Product rave and bargain alert!
17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze forms part of the Instant Glow collection and the minute I laid eyes on it I knew I had to buy it. As it happened I was handed one at the Boots Summer Press Show but I would have quite frankly bought one if I hadn't as it is such a steal for a great product.
The Instant Glow Shimmer Brick is described as 'a shimmering powder that creates a beautiful golden bronzed glow. Sweep a brush through all 4 shades then lightly dust onto cheekbones'.
Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze consists of 4 shimmery shades ranging from light to dark - silver/white, taupe, golden bronze and dark bronze. They are super smooth and soft to apply, not gritty at all. Individually the shades work just as well as eye shadows but my preferred use of the Shimmer Brick is as a highlighter on my cheeks.
I have become a little addicted to the glow and radiance I can achieve by using a highlighter and just love the instant lift effect that it gives to my face. I have quite a few highlighting products in my collection and still I keep getting drawn to more! I love watching the sun catch the shimmer.
Yesterday I applied this on top of Benefit's Cha Cha Tint and it gave me a beautiful and naturally radiant coral glow which lasted all day.
Drawing comparisons with the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (the BB version has 5 strips and costs £30.50) the 17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick is a beautiful product at an extremely affordable price. Snap it up.
L'Oreal Paris Rouge Caresse Lipsticks are one of the newest crazes to be taking the beauty world by storm, promising to be delicate in texture, they glide onto lips creating a veil of colour with luminous shine.
Nice packaging and good tube design for easy application.
I was sent two shades from the range and I have to say they are just gorgeous. Buttery soft to apply and light on the lips. Rouge Caresse have a hint of colour that will work with the natural pigment of your lips. I found them to be quite long lasting, wearing off slowly, even when I had a drink the shine disappeared but the colour remained. Ideal for a lighter Spring/Summer look.
Aphrodite Scarlet looks scarily red in the tube but actually I felt it was a beautiful and flattering raspberry red shade with a hint of shimmer. For deeper colour, just reapply.
Cheeky Magenta is a pretty hot pink shade, due to its sheerness a great alternative to full creamy colour for day.
If you like a pop of colour with shine, you should give these a try.
I recently spent a morning with the very friendly Melvita team learning about their new launches and having a wonderful chat about the brand and its wide range of products, Melvita being a brand which I have had no previous experience of. Melvita is a French organic beauty brand whose founder was a biologist and bee-keeper. Founded in 1983, Melvita began developing their own natural and organic beauty products designed for people to use every day without the need for harsh chemicals. They were also one of the first to gain the ECOCERT certificate for organic products in 2002.
Harnesses the natural tanning potential of an ingredient called Erythrulose, a natural bronzing agent derived from sugar cane which results in a natural looking, even and streak free safe tan.
The idea being that if the tan is slower to mature, it will also remain longer on the skin.
The combination of Safflower, Buriti and Coconut oils and beeswax moisturise and soften the skin naturally whilst Vanilla Flower and Sweet Orange water ensures the product has a pleasant scent.
I like the scent of Vanilla which this is, it is quite strong on application which I don't mind personally. I find it quite appealing. The scent fades as the day goes on. The product has a good texture which absorbs well and relatively fast and is non greasy.
I have been really impressed with the results and performance of this tanning product. I applied it one afternoon and next morning it had developed into a gorgeous, warm, light golden colour. I looked like I had been away for a few days and it was exactly how my skin would have tanned if I had been in the sun.
It looked extremely natural and was completely even with no streaks. I would say that the application is easy and fool proof. I applied it again the next day and the results were a slightly darker shade. True to its word, it fades slowly and evenly.
Melvita ProSun Gradial Self-Tanning Moisturizing Gel-Cream costs £20 for 150ml.
Purchase direct or from Melvita Stores in St Martin's Courtyard, Covent Garden & The Exchange Shopping Centre, Putney.
With no sign of these April showers abating I thought it would be rather a good time to write a review of the Energising Body Wash from Liz Earle, one that I have been enjoying using whilst showering.
With ingredients of Damask Rose Flower Water and 8 pure essential oils of sweet orange, grapefruit, geranium, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, petitgrain and patchouli and natural Vitamin E this is a real treat for your skin and senses. Scent wise I was a little concerned when I smelt it out of the bottle as I wasn't entirely sure I was going to like it. Bizarrely I really didn't like the scent of the Energising Body Lotion from the bottle or on my skin at all, so was wondering how similar this was going to be.
I needn't have worried though, once mixed with water on my skin it was wonderful, the ingredients fused together beautifully to provide a really nice blend with the strongest scent being the rose, but still quite light and delicate.
Texture wise the wash is quite thick and gloopy but this means it lathers quite nicely and doesn't run down your body and get wasted!
