Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman: The Powder Brush

Real Techniques by Sam Chapman aka Pixiwoo do get a lot of deserved appreciation, excitement and attention. But I feel that the Powder Brush has perhaps been omitted and while the crowds have turned to covet the buffing or contour brush this is has been somewhat neglected.

The Powder Brush might actually even be my favourite one. Large and fluffy it's perfect for powder but ideal for all-over bronzer, adding definition to cheekbones, even sweeping contouring blush shades onto the area. It's very easy to use and not to dense, which means it would take a stark overloading of the brush for it to ruin your make up. 

Conclusion: Very large, very fluffy, soft and lovely to touch and touch your face with. Great for all over bronzing and adding glow to the skin. 

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Powder Brush, £12.99.

Review: The Body Shop Born Lippy Pot Balm in Watermelon

I really wanted to like this.. This is a wonderful lip balm of you're lips is in a perfect condition. So if you don't have any problems with keeping your lips hydrated and smooth you will definitely like this. The balm is almost transparent on the lips, it adds shine and little hint of warmth. It looks great on its own or over a lipstick.

Here comes the but.. The lip balm really fails to care for the lips, hydrate and nourish them. So if you struggle with drier lips, this isn't a balm that would do anything to address that problem. The first ingredient is castor oil, although the balm does also contain lanolin and beeswax.

Conclusion: Great lip balm to add shine to the lips but it will not be able to fix dry, chapped lips. 

The Body Shop, £2.00.

Review: Rimmel Scandal'Eyes Mascara

This is one of the mascaras with a huge, absolutely massive wand just not in a good way..

The mascara itself is ok - the formula is ok, little wet, the staying power is all right and the colour is nicely black but any potentially impressive finished look is completely inhibited by the huge wand.

If you like big mascara wands you may love this one. Keep in mind that it's even bigger than the Bad Gal Lash by Benefit. 

Conclusion: If you like big wands you'll love this. But if you're not sure if you'll be able to work this - you're better off buying something different. 

Rimmel Scandal'Eyes Mascara, £6.99. 

Kelly Brook Lana Eyeshadow Quad

Kelly Brook range of make up can be bough at New Look stores. The range is affordable and consist of the products like eye shadow, lip gloss, nail polish and blusher (although at the moment on New Look website only the quad and lip gloss are available).

I have only tried this quad - the make up is displayed by the tills so you can pick something up whilst queuing, which is what I've done. The colours seemed very nice - they're subtle, delicate, shimmery and the palate is perfect for an everyday, neutral eye. 

The quality however leaves a lot to wish for - the shadows aren't very pigmented and don't translate onto the eye. 

The shades are powdery and wouldn't allow you to create the make up you might be thinking to achieve with those  - shame, considering that in the pan they're are actually very pretty.

Conclusion: These really aren't worth the cash. Considering you'd be in New Look there are better ways to spend £3 there. So instead of picking up frankly pretty useless shadow palette you'll never use I would head towards the jewellery and accessories section, where with a bit of luck your £3 will buy something you'll genuinely enjoy. 

Kelly Brook Lana eyeshadow quad, £2.99.

Review: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Hourglass Beige

This is a stunning, very, very shimmery frosty, ivory beige shadow. If you're looking for something that will really stand our as an inner corner of the eye highlight or just an all over very brightening shade, then this is exactly what you'll love.

L'Oreal and Armani Eyes To Kill

The Infallible shadows have a great texture, akin to Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill eyeshadow. The textures and the way the product feels can be compared - a colour comparison or outright 'dupe' talk would be taking it too far. Armani Eyes To Kill come in more complex, marbled and unusual shades - L'Oreal ones are very intense and deep but the colours are straightforward. 

For those wondering if the comparison isn't perhaps a little random consider that both L'Oreal Paris and Giorgio Armani Beauty are in fact sister companies - both belong to L'Oreal group. 

Texture

Texture is light, very soft, velvety and the shadow is a compressed pigment that almost has a mousse quality to it. Very pigmented and intense, it shows up beautifully when swachted. 

Conclusion: beautiful, intense shadow - if colours/shades that you like and wear everyday are part of the range I would definitely recommend giving them a go. 

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, £6.99. 

