Tried and Tested: Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush

I bought Daniel Sandlers Watercolour liquid blush last year, after wanting a long lasting blusher. I have never really got on well with cream blushers, as I have always found they never lasted that well on my oily skin and often made me look like a cherub/clown. So after reading many reviews on this blush, I decided to take the plunge, and I'm really glad I did. I chose the shade 'Passion', its a gorgeous pinky coral, with a shimmer - so when I wear this I often feel like a don't need to use a highlighter, although I think its a summer only shade. A little dot of this product goes a long way, and I use the Real Techniques Stippling brush to blend it in. I once had a comment when wearing this blush that my cheeks looked naturally flushed, and as though the blusher was just part of my skin - and I think its the liquid element to this blusher which really enables a natural finish, as it works in great synergy with your skin. And it really does last a full day for me! I think the price is quite reasonable too (£14.50), as I know its going to last me a long time.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour liquid blusher in the shade Passion

Left: Blended colour. Right: Before I blended.

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Trend: Bright Summer Lips

I love rotating my makeup wardrobe throughout the seasons, especially lip colour. Moving from dark reds in the winter, to nudes in the spring, then bright corals and pinks in the summer. Here is a quick round up of the lipsticks I have been working my way through over the past couple of months..

Keyvn Aucoin - Matte Pink - 'Forever'
This is the boldest pink I own, and is saved for when I can be bothered to top up such a hard to wear lip stick. Even though the ingredients are paraben free and is meant to reduce fine lines, I find this lipstick quite heavy to wear and almost a heavy wax. But when I've applied it 'just right', its a great summery colour

Face Stockholm - Coral - 'Gladje'
I wear this bright coral pink often with subtle golden eye shadow, and often chose it when I'm wearing my coral summer dresses. It has a moisturising finish, which is a nice change from the many mattes I have in my collection!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine - Sheer Coral - '497 Intrepide'
This is the perfect sheer coral to take with you on a summery day out. Its so easy to apply and has a gentle sheer finish, so isn't too over powering. Its makes just enough of a pretty statement. This is one of my favourite lipsticks.

Charlotte Tilbury - Matte Rose Pink - 'Amazing Grace'
This is the least bright colour in my summer range, but still offers a strong lip finish. I love the texture and longevity of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks, and this 'vintage tea rose' shade is great when you want to go for the sophisticated and elegant look.

Tom Ford - Matte Red - 'Flame'
This is such a gorgeous lipstick, it has the perfect amount of orange in the red, to make it a summer yet glamorous shade. I never need to wear lip liner with it, as right from the first swipe it makes a perfect outline. So expensive, but such a good product.

L to R - Kevyn Aucoin, Face Stockholm, Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Tom Ford

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Top Products: Faking that Summer Glow

As we seem to sometimes miss an actual summer in the UK and am not keen on the suns aging effects, I am always keen to fake my tan, but with minimal effort and natural results. I have come across two products that give me a healthy glow, and are so easy to apply. For me nothing beats the St Tropez Gradual Tan, I think its perfect for a pale skinned gal like me. Its scent isn't too overpowering or biscuity (!), so that if you apply after your morning shower, you don't get a nasty whiff every time you move your arms. And the tan is so subtle and gently, that I have yet to get any unsightly orange splodges or build up on knees and ankles. I use the light/medium shade on my body. Then for my face, I use Clarins 'Liquid Bronze Self Tanning' - you just apply a couple of blobs to a cotton pad and quickly sweep around your face and neck, and in 12 hours you'll have a healthy boost to you complexion. I have used this two nights in a row, and it wasn't needed, so now I used about every four or five days to maintain the slight tan. Again, I think this works so well on me because I am extremely fair, it would not be as effective on darker skins, or you could just use it more regularly. I also have quite sensitive skin, and I have not reacted to this at all, which is great! At £20 it isn't cheap, but I can see this lasting a long time because you only need to use a little each.

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Tried and Tested: Only have eyes for Chanel..

For a long time now, I have been on the look out for a red toned eyeliner. Any that I had previously come across seemed too brown or bronze, and didn't have enough of that warm element I was after. So when Chanel released their new Fall Collection a few weeks ago called 'Le Rouge' I knew it was something I had to investigate.

