Beauty Night In

End of weekend relaxation involves a little pamper, heavily scented candles and some relaxing bath oil. This sunday it was home alone for me, blasting Adele with a house full on candles and bubble baths - bliss!

Candle light is an essential part of my evening pampers, relaxing aromas, my latest candle Diptyque Amber Oud, which is part of their Christmas releases (post here), graced the halls of my bathroom. A warm and spicey scent that isn't too sweet - really gets me ready to sing some Christmas carols! 

I started off with a mini facial from my lovely Ren stash. Firstly lightly exfoliated with Jojoba Microbead Purifying Facial Polish then headed in with two masks - Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask (post here) to cleanse and draw out impurities followed by Ren Gycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask which is a honey like texture that aims to encourage cell turnover leaving skin glowing and smooth. (Spot the Ren lover anyone?)

As I'm letting this mask soak in singing along to Someone Like You i'll have a bath, throw in some of This Works In The Zone Bath & Shower Gel for some bubbles along with some Aromatherapy Associates Relax Bath & Shower Oil for some seriously calming scented bubbles. 

Whilst sitting in the bath I'll sort out the dry ends that form at the end of a long weekend, Bumble and Bumble Deeep not only smells incredible but is a protein mask that helps repair damaged hair and really leaves my locks feeling soft, smooth and looking glossy. I'll run it though the mid-lengths to ends of my hair and leave on for 20 minutes. 

I'll then throw on some body lotion, usually my bottom half tends to need more moisture so Vaseline Essential Moisture Vitalising Body Gel Oil (post here) gets slapped on there whilst Aesop Rejuvinate Intensive Body Balm (post here) gets the top half. I'll then coat my hands and feet in Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream, massage Neal's Yard Nourishing Melissa Nail Balm into my cuticles and add a thick layer of Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips all over my lips just before wondering off to sleep. 

It's very rare I get this much spare time so when I do I really go all out, just writing this all has made me want to do it all again...mmmm....

Winter Skin Fixers

Leaving the house with plump glowing skin and returning that evening with skin that resembles the Sahara Desert. Sound familiar? With Winter quickly approaching it's time for me to get involved with nourrishing creams, body oils and hydrating sptirz;s to give dry skin a kick up the backside...

Legs are the first thing to look a bit chapped, for everyday use I've been slapping on Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Vitalising Body Gel Oil, which, if the name didn't give it away, has a gel to oil texture that leaves skin glowing and moisturised. If my skin is in need of an extra boost I'll reach for luxurious Aesop Intense Rejuvinating Body Balm, which coats the skin, hydrated and leaves it smelling of vanilla and orange. Heaven! (I seriously need this in candle form) This intensive moisture routine extends to my shower, using the only shower gel I will ever purchase L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil, which I've raved about countless times before, it's an oil that lathers up in the shower, leaving skin feeling nourished and smooth.

After hearing Miranda Kerr was a fan of Coconut Cream I recently jumped on the bandwagon, I've been using this RMS Raw Coconut Cream as a do-it-all cream, body moisturiser, knees, elbows, cuticles you name it. It's a solid formula but when warmed up in hands becomes an oil. I'll use it once a week for a skin boost only to later discover it's labelled as a cleanser!

The cold weather takes it's toll on my hands and lips the most, I've been using L'Occitane Magical Leaves Hand Cream which is part of their Christmas Collection, according to L'Occitane one hand cream is sold every three seconds worldwide! I can see why - rich, nourishing and easily absorbed. For lips, it's Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips, a thick cream I use as an overnight treatment to bring dry lips back to smooth. 

There are a couple of new face items I've added, firstly Darphin Purifying Balm, (post here) which has got to be one of my favourite product discoveries of 2012, is an absolute godsent it hydrates calms redness, blemishes, I absolutely adore this stuff and couldnt be without it!

Ingredient of the moment Hylaronic Acid, which is said to hydrate and support the skin is cropping up everywhere at the moment. I've been using a combination of two products to help add and lock in moisture. Firstly is Hydraluron, a gel texture that's applied before moisturiser or serum, Caroline describes it as a magnet for moisture. So far so good! Less blemishes, less dehydration lines and doesn't interfere with my makeup longevity. 

Next up from one of my favourite brands, Balance Me, is their latest release, Skin Brightening Hydrating Face Mist. Like all face spritz's should this smells incredible, a mixture of rose and orange but more importantly aims to focus on hydrating skin. Despite it being a large and hefty bottle I haven't let that stop me carrying it around on the go for a pick me up spritz.

I think it's fair to say I'm getting my daily dose of moisture! Anything I need to add to my routine?

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! 

The Back Ups

There are a few products that I adore so much I wouldn't even have to think about if I would repurchase them. In fact I love them that much I end up hoarding doubles, just incase that lipgloss or concealer comes to an end and I'm left running to find a replacement. 

Currently only two haircare products are worthy of the back up plan, Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, of which I have a large bottle for my dressing table and a smaller handbag sized. Whenever I opt out of using this in my hair the difference in volume is phenomenal. It provides lift in my hair like no other as well as adding texture. Not only is Ojon Rare Blend Oil the most beautiful hair oil around it's also nourishing, tames frizz and leaves hair smelling amazing. 