Review: Triple Dry

Slightly different topic today: deodorants. Triple Dry 72 hours deodorants differ from 'normal' deodorants in application method and the result the give. I personally think these are great and if you do ever struggle, these will quite literally change your life. You could of course use this type of deodorants only during summer when the sweat mark problem is more likely to occur. I find that the sweat mark problem can be caused not just by high temperature but also type/quality of fabrics of tops we wear and Triple Dry does address the issue entirely. 

Application

Triple Dry is applied in the evening, after you took a shower and are ready to call it a day. Apparently, the skin is more receptive to an anti-perspirant while sleeping. This is repeated for four consecutive nights and after that only as often as needed. 

Results
Triple dry has three active ingredients: Aluminium Sesquichlorohydrate, Aluminium Chlorohydrate, Aluminium Chlorohydrex PG. I'd be lying if I said I could tell you more about them. Granted, this is not a 'natural' way to take care of the sweating issue, which frankly disappears completely once you use Triple Dry regularly. But it does work, makes my life easier and I'm sticking to it.

The smell
First, I bought the blue one, which is the unfragranced version. I then went out to get the pink one hoping for a bit of a pleasant smell, but you can barely tell it's there upon application, after you can't really tell at all. 

Alternatives
There are other products like this on the market, although this is the only one I've tried: it was the first and it worked so I didn't explore this further. But if you can't get hold of Triple Dry or you dislike it, then there are alternatives (Driclor, PerspireX). I know Rexona and Dove both have released deodorants that are applied at night time. I've tried the Dove one but it didn't really do anything any other regular deodorant wouldn't do. So perhaps if you've tried one of those and were disappointed then maybe something like Triple Dry will be ideal. 

Conclusion: This may not be the ideal solution for many of those, who dislike the idea of stopping underarm sweating entirely. But anyone who ever struggled with sweat marks will certainly love it. 

Triple Dry, £7.14 (but shop around, they're often on offer)

Body Care Essentials

Personally, I have found that body care routine could comprise of as little as four products and still be incredibly effective. There is no need for hundreds of bottles in the shower and there is no need for expensive products either, these four do the job perfectly.

In the shower: rich, silky (not watery) shower cream & exfoliating gloves
I have been using exfoliating gloves for years now and I absolutely adore them. Any brand works ok, although these ones from Soap & Glory are pink, which is a huge advantage (£4). Something to keep in mind when using exfoliating gloves: a rich, creamy shower cream is a must, watery shower gels that dissolve quickly and don't allow a massage will turn the gloves work into a scratching rather than exfoliating session.
I generally stick to any shower cream by Dove  - they're all wonderful. The one I have right now is the Dove Supreme Fine Silk Creme Bath, £3.15.

Moisturizing: Oil plus Lotion
First, use a very fine mist of body oil on damp skin. Boots Botanics use to have a body oil that came in a spray bottle but I think it's been discontinued so I use the bottle and fill it up with other body oils. The one from Nivea (Firming Body Oil is a great choice, £6.96). After that: lotion. There are many pricey options out there but the lotion I love the most has to be the Garnier Intensive 7 Days (£4.99). All smell wonderful, but the Cocoa Butter smells so incredible, you'll wish it was edible.

Conclusion: the routine is quick, simple and even the cash outlay wouldn't have your bank manager stalking you. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Maybelline Baby Lips Review

After the Revlon Lip Butters, this has to be one of the most anticipated, talked about products to have been released for a long while. They have conquered an incredible amount of cyber space - and this post is only adding to the momentum.
I think it is wonderful that a lip balm can evoke so much excitement and joy  - I only wish it was a good one. Maybelline Baby Lips promise to provide long lasting, 8 hours of moisture and more broadly promise to give you somehow more beautiful, youthful looking lips.
Unfortunately, I do find the moisture only lasts few moments and lips enjoy a soothing, soft feel for as long as the product remains piled on your lips. Once absorbed, any promise of lip caring properties vanishes immediately. I picked up only the two transparent shades (Intense Care and Hydrate) so my advice for anyone still lusting after these and hungrily looking up 3 for 2 offers: maybe the second or third product you choose could be a Maybelline mascara or one of the new brow products - Baby Lips aren't the best product to pick up in great numbers.