And there it was.. their Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long Last Eyeliner, in the shade 'Eros'. Its a metallic coppery red. I had never bought one of Chanel's Stylo eye liners before, so I was interested to see how the longevity of the eye liner lasted - so far I'm really pleased, it lasts a full day without the need of a top up, and is still as intense. So when I next need a new black or brown liner I'll definitely look into the Stylo range in the future.

I haven't yet worn the eye liner on its own with just mascara, but I have paired it with Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre in the shade 'Mirage', the warm coppery golden brown shade brings down the intense red eyeliner to make it extremely 'day friendly'. I then pair this with a good coating of my favourite mascara Chanel Le Volume, in Noir, and voila, I've got my new favourite eye look that will take me from autumn into winter.

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Weekend Away: Pig in the Wall

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated our first wedding anniversary, and decided to have our first stay at one of the 'Pig' hotels. We chose the 'The Pig in the Wall' in Southampton, for its easy access to London, decent priced rooms and gorgeous interior, which definitely has the same feel as the Soho House hotels (effortlessly cool and chic). We stayed in their mid range room, which they call 'Comfy', and although ours was not huge, it had a lovely big bathroom with a rainfall shower, and separate dressing table area - which I made sure I took advantage of. They provided gorgeous bathroom products from Noble Isle and had posh tea and coffee, so as we paid more than what we would normally for a room (without breakfast!), you could tell there were extra special pieces that only a boutique hotel such as this would provide.

An added bonus was that if you booked a meal at their sister restaurant in the hotel 'The Pig in the Wood' in Brockenhurst, you received a complimentary Land Rover shuttle service to take you their and back. They offer this because the restaurant area in the 'Pig in the Wall' is only set up to do breakfasts and light lunches.

The meal we had that evening was gorgeous, it was very hard to pick from their '25 mile menu'. After our dinner we had enough time to have a little wander through the hotel communal areas (definitely feels like a private members club), and into the gardens where they grow a lot of their produce - it was so picturesque. We really appreciated being able to experience the two hotels, as it really added to the overall enjoyment considering we only stayed one night.

Bed in our 'Comfy' sized room

Rainfall shower

Old style toilet and gorgeous floor tiles used throughout both hotels.

Before our meal at the 'Pig in the Forest'

After meal walk through the herb garden

We would love to stay at another one of their hotels, The Pig on the Beach in Dorset is next on my list!

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Tried and Tested: Natural Protein Powder

Although I'm yet to notice any physical health benefits from this natural protein powder, PhD Woman Natural Protein, I wanted to write a quick review on how I have found drinking the stuff!

I originally bought it from Boots because it had a bit of a discount, and I was a sucker for its female orientated marketing and design. I also liked the fact that it said it was a 'plant and protein blend' and dairy, gluten and sugar free. It also said you don't have to take it after exercising, it can be taken at any time. So I thought I'd give it a go, I was only able to buy chocolate flavour. The first time I tried it, I followed the instructions of mixing it with ice, cold water. Oh. My. God. It was not a pleasant experience - very strange tasting and overly powdery. I forced it down, and could only knock it back like a shot! I then made protein balls mixed with peanut butter, and I enjoyed eating these. And then finally, I made the protein drink with milk instead of water. This was much better, although half way through I wasn't enjoying it as much. So I am thinking next time, I'll just make half of the quantity!

I'm determined to finish the packet, but would be interested in buying another brand to see if it would be more palatable.

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Style: New Interior Investments

Its taken us nearly 3 years of living on our flat to eventually decide and invest in a wall clock, and after discovering the brand Georg Jensen in Selfridges late last year, I know on of their clocks would eventually make it onto our living room wall.

We bought the Koppel 15cm Wall Clock, Copper with White Dial. Although copper is a very current trend, I'm hoping that the clean design and open face of the clock will ensure that we want to use it for many years to come. At the moment, we've got a copper candle tray on the coffee table, and a copper plant pot, so its all tying together nicely! The 15cm isn't too large and doesn't dominate the room, which will also mean that when we move house, it should fit into another setting easily.

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Review: Tom Ford Santal Blush Perfume

Last week I received Tom Ford's Santal Blush perfume as a very special present. I didn't think I would ever own a bottle of Tom Ford perfume, just because of the sheer ridiculous price tag. I always detour round the Tom Ford perfume counter to have a spritz when I'm walking through Duty Free, but that was always enough for me, knowing I'd never want to part with so much cash for a perfume. So I'm still a bit shell-shocked at being the owner of such an item! When I first tested it out earlier on this year, I thought it was the most perfect fragrance, and now that I actually own it, I still think its such a unique and gorgeous scent.

