Paisley print playsuit

Playsuit* - Motel

Heels - New Look

Lipstick - MAC Snob

The arrival of this new playsuit from Motel couldn't have come at a better time as I was having a frantic panic about what to wear to meet a friend last night for drinks. I have actually been trying to track down the perfect playsuit all Summer long so it is typical that I finally find one I like just as we slowly venture into Autumn. That said, I can definitely see myself wearing this with some thick tights and chunky boots as the weather starts to get a bit chillier. I love the vintage-inspired paisley print, a pleasant alternative to florals, and the long sleeves and button shirt detail makes it the perfect choice if you wish to flash less flesh but still feel dressed up enough for a night on the town! Best of both worlds. :)

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Elemental Herbology Cell Food facial serum

Elemental Herbology Cell Food Radiance and Vitality Serum* £45
available online and Space NK

I use to think serums were just an over-fussy addition to an already chockablock skincare regime. However a year or so ago I began sneaking a serum in here and there, hoping that my boyfriend wouldn't notice this further addition on the bedside table, and slowly I became reliant on their skin-loving properties. Serums are the filler to your skincare sandwich - best applied after cleansing and before your moisturiser to really nourish and vitalise the skin, working on a cellular level.

This facial serum from Elemental Herbology is a real gem and promises to boost radiance and uplift dull and tired skin. It contains a powerhouse of proteins, vitamins and antioxidants which offer the ultimate nutrition for you skin and gave my complexion a real boost of hydration, a healthy glow and a pleasant plumpness. Delicate enough to be used twice a day and proudly free of any synthetic fragrances, mineral oils or parabens, Cell Food serum is suitable for all skin types and a must-have for any frequent travellers to help deal with the lifestyle and environmental changes that can affect your skin. It feels lovely, silky and fresh to apply and quickly sinks into your skin in time for your next skincare step -  a layer of moisturiser before bed. Using this has definitely cemented by belief that everyone needs a serum in the regime and this is a great one to start with.

Do you enjoy using serums in your skin routine?

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sparkles and studs

Cami - Topshop

Skirt - Miss Selfridge

Heels - Primark
Clutch - H&M
Necklace - Topshop

Just a little (late) outfit from last week. It was Rob's birthday so I decided to take him out for a fancy meal to celebrate the occasion and this is what I wore. I love love this skirt from Miss Selfridge but never get the opportunity to wear it very often so thought why not give it an airing on a perfect Summer's evening. And yes I am still wearing my trusty Primark wedges which seem to go with every single outfit I put on and are ridiculously comfortable too. Definitely the best £15 I've spent in a long time!

I hope you are all well and are looking forward to the weekend; I know I am! :)

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Clinique Superprimer Face Primers

Clinique's Superprimer Face Primers* £20 each
available on counters and online from 6th September 2013

When it comes to achieving a perfect base for your foundation, primer is one of those must-have products in my humble opinion. I have recently been using (and loving) Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch and Benefit's Porefessional but all previous products were cast aside when these pastel-hued beauties arrived with their superpower properties. Clinique's Superprimer face primers declare to be foundation's new best friends and come in five tinted formulas, and one colourless option, that appear translucent on application and help address a sundry of different complexion concerns. Appropriate for all skin types, these primers create a beautifully-smooth canvas for your foundation to glide on to and stay put all day long! The lightweight, oil-free formula smoothes and improves skin texture and superbly perfects the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles.

The white tube boasts a universal face primer which offers a colourless formula and is ideal for those lucky few who have no specific complexion concerns.
Yellow tinted primer - corrects skin redness
Pink tinted primer - corrects dull, lacklustre skin
Bronze tinted primer - corrects ashiness and dullness on deeper complexions
Peach tinted primer - corrects dark spots, acnes scars and hyper-pigmentation
Lavender tinted primer - corrects sallow skin

I absolutely love these new primers and have been reaching for the lavender and pink tinted options for the past week or so. They leave your skin feeling so silky and preen, it is almost a shame to then smother it with foundation. The pink primer in particular is a real gem and perks up your skin, giving you a vibrant, radiant base. Definitely a must-have in my morning skin routine!

