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. 

New Things: France Edition

Holidays have always been an excuse for buying and trialing new things.  I use my lack of available luggage space as an excuse for not bringing along some shower gels, hair care and such like moisturisers, in the hope of running along to the local pharmacy and finding something absolutely fantastic.

Everything from toothpaste to body oils get purchased, used and reviewed. Not to mention if there's a Sephora in the near radius, I'll casually leave behind concealer, primer or anything just so I can get my hands on something new!

Let's start in my shower, which Caudalie Shower Gel has recently made it's way into along with Phyto Volumizing Shampoo and Klorane Conditioner. I'm not too fussed about shower gels, they all seems to do a similar thing to me apart from one holy grail L'Occiatane Almond Shower Oil (post here). The Caudalie does a good job, lathers well, smells good and doesn't strip my tan.

To me, Klorane & Phyto haircare just defines summer in France! The Shampoo is a strange formula but one that I favour. The consistency is so fine it's practically water, yet once on the scalp lathers extremely well, clarifies yet doesn't feel harsh. Klorane Conditioners. So balmy, rich and moisturising. Which is why I keep them well always from my tendency-to-be-greasy roots. However, on my dry and splitting ends is where I welcome a rich formula. 

Post shower I spray myself with a little Phyto Bronz, it was the only body oil in my pharmacy I could stand the smell of. If my French GSCE hasn't failed me it's an after sun too!  For dryer areas of skin I've been nourishing my pins with Yes To Carrots Body Butter which I raved about in more detail here. 

After finishing my little stash of mini hair mask samples I ventured out into trying Bioderma, their Concentrated Reconstructing Hair Mask to be prescise. As much as I wanted this to change my haircare routine as much as their Micellar Water did my skincare, it just didn't. Not softer, no extra swish just a more grassy scent. It's only early days though so if anything miraculous happens I'll keep you posted. 

Speaking of Bioderma, as my stash at home doesnt need replenishing anytime soon I've been using Lierac Micellar Water. It takes a lot of this stuff to get my face clean, and with such a small bottle I end up finishing it off in just over a week. As lovely as it was it's onto the next one for me!

What would a beauty shopping trip be without buying some lip items? Dermophil, one of my many lip loves, was spotted in colourful packaging for childen - which of course got the little girl in me very excited as I umped and ached over flavour choices. Dissapointment however that the childs version isn't as nourishing on the lips, still a lovely and cute none the less. 

Apart from the products I've used before It's still early days here as well as some purchases are still unopened! Off I go to purchase a new shampoo, my Phyto just ran out...

Beauty On Location: The Beach!

It's not often I venture out to the beach, I'm more partial to sitting in the comfort of my own home totally sunscreened up looking all white and greasy      
Minimal products only here, of course going to the beach means sunglasses are on which rules out eye makeup, and knowing me they are massively oversized which also rules out quite a bit of face products causing me to only reach for concealer!

When I'm not applying too much on my face I like to apply something really lovely to my nails to make myself feel a little more polished. Beachy makeup isn't really my thing, it gets sweated off (lovely) or washed away by the sea water, this 'On Location' post is a little more than what's included on my face, it includes hair nails and body too! 

Nails

- Essie Tart Deco - a gorgeous bright peach that really enhances a tan

Body

- For some sun protection I've been using Institut Estederm Adapta sun (post here) which doesn't work like a typical sun protection with SPF but instead uses ingredients to help your skin adapt to its environment. I've still got a little left in my UV InCellium Spray which I'm using as a refresher whilst tanning (post here)

Face

- Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50 PA+++ o (post here) for some sun protection as it leaves absolutely no white residue on my face and leaves a lovely matte finish. Followed by Make Up For Ever Waterproof Concealer on any blemishes or redness (post here) 

Hair

- Alright so my hair is a little on the frizzy side in this humidity and to combat that I use Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Serum and a little bit of Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray to enhance beachy waves and add some texture and volume. If the wind causes some out of control knots a little spritz of Klorane Leave In Detangler will sort that out. 

The dress I'm wearing was a market find from Ibiza and I'm in love with it! It's probably my most worn item this summer, something that's so easy to throw on and will go with anything      

What do you wear to the beach?