Gold Dust....

NARS DUAL-INTENSITY BLUSH

Yesterday was the hottest day in 9 years!  Amazing!  Did a few hours in the sun turn you into a golden sun goddess?  If not, head to your nearest NARS counter for their new Dual Intensity Blush Collection.  They will transform your skin from plain, to a holiday in Spain in seconds!

I absolutely love these blushers. Its been a while since a makeup product has excited me like this. Everything from the packaging which is a black, rubber embossed case to the silky weightless formula is perfect. They are an instant sun fix for all skin shades as they come in 6 different colours from gold and bronze, to pinks and reds.  


Close up of my Jubilation Blusher 

The blusher itself can be used with a normal brush, and dusted onto the skin for a healthy glow, using the highlighter.  Or it can be used with a wet brush to intensify the colour, yet leave a translucent, second skin finish.  Its luxurious, and highly pigmented yet weightless - perfect for the hot weather.  When creating this product, NARS used exclusive Translucent Prismatic Technology which features pearls and pigments, perfectly suspended in a transparent soft base to allows for multi-dimensional effects making it highly versatile.


Here's the blusher on my skin, the images on the right is how they look blended, using the fingertips

I have actually used mine as an eyeshadow too.  I wet a brush, or apply with my finger depending on how much of a rush I'm in, and apply to the lids finished with a slick of mascara.  It's super fast and easy to apply anywhere, on the tube, or even the beach. ... 

Available in these featuring NARS, Liberty and Selfridges

£30

From straw to silk...

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment

It's been a month since I have become super blonde, and even though I look after my hair fairly well by using good products and minimal styling tools (I blast it with a hair dryer, until its damp, then air dry) it still needs a major treatment once a month.

Every four weeks, I treat my locks to a little R&R (I like to call it hair rehab) by feeding it with the Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment.  This creamy bronze liquid is fortified with a rare and powerful natural ingredient - pure Ojon oil (from the Ojon nut) which is known as nature's powerful golden elixir, rich in essential lipids similar to those found in healthy hair.

This cocoa and chocolate smelling product has a similar consistency to coconut oil, which is really hard at room temperature, but super oily and slippery with added heat.  To activate the treatment, place in your palms and rub it until it melts.  You only need a small amount because its very concentrated.  If your hair is like mine, double the dose!  Massage though unwashed and dry hair, and leave it for 15-20 minutes.  You only need to treat the ends, so a good tip is to tie your hair in a ponytail and massage through.  I would not recommend massaging this into your roots or scalp.  It would be difficult to wash out.  Sometimes I use it in the sauna at the gym, or in the bath to help it work faster.  The heat really does help penetrate into the hair.

After one treatment my hair is always so soft and healthy.  The colour is noticeably more vibrant, and its so silky and smooth - not a dull brittle, frizzy strand in sight!  It really does magic hair from straw to silk.

My hair after the treatment

£34.50

Available from Ojon and Boots

New Makeup brand Bagsy launches today

NEW MAKEUP BRAND BAGSY LAUNCHES IN THE UK

Last week I went to the launch of an exciting new makeup brand called Bagsy which is a capsule collection of beautiful and practical makeup essentials perfectly designed to fit inside your handbag.

After spending many years creating products for some of the top luxury beauty brands in the world, British born Bagsy have decided to do it for themselves and create a collection that is small, beautifully designed, and easy to use.  Great news for someone like me whose bottomless pit of a handbag contains the entire beauty section of a department store.  I carry everything I wear on a daily basis.  Just in case... I carry powder, foundation in small pots, extra lipstick, perfume, eyeliner, pretty much doubles of everything I own.  My bag weighs a ton.  The great thing about these products is that they are small, light and designed to suit all skin tones.

Bagsy Launch at the Hamyard Hotel

Each product has been crafted with attention to detail and the packaging is colourful and quirky.  In particular, I like the blusher box that opens up like a panetonne box, as well as the slogans on the bronzer and eyeliner (all below).  I was told at the launch by its founders that they wanted to steer away from the black packaging (their current clients who they cannot name) found on most beauty counters and create something vibrant and fun.

The makeup is pretty luxurious and high in quality as they do already manufacture for the leading luxury brands they have the insights into formulating the best products.  A few of my favourites are below.  The Pretty Cheeks blusher is not as vibrant as it looks and contains gold shimmer which comes through once it has been blended.  The Wow lips is a high impact glossy lipstick containing nylon and sperical powders which stays on the lips and hydrates.  The Kabuki brush is perfect to blend, comes in a little pouch and can be throw into the handbag.  The delicious smelling Lip Cacoon does what the bottle suggests by nourishing and protecting using ingredients such as beeswax, and shea butter.

