YSL Shocking Faux Cils Felt-Tip Eyeliner Pen

Line your lashes with colour! NEW Eyeliner Pens from YSL* in 02. Majorelle Blue and 04. Deep Green (£25.50) | available online

Coloured liners and mascaras are big news this Summer, giving the retro trend a fresh, modern and high fashion feel. The 90s trend of colbalt blue mascara is well and truly back and I was excited, if a little nervous, to embrace this look all over again and relive my teenage years! Along with a rainbow of mascaras being released by a medley of makeup brands, the humble black eyeliner has also been given a colour revival and Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Summer collection, Les Sahariennes, gives us two striking new products to delight our eyes.

The YSL Shocking Faux Cils Felt-Tip Eyeliner Pen is a fabulous product and I often reach for the boring black version time and time again when I am looking to perfect that feline catseye flick. I always favour a felt tip eyeliner as opposed to a gel or liquid as I feel I have a little bit more control and can build up the itensity and definition easier than with a more looser formula. These two new colourways give the traditional look of lined eyes a colourful twist whether you are looking for a slick of something bold and blue, or a striking rich emerald-green flick. The precise firm tip of these felt-tip like pens ensures your line is thin and subtle giving you the ability to keep it low key and understated or built up to something thicker and more show-stopping! The pigmentation is great with these two new eyeliners and they seem to last and last without smudging or budging throughout the day.

For weekend festivals and alfresco parties this is the type of fun, Summer makeup I love to try and it really isn't as scary as you first may think! It is the perfect way to inject a bit of colour and freshness into your Summer look. Have you embraced the coloured liner trend yet?

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Claudia Louch Mousse Foundation

A foundation that feels as light as air! Claudia Louch Mousse Foundation* (£52.50) | available online

You may have noticed that over the past year or so I have featured quite a few skincare products from the Claudia Louch beauty line - a brand that takes a natural, holistic approach to skincare all the way from their moisturisers to makeup, and continues to impress me with their range of products that seem to do the job perfectly.

After the success of their skincare line, Claudia Louch have introduced an ever-expanding makeup range which includes a variety of bases, concealers, mascara and powders. Most recently I have been testing out the new Mousse Foundation which is wonderfully light to apply and feels like silk on the skin. It has a velvet texture and easily smoothes onto the skin, covering any redness or small blemishes without being mask-like. In fact it is a very light foundation but has a lovely ability of evening out skin tone and softening fine lines with the addition of the light-diffusing particles. The result is pretty natural, soft and shine-free although I did find that a sweep of powder over the top did help set the foundation and give me a little more coverage. I think if you have a normal or oily skin type then this foundation would work well for you but those dry-skinned girls might want to stay clear as it does have a habit of clinging to any dry bits of skin which is a shame. As you would expect from Claudia Louch, the Mousse Foundation is 94% natural, hypoallergenic and allergy tested and is free from fragrance and harsh chemicals.

Have you tried anything from the Claudia Louch makeup range?

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The Tan-Enhancing Body Oils

If I am jetting off to sunnier climates over the summer then a beauty essential that I always find myself packing in my suitcase is a good dry body oil. There is no nicer feeling than coating your sun-kissed limbs with a luminous body oil to enhance your golden tan and help lock in that much needed hydration. With a possible sunny retreat scheduled for late September I have already lined up two of my favourite beauty-enhancing oils that I look forward to taking away with me to give my bare skin a luminous glow as I head out for cocktails mocktails and dinner during the balmy nights.

 

First up is the Moroccan Rose Gold Glow Perfect Dry Oil* from REN Skincare (£26). This dry oil is really exquisite and is formulated with 100% naturally derived actives from Moroccan Argan Oil and the precious Rosa Damascena Oil. The texture is very lightweight and silky and nourishes, conditions and protects the skin leaving it with a beautiful sheen. It can also be used on your hair to lock in moisture and keep it healthy in the sun. I love the handy spray bottle and adore the elaborately decorated bottle featuring a distinctive Arabesque design inspired by Islamic art and calligraphy. It has a delicate rose scent which lingers on your skin and sinks in well without leaving you feeling greasy or slippery! I like to apply this straight after a shower when my skin is still slightly damp - it smoothes wonderfully over your body and leaves it feeling sublimely soft and nourished with a golden, glowing sheen.