The Tom Ford website describes this perfume as 'Mesmerizing, Exotic and Mysterious' - I'd definitely agree with 'Exotic' because of its mixture of Sandalwood and Eastern Spices with Florals. It has a strong smell, but not too heavy or overpowering, like I find some Tom Ford perfumes to be. I think this perfume will work well in both summer and winter due to the combination of floral and spice. So far, I have only needed to spray once onto my neck and I have found that to be enough to last me the day. Using it so sparingly will hopefully mean the bottle lasts a long time too!! The colour of the perfume and shape of the bottle bottle, also look great on my dressing table.

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Tried and Tested: The Makeup Support Acts

Today's post is a quick round up of some makeup I've acquired over the past few months that really helps complete your look if you're wearing either a strong eye or lip. Both the lipstick ('Modesty' from Mac), and blusher ('Exposed' from Tarte) have a similar tone to them - mauvey, pinky/nudey, but above all natural and compliment my natural skin colour. Think your lips/cheeks - but better. Because when I wear heavy or dark eye makeup, or a bold lip colour, I don't want too much colour elsewhere on my face.

Then for when I'm wearing a strong lip colour, I quite often want my eyes to look bright and open, and a couple of products I'm using quite a lot recently is Mac's Paint Pot cream eyeshadow in the shade 'Bare Study' to create a fresh base with a slight shimmer on the lid, them I blend a bit of 'Wedge' eyeshadow, again from Mac, into the crease. This gives just enough definition without looking too dramatic.

Along with a bit of Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, all of these work well together for a natural day look.

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Top Tips - Exercising whilst on Holiday

For a lot of people, exercising on holiday will not be their idea of fun and relaxation. But for someone like me, who exercises 3 or 4 times a week, and really notices difference in my body from exercising, I do miss having the odd bit of exercise within an easy going holiday. In a week, I'd be pleased if I manage to exercise twice whilst being on holiday, as I don't want to push myself, but I try to take advantage of my new surroundings that might offer a form of exercise. For example, we went exploring round a coastal walk the other day whilst in Santorini, and because we had dressed in our gym gear and only brought a bottle of water with us, we were able to jog whenever we could, to make it more of a work out rather than a slow walk. 

I also follow Joe Wickes 'Lean in 15' on Instagram, and he regularly posts videos of how to do HIIt training without using any equipment and requiring very little space. He normally combines 5 easy-ish exercises that you repeat in 30 second burst over a 15 minute period. You get really out of breath and sweaty, and because it's only 15 minutes it's easy to fit in before your morning shower. 

From having a shoulder injury, I have bought some Exercise Resistance Bands, and these are very light and travel friendly. Because I've got one of the higher resistances, I fine it still can really give my upper body a decent workout.

I always like to pack my trainers, as a comfortable form of footwear more than anything. But then I know I can always exercise if I want to!

When you're on holiday it's quite likely that you'll have easy access to hiring bikes, sea kayaks, and playing tennis, so these are great ways of exercising whilst also the having fun. And rather than just using your hotel swimming pool to quickly cool off, why don't you do a few laps if you can?

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Top Tips - Items you might forget to pack

For a lot of trips abroad it's quite easy to keep a little soap bag together filled with toiletry essentials so that you should hopefully never forget anything. But when the time comes to go on that big summer holiday, there seems to be a multitude of things you might need whilst you are away. And if, like me, it's been a while since you had to pack for such an occasion, I thought I'd compile a list of what I am so glad I remembered to pack!

Antihistamine - you might not get hayfever at home, but you might abroad, and also handy for bringing down a heat rash or bug bites.

Bug spray - definitely recommended to apply in the evening if you are by open still waters, such as a pond or a lake

Bug bite pen - if you missed a spot with the spray, or just didn't apply, this pen will hopefully take the angry itch out of a bite.

Ear plugs - you don't know who your neighbours are going to be and whiter hit you'll be sleeping next to noisy traffic.