I found it refreshing and invigorating and it really has lifted my spirits on these dreary wet days. A great start to the morning.
This product is SLS and paraben free.
Eagle eyed BeautySwot readers will know that this is not my hand, I have enlisted the help of my sister for today's Nails of The Day featuring Orly Terracotta. Terracotta is not an earthy brown/orange shade as its name suggests but a beautifully bright and creamy coral shade just perfect for when the Sun finally appears or to just lift your spirits on a rainy day.
It applies like a dream, two coats provide perfect coverage.
Think pink fondant icing on a finger bun and you have the perfectly pretty shade of Orly Cupcake.
As this is quite sheer, I applied 3 thin coats of this creamy textured lacquer to get decent coverage which didn't show the white tops of my nails, but the bonus was that the thinner coats meant that it dried faster than the 2 thicker coats I had tried on first application.
Celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s reign with The Berkeley, as it pays homage to the Diamond Jubilee in true majestic style with the launch of ‘Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection’. Prêt-à-Portea is designed to add a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries resembling the latest catwalk designs for the style conscious. However, from 29th May to 9th June 2012, biscuits, fancies and choux buns have been transformed to resemble the most memorable hats worn by the Royal Family to mark The Queen’s 60th anniversary on the throne.
‘Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection’ includes fashionista delectables such as a praline profiterole inspired by the much-talked-about Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at The Royal Wedding, as well as Queen Elizabeth’s legendary crown, worn for her coronation in 1953, recreated as a vanilla biscuit with intricate icing and sugar diamonds. Angela Kelly’s Canadian maple leaf hat, worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Canada, has been carefully prepared in the form of a bright red strawberry pannacotta macaroon, and a stately blueberry hat cake with sugar roses and green leaves, is inspired by a Rachel Trevor-Morgan design, one Queen Elizabeth’s favourite British milliners.
Other royal show-stoppers making an appearance on The Berkeley’s tea stand include Gina Foster’s memorable fascinator worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Zara Philip’s wedding, a light pink floral hat, recently worn by Queen Elizabeth in Canada, and of course a Launer London handbag cake as worn by Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Wedding. Incredibly, the Queen is believed to have worn more than 5000 hats since she was crowned in 1952!
‘Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection’ will be served in The Caramel Room at The Berkeley from 1-6pm from 29th May to 9th June 2012, priced at £39.00 per person. (£49.00 including a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne, or alternatively for the fashion conscious, £55.00 per person including a glass of couture champagne).
To make a reservation for Prêt-à-Portea call +44 (0) 20 7235 6000. Visit http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/fashionista_tea.aspx for more information on afternoon tea at the Berkeley.
I recently filled an online questionnaire on the Avene website and based on my replies I was sent a few trial size samples of products (a cleanser, toner and moisturiser) that were recommended for my skin type and requirements.
I am not a huge fan of rinse off cleansers or washes, I find that they leave a tight feeling on my face and it is not a feeling that I am too fond of. However I did like this one and thought I would do a review for those of you who do like using a wash off cleanser.
This very mild gel cleanser removes all traces of make-up from the face, the eyes and lips. It leaves the skin soft and supple. Its rich texture has been enriched with moisturising agents to prevent skin dryness.
All Avene products contain Avene Thermal Spring Water as an ingredient. This gel cleanser is lovely to use, it is quite thick, rich and creamy. As you apply it onto your face with a touch of water, it produces a nice lather, feels like it is melting off your make-up and providing a good and thorough clean. After massaging it in, you rinse it off. The cleanser has a traditional soapy scent.
The huge plus for me is how clean and soft my skin feels after use and with no sign of that tight feeling that I hate.
I found it to perform exactly how it is described by Avene and felt that it really was nice and gentle.
Personally, I won't be buying the full size version, as mentioned it is not my preferred cleansing method but as a wash off cleanser, this is really good.
Another products sent to me was the Hydrance Optimale UV Light SPF 20 Protective Hydrating Cream. I was really impressed with it that I will be buying the full size version of this very soon, I will do a review of it once I have purchased it.
A flattering introductory message from a rather handsome Barry Morgan. In fact his profile pic suggests to me he is probably a model with looks like that.
Now had I been single (I am a happily married mother of one) I may have been interested in replying to this and possibly becoming friends with him. Or perhaps if I were divorced, looking for love or just feeling low and vulnerable I would also be tempted to befriend this rather nice looking chap that had taken an interest in me.
I was about to delete the message but then something made me stop and decide to look into it further. I took a look at his profile, he had 4 pictures, all model like. He had friends, all ladies of various ages. The only information about him was that he was male and single. His wall statuses were all about love.
I use Google Chrome - If you use Internet Explorer, this step is a little different.
See the bottom of this article for an example.