The other dry oil I have been loving is the Clarins After Sun Shimmer Oil* (£32) which works very similarly to the REN Moroccan Rose but has the added benefit of some lovely, subtle shimmer for the skin. Suitable for all skin types, this oil is ultra-fine and infused with shimmery micro-pearls for a head-turning tan. It nourishes, softens and illuminates the skin with a sensational golden gleam. Formulated using hazelnut oil, this oil doesn't only keep your skin looking good but will also help protect it from dehydration following sun exposure with the added vitamin E and essential oils. This aftersun oil is basically Summer in a bottle with the addition of mandarin, grapefruit, ylang ylang and tonka beans to give the skin a sunny scent and it can also be used on the ends of your hair to keep it in tip-top condition throughout your holiday. I love the lusciousness of this oil from Clarins and the golden iridescence it gives to the skin really enhances your tan and veils your body with a satin-smooth, fragrant finish, without any greasy residue!

 

Do you have a favourite body oil you like to use during the Summer?

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Sanctuary Cooling Sorbet Bodycare Collection

Refresh and re-energise with the Sanctuary Cooling Sorbet Bodycare Range* | (£7-£8) available from Boots

A decadent dessert for your body. This new collection from the Sanctuary Spa range will invigorate your shower regime with the light cooling textures inspired by zesty sorbets and crushed ice. As the weather hots up there is nothing more refreshing that diving into a cool shower and chilling your skin with a fresh body wash or scrub which is why this new Cooling Sorbet range is a must this Summer!

First up is the Cooling Body Sorbet which offers a refreshing blend of waterlily, cucumber water and aloe vera which moisturises and cools the skin instantly. The cooling sorbet texture is beautifully light and leaves limbs smelling citrus fresh with a hint of soft musk. The Cooling Shower Drench is a real treat in the shower. It is infused with cucumber extract, watermelon and Menthol technology which cleanses and invigorates the skin leaving your body and senses awakened and zingy! Finally there is the Cooling Glacial Scrub which is a blend of sea salt, aloe vera and cucumber water. This icy infusion has been crushed together to polish away dull dead skin and leaves your body feeling revived and brand new. Simply massage a handful of this snowy scrub over damp skin until a foamy lather forms then rinse off and pat dry. The Menthol technology continues to cool the skin after your shower like a fresh breeze and is gentle enough to use a few times a week to keep skin super smooth and Summer-ready!

Have you added any of these cooling new additions to your shower regime?

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One Year On...

On Sunday 19^th July 2015 Rob and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe one year has passed already since we said our “I dos” and danced under the Summer sun surrounded by our most loved friends and family. It was such a special day and we decided to mark the joyous occasion of our first anniversary with a trip to London, breakfast at the Sky Garden followed by drinks along the South Bank, lapping up the sun and riverside views.

But we had another little reason to make this weekend just gone particularly celebratory. It was the time we revealed to our family and friends that Rob and I are going to be parents next year (cue lots of excitable screams and warm, happy hugs). It has been a secret we have been sitting on for the past couple of months, desperate to share our news but anxious to keep everything quiet until we saw our little human on that screen, wiggling away. And boy did he/she wiggle!  

To say we are over the moon with this new direction in our lives would be an understatement. We are delighted beyond words. I have always wished to be a mum. It is a journey I feel I have been prepared for ever since I was about 18 years old! Therefore it was always a hope and dream that I would get to have children very soon after we got married so I feel incredibly blessed that it has happened for us, and I am thankful every day that I get to experience this with Rob by my side.

I know the next six months aren’t always going to be rosy, things will get tough and tiring, my body will change and my priorities will shift but I feel ready to embrace it all and I look forward to documenting this adventure right here on my blog. I know baby bumps and maternity wear isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea so I promise to keep up my beauty reviews but balance it out with some mum-to-be type updates as we go along, partly for my benefit so I can look back in a year’s time and reflect on this amazing journey and transformation I am about to undertake. Bye bye abs!!