Eye mask - your room might have useless curtains, so helps your get a few hours extra sleep. This 'Holistic Silk' eye mask is lavender scented, and is velvet lined so that its soft against your face, and really does block out all light.

Hand sanitizer - you'll probably be eating on the go at some point, so it will always come in handy. 

Mini razor - don't waste space bringing your normal full size razor, splash out on the Snap razor, which is a mini travel sized version from Venus, it comes in a little travel case so it's protected and can be stored easily with your other wash bag essentials.

Travel Hand wash - if you're dipping in and out of a pool, it's great to rinse your bikini with this hand wash gel, to reduce a build up of chlorine. Just squeeze a blob into a sink full of warm water and should help prolong the life of your bikini. Also great for washing that last pair of socks you should have packed!

Sudocrem - not that it comes in a handy travel sized sleepy tube, I always use bring this away with me, as it works wonders for calming down a random rash or annoying spot.

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Review - Sun Creams‏

Sun creams are very personal to each individual, and vary depending on what kind of sun protection you need (sun vs ski) to what your skin type and colour is. For on I can only talk from a personal point of view, so these sun creams are great for people with sensitive and fair skin. I've become increasingly aware of how damaging and aging sun can be for you skin, but also has great benefits, so I have found these products to allow that healthy balance between protecting me but also allowing my skin to tan, a tiny bit!

For on the go city sun:
Ambre Solaire Dry Mist - Light and ultra-non greasy, I wouldn't rely on this for pool/beach sun bathing, but great to spritz. On your shoulders, chest and legs when you're out and about in a hot country, as it doesn't make you clammy and stick to you clothing.

For full in sunbathing (but still in shade between 11-4 ):
Piz Buin Allergy Sun Sensitive spray - This has a really high UVA/UVB protection, and the spray formula gives it a lighter consistency than regular creaming sun creams. The SPF 50 is a lot thicker and whiter than the SPF 30, high even feels a bit watery, which is great for not feeling caked up with sun cream, but I probably apply more due to its lighter texture. The spray doesn't consistently work when you spray upside down, which does get a bit annoying but it's easily fixed.

For face:
I always use factor 50 on my face to hopefully reduce the amount of lines when I'm older, and my scalp burns quite easily so with wearing a hat my face doesn't see much of the sun and I mostly just end up with more freckles. I have two sun creams I like for my face, Piz Buin Allergy Sun Sensitive for face, which is a thick creamy consistency, so great for plastering on when you want to feel like you've got ALOT of coverage on. Then for when I'm in the UK, or sunny city trips, I use La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF 50+, it's such an ultra light formula, it almost feels like a gel, so it's non-greasy and sits well underneath makeup.

For lips:
I use either Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream spf 15 lipstick, or for intense sun days, La Roche Posay spy 50 lip balm. I don't think either of these are easy to come by now, but I think the most important thing to remember is you might as well get the highest factor you can for your lips (you don't need tanned lips, right?), and as soon as you no longer feel the lip balm on your lips, you need to reapply. So you will need reapply no quite regularly throughout the day!

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Tried and Tested - Beauty Treatments on Holiday

Although holidays are often meant for rest and relaxation, it may give you the chance to give yourself some beauty treatments that you wouldn't normally find the time for back home. Below are some products that I like to take with me, not only to care for my sun-parched skin, but also make the most of a relaxing time whilst away from your hectic schedule.

Fake tan:
In June and July its a great time to keep an eye out for freebies in magazines, as they really up their game ready for people stocking up on beach/poolside reading. It's during these months over the past couple of years that I've managed to get some really decent travel sized items. I've now got three different mini fake tans (Xen Tan, St Tropez Tinted gradual tan, St Tropez In-shower tan), and I rotate these depending on what I might be wearing that night (e.g avoiding white when wearing Xen Tan), and how my natural tan is coming on. It takes me a while to tan, so for me it's worth while bringing three with me, especially when they are so small they're not taking up much space, and I'm likely to finish them before the holiday is over too... But for those you tan easily, you can save space in your luggage for other more necessary items!

Hair Mask (Pre-Shampoo):
I try to use Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer once a week, but when you're on holiday, your hair can take a bit of a battering with sea water, sun and sweat so it's good to keep up the hair care routine. This product is good to decant into a small tub as you might only need one dose to take with you, or I've got a small 30ml version, which I think will do my hair twice. I really like using this hair mask, as you put it on before shampooing and conditioning where it really soaks into your hair cuticle, and leaves your hair feeling thicker and healthier, but without that slippery silicone feeling.

