New releases

Here are some new spring products out that I thought looked rather nice - has anyone tried these?

Bobbi Brown has a new Brightening Nudes Collection with some pretty pink and lilac lip glosses and sparkly eyeshadows but the one thing that caught my eye is the Brightening Finishing Powder £40.  It's an all over powder that instantly illuminates and gives a healthy glow. Definitely one to look out for.

Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder

Zoya, the natural nail polish company, have launched lots of new nail polishes:  

The Feel Collection

The True Collection

The Fleck Effects Collection

Skin care guru Sarah Chapman has a new face mask the Skinesis Instant Miracle Mask £38 which promises to reveal a smoother more radiant complexion, pores appear smaller, skin looks brighter and more lifted:

Saturday Suggestions

If you are attending an all-day event and want your mascara to stay in place, try a mascara primer beforehand, such as Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus.  This will maximise your lashes and extend the wear of your mascara.

Tom Ford Eyeshadows

I'm sure a lot of makeup lovers will have already read about the Tom Ford eyeshadows released last year but I thought I would blog about mine anyway in case you haven't.

In this eyeshadow range are 10 different sets, which come in a quad of complementing shades with finishes of sheer sparkle, satin, shimmer and matte.  The set that I have is Burnished Amber (above) which is the perfect set for hazel and green eyes but would still look fab on those with blue or brown eyes.

The set is not cheap at £62 but it's comparable with other high-end brands such as Chanel and Bobbi Brown.  The eyeshadows come in a quite masculine style pallet with a 70's feel that looks very cool and unlike anything else on the market.  There are 2 applicators included - usually I never use applicators sold with eyeshadows but the little brush on one of these is actually useable.

So what are the eyeshadows like?  Really beautiful!  They are creamy, blendable, have great pigment and very little fall out on application.  They also stay put for the whole day, which is what you would expect from a quality brand.

I've had so many compliments when I've worn these shades, they make a statement but not in a garish way.  These are grown-up, sophisticated colours and this palette is my absolute favourite now.

If you want a beautiful eyeshadow set and don't mind paying high-end prices for high-end quality then Tom Ford is your man.

Dr Organic Tea Tree Nail Solution

Last year I had a bit of a nail problem - two of my nails had come a little away from the nail bed and not only was it unsightly but unhealthy.  I'm not actually sure how it happened but I knew I didn't want to go down the anti-fungal tablets route and would rather try the natural approach.

Whilst shopping in Holland & Barrett I saw the Dr Organic range made a Tea Tree Antifungal Nail Solution £5.19, which is exactly what I was looking for.  It's sweet almond oil containing tea tree and undecylenic acid which are both antifungal and antibacterial.   The bottle has a brush inside and you apply a thin layer to the nails twice a day.

The directions say that after three weeks the nails would be improved but this didn't happen for me and I lost heart after about four weeks when not a lot seemed to be happening.  However, after a week I thought I should give it another go and so carried on for another three weeks when suddenly I noticed that yes my nails were definitely improving.  

My nails have now returned to health thanks to this Antifungal Nail Solution.  It took a lot longer than stated but in my experience with natural products they react differently to each person.  I didn't have to go down the tablets route so it was all worth it in the end.

Man Friday

This week Andrew has done a review on Boots No 7 Airbrush Away Primer:

"I recently purchased the Boots No 7 Airbrush Away Primer £19.50 as I'm a fan of the Boots No 7 Shine Free Makeup Base £11 and I have an oily t-zone which I like to keep under control by using mattifyers and primers.

This primer is made to instantly reduce the appearance of signs of ageing. It has filling properties with light-diffusing particles to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and put uneven skin tone and pores into soft focus.

After application of the Airbrush Away Primer it instantly left my skin feeling silky smooth and my skin looked even toned, although it did not reduce shine in quite the same way as my No 7 Shine Free Makeup Base does. Shine Free does a great job of keeping oil production at bay so I think I'll stick to using this in future.

However, for those with dry/normal/combination skin I think Airbrush Away Primer would be good for reducing the appearance of any imperfections and for those who wear makeup it would make a good base."

