Schwarzkopf [3D]Mension Texturizing Cream £7.82

I did vow never to date a man with hair better than mine but somehow I am ending up marrying one. I am so jealous of my fiance's think and strong hair, mine in comparison is a bit limp and lifeless. Whenever I tell my partner this he goes on about how unmanageable his hair is and how difficult it is to style. Pretty much since we have been together he has been using the same hair wax so I thought it was time to mix things up a bit.

I made him try [3D]Mension Texturizing Cream and after a bit of hesitation he agreed. Thankfully he really liked the product. The texture isn't too thick or sticky so you don't have to spend ages washing it off your fingers afterwards but still gives a strong hold. He found that he really liked the matte effect, men do look a little funny with super shiny hair, and it also means that he didn't have to worry about his hair looking greasy. For someone who always uses the same product I was really surprised to how easily he adapted to using a new product and how happy he was with the outcome.

The Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm £9.99

The Bluebeards Revenge provides the ultimate shaving experience for men and as someone who appreciates a freshly shaved man I needed to feel for myself. Luckily I have a very willing fiance to trial on. The first thing you notice is that inside the box there is information on male specific cancers. As men are less likely to talk to other people or their doctors about their men parts I think this is a great way to help reduce the embarrassment and provide potential lifesaving information.

The smell of the post shave balm is the ultimate man scent, fresh with a hint of the ocean. There is a lot of nuzzling into my fiances neck after he uses this. The balm has a soft texture that melts into your skin to soothe, calm and refresh after shaving. The balm contains a secret ingredient that helps to reduce hair growth so with regular use your man can be as fresh as he was when he left for work when he returns home. Keep your man looking and smelling his best all year round.

James Brown London Hair Revive Dry Shampoo £7.19

In recent years dry shampoo has become a permanent fixture in most peoples fight against flat hair. My hair is really fine so the day after washing it I find I have to give the roots a lift. James Brown London dry shampoo from his signature collection is swiftly becoming one of my favorites. First up the packaging is sleek and looks professional, and the scent is lovely and suitable for men and women. My fiance keeps borrowing my dry shampoo and got slightly annoyed when I got a really floral smelling one and waited until after he had sprayed it all over his head to tell him. It contains rice starch to absorb oil so there really is no excuse for greasy, flat roots. Unlike some dry shampoo's it doesn't leave a white powdery residue on your hair that can make it dull so you hair keeps it's shine. It's saved me vital time in the morning getting ready which means more minutes in bed on these cold mornings. Simply spray at the roots, leave for a few minutes and then brush out for revived hair that looks like it was washed that day. I keep a travel sized one in my handbag for those days when I go straight out from the office, which is a must when rain is constantly flattening my hair at this time of year.This is an essential in any girls (or boys) bag at the moment to make sure you are party ready at any given time.

Charles Worthington Secrets Collection

Overnight Ultimate Hair Healer £14.99: At first I was a little suspicious of using a product that you leave in overnight. What worried me was leaving a load of residue on my pillowcases and having to spend lads of time rinsing the product out in the morning. Luckily both my fears were unwarranted. I can honestly say that I have never used a product like it, it has an almost gel like quality that's smooth rather than sticky. It soaks into your hair instantly and doesn't feel wet at all so leaves absolutely no residue on the pillow.  It has a soft scent to it as well that isn't overpowering but gives your hair a fruity scent. In the morning my hair felt thicker and as soon as I had rinsed the product out of my hair my hair felt super smooth. After using it twice a week for two weeks I am really happy with the improvement of the condition of my hair. My hair feels softer, stronger and healthier. I think my hair has pretty much fully recovered from my bleaching fiasco thanks to this. I will certainly be using this product regulary now to keep it my hair at it's best condition. 

Diamond Shine Gloss Treatment £12.99: One thing I noticed after going from brunette to blond was that it was much harder to get my hair to really shine when it is blond. You leave it on for 10 minutes on dry hair before you shampoo and condition. It took a couple of applications before I saw a real improvement in the shine of my hair but when I did I was really happy with the results. By the end of the first week my hair looked like I had had a professional treatment, my sister even asked if I had gone to the hairdresser.