Hair Protection (Post-Shampoo):
Again as hair care is important on holiday, if you can remember to put some Philip Kingsley Swimcap Cream on or Kerastase's CC Cream, your hair will have a UV filter and protection from chlorine, which is a must for people with dyed hair. I quite like how it slicks your hair back in a non-greasy way so that it is manageable but looks neat.

After Sun Moisture:
I'd always recommend slathering on some after sun once you've come out of the shower (my favourite by Ambre Solaire - great for sensitive skin as it can even be applied to the face). But I then move on to applying some body oil, to get some deep moisture into the skin. I really love Nuxe's 'Huile Prodigieuse OR' Face, Body and Hair shimmering oil. It catches the light nicely, and doesn't leave you feeling greasy. The best places to apply it is along your shins, on your shoulders, arms and chest. I also really like it on my face, it's a great prep before applying a bit of tinted moisturiser and really gives a glow from within.

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Tried and Tested - DIY Pre-Holiday Beauty Treatments

Over the years I have become very used to prepping myself to be 'beach-ready', rather than paying someone else to do the job. I'd rather save the money and I can fit it into my own schedule easily rather than having to keep to an appointment.

LVL Lash Lift 
This is only thing I've recently paid to have done. I'm now a week into getting them done, and I'm really pleased. I naturally have straight, long, fair lashes, so this has given them a great boost. This procedure is becoming very popular now, and I found my salon through Treatwell, which is great to find treatments with trusted reviews. The process takes an hour and requires you to keep your eyes closed for the whole time. I actually didn't feel the urge to open my eyes until the very end, and the hour goes very fast. Your lashes get pushed back over a shield to create a lift and then some heavy duty 'Blue/Black' dye gets applied. When I go on holiday I'm going to try and wear minimal eye makeup to keep as many of my lashes intact for as long as possible. The lift should last 6 weeks, and my beauty therapist told me not to use oily eye makeup removers, as I think the oil will break down the lift prematurely. It also looks great when I wear mascara, as they really fan out. Its less of a curl and more of a 'lift' (exactly what the procedure is called!)

The 'after' - blacker lifted fluttery lashes.

Fake Tan
For about 10 years now, my go-to fake tan is the standard St Tropez Bronzing Lotion. I make sure do a full body tan a couple of nights before I go away, then I take with me the St Tropez mini in-shower tan and gradual tan that I've picked up from magazines (more on that in a future post). Although the St Tropez tan is pretty heavy duty, it gives me a solid but natural looking tan that lasts about a week.

Wax
I have quite fair fine hair, so this helps when I wax my legs, as there's not that much to rip out. And over the years hair has grown back less and less. I buy Veet's pot of wax, and stock up on it when its buy one get one free (2 for £10! Bargain!). This is great to use all year round, and one tub probably lasts me a year, so its great value for money. As long as you are firm and quick with the removal its fine to do yourself, and something you definitely get used to doing.

Mani / Pedi
As mentioned in this post, I always paint my fingers and toes rather than paying someone to do it (as I think I can do just as good of a job and would rather spend the money on a new nail varnish!). I like to put time aside in the evenings before I go away, to paint my nails. I normally do this whilst something good is on TV, so I make sure I sit down and not knock anything for the next hour!

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Hand Luggage Beauty Essentials

I always struggle rationing what I can fit into the tiny allowance for liquids in hand luggage. Its a real pain when you only have hand luggage. but when I'm checking in luggage, I breath a sigh of relief that I can pick exactly what I want to accompany me on the plane.

Here are my top products to keep my skin fresh and hydrated, with some other beauty essentials thrown in there too.

