Tuesday 31 July 2012

Fake Tan Favs

These are my ultimate favourite face and body self tanners. I recently discovered Xen-Tan weekly self-tan and I have to say it is by far one of the best, most natural looking self tanners I have ever used. It's got a green tone to it that stops the orange effect so you end up with a gorgeous golden colour that looks as convincing as a sun tan!
This actually fades like a real tan too, how amazing is that! Its paraben free, oil free and contains moisturising properties for soft supple skin. Clarins Auto-Bronzante is specifically for face and decollete. I put some on a cotton round and wipe over my face,neck and chest. This absorbs nicely without a greasy film and perfect for oily spot prone skin like mine as it doesn't break me out. I use this at night before I got to bed. St Tropez Gradual Tan is an everyday moisturiser with a touch of self-tan and vitamin E. Jergens Natural Glow is one of my favourite gradual tanners and this one has firming properties as well. I always stock up on these when I visit the States, its great for after your holidays to help maintain and top up your tan.

Summer Fragrance

So the sun is finally shining and I feel like summer is here. Time for a new summer fragrance yay!
I picked up one of the new Polo Big Pony Collections from Boots ( got to get my points)

This is described as fruity floral. It is a blend of cranberry and tonka. I find this fresh and sweet at the same time, just how I like it. Lovely for summer evenings. I love the colour combination.

My most used and favourite beauty products of the moment.

These have been my everyday go to face and bath products:

The Little Bubble Co Vanilla Biscuit shower gel which is a total dupe of the Philosophy but at a fraction of the price and just as good if not better. They come in lots of different flavours but this one is my most favourite!

Aveda Colour Conserve shampoo for colour treated hair, this leaves my hair so clean and soft. This is a plant infused shampoo with 100% organic aroma. I used to use this years ago and recently stumbled across it again, forgot how much I love this.

BareMinerals Purifying Facial Cleanser, I use this in the morning and sometimes in the shower to remove my make up if I'm lazy to use my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I works really well and leaves my skin smooth and clean.

Bourjois Delice De Poudre Bronzing Power, this is the perfect pre-tan bronzer because its really light and gives a healthy glow rather than a mega bronzed up look. I use this for contouring and on my cheeks for a bit of a sun kissed glow. Smells delish too. I use a big fluffy brush to apply this. When I am tanned, I switch to Benefit Hoola Bronzer as I find its alot darker.

Urban Decay De Slick Oil Control Make up Setting Spray. I use this surprise surprise to set my make up, its the last step of my routine and I find it keeps my make up fresh and my face oil free all day! Its the best thing ever!

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua, I use this as a blush as it is in fact pink with a slight shimmer. Its a really subtle soft pink that just warms up the cheeks with a bit of colour.


MAC Pro Long wear Concealer in NC20 I simply adore this concealer, it works a treat under my eyes, dries to a matte finish and doesn't crease at all. I also use it over my eyelids and it keeps my eye shadows put all day. I apply this with a damp beauty blender.

BareMinerals Matte Foundation is my all time HG foundation! This stuff is phenomenal. It improves my skin quality, maintains a matte finish all day, I never need to touch up during the day and gives the perfect adjustable coverage. I always go back to this, I've been a using bareminerals for ten years! I remember the days when you had to search high and low in boutique salons to find this stuff, now there is a counter almost everywhere! I use the shade fairly light, but I'm light in the original, the matte come up slightly darker. What I love about this foundation is that whether I'm tanned or pale it always melds with my skin and matches to perfection unlike liquid foundations that are always too pink, too light, too dark etc.



Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara. This for me is easy to use, I love the rubber wand and the way it makes my lashes look long and glossy. This is my 2nd tube so far. I just really like it.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Soothing Lip Balm in Pink Sugar. This is super glossy with some sparkles, has a great minty taste and keeps my lips glossy for a long time. I usually put this on in the morning at around 8am and my lips are still soft and glossy at 11am. So pretty good. I've got one in the nude colour too which I use at night.



Last but not least is the almighty Beauty Blender! This little gem is the bees knees! I use it to blend in my concealer under my eyes. It's great for liquid foundation too. All you do it run the bb under a tap, then squeeze out the excess water and bounce upon your visage! Voila! Airbrushed to perfection.

So those are my everyday essentials what are some of yours?

Summer Goodies

So I went on a mini shopping spree the other day, in search of some fancy sandals. I have got tiny feet (size 1-2) so its really hard to find shoes that aren't falling of my feet. So I pop into Dune, and low and behold they are having a mega sale, and I found these beauties!! Originally £65 each down to £36 each! bargain! and the sales assistant said the size 3 comes up really small that she had to go up a size, perfect for me. They actually fit well are are just what I had in mind. The bracelet and the ring in the left hand corner are from Banana Republic, sticking with the gold and brown theme I thought these would go hand in hand with my gold sandals and a black maxi dress!
Watch my summer haul below :-)





I also fancied a big floppy hat to wear on the beach or by the pool. I came across this beauty in Banana Republic on sale from £39.00 to just £13.50!!
This is going to look the bomb with a white or navy bikini!
         

I love blue and white stripes, can you tell ;-)


Happy Summertime everyone!!