Three mascaras I couldn't see myself living without...

1. Dior DiorShow Lash Serum & Primer - I apply before mascara to lengthen, thicken and give the appearance of longer lashes

2. MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara - is an absolute drugstore gem, that manages to take my lashes from short stumpy lashes to long and fluttery. 

3. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black - I normally add as a boost after any mascara as it adds the most incredible volume and seems to work well with any formula

For my chapped lips Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips does the trick for bringing cracked lips back to plumpy, it's a bit of a sticky ointment so reserves a place on the bedside table for overnight use. Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky is one I had to search Space NK stores desperate to get my hands on some back ups. It's the most beautiful peachy pink with a golden shimmer running through it that illuminates the lips making them appear fuller. 

Avon SuperShock Gel Liner is the most incredible gel eyeliner around, it lasts the better part of 8 hours on my waterline and has an unbelievably creamy formula that's easy to blend out but once set it won't budge. 

For concealer my two couldn't-live-without favourites are, By Terry Touche Veloutee and Collection Lasting Perfection, nothing beats these. Touche Veloutee gets swept under my eyes for concealing bags as it has the most lightweight formula and invisible texture. Lasting Perfection anywhere else like covering redness as it's pretty full coverage and blendable. 

So there you have it, my backups. Favourite products, these truly ones I could not even dream of being without. 

Do you own any backups? What would yours be?

The Three Best Lip Treatments You'll Ever Meet

 I know it seems a bit inappropriate to be discussing dehydrated lips in July but...

a)  It's national kissing day today!     

b) England is currently pouring with rain

c) The aircon in my office has caused some serious lip peelage which has enabled me to bring out the big guns...

All three of these are phenomal in their own way, 24 hours with the three of these and lips are back to being full and plump, without a flake to be seen      

The Overnight Lip Treatment - Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips

This is saved for my overnight maintenance times, usually applied before bed as it's very rich and sticky hence why its saved for evening use where there is no wind to attach my hair to my lips. It's a bit of a wonder balm, great for healing any dry skin, I even use it on my cuticles! It's very thick, unscented and quite greats but one big slathering of it and I wake up to fully nourished lips! (Also great if you're on roaccutane and are suffering from dry lips!)

The Long Nourrishing Lip Treatment  - Nuxe Reve De Miel - link to post 

Took me a while to get into this one, as it's matt and includes little gritty exfoliating beads that melt away when rubbed into the lips. It's the perfect base to keep on all day as it seriously lasts a good eight hours on the lips. It's the best for keeping lips nourished throuought the day  as I often find myself waking up to plump lips and coming home with cracked peeling ones. Perfect for day use under a drying lipstick like Mac.

The SOS Lip Treatment - Dermophil

I always feel terrible mentioning this one as it's impossible to get hold of in the UK. I'm sure most decent pharmacies that stock french brands would have it but I stock up on mine from France. It's very white and pasty but layered as a thick treatment works like a charm. If lips are feeling particularly sore and dry I massage a couple of layers into my lips for ultimate moisture. 

Just be sure to check that it's all rubbed in before walking around with white lips like I did in the office recently - wooops!      

What are you SOS lip treatments?

Beauty On Location: The Plane

Seeing as it's bank holiday weekend and a lot of us will be travelling my current 'Beauty On Location' post is about plane beauty & what to consider when travelling! I'll never be able to understand women that go on planes in heels because for me, it's all about comfort - typically be wearing a loose baggy jumper and some jeggings, maybe with a bit of jewlery and flats. Same thing applies to my face - I don't like feeling like I'm wearing any products when I travel, especially as the plane is so dehydrating I like to know my skin isn't going to do anything weird after flying by keeping my makeup light in combination with using hydrating products.

Products Used:

Skin

- Lancome Hydra Zen Tente Tinted Moisturiser as a base to even out my skin tone and keep everything hydrated, it's not full coverage at all but it gives a lovely glow.

- By Terry Touchee Veloutee Concealer - I have spoken about this before - link, as it has become one of my staples, very thin but full coverage and feels so luxurious on the skin as it's so creamy!

- Stila Custom Colour Blush - Since my recent purchase of Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush - link, I've really gotten into custom colour products! This is my latest find, quite chalky but very natural looking for a powder blush!

- Bourjois Delice De Poudre Bronzer - Just in the hollows of my cheekbones for some added glow - link

Eyes

- Laura Mercier Metallic Cream Eyeshadows in Platinum and Cocoa Velour, sometimes when I'm wearing these I even forget I have products on my eyes! They are so lightweight and last a while on my eyelids (probably not for you if you have oily eyelids though!)

- Maxfactor Masterpiece Max Mascara in Brown - Occasionally I'll use brown mascara in the daytime for some subtle lashes

Lips

- Collection Cream Puff in Cotton Candy - A really nice matt moisturising lip colour with a bit of my trusty Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips - post link here - to make sure my lips stay fully clear of being chapped!