1) Mini Bioderma - along with some cotton pads, to give your skin a freshen up mid-flight.
2) Caudalie 'Beauty Elixir' - a couple of spritz's of this leaves your skin feeling great. More on this here.
3) Mini Clinique 'Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion' - a standard mini moisturiser to quench your skin on a dehydrating flight.
4) Burt's Bees 'Beeswax Lip Balm' - a strong lip balm is always handy to have with you.
5) Tisserand 'Sweet Dreams' Aromatherapy Roller Ball - great to put on your pressure points just before you try and get 40 winks on the plane.
6) Hand sanitiser - I always have this in my hand bag, especially when travelling.
7) Hair bobble - tie you hair up to stop it getting extra greasy on the flight.
8) Mitchum deoderant - I also pack some wipes, so if I get a bit hot I can have a quick freshen up before I land.
9) Clinique mini 'Even Better' - I put a small amount of this on just before I land to give my skin a boost and get a bit of 15SPF too.
10) Clinique 'Line Smoothing Concealer' - I dab a bit of this under my eyes and on any spots to even my complexion out, and make me look less tired.
11) Clarins 'Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector' in shade 05 - this is a pretty and natural shade, which again gives your overall look that little boost it might need at the end of a long day travelling.

My bag is from Primark, it came with 2 other bigger sized bags. I prefer using this as its more durable than the thin plastic bags that they give you at the airport, but I make sure I never over pack it incase security ask me to transfer my products into one of their plastic bags.

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Product Review - Bose® SoundLink® Mini II Bluetooth Portable Speaker

For a few years now, I have wanted to get some portable speakers for when I go on holiday, but had just never got round to researching which one would be the best one on the market for our budget. Thankfully I have been a little more prepared for this holiday, and have managed to get a Bose 'SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth Portable Speaker' - after having a good Google and look on Which, we thought this one would suit us best. And so far we're very impressed. It was incredibly easy to set up and the sound quality is excellent. Its got a good battery life, and when it does need a charge it slots into a simple charging dock. Its a good size and weight - not too big that its hard to carry about (you would hope not if its meant to be portable), but then its not too small that compromises on sound quality. As we are yet to go on holiday, I will report back here if it doesn't live up to my expectations, but so far so good.

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SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Top Summer Nail Varnish Colours

I always paint my own finger and toenails (I never get mani's/pedi's!), so I like to plan out what colours I'd like to wear on holiday, and even if I need to bring any colours with me for a quick change.

Here are my top colours to reach for when I go abroad and to compliment a summer glow.

1) Chanel 'Holiday' - I first new about this shade from Lisa Eldridge mentioning it in one of her blog posts, I've always loved orange based nail varnishes, so the fact that this was her favourite holiday shade I had to give it a go! Chanel is known for their not-so-good staying power, but I find this last really well on my toes with a good base and top coat. Unfortunately I don't think Chanel make this shade any more, but I think their new shade 'Espradilles' is a good option.

Please excuse my feet, but I wanted to show Chanel 'Holiday' in action...

2) Jessica 'Confident Coral' - a perfect coral, very bright but not neon - not too pink and not too orange. Its a really happy colour! Looks great on both fingers and toes.

3) Essie 'Fiji' - looks great with a tan, a very pale pink, a nice option when you want to wear something fresh and feminine. I prefer this on my fingers.

4) Collistar 'Azzurro Amaleonte' - this is an Italian brand, and the shade name translates to Blue Chameleon, which I think is perfect because of the rainbow effects within the shade makes it look slightly different in different lights. I picked this up in Florence a couple of years ago, after being immediately drawn to this shade in a department store. I automatically think of the sea and mermaids when I wear this colour, its so pretty. So if you're ever in Italy, I'd recommend it!

5) Chanel 'Beige Pur' - this is a perfect pinky nude the compliments my skin tone. I like wearing it when I've got a bright colour on my toes, its very understated and chic, and a good option when you're going to be wearing alot of bright summery clothes that you don't want your nails to clash with.

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Tried and Tested: Health Kick #3 - Healthy Snacking

Its all very well trying to plan ahead for your lunch and evening meals, but sometimes during the day you need a quick (but healthy) snack to keep you going until meal time. Here are a few things that I've been eating recently, to help curb the hunger and give me a healthy boost.

Protein Balls
There are many recipes for these on the internet, but I found that this recipe, from the The Healthy Maven, works for me, and you can easily modify it based on what you have in the cupboard. Great for when you've got a bit of a sweet tooth, so probably shouldn't to eat too regularly, but its nice knowing what every single ingredient you've put into the mix is.

Nuts and Raisin Pot
I've got a little plastic Tupperware pot, that I keep in my hand bag - its got a mix of raisins, pecans, cashew nuts, Brazil nuts and walnuts. The ingredients don't really 'go off' or need to be kept in a fridge, so its fine if you don't manage to eat it for a couple of weeks!