The only negative I found, and it really was a niggle rather than an issue, was that there wasn't a recommendation for how much product you should use in each case. For both I ended up using the same as I would do for shampoo and that seems to work well for me. Other than that the packaging is really great, looks like a luxury product with a high street price tag

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 week tan

As I have mentioned it was my gorgeous sisters wedding a few weeks ago and I was so pleased to be asked to be her maid of honor. I was slightly nervous about the photo's as I hate having my picture taken at the best of times let alone when you know everyone is going to want to see them. My sister had picked a gorgeous black dress for me and her other bridesmaids to wear and as it was one shouldered I wanted to have a bit of a tan otherwise I would have looked completely washed out. 

The positives of wearing fake tan are numerous but so are the negatives so any brand that can help to eliminate them have my vote. One of my biggest annoyances is that they can fade so quickly, I am lazy and I don't want to have to re-apply fake tan every few days. Another problem is getting a tan that is easy and quick to apply, as I have said I am lazy and don't want to spend hours meticulously applying tan. Finally its the smell, my fiancé has told me off enough times for biscuit smelling towels that it makes my life so much easier if my fake tan doesn't leave a scent. 

Two days before the wedding I applied one coat of the tan, I went for the dark shade and the next morning I was really pleased with the colour. There was no hint of orange and there was absolutely no streaks which was such a bonus (I think my sister would have been pissed if I had turned up streaky). The texture of the mousse is gorgeous, really light and smooth on your skin (I have tried a few fake tans that feel a bit grainy and its very off putting). As I was putting it on I really felt like I was treating my skin and the next morning I felt very soft and moisturised. 

As recommended for a longer lasting tan I re-applied the tan the next day. In hindsight I probably should of stuck to one coat only as my sister and her other bridesmaids hadn't tanned so I ended up looking like I had just got back from a couple of weeks in the Caribbean. I was a lovely colour but two coats of the dark formula was quite dark for my colouring. It was in no way orange though so it still looked natural. 

The tan fades very evenly so you don't end up looking like you have some skin condition and it certainly lasted longer than any other fake tan I have used. For me it didn't last 2 weeks but then I was really bad and didn't moisturise every day and had hot baths which draw the colour off. It's one of the more expensive tans but because it lasts longer than others it does balance out. The perfect tan for holidays when you don't want to be applying tan every other day and the colour is so natural that everybody will think it's real. The smell also passed the fiancé test so an all round great product. 
 

   
This is me and my beautiful sister on her wedding day, as you can probably guess I am the tanned one pulling a stupid face.  

The Skin Clinic

I have always hated the small mole I have had on my face but never really thought about doing anything about it until my sister got rid of hers. She got married last month and beforehand decided to have hers removed. Mine was, according to my dad 'far uglier than hers' and seeing the results of hers I went ahead and booked an appointment. It was scheduled for the day after my sisters wedding so to say that I was feeling delicate was an understatement. 

I had done a little research into costs before I booked and the Skin Clinic was by far the most reasonable option, in some cases well over a 1/3 of the price. You would be forgiven for thinking that maybe with lower prices the service wouldn't be as good, you would be very wrong though. The Clinic itself it light, airy and professional. The receptionist was very friendly and sweet as was Dr. Ward who instantly put any worries I had about pain out of my mind. She had a calming nature and talked me through the process and aftercare advice in depth. I knew what to expect from the procedure and what results I would get before she went ahead.

The procedure itself was virtually painless, only a little scratch and that was it, face mole gone. No blood, no pain, I would say a bee sting is more painful than Dr Wards mole removals. The most unpleasant part is the cauterizating, the smell isn't great but it is over with so quickly it didn't bother me.

It took two weeks for the scab to fall off and that was only hard as I was desperate to see what was underneath it. When it finally did I was so happy with the results and can't believe I waited so long to have such a relatively minor process. If you look closely you can see where the mole used to be, the skin is lighter and I will need to be extra carefully with protecting my face from the sun in future. I am much happier with a barely noticeable and easy to cover up scar than I was with my mole.