I plan to begin with a little overview of my first trimester and capture how I have been feeling, emotionally and physically, from the moment I found out to now, twelve weeks on. I also want to share with you how I have been handling my fitness and exercise since being pregnant, what small changes I’ve made to my food choices to benefit me and baby and my aims for a fit, happy pregnancy in body and mind over the next six months.

When I took to twitter and Instagram (@pinkpixiedoll) on Sunday night to announce my happy news I was truly overwhelmed with everyone’s kind, supportive comments and messages. My phone went crazy! I just wanted to say again how thankful I am for everyone’s congratulations and how it has just added to the excitement that we were already feeling. It really is the most special feeling knowing I am going to be a mummy next year to my very own child and it is by the far the best anniversary present I could have ever received. I really hope you enjoy my blog updates and I can’t wait to share this adventure with you all.

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YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush in Corail Incandescent

YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush in 13. Corail Incandescent* (£28.50) | available on counters and online 

This Summer Yves Saint Laurent have released a hot new launch - the Saharienne Collection which is fronted by the gorgeous Cara Delevingne and is inspired by the heat, colours and freshness of Marrakech. The whole collection plays with the contrasts that this Moroccan city evokes - the sandy, earthy colours verses the vibrant hues seen in the bustling market, the balmy nights set against the freshness during the bright days. The collection is modern yet timeless and is all about enhancing your bronzed, glowing complexion with beautiful golden and bronzed hues whilst spicing up the nails, lips and cheeks with some exotic pops of colour.

Amongst this collection there are two new Baby Kiss & Blush releases: 13. Corail Incandescent and 14. Ochre Luxurieux. If you haven't become acquainted with the YSL Kiss & Blush product before then you can read all about my love for this multi-purpose lip and cheek stain here but it a nutshell - a light air-whipped formula delivers a luminous finish on the cheeks and a semi-matte yet juicy tint for the lips. Corail Incandescent is a playful splash of seductive colour to contrast nicely with the bronzed, warm hues that the rest of the collection offers. It is a fresh, poppy-red coral which adds a rosy tone to your cheeks and bright, fun pop of orangey-red to the lips. Perfect for the Summer months.

What do you think of this great two-in-one product from YSL? Are you excited to check out the rest of the collection?

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Lush Comforter Moisturising Shower Cream

The LUSH Comforter Moisturising Shower Cream | exclusively available from the London Oxford St store

"Sometimes you just need to shut yourself off from the outside world under a blanket of fruity foam that will put you back in the right frame of mind to face the world. Cassis absolute gives a distinctive blackcurrant fragrance, while bergamot adds an uplifting note."

The Comforter Bubble Bar from LUSH is such a recognisable, distinguish product from their range - both in its appearance and beautiful berry scent, it has fast become one of the fan's favourite bath time picks. If only you could bottle that addictively sweet, ripened-berry scent?! Well the great news is that LUSH have taken all the gorgeousness from the Comforter Bubble Bar and transformed it into a moisturising shower cream...the bad news is that at the moment, it is only available from the new LUSH store on Oxford Street, London.

Available in mini 100g bottles (£3.75) all the way up to this beast of bottle, 1kg of pink loveliness (£27.50), the Comforter shower cream is everything you would have hoped for and more. The shocking pink liquid is slightly iridescent, wonderfully creamy and lathers up beautifully on the skin. I always prefer a cream formula vs. a gel formula as I feel the skin is left feeling that little bit more nourished and this shower cream certainly moisturises whilst softening and leaving the skin smelling very-berry-good! This Cassis-based scent will comfort and cocoon you in a heady aroma of dark fruits, bergamot and a hint of vanilla - it is one of those scents that you really have to sniff for yourself to appreciate exactly why it is sooo nice! Like the guys at LUSH say on the label - it really is a cuddle in a bottle! Fingers crossed they roll it out online and in other stores nationwide so you can all indulge in this pretty pink elixir but in the meantime, if you are visiting the Capital, I would definitely recommend stocking up!

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