 24 hour hydration, oil-free and SPF15 and works at brightening and awakening the under eye area. Again it is quite a loose consistency and is revealed with a few twists of the slimline tube container. Smoothed on directly from the applicator or dabbed under the eye with a fingertip, this light concealer is quite sheer and is better at illuminating than concealing the under eye area but doesn't sit in your fine lines like some heavier concealers can. This concealer works perfectly over the top of the CC cream foundation to give you a truly fresh, ready-for-summer look and if you are a fan of your lighter base products that care and conceal then I would definitely suggest you give these new releases a whirl!

Have you tried the new Bourjois CC cream range?

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Sweetheart dress

Sweetheart dress* | Sugarhill Boutique

Heels | New Look

On Saturday night Rob and I got dressed up and headed out to a friend's engagement party and what better dress to choose for this celebration of young love than this sweetheart number from Sugarhill Boutique. With its beautiful combination of navy and mint green hearts, cute keyhole detail and a delicate chiffon fabric, I fell in love with it the moment I saw the new arrivals pop up on their website along with a floaty skirt and striking blouse in this pretty print also. I kept my hair in keeping with the night by simply tousling in some soft, romantic waves and added a flush of pink to my cheeks with YSL's new Flower Crush blush palette which is rather delightful (review coming soon).

I hope you are all well and had lovely weekends. What do you think of this sweetheart dress?

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YSL Gloss Volupté lip gloss

03. Rose Fusion | 04. Fuchsia Vermeil | 30. Corail Lingot 

Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupte extreme shine lip gloss* £21
available online and on counters nationwide

"An invitation to kiss. The innovative texture of YSL Gloss Volupte lip gloss will make your lips glossy, hydrated and ultimately irresistible." Oh wow, can we just take a moment to fully appreciate the beautifulness of these new volupte glosses from YSL. Lightweight, non-sticky with extreme shine and radiant colour, these new luxe beauties can transform lips from dull to dazzling. And forget your standard brush or doe foot applicators, the new 3D pout shaped applicator distributes the gloss evenly and precisely with a flexible tip for maximum coverage.

Available in 24 different shades to suit all occasions, these gorgeous glosses are divided into three categories - iridescent, golden and pure. Iridescent and golden are both studded with sparkles and warm flecks whereas pure is described as a sheer, mirror-like finish with no shimmer and a more intense colour-payoff. These three shades I have here are all described as "golden" and contain a warm glimmer of gold flecks that instantly add a sumptuous shimmer and lustre to the lips. These glosses are smooth and silky to apply and last well for a good couple of hours. The shimmer is noticeable but not uncomfortably so and the texture is quite thick but without feeling sticky or heavy on the lips. I love the fact that they deliver a really pretty colour and sparkle on bare lips but work best applied over a fairly matte lipstick to transform your look and help you fully embrace the glossy lip trend this season.

Do you like the look of these new Volupte lip glosses from YSL?

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Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Light Deep Treatment Mousse

Aussie three minute miracle light deep treatment mousses - Aussome Volume and Mega
£4.99, available from Boots

When I first heard about Aussie’s latest release – the 3 minute miracle light mousses, my feelings were initially…meh! Styling mousses and crunchy curls are not my things so I didn’t think I would be interested in this product range one jot. However, once I had actually read my press release and realised that these are an extension to their current 3MM range and work as a wash in, wash out lighter conditioner to condition finer locks I was on board! 

The classic 3 Minute Miracle Shine deep treatment has been a faithful addition to my hair care range for many years now. I don’t know whether it is the gorgeous, sweet scent or my post-wash luscious silky locks that I love more but it has been the perfect-match for my unruly, thick hair on numerous occasions now. The 3 Minute Miracle range from Aussie seemed to have the answer for every hair woe imaginable – a remedy for frizz? Check! Some care for coloured hair? Check! Fraught with split ends? Check! But those with a finer mane who fear the heavy conditioners and treatments may have been forgotten…until now. These two mousses, aussome volume and mega, are both lusciously lightweight, completely free of silicones and are bursting with nourishing ingredients with that same heavenly scent which fills the shower with a sweet vanilla aroma. These new mousses can be used just like any other Aussie 3MM treatment – simply apply the whipped-cream-like conditioner through your hair after shampooing and conditioning and let it work its magic for three minutes before rinsing out. Finer hair should feel completely nourished and lavished with love without being weighed down or left feeling greasy like some other treatments can. 