If anybody is considering getting a mole removed, whether it be for cosmetic or medical purposes I would strongly recommend the Skin Clinic and have taken the time to vote for them in the Cosmetic News Award for 'Best New Clinic".

Ginvera BB Cream £20

Ginvera's Green Tea Marvel Gel is already a hero product of mine so when I found out they had a BB cream I just had to try it. It contains green tea and a unique blend of antioxidants which it says help fight against free radical damage and helps prevents fine lines. 

At first I thought the formula would be too dark for me but it blends really well and has a matte finish so I don't need to wear powder over it so it gets points for being time saving. It isn't greasy and had good staying power so I didn't feel like I needed to redo my make up half way through the day. Like a good BB cream should it left my face feeling cotton soft and looking even. 

Another bonus is that it's SPF 30 so I don't need to wear extra sunscreen although I am only seeing the sun occasionally at the moment. It's really great for when I get a few spots and want coverage but not to suffocate my skin and I can still have really even finish. 

This brand from Singapore have added another must have product for everybody but anybody who has the suffered from breakouts will especially love this. 

AVEDA Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Hand Relief

Aveda Hand Relief™, a top seller since its launch in 1998, is a rich hand crème which softens and smoothes while diminishing the appearance of the signs of ageing. The limited edition Pink Ribbon Hand Relief™ for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is specially packaged to offer guests a 20% increase in size. The packaging features a limited edition Pink Ribbon design to raise awareness of this disease which affects 1 in 8 women nationally.

Product Features

• Meadowfoam seed oil provides hydration to dry skin while helping to maintain the skin's moisture barrier.
• Vitamins A and E help protect skin from environmental aggressors.
• Lactic acid (from sugar beet) helps slough off dry, rough, damaged skin while smoothing rough spots and the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
• Liquorice extract acts as a skin clarifier, brightening the appearance of age spots.
• Glycerin and andiroba oil supply intense moisture and soothing relief to dry, stressed skin.

Donation  

£2 of the purchase price of each Hand Relief sold in the UK will be given to support cruelty-free research through The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, with a maximum donation of £172,000.

What is The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF)?

-  BCRF was founded in 1993 by Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent not-for-profit organization.

-  BCRF's mission: To invest in the most promising breast cancer research worldwide that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime.

-  Currently, BCRF donates 90 cents of every dollar to research and awareness programs.

-  Funds raised to date: more than $380 million.

-  BCRF-funded scientists and others are responsible for critical advances in breast cancer care which have lead to decreased breast cancer mortality.

-  For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org

Lush Ladies of Leeds

At Lush's Leeds store on Tuesday 24th July between 3.00pm and 5.00pm Rowena Bird, Lush Co Founder and creator of Emotional Brilliance will be in the Lush Leeds store meeting customers and giving them an emotional brilliance reading. You will need to book a time with her and as this is a huge event places are going quickly. Go into the store to find out more and book your consultation. 

EMOTIONAL BRILLIANCE

Introducing a brand new concept matching your psychological needs to what colour cosmetics you should be wearing, at any moment. 

This range – consisting of lip colours, eyeliners and eyeshadows - is less about wearing make-up that’s in-season or someone else’s vision of what’s on-trend, as it won’t fulfil your needs. Emotional Brilliance works as a way to wear something that’s designed for you - you choose colours and then the corresponding words, such as Confident, Take Control or Glamorous, will be significant to you and your needs at that time and you wear them to get that point across.  It’s the power of suggestion – it’s enough that you believe in it, you will then start to behave a certain way.

Lush Co-Founder and Inventor of Emotional Brilliance Rowena Bird comments “I love lipstick, but why wasn’t one great colour ever enough, why was I drawn to a particular one on different days or even sometimes feel the need to change colour part way through a day?  After chatting with like minded lipstick junkies, it struck us that it wasn’t about what clothes we were wearing but more about how we were feeling and so the idea was born”.