Which primer are you currently loving? Will you be checking out these new superpower superprimers?

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YSL Beauty Autumn Winter 2013 Collection

Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre lipstick in No.51 Corail Urbain* £25
Chic Graffiti eyeshadow palette - City Drive Classy* £42 - both available online

It is scary to think that next month the clocks go back and before we know it we will be reaching for the chunky knits and high-denier tights and Autumn will be in full swing. I first became excited about the impeding dark mornings and chilly nights when the new YSL Autumn Winter collection landed on my desk and I got a sight of those sultry eyeshadow shades. Inspired by the energy, vibrancy and conflicting materials and colours of New York City, this Fall collection is a real medley of chic colours and grungy hues, smoothly mixing urban and contemporary which are best demonstrated in the two Pur Chromatics City Drive Palettes.

The City Drive Classy palette is a lovely neutral collection of shades that can be used dry or wet and are easy to wear day or night with varying intensities. The soft champagne and taupe tones can be swept across the eyelid whilst the dark mocha brown is a wonderful crease colour to help define and darken the finished look (as above). The metallic silvery-blue shadow looked a little daunting to begin with but actually looks beautiful lightly placed along the bottom lash line as I am wearing to give a slight sparkle and a softer option than heavy eyeliner.

The stars of this new collection have to be the new Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks ranging from muted oranges, browns and plums, and all offering an intense and radiant colour. Each lipstick is laced with an infusion of yellow, white and pink gold pearls, which is really noticeable in the swatches above, and adds a fullness and lustre to the lips. Corail Urbain is a beautiful muted peachy-coral shade that is a surprisingly summery addition to a Autumn Winter collection but makes a lovely partner for a smoky eye and bronzed cheeks. Definitely my favourite lipstick from the new collection!

The new collection is available on counters now and as well as online and has some other lovely items that are definitely worth checking out - the nail lacquers in particular! What are your favourite new releases from YSL?

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MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish £22
available online

After my successful, first purchase of a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Adored last month, I decided to go crazy and add another one to my collection and it had to be Soft and Gentle. Described as a "gilded peach bronze" this mineralize skinfinish is a lot lighter on the skin than it appears in the pan and lavishes your skin with a gorgeous frosty-beige sheen that looks lovely on its own or buffed gently over a bronzer. The finely milled powder creates a flawless, slightly unreal finish on the skin and just gives your cheeks an incredible, warm glow. It is the perfect highlighter to reach for when you are after an instant boost of radiance and is wonderfully versatile for all skin tones either worn alone or layered over another blush to give your cheeks a light, champagne shimmer. Lovely!

So it would appear I am officially hooked on MAC's MSFs...but which one do I need next? I think I have my heart set on Lightscapade. Which Mineralize Skinfinish is your favourite?

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Soap & Glory Scrubatomic Daily Face Polish

Soap & Glory Scrubatomic face polish* £9
available from Boots

I have always enjoyed using a face scrub as part of my ever-changing skin regime. I tend to suffer from dry patches along my forehead and on my chin, as well as the occasional yet troublesome blackhead on my nose which are always a pain to scrub away. Recently I have been using the newly-released Scrubatomic face polish from Soap & Glory which is modelling the brand's revised, more-minimilistic packaging.

This daily face scrub, suitable for all skin types, is packed full of antioxidant-rich peach extracts, fast-acting fruit smoothers and micro peel beads which sweep away dead skin cells and brighten your complexion. I tend to just take a small pea-size amount and apply to specific areas of my skin, working in circles with warm water to polish and exfoliate those pesky dry patches. I really enjoy using this scrub, and even though wouldn't reach for it on a daily basis, incorporate it into my routine at least once a week to throughly cleanse and soften my skin. Not only does it smell divine, like a fruit bowl of ripe peaches, but it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and glowing without being too rough or gritty to use. Followed by a generous dose of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and I have one happy face!

What scrubs and exfoliators do you love?

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