Conclusion: If you are looking for something that will genuinely care for your lips, there are other products you could consider, good old Nivea range, classic Carmex or Burt's Bees are only few worthy of your cash.

Maybelline Baby Lips, £2.99.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration

I wanted to love this shampoo.. It's affordable, easy to get hold of and it smells absolutely divine. I used both the shampoo and the deep nourishing mask  - I usually don't bother with the regular conditioner and only go for the deep treatments; they're only applied to lengths and ends of the hair anyway.
Don't get me wrong, I do really like these two but I would be lying if I said they've radically changed the way my hair feels. They're very nice, but just that - they're not incredible and they don't transform the hair.

Conclusion: They're just really lovely, everyday shampoo and conditioner that won't disappoint but won't rock your world either.

Having said that, I do love the scent of these so maybe one day Herbal Essences will release a leave-in spray type product that would work as a hair mist/fragrance? Please? Pretty please, Herbal Essences?

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo, £3.89.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Deep Nourishing Intensive Mask, £3.99.

Nude pink lips.. Some of my favourite products

These are just some of my favourite lip products for soft, delicate looking pink lips.. I'm a huge fan of these colours - they're easy to wear, they are versatile and touching up, even without a mirror is not a problem.

I could swatch each product, describe it, tell you what I think.. but the truth is most of these products look very similar on the lips. The lipsticks give you a thin coating of colour and texture, the lip glosses are thinner and glossier but most look very similar. I love and use all of these. All of the glosses are without shimmer and there are two lipsticks here (BarryM 132 and Rimmel Parade) that have shimmer so I reach for these two a little less but they still look lovely on the lips and add more volume than other lip products here do.

Body Oils

These are my favourite body oils. You'd use them right after the shower, as a moisturizer or as an added step before your body lotion.
If you have the time and patience to layer these, I suggest applying them all over, right after the shower in a very thin layer. These soak up very quickly so you can follow with the usual lotion almost immediately.
If you'd rather not layer them, you can use these on their own instead of your normal lotion, they're brilliant for that too.

Another thing you can do with these is to use them for an aesthetic effect: in the summer, before you leave home you can apply some oil onto your arms and legs and it will give your skin a beautiful sheen. To make this easier, you can pick up one of those travel spray bottles and just spray it on.. The Boots Botanics Softening Body Oil is actually already in a spray bottle so this one is actually my favourite one. But if you cannot get hold of it, the Boots No7 Dry Oil Body Spray is great as well, not mentioning the good old Nivea Firming Body Oil...

Tip: if you're after the No7 Dry Oil Body Spray you're best off waiting for Boots to have £5 off vouchers; same applies to Nivea - very often there're half price offers going on.

No7 Dry Oil Body Spray, £9.50.
Nivea Firming Body Oil, £6.96.
Boots Botanics Softening Body Oil , discontinued, perhaps will come back?

Review: Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Rose

This blush is so lovely. It's very pale, which is great for my complexion. This is a light pink shade with some radiance to it but it's definitely not frosty or overly shimmery. It doesn't have a lot of payoff and quite frankly I really like that about it. It means it's easy to use and even heavy handed application won't cause too much damage.

Conclusion: I would really recommend it for everyone looking for a very pale, delicate blush.

Those with slightly darker complexions (MAC NC20 and over) will probably find this too light and pretty pointless probably.

Maybelline Expert Wear Blush, £5.19. 

Concealers: great and not so great ones

I have very pale skin - as in Mac NC15-but-wishing-there-was-NC10 pale. This means that every little blemish or discolouration is very visible and the skin under the eye is almost translucent. Most of these concealers can be used under the eyes although success vary from one to the next.. :)

Collection (nee Collection 2000) Lasting Perfection in Fair (£4.19)

This one hardly requires an introduction. Great coverage, sometimes it can look slightly dry when used under the eye so eye cream or serum beforehand is recommended. Nonetheless, this is a  brilliant option. It can be used on blemishes and under the eyes.  

Garnier Roll-On in Very Fair (£10.49)

I only gave it a go because Ruth from AModelRecommends really liked it and featured it in her videos few times. But this really is a great concealer; the coverage is medium and it has a very nice satin finish. It's really good for under the eyes because it doesn't crease.