Sweat Guard

Ok so it's not the most glamorous product but we all sweat and some more than others. Nothing ruins a look more than putting your arms in the air to find massive sweat patches in your pits. Grey clothes are notoriously bad for it and as most of my tops are grey when I go out I am constantly checking to see if I have the dreaded sweat patches. 

While regular antiperspirants help there are some times when something stronger is needed. Take my latest day out in London. The cold weather meant wrapping up warm but then walking around combined with the hot tubes meant that I was constantly going from hot to cold. Not only that but the stress of meetings and getting to places on time meant that sweating was a real threat. Thankfully though after several long hours there wasn't a hint of wet patch on my top. If I hadn't of used sweat guard I can guarantee that I would have had huge wet patches. Also from my day of traveling around I think this should be made compulsory for anybody travelling on the tube. 

I didn't have time for a shower before going out and my quick change was something akin to superman in a phone box so I was unsure whether the product would last all night. What turned out to be a few drinks turned into somehow finding myself in a very hot and cramped club. Normally this would be a nightmare situation of not being to raise my arms for fear of the change in colour on my top, not on this occasion though. 

You might expect it to smell horribly medicinal but its actually got a very pleasant minty fruity smell. The bad news is that it isn't available in your local Boots, in fact its not available anywhere other than the website and at £19.97 it isn't the cheapest on the market. If you find that regular antiperspirants don't cut it though and from speaking to my friends many of you don't this is really worth the investment. 

Another product on the site is the dress shields, a stick on absorbent pad that you stick to the inside of your clothes that stops any sweat from getting onto your clothes. It's best worn with shirts so perfect for when you have that important job interview and are more likely to be sweating. One less thing to worry about it the stain under your arms. Starting at £3.99 for 10 then provide a reassuring barrier on your clothes so even if you are sweating buckets no one needs to know. 

New 212 Seductive Body Spray by Carolina Herrera

212 Body Spray was born from the perfect chemistry of combining the essence of a young and urban New York, and the elegance from the 212 universe. 212 Body Spray tickles your senses and presents you with innovative design, taking its inspiration from New York street art, always by the hand of the sophistication and style that characterizes the legendary 212 fragrance. 

It’s fresh and intense aroma seduces and spreads energy through its masculine and feminine tones. 212 Body Spray Men accentuates the sensuality of masculine skin and fills it with freshness, thanks to its citric ingredients such as pink grapefruit and fresh mint. For women, 212 Body Spray treats your skin with care and elegance through a mixture of evocative ingredients, such as bergamot, mandarin and grapefruit petals.

212 Body Spray conveys all the youthful attitude and essence of New York, and its energy. As well as the mythical 212 notes, there is a touch of freshness and fun, and that sensation of subtle skin contact which bathes you in elegance.

212 Men Body Spray 250ml : £16.50

212 Body Spray for Her 250ml : £18.50

After Exercise Deep Muscle Rub £6.95

This muscle rub from The Bakewell Soap Company couldn't have arrived at a better time. My husband to be signed up to a 10K run a few weeks ago and rather than do any training he decided to just go for it on the day and hope for the best. Well needless to say he came home after the run in a bad state. His legs, not used to that amount of activity, decided to get their own back on him and start hurting which was a great excuse to use this rub.

It uses uses Arnica and Cajeput to provide effective relief for aches, stiffness and inflammation and Salicylic Acid to relieve muscle aches caused by lactic acid build up; Cineol, which helps to relax muscles and joints, and Sesquiterpenes to reduce joint inflammation and bruising. I also got a friend he ran with to give it a go. They both really liked the application of the rub, it doesn't soak in so doesn't leave your skin sticky but has a light covering effect instead almost like an oil. This meant that it was perfect for massaging the effected area. It heats up slightly to provide relief and both the men found the sensation helped to relax the muscles. They also both commented that the smell was really nice, much better than the strong smells of some other muscle treatments. All in all the feedback was very positive.