Go to the Google search page, click on images and click on the camera, now press paste to put the URL of the image into the search engine.
Within seconds I could see that this photo is being used by a number of profiles on FB all with different names and some sites linking it to a scam.
Now I didn't pursue this friendship request, so I don't know what 'Barry Morgan's' real intention was..
I sometimes read about ladies who have been caught out by relationship scams, I really hope by posting this I will be helping someone out and preventing them from becoming a victim.
Highlight the "Address (URL)" line, right-click it and choose COPY.
I have been on a real mission to restore shine to my recent lacklustre, straw like hair. During the past few months I have been trying out lots of hair care products and am looking forward to sharing with you the products that have made a real difference.
Being an impatient kind of person I love products that provide instant results and the Naked Let It Shine Trio certainly do this.
Bought as the trio direct from the Naked website they cost just £9 which is incredible value for the results that they give. That said, the products bought on their own are still remarkable value for natural products.
To shine and dazzle, the hair cuticles needs to be moisturised. We use honey & mallow extracts to target ares of dryness, quenching hair and helping to keep it hydrated.
The Shampoo comes in the traditional Naked packaging, a push down lid dispenser. The product is a clear runny fluid and has a light, fresh scent. It doesn't lather up much on first application but will second time round if you do wash your hair twice.
I have been making a real effort to use SLS free shampoos and conditioners and have found that my psoriasis is under control, my head is a lot less itchy than it was previously, so I will continue to seek out and use these products.
To shine and dazzle, hair needs to be smooth enough to reflect light. We use buttermilk and green tea extracts which help to improve elasticity of the cuticle and improve glossiness, giving your hair a diamond-like shine.
Out of the trio of products the conditioner was my favourite to use. I absolutely love the slight zingyness scent of green tea and this is fantastically refreshing (Think Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, mmm). It has a good, thick and creamy consistency and applies to the hair like a dream. I know that a conditioner is working for my hair when I rinse it off and it leaves my hair smooth and silky to the touch when still wet, I hope you know what I mean by this!
After the very first time of using this combination of products and drying it with a hairdryer and styling it with a styling tool, my hair looked healthier, felt beautifully soft to touch and was sleek and shiny. I was very impressed with the instant results and have been using the shampoo and conditioner ever since.
Beautiful things come in small packages and this little gem brings instant shine and radiance, putting the sparkle back in your hair. Silicone free formulation.
To be used after styling on dry hair, this serum is perfect for taming flyaway hair. My son has a habit of playing with my long hair, but not at the ends which wouldn't be so bad but he twiddles and breaks the top of my hair! Consequently the hair on the top of my head has a mind of its own and this sorts it out marvelously. One pump is enough to work through all my hair giving it a nice gleaming finish.
From the pic above you can see the serum has a fine shimmer to it, but don't worry you will not look like you have applied glitter to your hair! It has a pleasant, faint scent of peaches.
To sum up - products that do the job they have been designed for at an affordable price.
All Naked products are free from sulphates, parabens or petrochemicals.
Naked is a brand that has appeared on BeautySwot before, I really like their Up Tone Girl Gentle Toner and my son uses the products created for kids.
I was recently sent a few more products from their range to review and first up is the Ooh La La Coco De Mer Body Wash.
Moisturising coconut derivatives and passion flower extract produce a creamy lather leaving your naked skin irresistible to touch.
Ooh La La is a rich and creamy body wash, coming out in a soft pink tinged shimmer. It has a pleasant sweet scent, with a subtle hint of coconut. Lathering nicely it feels nice and luxurious, leaving skin feeling wonderfully soft after bathing and smelling good.
All in all, this provides a pleasurable bathing experience.
I always judge a product on whether I reach out to use it again and with Ooh La La, I want to use it again and again. This won't be left on the bathroom shelf.
Naked products are 97% natural, free of sulphates, parabens or petrochemicals.
I have yet to try a Naked product I haven't liked, if you haven't tried this brand, I recommend that you do!
After using the Origins Brighter By Nature SPF35 Skin Perfecting Moisturiser I felt my skin was feeling quite dry and in particular my cheeks. With the weather changing from cold to hot to cold and back to hot it has been wreaking havoc on my skin, my face has literally been begging me for a moisture injection. This was very apparent when I applied foundation, I could see the foundation clinging on to this dry area of my cheeks and looking like a dried out apple skin.
Whilst checking to see if I had anything that would help this new dryness I came across the Ren Max Moisture Concentrate and thought I would give it a whirl.
A concentrate formulated to dramatically hydrate and replenish the skin leaving it visibly plumped, smoothed and comfortable.
Skin looks replenished, smoothed and healthy.
Suitable for all skin types (especially recommended for skin prone to dryness through climates, air conditioning or sensitivity).
