The Miracle Workers

More often than not I'm a little disappointed with products, there will always be something I don't like or something that can be improved but this is all about the products I absolute adore, ones that produce results and work magic.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme

I'll be forever grateful for this hair mask as it saved my hair when it was in its worst condition, so dry and damaged I could hardly style it and after a couple months of weekly treatments it looked less straw-like and much more bouncy. I'll keep this in damp hair overnight and wash my hair the next morning for super soft manageable locks. 

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (post here) 

I'm not usually too fussed about what's in my shower but this is the one product I will actually hunt down. I've never tried a shower oil like it, it's an oil that emulsifies with water and turns into a moisturising paste. Perfect for winter where it leaves skin so moisturised and nourished! 

Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm

Something new in my stash of favourites is this balm, which I've been religiously using on dehydrated skin overnight and awake stroking my plump, smooth and soft face. It's been working absolute miracles on those pesky blemishes by keeping redness at bay and speeding up healing time. More on this later... stay tuned!

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips (post here)

A thick layer of this will solve even the driest of lips. Even though this isn't running out anytime soon I already have a back up, just so I'm never without it!

Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe (post here)

Applied just before bed and washed off in the morning, produces the most beautiful colour around. Not too orange and has the perfect olive undertone that will last just under a week before it starts to fade or go patchy.

Dior Lash Serum & Primer (post here)

A couple coats of this before mascara helps lashes appear longer and thicker and lengthened (without clumping!) Love!

Bliss Lid and Lash Wash Makeup Remover (post here) 

When you're a smokey eye wearer like I am removing all that heavy eye makeup can become quite the chore. Something that makes it a little easier is Bliss Lid + Lash Wash Eye Make Up Remover which melts eye makeup off in one swipe, without pulling or tugging at my lashes or leaving an oily residue. 

Before Dr Lewinns ReNunail (left) After Dr Lewinns ReNunail (right)

Dr LeWinns ReNunail Nail Strengthener (post here)

I've never managed to find a nail treatment that's actually done wonders for my nails but this totally saved them. My nails wouldn't grow past a certain (stumpy) point without breaking or chipping and after two uses of this treatment (as recommended) I ended up with total claws! 

Loves Of The Month: August

Something that won't come as a surprise to many of you is the fact that my most loved products in the past month are mostly holiday themed. Thanks to the humidity it's been mostly about skin and hair this month as opposed to makeup. For the rare evening that I apply makeup it's been the same products all month!

Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe - post here

In sunlight it's pretty difficult to pass fake tan off as real. This stuff is easily the most natural fake tan around! Applied with a mitt and buffed into the skin gives the most natural finish that lasts around 6-7 days. Didn't streak in the heat and has a gorgeous olive (as opposed to orange) undertone.

Yes To Carrots Body Butter - post here 

Unlike your average body butter as it dries matte, as opposed to leaving you feeling sticky. Left my skin feeling silky smooth almost to the point where I couldn't stop stroking my arms ;)  

L'Oreal Studio Matte & Messy - post here

This salt-spray provides instant texture and lift, giving my hair a messy 'lived in' effect with such ease. Perfect for days at the beach or just in general a lazy hair day. It's a fantastic dupe for the Bumble & Bumble's Surf Spray too! 

Klorane Conditioner With Pomegranate

Really balmy and moisturising, smells amazing and leaves hair tangle free. My sister & I went through 2 bottles of this stuff in the past month - it's addictive!

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment - post here

A recent hair mask discovery that leaves my hair feeling instantly softer, shinier and feel much more hydrated - in one use! This is a mini size but I will definitely be picking up the full size soon!

Dior DiorSkin Airflash Spray Foundation - post here

I've been relying on Dior's spray foundation for giving me a flawless base. It's a spray foundation which means the finish is much more natural as opposed to the usual liquid or powder. The spray lightly mists the face to leave a semi-matte but glowing finish that lasts hours! Major plus point - the total application time is around 5 seconds! 

Mac Style Blush - post here

One of the most stunning blushes I've ever come across! It's absolutely beautiful on the skin. The golden finely milled shimmer running through it helps fake that 'lit from within' glow and aids enhancing a tan.