Soap&Glory Kick Ass in Light (£10)

I was very disappointed with this one. The coverage seems good and the powder that comes with it is quite fine. But the consistency isn't great and the concealer doesn't blend very well. Every so often I give it another try, but I just don't seem to find a way to make it work. 

The Balm Time Balm in Lighter than Light (£12)

Despite its name this most certainly isn't a very fair concealer. It's ok but I do wish it was a little lighter. The coverage is good and it blends well but the lasting power isn't the best.

Mac Studio Finish in NW15 (£14.50)

One of my favourite concealers. The coverage is very good and the shade selection impressive. If used under the eyes it does require setting with powder. It's also great for covering blemishes or discoloured areas. 

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15 (£14.50)

This one is very long lasting, with good coverage. Again, it can be a little dry but overall I do love it. 

Current skin care

Let me start by saying I have a combination skin - my t-zone, especially my forehead does get quite oily during the day but at the same time my skin is also quite dehydrated.
Dehydration is a skin concern that is finally receiving enough attention; both from beauty columnists, bloggers and experts but also from brands that come up with solutions.

If you are unsure of the type of skin you might have there are several options available. You can try and observe how your skin behaves without any skin care/make up; you can try various different online questionnaires or you can have it tested. Despite being quite sure what my diagnosis was, I have booked an appointment with one of the skin care specialists in a Boots store. With the help of sophisticated equipment they 'scan' your skin and read its state. I went to one of the largest Boots stores in London - the one in Oxford street but I know some others also offer this service in the UK.

So, my skin care routine is aimed at improving hydration but without overloading it with heavy or oil-rich products.

For a cleanser, I use Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (£13.25) and I have used it long before YouTube beauty bloggers have discovered it. Sam Chapman from Pixiwoo has mentioned it over three years ago and I have fallen in love with it back then. Although the hype has its advantages -before it was only available online or at John Lewis, but now finally Boots also stock it. It has beautiful, smooth, creamy texture and invigorating, fresh, green scent. This is one of the mildest, most gentle cleansers you will find. I use this morning and night.
I usually follow with a toner, at the moment I really enjoy the L'Oreal Vitalift.
In the evening, as a make up remover I generally use Bioderma. Sometimes - read when I got a little mascara happy - I use any affordable make up remover, currently its the Garnier Fresh Essentials Eye Make up remover (£3.15).
When needed or every few days I use St Ives Daily Microdermabrasion (£4.99) as a scrub (full review here). I have blogged about this product already - I love it. It leaves your skin very smooth, soft and supple and prepares it beautifully for make up.
Every now and again I use Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask (£14), but only when my skin is feeling dry. Another tlc product I don't use on daily basis is Embryolisse moisturiser (30ml is £10.50) - it's very rich so I reserve it's use for when it's really necessary.
To moisturise in the morning I generally use Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser (review here) and at night I currently have Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating night cream.
Last but not least, the serum. I wouldn't normally consider Superdug's own branded skin care but the Aqua Hydrating Serum has been mentioned by Sali Hughes in her Guardian beauty column. Since at the time I was looking for an affordable hydrating serum, I immediately recognized the brilliance of this suggestion and I rushed to Superdrug to get it. Not only I have found it - I found when it was in half price sale (Superdrug does half price promotions for their products more often than not), which meant I got it for less than £3. Unfortunately, Superdrug doesn't seem to have all their products available online so you can't find it their website but it is sold in larger Superdrugs. The serum itself it great though - it's has a light texture, sinks in very quickly and it leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable.

The above combination is working very well for me. Three products in particular: hydrating serum, Vitalift toner and Botanics night cream. I have bought all three simply because they all contain hyaluronic acid. Especially ever since I got hold of the hydrating serum (Sali Hughes recommended it precisely because it has hyaluronic acid) my skin has not felt any dryness or tightness. Targeting dehydrated skin coupled with regular exfoliation is definitely working out very well for me right now.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, £7.99 Honey & Randevous

These are great for everyday wear. Both can be blended for a softer effect or worn in layers for a full on effect. They last very well and fade evenly.

The above are the two gentler shades: Honey and Randevous.
Honey is a cool shade pink - on the face of it it looked like a pale, nude pink but actually it goes on stronger.
Randevous is a delicate red but again, it goes on stronger than I would have thought.