Application - Morning and night after cleansing, follow with a moisturiser.
I like the design and the handy pump action glass bottle. The product comes out as a light, fluid texture that instantly absorbs. It has a pleasant, fresh scent.
I found that as I applied it would feel like it was tightening on my face almost like I was wearing a mask, using a moisturiser after helped ease that feeling. I first tried it at night, next morning my skin felt softer and the appearance of my cheeks had improved a little, it looked less dehydrated. I have been using the REN product for a week now and have seen a great improvement, this is most noticeable when I apply foundation as there is no dry patches for it to cling to. Skin is smoother, feels softer and yes even a bit plumper. I have found this to be a great moisture boost.
REN products are free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, synthetic colour or fragrance.
Congratulations to The Athenaeum, winner of the Tea Guild's 'Top London Afternoon Tea 2012' Award.
The Athenaeum Hotel gained the top spot for London tea destinations after hugely impressing the Tea Guild judges with its exceptional service, great quality tea and extensive knowledge by the staff.
The Athenaeum Hotel, in the heart of Mayfair, London, was voted into the top spot after its tea room, The Garden Room, gained a near perfect score from The Tea Guild’s inspectors. The judges praised it for its tasteful intimate style and fine furnishings, as well as friendly and efficient staff and excellent selection of scones, sandwiches and cakes.
Having been to The Athenaeum and having had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon tea, I can highly recommend it.
I always, without fail, cleanse, tone and moisturise. I know a lot of people skip this particular aspect of a beauty routine but I love the feeling and hydration that a good toner provides to my skin.
I have been using Sávar Instant Boost Multi Toner for the last couple of months and like it a lot.
Described as a refreshing, balancing spritz for your face and body to instantly hydrate and brighten skin leaving it revitalised and radiant. Enriched with premium New Zealand marshmallow to soothe, hydrate and balance, it helps refine skins appearance. Organic white tea is anti-ageing, eases inflammation and soothes irritation.
99% natural plant based skin care.
Free from parabens, harmful chemicals, harsh detergents, mineral oils and animal derived ingredients.
This is an absolutely deliciously scented toner, I really love it but have trouble describing its scent..Bizarrely it is reminiscent of a product I used in my teens but cannot for the life of me remember what it was! Instant Boost Multi Toner is a real pleasure to incorporate into the beauty routine, so refreshing and in the recent warmer weather I have found it to be cooling too.
As it comes in a handy spray bottle, I have spritzed it directly on my face and body and also onto a cotton pad to use as a toner in the traditional way. Apparently it can be used to set make up, I must try it out.
It is expensive at £26 but you get a huge 240ml bottle for that which will last ages, certainly I have been using it twice daily and I have barely made a dent in the bottle.
Now available to buy in selected Waitrose Stores, the following items from one of my favourite natural brands.. Yes To.
Combining high quality organic fruits and vegetables, with the power of 26 minerals and trace elements, the Yes To Carrots skin and bodycare collection deeply nourishes, helping to boost the skin’s ability to retain moisture.
Yes To Cucumbers, a collection of soothing products to calm reactive, irritated skin with organic cucumbers, anti-oxidant rich Green Tea and soothing Camomile.
To keep skin perfectly balanced, Yes To Tomatoes refreshing collection gives your skin everything it needs to function to the best of its ability.
Purifying Shower Gel - includes Tomatoes and Watermelon and Rosemary.
Selected products from the Yes To Carrots, Yes To Cucumbers and Yes To Tomatoes collections are available at Waitrose stores nationwide.
When I went along to the Boots Summer Preview I was given a sample of the latest mascara from the No7 brand - No7 Fanomenal Lashes Mascara.
Fanomenal mascara claims to be a revolutionary mascara which provides volume without clumping for a fuller lash fan. The 'star' shaped brush is designed to allow maximum comb-through to ensure lashes are separated, lengthened and provide you will more application control.
I like the sleek packaging, although the mirrored casing does get dirty quickly. I find the the mascara wand very comfortable to hold and use. The mascara is quite wet on application but dries relatively quickly, it is a nice rich black shade.
I really like the results that this mascara gives, it does fan out and lengthen my lashes for a more 'fake lash' look, lashes are nicely defined and appear to be thicker. However, I think that the thickness comes to the detriment of volume as I personally find that the lashes stick together as opposed to cleanly separate. I also find that the mascara has a tendency to clump but the clumping can be easily brushed out. It holds well throughout the day and I haven't experienced any flaking or smudging when using it.
If you are looking for quite a natural mascara then I don't think this is one for you. recently I have been favouring a more 'fake lash' appearance and have been increasingly reaching out for Fanomenal mascara.
I know I usually do a before and after pic and if you still want me to do one with this mascara, just let me know.