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows - post here

Everything I look for in an eyeshadow - pigmented, blendable, creamy and lovely metallic shades!

Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky - post here

As much as I've looked, there doesn't seem to be another lipgloss as beautiful as this. A lovely peachy pink shade with tiny flecks of golden shimmer running through it that reflect the light and highlight the lips, making them appear fuller. 

How To: Fake A Real Tan

Baking myself in the sun isn’t really my thing anymore – skincare dangers aside, it’s something I find quite unappealing and dull. I’ll manage to get a little glow on holiday but nothing drastic which is where being able to fake it comes in handy!

Firstly I make sure my skin isn’t dry by moisturizing with Yes To Carrots Body Butter (post here). A day later I’ll exfoliate using a combination of the Dermalogica Buffing Cloth and Soap & Glory Scrub Of Your Life getting rid of dead skin cells and any old fake tan residue. I’ll then go on to apply Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe (post here) with a Soltan Tanning Mit, I tend to really work the fake tan into my skin and the mitt is the perfect tool to do it. Xen tan has a pasty consistency that needs concentrated applying. 

I’ll then take whatever moisturizer I have to hand and rub some into my knees, ankles and my hands to even out the tan and ensure it doesn’t stick to any dry patches. I usually do this before bed, wack on some PJs on and wake up in the morning to wash it all off.

To ensure my fake tan lasts well I’ll moisturize daily using Yes To Carrots Body Butter and make sure to stay clear of using body oils as they break down the DHA fake tan ingredient.

Are you a real or fake tanner?

Loves Of The Month: May

I've discovered and rediscovered so many great items this month! So I'll talk briefly about each one I've been loving...

Firstly I know it's a bit over dramatic to say a hair mask has changed your life but that's the love I'm feeling for Fekkai Advanced Technician Colour Care Mask - works in three minutes and leaves hair SO soft and manageable, smelling amazing and prolongs colour! Full review here

Chanel Summer 2012 Collection Nail Polish in 617 Holiday & 607 Delight. I love these colours they are the perfect combination for summer, especially putting Delight on my ring fingers! You can see the whole Chanel range here

L'Occitane Almond Range - Using the body oil and shower gel have really made me a happy bunny this month, both smell divine, leave my skin so hydrated, smooth and moisturised! Read more here 

As it's exam time I've had a fair few blemishes due to stress so out come the stop zappers! I've discovered two great ones, Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti Blemish Mask which I just pop over the blemish overnight and during the day I apply Dr Nick Lowe Spot Gel four times (and even over makeup!) full post here

As well as blemish stress exam time brings about dry lips for me too! I've rediscovered my Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm which I apply before bed and it's still on my lips the next morning! Smells lovely too...you can read a more in-depth review here

Something that has made changing polish a lot easier, the Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish Remover which is a pot of sponge infused nail polish remover. Just swish your finger around the hole in the sponge and your polish comes off! This isn't a new invention but compared to others it isn't so drying and leaves nails really moisturised, also smells lovely.

In this heat my bottom lash mascara tends to slide around and transfer onto my skin but not anymore thanks to Anastasia Lash Genius which is basically a coat of clear mascara that makes it waterproof! See how here

The eyeshadow I've been reaching for most is Burberry Pale Barley Sheer Eyeshadow which is the most gorgeous colour ever! I'm totally obsessed with Burberry eyeshadows, they are really blendable, very well colour pigmented and so creamy!

I've tried out a couple of new fake tans this month and all they did was remind my how much I love my Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe and I should not have strayed from it! They others just didn't compare! Full post all about it here

After recently recommending Oribe Dry Texturising Spray to a friend and getting her addicted to it too my love for it was reinforced! Its literally like backcombing in a bottle...perfect for girls with heavy hair that want some volume! Trish McEvoy told me it was her hair volume secret a couple of months ago too!  Full post about here

An entire range I love... the Guerlain and Pucci Collaboration! Some of the most beautifully packaged bronzers I've ever seem! As well as amazing products including a blue lipgloss. This is definitely going to sell out soon! Full post about the range here