Cream Blusher

I love wearing blusher but always get it wrong (I use powder blusher), what can I do to stop looking like a clown?  Lucy

If you wear foundation/tinted moisturiser then blusher is vital to put some colour back in your face, or if you just want to add a little flush to the cheeks.  It's something I never go without!

I would give cream blusher a try as you can use your fingers (or a synthetic brush if you so wish) to apply, so get more control of where and how much you are applying.  You can start with a small dab and blend into the apples of the cheeks, upwards towards the ears.  Cream blushers can be used on a clean face or over foundation, however, don't use after face powder as it's much more difficult to blend.

My favourites are Top Shop Blush £6, a lightweight cream to powder blush that melts into the skin and Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks £18, a cream-based formula which is quite sheer but can be built up for more colour, you can also use it on your lips.

This Works Perfect Cleavage Firming Lotion

I bought This Works Perfect Cleavage Firming Lotion £37 a few months ago as my décolletage area was showing signs of ageing and I'd read a lot of good reviews about it.  It's a gorgeous smelling lotion which is non-greasy and sinks in straight away; the ingredients are all natural and it contains lots of essential oils as well as Larch Extract, which provides skin tightening properties and Algae, which actives the formation of collagen and elastin.

I've been using it for a couple of months, every night and sometimes in the morning and I still have a few weeks left - a little goes a long way, you only need one pump so don't be put off by the price.  It has definitely smoothed and brightened my décolletage and I am very happy with the results, it's a product that I will continue to purchase.

If you have a décolletage that needs a bit of tender loving care I would highly recommend this lovely lotion.

Comvita Manuka Honey Lozenges

Has anyone else had a persistent cough/cold like me recently?  It's a real pain in the bee-hind and none of the conventional cough remedies ever seem to work for me.

When I asked for a natural cough remedy in my local pharmacist they recommended Comvita Manuka Honey Lozenges.  The lozenges contain Manuka Honey, a high grade honey with antibacterial properties and Propolis, a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds and other botanical sources to protect the hive.

As these lozenges are from natural sources they do not come cheap and I paid £3.99 for a pack of 12; however, they taste delicious and soothed my throat immediately, without that horrible over-sweet, medicinal taste you get from high street lozenges.

After looking at their website I see that Comvita produce lots of other natural health and skincare products which I will looking into.  Available in Boots, Holland and Barrett, Pharmacies and online.

Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment

All this snow is rather lovely but the very cold temperatures outside and central heating inside mean that no amount of regular lip balm can control my chapped lips.  As you know, I am a huge fan of Dermalogica products, as they just seem to work for me and this is where their Climate Control Lip Treatment £6.48 comes to the rescue.

This balm has no artificial colour or fragrance, contains shea butter, wheatgerm and oat which all soothe sore spots and lock in moisture.  It stays on the lips for a good few hours so no need to keep reapplying and you can also use it on other dehydrated areas of the face - around the nose etc.

Climate Control is not like a regular lip balm as it doesn't have that waxy feel, which might not be to everyone's taste but for me it's a product I always turn to when the temperatures drop.

Alpha H Triple Action Cleanser

I bought this Alpha H Triple Action Cleanser, £23 for 200ml, a few weeks after I bought the Alpha H Liquid Gold, which I was really impressed with (read about it here).  It's for normal, combination and oily skin and I have dry patches with an oily t-zone so thought it would be good for me (they have a Balancing Cleanser in the range which is for all skin types).

Here's the product description:

*  Gently removes eye makeup
*  Retards the spread of acne bacteria, breaking the acne cycle
*  Skin attains correct PH balance thanks to unique combination of ingredients
*  Skin becomes more receptive to further treatments

As you can see, this is a serious cleanser and after having used it for a couple of months I can confirm it does the business.  It has a clear, gel texture and I use a single pump in the morning shower which cleans my face and neck perfectly without any dryness, whilst controlling my oily t-zone. (It's now sold in a tube as above rather than pump bottle which I prefer). One of the main ingredients is Aloe Vera and this seems to be a skin saviour for me.  I also tried it with a full face of makeup and it got rid of everything, including mascara, without leaving any panda eyes.

This is now one of my favourite cleansers and I will definitely be repurchasing, in fact I've seen a 500ml which is more economical so that's the one I'm going to buy.