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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