Both are lovely but I really wish the pale, nude shade like Charm and Precious were available in the UK. I really dislike it when the most wearable shades are sold in the UK...

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser

The idea of it is great. Simply the thought of how much time and hassle could be spared.. My routine involves  both body oil and lotion and I do use them everyday after the shower. I find the products I'm using make my skin soft, smooth and pleasant to touch - it almost has a sheen or glow to it.

This is why, despite loving the idea I wasn't entirely sure whether I'll like this product.

The consistency is rich, silky and the moisturiser pours out of the bottle easily. It's meant to be used after the shower and rinsed off, like hair conditioner, just without the need to leave in on. It didn't leave the shower slippery at all. One concern is that this may run out quite quickly, like shower gel would. Immediately when applied and rinsed, skin feels moisturised, silky and softer. But I wasn't completely convinced this could permanently replace my lotion and/or body oil. Skin felt nourished and soft but not as much as after using a rich body care product.

This seems like a great solution for those, who are always in a rush or simply don't like the hassle of applying lotions after shower. Also, this could be a great holiday product. But in the long-run personally I'll be sticking to my traditional moisturising lotions and keep this for evenings (read nights), when I'm really impatient to get the shower over with and sleep.

Available in Boots, Superdrugs and supermarkets (I found it in Waitrose) £3.56

BarryM Lip Paints

These are some of my favourite BarryM lip paints, £4.49 (Boots, Superdrug, online BarryM).
They'are affordable, good quality and with a great colour pay off. The formulas are very nice, they go on very smoothly and stay on well. There is a really good selection of colours and some of the best affordable brights.These are some of my favourite colours:

101 is a classic, cool-toned nude with a great coverage. At the same time it's still very easy to wear - it can be worn for a quite a full on concealed lips effect or more subtly, blended with a gloss on top.

136 is a beige, bronze shimmery shade, excellent with for a tanned, summer look but with neutral lips.

132 is a lovely, gold pink shimmery shade. I generally prefer non shimmery lip sticks, but this one is very delicate.

150 is a classic, your lips colour. It has no shimmer and little gloss so it's great for natural looking, fuller lips especially when paired with some lip liner.

151 is a very cool-toned coral red colour. I like it for when I want to go for the red lips, but I'm looking for a cooler, more modern looking shade.

121 deep, cool toned, classic red. Beautiful on its own or with a lip liner and gloss for full on red lips.

Favourite Nude Revlon Lip Butters

These are my favourite delicate shades, perfect for everyday. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters have a lovely formula, they're not drying at all; they're actually quite moisturising and caring. They feel very comfortable on the lips. At the same time they do have a fair amount of pigment and coverage, although this varies from shade to shade. Shades fade nicely and this isn't the type of lipstick that looks awkward when it's starts to disappear. 

At less than £10, these are cute and cheerful, a perfect little treat.

Pink and nude shades: 045 Cotton Candy, 065 Creamsicle & 095 Creme Brulee

Revlon Lip Butter in 095 Creme Brulee, £7.99
This was the first one I got. Not all shades are available in the UK and Creme Brulee is the only nude shade here; Creamsicle isn't. So when the Lip Butters first appeared Creme Brulee was the second prize.. It's nude, but not pale; it's almost a very light bronze, brown colour, without any hint of pink to it. It is the one with the most pigment out of these three. It's quite nice especially if you're wearing a bit of bronzer and you'd like very neutral lips.

Revlon Lip Butter in 065 Creamsicle, £7.99
Not available in the UK so Ebay is your best bet. This is a much lighter and creamier shade than Creme Brulee and I wish it was possible to buy it here, not to mention the fact that normally nude shades are the first ones to disappear from the shelves. Creamsicle gives a delicate light tint to the lips  - it adds moisture and shine but it isn't a full on concealer lip, which is why I love it so much.

Revlon Lip Butter in 045 Cotton Candy, £7.99
Cotton Candy is a lovely, sweet baby pink shade. Very delicate and subtle, it adds little pink to your look but not in a way that's overpowering or too much. Like the other two, this one wears off nicely and it's just a lovely addition of a hint of colour.