Boiled Eggs
At the start of the week, I boil a few eggs to take with me to work, I keep them in the fridge, and at about 11am when I'm starting to get hungry, having a hard boiled egg really satisfies hunger pangs, and its great to have protein early in the morning too, as its when your body needs it most.

Dried Fruit and Yoghurt
Its great for a snack but will also be a tasty breakfast. Add a handful of dried apricots, dates, prunes and figs into a pan, cover it with cold water and bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for half an hour. Then leave the pan over night for the water to carry on absorbing into the fruit. It also creates a syrup that is great when you add a couple of spoonfuls of the fruit mix to some natural yoghurt.

Peanut Butter
This isn't the best snack, but when I'm very hungry and just can't wait half an hour until my dinner is ready, I eat a tea spoonful of 'healthy' good quality peanut butter. It gives me enough of a boost, but hopefully isn't too loaded up with sugar.

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Trend: Skincare to give you the 'glow'

So far I have been really impressed with the range from Sunday Riley, having tried testers of their 'Ceramic Slip' clay cleanser and 'Good Genes' lactic acid treatment, with great results. I am now using two other cult products, the 'Luna Sleeping Night Oil' and the 'Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil' every other day and night, and they make for a dreamy pairing! Both are quite intense for the skin, probably due to the fact they are pure high grade oil's, so I don't feel the need to use them every morning and evening, but find acts as a great boost to the skin every couple of days. The Luna is £85 and Artemis is £60, so definitely at the higher end of the price range for skin care, but as I'm getting older I feel more and more aware of how my skin is aging, and I think that the purest, natural but yet scientfic brands are really able to offset any early signs of aging for as long as possible. The company I work for sells Sunday Riley, and we have been lucky enough to have a couple of talks from their UK representative, so I feel I really know the Sunday Riley facts now!

I like how thick and rich the Artemis oil is, so it slowly sinks into the skin, enabling the layers of your skin to get all the benefits from its great ingredients. And even though it leaves your skin feeling soft, supple and with a slight sheen, it does not encourage extra oil product throughout the day. So it really acts as a great first base for your goal of glowing skin.

The night oil is a wonderfully repairing and purifying oil, that contains retinol to combat wrinkles. It contains other ingredients to lessen the harsh side of retinol, so for older skin it is safe to use everyday if desired. And it also contains ingredients to boost radiance, which is perfect in achieving glowing skin. One thing to note though, keep it out of harsh day light so that the retinol doesn't break down too prematurely (that is why the store it in a dark bottle and kept the dark blue tansy dye.. clever!).

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Tired and Tested: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

My hands suffer from dryness quite badly, and so it always helps to apply some hand cream at night, so it can soak in for a few hours without being disturbed.  I've received this hand cream, the 'Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm' from Aesop as a Christmas present for a couple of years now, and I think its such a nice treat for your hands. Its not too greasy, but rich enough to really tackle any bad dry areas on your hands. I find that I can't feel it on my hands when I wash in the morning, so I believe this is because all the goodness has been absorbed and there aren't any bad ingredients to sit on the skin. It contains lots of lovely plant oils, such as Lavendar, Coconut and Orange, so it smells great. I think its a good unisex scent. And ofcourse looks incredibly stylish on your bedside table!

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Style: Arche Sandals

I first discovered the gorgeous footwear brand, Arche, when I was browsing my local Natural Shoe Company Store in Covent Garden. I was on the hunt for a practical, comfy and stylish pair of black sandals to see me through the summer (what summer?!) and many trips away we have planned. My feet don't really fit that well into Birkenstocks, so I didn't really know where else would cater from my wide feet! After initially being put off by their high price tag (£139!!), I spent about two weeks carrying on looking for sandals, but I always found I was comparing them to these beauties, with their buttery soft suede, flattering criss-cross straps and comfy sole. They are called 'Satia Noir', and after initally dying my feet a bit black, I am so pleased with them. They don't rub at all and support my feet really well. I'll definitely be on the look out for more from this French brand in the future. Although I would note that I tried a few styles on, there were a couple that I couldn't even get my toes into?! Which I thought was a bit strange as the pair I've got are comfortably wide.