I think it is great that Aussie have finally added a lighter variant to their already adored 3MM range and now I feel everybody can find their perfect match, whatever their hair type. Do you have finer hair and struggle to find a great deep treatment? Would you be interested in giving these new products a whirl?

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NARS Splendor in the Grass blush kit

from left to right: Sex Appeal blush, Albatross highlighter, Angelika blush, Dolce Vita blush

NARS Guy Bourdin Splendor in The Grass cheek palette
available online and from Selfridges

When it comes to blushers, NARS know what they're doing! With stunning shades and equally suggestive names to match, the blush lineup from NARS is so tempting and this divine cheek palette from the Guy Bourdin launch is no exception. I love a good palette whether it be for for the eyes or the cheeks and this one has been by my side ever since I received it for Christmas. The four shades - Sex Appeal, Albatross, Angelika and Dolce Vita are all available individually from NARS but work so perfectly together in this blush kit with a highlighter, bronzing/contour shade, a pretty peach and darling pink encased in the classic monochrome NARS packaging.

The four shades in this cheek palette have different finishes and can be used alone or combined together for an ultra luxe, shimmery finish with the golden Albatross highlighter layered over the sparkly pink Angelika blush or popped on top of the soft, matte peach. Dolce Vita, a matte dusky rose, is one of my favourite shades from this palette as it is quite different to anything else I own and looks really striking with pale skin and an burgundy eyeshadow like MAC Sketch for an night time look. This palette is just great when light packing for a weekend away because it is so compact and versatile and has every shade you could wish for whether you want something light and fresh during the day or something more daring for dinner in the evening. It has definitely spurred me on to investigate the NARS artist palettes more and I now have my eye on the At First Sight eye and cheek palette. Swoon!

Have you tried any of these blushers from NARS?

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Benefit Lollitint lip & cheek stain

fluffy jumper from Topshop

Benefit Cosmetics lollitint candy-orchid tinted lip & cheek stain*
£24.50, available online and from Benefit counters

So...here we go again with the cutely-packaged, versatile and fresh-looking cheek and lip tints from Benefit Cosmetics. I remember buying Benetint all those years ago when it was first released and was pleased as punch with my just-pinched cheeks and rosy lips. Whether it is their stains or illuminating highlighters, I adore the ease and finish of the Benefit cheek products in a bottle and their new candy-coloured Lollitint is no exception.

Lollitint is described as a "candy-orchid tint" and is the prettiest lavender-pink shade with cool undertones and a build-able finish. The consistency is a lot creamier and less watery than the likes of Benetint but still dries just as quick once brushed onto the skin so speed is the key with application. I pop three of four dots along my cheek and gently dab and rub the tint into the apples of my cheeks and upwards for a sweet lilac flush. I always love the fresh dewiness that Benefit's cheek tints instantly give to your makeup and Lollitint is a darling shade that perks your cheeks up a treat and can be applied onto bare skin or over liquid foundation. I personally don't love the tints when used as a lip stain but I tried it above and it worked quite well providing you prep your lips well with a balm so they don't become too dry but really Lollitint is all about the candy cheeks and I love it!

Are you a fan of Benefit's cheek and lip stains?

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Illamasqua I'm the One Collection

Illamasqua I'm The One Valentines Collection* £50
available online

I figured there was no better day to post about this new collection from Illamasqua than on Valentine's Day itself, the day of love. The new I'm The One collection is a sensual mix of four racy-red products for nails and lips that celebrates and embraces wearable scarlets and the colour of love, or should that be lust? I'm The One is an amorous capsule collection featuring three lip products - a lip pencil (Feisty), a colour-intense lipstick (Maneater) and an intense lipgloss (Touch) completed with a fiery red shade for the nails (Throb) to complete the set.

I can never say no to a bold, red lip and this combination of the precise pencil, matte lipstick and then the decadent gloss is absolutely perfect to get your heart racing and to give you a beautiful Valentine's makeover. Using a lip pencil to prep and line the lips before embarking on a statement lip colour is an absolute must in my books and Feisty lip pencil is creamy and soft to apply and is precise enough to sketch out the perfect outline or fill your lips in completely for a matte base to intensify the look. Maneater lipstick is the classic cherry-red shade with Illamasqua's signature matte finish without being too drying. It is highly-pigmented and is just divine when paired with simple back eyeliner and bronzed skin. It is my perfect red shade and gives you the most kissable lips! Finally we have Touch, the intense red lipgloss with a sinful sprinkling of fine iridescent glitter which transforms your lips from heavenly to devilish in an instant, whether worn alone or layered over your scarlet lips. And to complete your Valentine's makeover there is Throb - the classic red nail varnish to tantalise your talons with a lustful layer of daring scarlet - absolutely shameful after just two coats!