Some solutions for problem skin

I never had severe acne but every so often blemishes do crop up. Despite having quite an oily t zone my skin is normally quite dehydrated, which means any product that targets blemishes needs to be chosen carefully. I have tried many but a lot of them cause dryness and uncomfortable, tight feeling. Not to mention the fact that often that is in fact the only result..

These are few product that I have used for a long time and that I know I can depend. Everyone's skin needs are different, but I find these consistently good (feeling shared by many of my friends too).

First up, Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash Mask, £3.99

This is great for many reasons. The obvious one is that it doubles as a mask, so I often apply it just before the shower or in my shower and wash it off when I'm about to finish. I have used it a long time now and I have never noticed it to cause any dryness or tightness. So I use it as a face cleanser when my skin needs it too - many face washes are very harsh so I like to stick to this one.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil Free Moisturiser, £4.69

This moisturiser promises to even out the skin tone by fading some past episodes of break outs. I'm not sure that is an effect I have noticed. But I do like it to keep my skin with inclination to get oily during the day under control. I also like to think this helps to prevent breakouts or heal them faster should they appear. I like the way it feels under the make up and I find you don't need long for it to sink in. All in all great buy, especially if you happen to get hold of it when Boots/Superdrug do 2 for £5 on Neutrogena.

Spot treatments

Spot treatments are a wonderful solution when you don't feel like rinsing your skin with harsh toners and washes. You can easily apply the treatment only where you need it so they can reduce (yes, I do mean dry) the spot. Word of warning: many spot treatments dry and leave a tiny bit of residue so if you wear it over make up (or in general in public) you may need to keep in mind how much you'll use. And maybe glance in the mirror every now and then - they can peel off if you were greedy and used too much.

All three contain salicylic acid. 

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Rapid Clear Treatment, £3.99

This is isn't my favorite but it does the job. It helps to get rid off the unwanted spots; I have used better ones but this is the most budget friendly and it does deliver (although I wouldn't bet on the 4 hours).

Dr Nick Lowe Spot Gel, £9.49

I really like this one and I do think it works well. I also really enjoy the packaging and the fact that it is very discrete so if I am in a little trouble, this is the one that goes into my purse. Availble from Boots and online.

Origins Spot Remover, £13

This is by far the best one. It causes the blemishes to dry out quite quickly so I feel it is the most dependable one. If you have been naughty and tried squeezing, this will sting when you apply it (but how would I know..). It lasts a long time, which explains and justifies the price well enough.  

What are your best bets when it comes to problem skin?

Best long wearing eye liners

These are my favorite long wearing, stay on liners. I almost cannot decide, which one is best though, all three of these are great at what they're supposed to do. Do stay stay on well? Check. All day? Check. Smudging? No. Check. Do you get a chance to blend before they set and move no more? Check.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal, £3.99
If I had to pick one of these and call it my favorite  I could be this one. But for no other reason but the price tag. This liner is just as good as Estee Lauder or Urban Decay one but it retails for £3.99 and you can get hold of it in every Boots/Superdrug around the corner. Great color pay off, nice choice of colors  great staying power.. All in all, brilliant choice and for even better price.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil, £13
Mid range in terms of the price, you really cannot go wrong with one of these. They come in fabulous range of colors and share all the positives equally: they do no budge once set. I love make up I can rely on throughout the day and when you choose this type of pencils you know you won't look in the mirror at some point in the afternoon only to discover your eye pencil has vanished. These are faultless.


Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Eye Pencil, £16
The most expensive out of the three here. But besides the fact that it does have smudger (technical term :), which is great for blending it really is no better than Rimmer or UD. I love the color, it's easy to use, great for everyday make up that stay on all day.

All three of these are in bronze, metallic shades - this is what I choose to wear everyday. As you can see, each one has been much loved and used (especially the UD one, it's really on its last legs)..

Best Dry Shampoo

I really depend on dry shampoo for everyday when I'm not washing my hair. They're great at absorbing the oils, refreshing the hair and prepping it for styling.
I've tried many in the last few years but Klorane is by far the best. It doesn't leave much residue, it doesn't leave any white powder/white cast in your hair, it refreshes brilliantly and allows to postpone hair washing by a day or two.
I find Klorane great to prepare the hair for updos or any other styles that require a little texture to the hair. Complaints? Boots used to stock it! Now it is a little bit tricky to get hold of it without reverting to online shopping. I normally pick up the Oat Milk variety but this is the one I found when I was on holidays.