Pretty Cheeks (£16) Wow Lips  (£12) Kabuki Brush (£15) Lip Cacoon (£7)

Also, the Pretty Eyes eyeshadow can be easily blended, lasts all day and comes in four colours.

 Beautiful Eyes in Caffeine Fix (£14)

Ray of Sunshine is perfect for the summer.  The packaging is super cute, which kind of makes me want to never use it.  It creates a matt look which is a natural glow to any skin colour.  It is available in a lighter and darker shade.

Ray of Sunshine (£18)

I have my eye on the double sided highlight and concealer Wonder Wand below.  Use one side of this dual-sided highlighting and concealing crayon to cover blemishes and dark circles and the other to illuminate the top of cheekbones.

(£18)

Available from feelunique.com

Fifty Shades of Clay

KIEHLS RARE EARTH DEEP PORE CLEANSING MASQUE

As I lather my face with this beautiful and creamy clay mask by Kiehl's, I realise I need to tell you all about how great it is.  I have been using this Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque twice a week for years now - Sunday night for a detox and deep clean (after a busy and hectic week/and fun weekend) and Wednesday night as a boost to keep up radiance.  Its incredible, and does what most face masks do which is to detox the skin of surface impurities, such as excess oil and dirt and minimises pores, but unlike other clay masks, it's really gentle and nourishing.  Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque contains Amazonian White Clay, Oatmeal and Aloe Vera which makes it gentle on the skin.

The container is huge, so a small amount goes a really long way.  The clay itself has no fragrance, which makes it seem more natural, and the texture is super creamy.  Once the mask has been applied to the skin, it quickly absorbs (but not too quickly) and continues to stay in the skin without flaking and crumbling.  I would recommend this product to every skin type, but in particular, for people with sensitive, combination, and oily skin - its a powerful product which is equally really kind.  After the first couple of uses, the results are really visible.  People with large pores, blackheads and those who breakout frequently will see a huge difference.  This clay mask really does refresh skin, making it look bright, more refined, clean, and radiant.

£21.50

Available from Kiehls, Selfridges, Liberty, and Space NK

Call it Magic...

EGYPTIAN MAGIC

'Those who don't believe in magic, will never find it' - Roald Dahl

I believe in magic.  

But the magic I'm talking about today was found in one of my favourite department stores, Liberty.

This is really boring and old news to anyone who knows me, but I have been sick for over a month now.  I have caught a horrible virus I can't seem to shift.  It's not contagious, so I have been trying to continue with normal life, and apart from my glazed eyes, no one can even tell.  My skin on the other hand is looking surprisingly great.  I have been trying to sleep more, and drinking more water, but the secret to my radiance is Egyptian Magic. 

This stuff is incredible! Anything that can make me look fresh and glowing despite how I feel right now is seriously magical!  I have known about the product for a while now, and was intrigued, because I like the packaging, and the fact that it has its own table in the Liberty Beauty Hall.  It also has cult status among celebrities, such as Cara Delevingn, Gisele Bundchen, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Madonna, Eva Mendez and Kate Hudson.

Egyptian Magic is hand made with with natures most powerful ingredients which are 100% natural - Honey, Beeswax, Olive Oil, Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen and Bee Propolis.  For more than 20 years the company have been blending these ingredients using a unique, proprietary process based on a formula that was created thousands of years ago in the land of the Pharaohs.  Its known to be magical because of its healing properties and its multi purpose use.  It can be used anywhere on the body, normally for skin problems such as scars and burns, however, most people use it as an anti age moisturiser. So far, I have used Egyptian Magic as a night cream, lip balm, under eye cream, and for sunburn.  

I mostly use it at night, because it has a really thick, vaseline like (but not as greasy) consistency which is not suitable for under makeup.  The cream is white, and absorbs straight into the skin which feels amazing.  It has been my comfort food for the skin during these difficult weeks.  I wouldn't normally use it every day, probably a couple of times a week, or when your skin needs some TLC. 

Available from Liberty, £29.00

 * Contains no additives, preservatives, fragrances, chemicals or parabens.

Looking Buff...

2 Minute Manicure with MICRO Nail

I always wear nail polish.  I change my colour three times a week and have never been seen without it.  Surprising to most, I very rarely have a professional manicure unless it's a birthday, or a treat, as I consider it a necessity over a luxury, and use the money saved towards buying a new nail colour.