Which item from this new Illamasqua collection has got your heart-throbbing?

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Cleansing with Clarins

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, £19.50
Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream, £25. 
Both available online

When it comes to skincare, you can't go far wrong with Clarins and when it comes to a plethora of grime-fighting cleansers and cleansing milks, you can be assured that Clarins will have a product to suit all your skin's needs. I love the ease and effectiveness of cleansers and have found that some of my all time favourites have been courtesy of Clarins, two of which I am going to rave about today.

First up is Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel. This bad boy is the ultimate at removing the toughest of makeup in a flash! Massaged onto dry skin, this gel creates an oily formula which breaks down and softens stubborn mascara and heavy foundation with ease and emulsifies into a silky milk when rinsed off with warm water.  It is such a joy to use and the Marula Oil leaves your skin feeling radiant, soft and thoroughly cleansed, with being too tight or squeaky! The oil-to-milk formula is just perfect at eliminating every last scrap of makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils and means your skin is left plump and primed for your next skincare step.

The second cleanser in my current skincare line up is the new, Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream from Clarins. The thick, luxurious cream is enriched with extracts of purifying Moringa and nourishing Shea and mango to help restore the skin's purity and radiance. Instead of simply rubbing or massaging this cleanser into the skin, there is a special method to use this cream to get the optimum results. Warm the cleanser between the palm of your hands before applying it lightly to your skin without pressing down. Then use your hands to create fast suction-like motions by quickly pressing down and removing them on the skin which releases and eliminates makeup, impurities and traces of pollution without irritating the skin or disturbing tissues. The real triumph of this cleanser is its ability to perfectly remove makeup whilst treating the skin to a detoxification, intense nourishment and hydration. Compared to the cleansing gel, the extra-comfort isn't quite as effective at removing stubborn makeup the first time around but when my skin needs a little extra love and nourishment then this is definitely the tube I reach for!

Which is your favourite cleanser at the moment?  Have you tried any of the cleansers from Clarins?

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Bumble & Bumble pret-a-powder

Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-powder £21.50
available online

Vive le great hair day! Before I begin singing the praises of this new, staying product from Bumble & Bumble, I must confess that I have never been a fan of dry shampoo. I simply don't really get the stuff and because I don't suffer from greasy or flat hair at any point between washes I never found a place for it on my beauty table. This stuff however is a whole different ball game and I am absolutely smitten with Bumble & Bumble's new Pret-a-Powder. This magical powder offers a whole host of tricks and treats for hair at any stage along the washing cycle and is a style extender, volume-giver and dry shampoo all in one. Crazily versatile!

With a little pinch of the blossom-scented fine white powder, your locks can be transformed - giving freshly-washed hair a bit more oomph without the clumpy feeling and day old locks an instant freshness and lightness with added plumpness! There are two ways I like to use this product; firstly on freshly-washed hair that is sometimes too silky and fluffy to control. By adding a sprinkle of this powder to the roots especially around the crown area, it helps give me a bit more grit and oomph to pull off my favourite up dos. I then like to take it around day two or three (if I am slyly trying to avoid the dreaded hair wash) and I simply massage it into my roots and through the ends to give my style a new lease of life! Dry shampoo? Pah! Pret-a-powder is definitely the only powder styling product you will need in your hair repertoire!

Have you tried this new styling product from Bumble & Bumble?

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NEOM Organics Love home candle

NEOM Luxury Organics LOVE Home Candle*
£42, available online

Just when I thought NEOM couldn't create a candle that is even more dreamy and heavenly-scented than the delightful collection they already boast, NEOM Organics pulls out all the stops and launches their token Valentines product - the limited edition Love home candle. Housed in an alternative, decadent black glass jar, this gorgeous candle captures all the essence of a romantic night in with the heady blossoms of Tuberose and Jasmine combined with the luxurious essence from the Mimosa tree topped off with a hint of honey and spice for a warming, sweet aroma.

The scent of this candle is rich and captivating and fills the room instantly with the contended mood of love the moment you open the packaging. The honey and spice notes grounds the aroma and stops the candle being too sweet and floral and adds a deep, sensual tone making it perfect for a cosy night in this Valentines Day. And with over 50 hours of burning time, you will still be feeling the love as the Summer days and hazy nights draw in.

Do you love the sound of NEOM's new Love candle?

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