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Top Products - Review: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder 'Diffused Light'

If you have fair skin, and are looking for a feathery light setting powder, then I would recommend giving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Diffused Light' a go. Its not cheap, at £38 its quite a hefty purchase, but you do get a decent amount of 0.35oZ, so it should last a while.

Now although for me I don't think it quite lives up to the hype that you hear about this product on Youtube,  I do think it does offer a subtle makeup setting powder, with the tiniest tiniest hint of a shimmer. So perfect for those days when you've mixed your liquid highlighter in with your foundation, and don't want to mute down any of the gorgeous glow you've created by putting a mattifying powder over the top. This powder works very nicely underneath the eyes, over spots and around the nose, because of the slight yellow tone that cancells out any redness.

With no parbens or talc, this is definitely good for sensitive skin too.

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Tried and Tested: Chanel Perfume Collection

Its only been in the past few years, since I first discovered Chanel 'Chance' perfume, that I really wanted to explore more of their collection. I'm now lucky enough to own 'Madamoiselle' and Noir', and I think I've got a spritz to suit any occasion. I've only ever received perfume as gifts, as I don't tend to go through them too quickly. I quite enjoy having a quick tester when I walk through department stores to discover a new scent, but for now I am happy with my rotation.

'Chance Eau Tendre' - for everyday, feels refreshing and bright, perfect for Spring and Summer.
'Coco Noir' - sultry and musky, I use this in the winter, and especially for evenings out.
'Coco Mademoiselle' - again suitable for everyday, but a bit sweeter and stronger, so great for evenings too. I would use this all year round.

Then for when I'm travelling, I recently bought an atomizer to dispense my perfume into. I'm really pleased with this one from John Lewis, as everything feels secure so I'm not worried that there's going to be any leakages of my valuable scents! Its nice to be able to just decant a small amount so that you can change which perfume you want to wear between different trips away. Its the perfect size for your hang luggage too.

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Style: Chloé Wallet

Its quite dangerous working near a TK Maxx.. A quick 10 minute lunch break can suddenly turn into spending nearly £200 on something you had not planned on getting that day (or ever?!) But when a Chloé 'Marcie' zip around wallet makes an appearance, at nearly half the price, it just had to be done.

So this beauty in the shade 'Nut' cost me £180, but it retails at £340. I gave it a thorough inspection to make sure there were no imperfections, and it even had the genuine authentication cards inside.

I fully appreciate that its a luxury item, and I want to treat it with extra special care, so for the moment, whilst my current purse is still in action, I won't be using this every day. I'm hoping it'll be an investment for the future, and a purse that I'll want to use for many years to come. I may have had to watch the pennies for the rest of the month, but I think it was well worth it!

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Top Products - Review: Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner

Many years ago, I always used liquid liners to create my usual cat-eye flick. I then ventured into Bobbi Browns Gel eyeliner. I enjoyed using this however, as alot of people find too, it dries up towards the end, and for a long time I wasn't achieving the 'cleanest' line that I'd like.

After a bit of researching to find a new contender, I came across Laura Merciers version, the Crème Eye Liner. Its worlds apart from the hard, dry version that unfortunately Bobbi's can turn into. I've had mine for a couple of years now (they take ages to go through), and its still as creamy and soft as when I first bought it. Its £19.50 for 3.5g, where as Bobbi Brown's gel liner is £18.50 for 3g, so is a little bit more value for money too.

I have it in Noir (black, obvs), and Espresso (a warm brown). Espresso is great for when I still want definition on the eyes, but it gives an overall softer look, and compliments my blue/green eyes. I wore this on my wedding, as I didn't want to have a harsh black line. 

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Trends: Anti-Pollution Skincare - REN Flash Defence Anti Pollution Mist

We have known for a long time that exposure to sun can damage the skin and cause premature aging. But the effects of pollution on the skin are only just becoming common knowledge now. I have used Ren Evercalm range on my face for two years now, and this targets the effects of pollution on sensitive skin, but now they have brought out a more universal spray to 'shield and protect the skin from the aging effects of environment pollution and harmful free-radicals'.

Living in London, I am very conscious of how pollution may be effecting me both inside and out, so I've been enjoying being able to give my face and neck a spritz of this before I leave the flat, and then again if I know I'll be outside for any length of time. It has a really refreshing scent, so it feels like a great 'pick me up' too. I think it smells quite similar to Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

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