I do think it would be nice to go polishless sometimes, as au naturel lets your nails breathe, but the truth is, I would feel naked without it. However, now that I have discovered MICRO Nail by Emjoi I'm consider wearing clean natural nails for the rest of my life!

Makers of the award winning MICRO Pedi (which I also use) have launched a new revolutionary nail care product which I think is a game changer in home manicures.  Unlike any other product in the nail care market, the device’s pioneering micro mineral technology guarantees fast, salon smooth and hassle-free results in an instant all from the comfort of your own home.

It basically does all the hard work for you so no more arm ache, or hours spent buffing and polishing, this handy little electronic device gives you beautiful and natural shiny nails in seconds.

It's super easy to use as it comes with the batteries required which go into the bottom, as well as the rollers which can be easily added and removed.  The grey roller ‘MICRO Smooth’ is designed to buff away ridges, reduce staining and help improve the appearance of dryness.  The white roller ‘MICRO Shine’ works in seconds to leave nails with a beautiful, natural shine. 

There is a separate pouch for the rollers, and the fuss free, light packaging is so convenient to keep in the handbag, or on your desk, or dresser for any last minute touch (buff) ups. 

When I first used Micro Nail I was afraid.  The rollers spin faster than I had expected (Rotating at 360 degrees up to 1800 times per minute) and they are really powerful.  Fear not, the sound and fast action is deceiving because it is actually really gentle on the nails, as well as on the skin around the cuticles.  Avoid staying in one area too long.  The most effective way of using the product is by moving fast (2 seconds per nail) and forming a 'U' shape over the nail bed.

The results are fast and amazingly effective.  I couldn't believe how shiny my nails were, they looked like they had clear nail polish on them, it was unbelievable.  It definitely improved the appearance of my natural nails, and they looked smooth and healthy.  After a few months use, I would feel confident and comfortable to go out with natural nails.  For now, I will continue to wear polish because this product has really helped it glide on easier, as well as helping it to last longer as it acts like a primer.

(I know my natural nails look gross before and after, but you can see that 

the after nails look smoother and in slightly better condition)

I would highly recommend this product to anyone who loves painting their own nails at home, or loves to have shiny natural nails.  It really is a fast and effective way of keeping nails healthy, and looking great.

Unfortunately, I over did the buffing (with the grey roller) as I was making a video for my instagram page.  It left me with raw, over buffed, painful, and sensitive nails.  It was so painful, I had to dip my nails into cold water before going to bed.  Don't let this stop you from purchasing it.  MICRO Nail is an amazing product, just don't get over excited and wear your nails down like I did condition nails with a good moisturiser or nail oil after use.

Enjoy... and btw... 3 weeks later, they're still shiny!

MICRO Nail - £39.99 

Replacement roller packs - £12.99

Available from Boots

Scrubs Up!

GinZing™ Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

The other day, I felt like I had washed my face for the very first time! Of course this isn't true, but after using Ginzing Refreshing Face Scrub by Origins, I felt like a born again face washer! Looking in the mirror after a couple of uses I could not only feel, but see the difference.  My face looked so incredibly bright, and smooth, I actually became worried about what was doing before this product came into my life.

Ginzing Refreshing scrub cleanser is a two-in-one cleanser that also exfoliates to “wake up” tired skin. The natural exfoliating scrubbing beads do what most exfoliators do which is remove dirt, debris and dead skin cells, boosting cell turnover to reveal vibrant, glowing, and radiant skin.

What is a little different about this product compared to your average exfoliator, is its ingredients.  Panax Ginseng and Caffeine - to optimise cellular energy in stressed skin and eliminate signs of fatigue. Jojoba and Carnauba Beads - to gently exfoliate and refine skin’s texture to reveal smooth skin and unclog pores.

The Grapefruit, Lemon and Spearmint Essential Oil awaken and revitalise the senses to encourage energy.  I personally wouldn't use something so perfumed on my face (prefer it for body products) but it really does smell amazing without being overbearing.  The Lemon Oil in particular is said to dispel mental fatigue and increases concentration and awareness.  Just what I need... however, I don't really think a face wash could perform such miracles, but it does smell and feel refreshing, reminding me that summer is around the corner.

Just a little warning before you go out and buy Ginzing - I got over excited about this product and started using it twice a day, however, after a couple of weeks it started to irritate my skin. I have now reduced my usage to 3 or 4 times a week despite it being recommended for every day use.  See how you go, but I wouldn't use it every day.

*Its not bright orange, but more of a golden clear liquid with tiny white/translucent particles 

PRICE: RRP£18.50

Available from Selfridges and at select department stores and online at www.origins.co.uk