H&M Sequinned Feathers

Deviating slightly from beauty products, I had to share this delightful dress/tunic from H&M. Sadly I am feeling too poorly to take a better picture but it's much nicer in reality! I am loving the delicate sequin and beading detail on the shoulder. Even better is that it was only £19.99! But has anyone else noticed that high street stores seem to have cut down on steaming the stock before putting it onto the shop floor?! The extreme creasing of this item almost put me off trying it on...but I'm glad I did. Everyone needs a little bit of sparkle in their wardrobe!

Ti amo Barry M

I discovered Barry M Nail Paint some years ago and haven't looked back. I adore this stuff! The application of the varnish is beautiful and often requires no more than one coat. Barry M stock such an amazing range of shades and they are excellent value for money. My three most recent purchases are (From left to right) No. 291 Cobalt Blue, No. 272 Shocking Pink and No. 295 Pure Turquoise.

I love love love these and would buy the entire range if finances allowed!

Everyday Essentials

As promised, I am posting about the make up I use on a daily basis.
My ultimate essential product is Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse which I use in Sand and Natural Beige (I combine the two depending upon how tanned/pale the rest of my body is). I have used it for years as it gives a really even coverage and I love the texture. Sometimes it can dry out my skin a little and when this happens, I will substitute it for Maybelline Dream Liquid Satin which is equally as good and provides flawless coverage.
I also swear by No7 Instant Radiance Concealer which gives Touche Eclat a run for its money in my opinion. I use this in shade II. It's hypo-allergenic which is ideal for sensitive skin and under-eye areas. It also lasts for aaaaages, a little really does go a long way.
On my cheeks I use a 17 blusher in Bramble Frost which is the perfect light pinky shade for my skintone. It has a tiny bit of shimmer and really brightens up your face providing a healthy glow. I apply this with a 17 brush which I love as it is just the right combination of soft-firm bristles and aids a lovely, even application.
On my eyes I wear Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara in either black or black/brown. The plump brush is great for building lashes and it goes on really nicely and clump-free. I have tried lots of other mascaras and keep coming back to this one as I think it is amazing. I line my eyes with Bourjois Liner Stylo in Noir which is really easy to apply and is self-sharpening (a feature I particularly look out for). It provides a very strong colour and is the only liner I have gone back to again and again.
Finally, I don't leave the house without a pot of Cherry Carmex lip balm, which as well as softening and protecting chapped lips, provides a glossy finish and tastes and smells divine!

If you would like to know anything more about these products, please ask! I would strongly recommend each and every one of them.

Oh my GOSH

Despite trying a trillion different beauty products every year, I am much less experimental when it comes to make-up. I will in fact post about my make-up essentials later. But this week on a desperate dash through Superdrug to purchase my favourite foundation (Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse) I picked up a new eye pencil on a whim. Now, I'm not one to wear eyeliner on a day to day basis, but when I do it is usually black. However, I was lured by the range of colours stocked by GOSH. I know coloured eyeliners are nothing new but hey, as I said, I am super unadventurous with my make up so it was an exciting moment for me!
I chose Funky Violet which is a fairly deep purple shade. You can see the colouring on my hand in the picture. It goes on really smoothly and is completely smudge resistant - essential for me as I get dry eyes from wearing my contact lenses too long and am ALWAYS rubbing my eyes - smudged makeup isn't a good look! So I was really pleased it stayed put. The only disappointing factor for me personally is that it requires sharpening - I prefer those which you can twist up as I never have a sharpener to hand when needed. But overall I would give this product a definite thumbs up!

M is for Moisturise...

With Winter fast approaching (did I miss Summer??) and with it the extremes of frosty weather and central heating all there to play havoc with our skin, I have decided to kick off this blog with a review of a few body moisturisers I have tried recently.
Now, I am a sucker for moisturisers and constantly want to try new ones before I have even finished those I already have which is something of a problem for my bathroom as it is overloaded with products. However, it is a bonus for you as I can write about my experiences!
First and foremost let me introduce to you...

The Body Shop Body Butter in Wild Cherry. (50ml £4.85)
Now, who hasn't tried The Body Shops excellent range of Body Butters? Everyone has heard of this delicious moisturiser and for good reason. It has a very luxurious texture and excellent moisturising properties not least due to the shea butter it contains. I purchased the 50ml tub as due to my obsession, I cannot afford to splash out on the larger size. However, it has lasted very well because a little goes a long way with this product. As always, The Body Shop have produced a great product but I do find that sometimes the Body Butters can leave me feeling a little greasy. For those with very dry skin I think they will be absolutely perfect though. I was a little disappointed with the scent of this however, I was anticipating something along the line of Cherry Drops sweets and in reality the scent is very subtle. The assistant in store told me she thought it smelt like yoghurt and I am somewhat inclined to agree! I would certainly purchase this product again but I am yet to find a Body Butter scent I favour over Mango!

Johnsons Dreamy Skin Body Cream ( 250ml £2.93)
I bought this on a shopping trip to Sainsburys whilst it was on special offer. It is marketed as a night moisturiser due to the inclusion of Moonflower, said to aid relaxation. The cream is a lovely lilac colour which makes a change from the usual white! The scent is delicious and I personally adore it, though I can imagine it would be too overpowering for some. It is quite a comforting scent and I am sure I can detect undertones of Johnsons Baby lotion. I have been using it as part of my night-time routine and I can honestly say I have found it to be very relaxing. I have now got to the point where I associate the aroma with going to bed - in fact, smelling it now as I write this is making me quite sleepy! It absorbs into the skin well and has a lovely smooth texture. Since my first purchase I have stocked up on a few more to keep me going as I don't think this is one I will get bored of quickly!

Hawaiian Tropic Coconut Body Butter (200ml £8.99)
I was keen to try this body butter over the Summer as I associate the smell of coconut with Summer and who wouldn't want to prolong that holiday feeling? The packaging I find very striking due to the bright colouring though I must say it reminds me of hair gel for some reason? It is said to help prolong a suntan although any moisturiser ought to have the same effect. I found the scent fantastic initially but an hour or so after slapping on this moisturiser....hello headache! Unfortunately I found the scent completely overpowering and sadly I cannot bring myself to use this again, after a few attempts it was still causing a headache as it is so strong. The texture is really lovely and thick though so it is a shame. Those who love the scent of coconut may have better luck than me with this product but for myself, it is just too much.

Jergens Naturals Ultra Hydrating Body Moisturiser. (200ml £4.88)
This has to be my favourite of all the mositurisers I am reviewing today. I bought it after trying a sample in a magazine and initially it was the scent which sold it to me. It is very fresh and clean smelling and I can't get enough of it! I find it absorbs very easily without being at all greasy and for my dry-normal skin type, it is perfect. It contains Jojoba oil and claims to double skin's hydration instantly. Even better is that 96% of the ingredients are natural. I took it on holiday with me and applied it to my slightly sunburnt feet (Boo to flip-flop tan lines!) and it really seemed to minimise the dreaded peeling! I am yet to try the other moisturisers in this range but am sure they will be of an equal standard. I think my next purchase from this range will have to be the Skin Firming moisturiser.

Let me know what your favourite body moisturiser is. If I haven't already tried it, I most certainly will want to!