Conclusion: This product has earned itself a reputation and almost a cult following and it is entirely worth it. If you're in the UK and have trouble finding it.. and you happen to be on holidays in a foreign pharmacy grab one!

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle, 150ml, £7.50 (in the UK apart from usual suspects i.e eBay and Amazon, John Lewis seem to be stocking this).

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden £15 (Debenhams)

This primer has the reputation of a cult product and for a good reason. It makes the eyeshadow stay on longer, it brings out the colors, makes the blending easier and smoother. But the original one isn't my favorite.  Instead, I love Eden. Eden is a yellow shade that doesn't have any shimmer. It's brilliant for evening out the eyelid and any discoloration or shadows you might have. It eliminates the need for an additional layer of eyeshadow or it can be worn on its own. 

It is one of the best, classic buys definitely worth the price. 

St Ives Timeless Skin Daily Microdermabrasion

St Ives Microdermabrasion is by far my favorite face scrub. This is certainly one of the products that doesn't receive the credit it deserves. This is an amazing face scrub, one I have been using for few years now. In the meantime they have changed the packaging and for some time it wasn't available at all. Initially it was only available at Superdrug and after the disappearance it returned to Boots (only).

This scrub is nothing like the apricot scrubs so many people are familiar with. The texture is a little like a salt scrub, but not too rough. It's great to smooth and refine the texture of the skin. This is the only scrub type product I have ever found that really delivers on the glow, radiance promise. It will not solve any other skin problems (like blemishes, wrinkles or discoloration) but it's irreplaceable for smoothing the surface of the skin. Any skin care and/or foundation will look incredible.

St Ives Microdermabrasion is gentle and delicate even for frequent use. It can be massaged gently onto the face without much pressure, which would make it possible to use everyday. £4.99 in Boots.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care

Dove Nourishing Oil Express Treatment Conditioner £3.39 & Dove Nourishing Oil Care Leave In Conditioner £3.39 (Boots)

Dove hair care products are great. The instant treatment works like a conditioner but doesn't require as much time as a regular one. Even a minute is sufficient. This is a great solution for when time is scarce. I adore the way this treatment makes the hair feel  - it renders it soft, smooth and silky.
Leave in conditioner is also great for when there's no time at all. It's brilliant to spray in wet or dry hair, it nourishes and adds shine and softness.
I love both of these; they're easy to find, inexpensive and work brilliantly.

Lip Care

These are just some of my favorite lip balms. I admit to having a lot of them but this is actually a highly efficient system - there is at least one lip balm where you might need one. So one, or two, occasionally three live in my handbag, few reside by my bedside table, some are tucked in pockets of my coats and jackets, couple are ready in the drawer of my desk... So they all have a purpose and so each acquisition is justified.

Anyway, I always seem to need a lip balm product, even if my gloss or lip stick of choice has a moisturizing formula as well.

In the middle: Molton Brown and Burt's Bees (Mango butter). From top left: Carmex, Nivea Pure and Natural, Bloom Aromatherapy lip balm, Liz Earle mini Superbalm, EOS lip balm, Figs & Rouge Balm, Carmex and Nivea Lip Butter.

Carmex (bot pot and tube) are by far my favorite because they seem to cope with dryness best. Molton Brown and Bloom balms are very good too. Both Nivea products are useful to carry around and if by chance one gets lost it isn't a problem.

Dior Exhibition at Harrods, London March April 2013

Speaking of Dior... It's moment like those when I fully appreciate and remind myself how much I love London. It's moments like these, when I'm willing to forgive the prevalence of tarmac, stone and brick when looking out the window of the train during my daily commute.. Or the weather - despite it being April I was snowing in London and sometimes I can't help but wonder whether spring really exists or whether it's only this elusive, magical state of things only present in Hollywood movies and the rest of the planet, just not in the UK.




I'm digressing. For everyone in London, be it temporarily or permanently and up for a little fashion retrospective I highly recommend a visit to Harrods. The exhibition is on the 4th floor, along with a cafe. Harrods' windows have been populated by Dior phone boxes and teddy bears and there is some more fun to be had on the ground floor. Harrods' website provides a calendar of events. Exhibition closes 14th of April.