I also like the tin, very handy to carry around and you don't have the worry of spilling that you have with products in bottles. For the amount you get and the small amount you actually need per application the price is extremely reasonable. If the urge ever takes me to do any exercise I am going to make sure this is close to hand. 

Micellar Lotion £12.50

French skincare specialist Eau Thermale Avène have developed Micellar Lotion cleanser and makeup remover. Like all Eau Thermale Avène products it contains Avène Thermal Spring Water known for its soothing and anti-irratant properties. It's delicate enough for use on the most sensitive of skins and doesn't leave your skin feeling dried out like some makeup removers can. It is in the luxury price bracket but you do get a lot in the bottle and as you only need a little I think this is going to last me for a long time so worth the money. The ultimate test of course is can it remove all traces of makeup after a big night out? I found it best to squirt a little on a cotton wool pad, leave the pad over your closed eye for a few seconds before wiping everything off. Considering it's so gentle it takes mascara and such off easily so you don't have to keep wiping at your eyes. A product that lives up to its claims of leaving your skin clean, soft and soothed.  

Now for something completely different

The British catwalk scene got a whole new look this week with a beauty & makeup runway show that abandoned bodies for faces to create the world’s first ever ‘facewalk’.

Using the traditional fashion catwalk show set up, QVC created the exclusive ‘facewalk’ runway event to showcase exclusive new beauty looks in celebration of its June Beauty Month.

After London’s first ever ‘men’s fashion week’ this month, the first ever ‘facewalk’ show put faces centre stage by shunning catwalk supermodels like Elle ‘The Body’ Macpherson in favour of up-and-coming ‘new faces’ from the British modelling scene.

Set in complete darkness, the show focused entirely on the 12 models’ faces through carefully placed spotlights with looks ranging from contemporary and classic to extreme.

For the first time on the catwalk scene, the focus switched from fashion to beauty with the models revealing specially designed looks including ‘nu wave’, ‘flower’, ‘geisha’, ‘sky’ and ‘space’. The looks were created using products and brands available through QVC including Jemma Kidd, Bobbi Brown and bareMinerals.

QVC’s invite-only ‘facewalk’ event was revealed to British beauty media at London’s prestigious Hospital Club and was curated by leading makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench. 

Sue Leeson, from QVC commented: “There’s no city on Earth more exciting or inspiring than London this year, so what better place for us to create a world first. We are so used to taking fashion inspiration from the catwalk but this show is all about illustrating the potential of makeup, how it can be applied and adapted as trends evolve. 

“One of the things that’s unique about QVC is the way we demonstrate our cosmetic and skin-care brands on-air with the brand owners themselves giving viewers step by step guides to application and tips on technique.  Viewers are encouraged to adapt their looks and experiment with new products daily - knowing they have 30 days to return any product they try but don’t like.”

Visit qvcuk.com/facewalk to watch the full facewalk show and learn how to create some of the looks yourself.

These are my two favourite

  

Payot

Regular readers will know my love for Payot but for those that don't the brand started in 1920 and was pioneering at it's time. Each product is tailored to meet different needs and solve various problems. I got sent to try a couple of products from their new line My Payot. They say about the range 


"For the first time Payot have used a duo of super fruits, both Goji berries with carotens, trace elements and flavonoids as well as the nourishing and repairing Acai berries to ensure healthy skin that is full of vitality for all. Each formula also contains an extract ofactive bifidus; these micro-organisms, also known as probiotics, form a protective shield for the immune system. Applied on the skin, day after day active bifidus helps reinforce our natural defences against environmental aggressions."


The first product I tried was the My Payot Fluide Daily Radiance Care  £24.50. It's has a mattifying effect whilst still being radiance boosting so I found that when my skin didn't need any coverage I could use it on it's own in morning and my skin looked lovely and glowing. 


I also tried the My Payot Nuit Night Radiance Care £30.50 which was my favourite of the two. They are both great but this one just had the edge. The creamy formula calls for you to massage it into your face gently. It contains hazelnut extract to detoxify the skin so when you wake your skin is renewed. When I wake up in the morning now my skin still feels like it's just been moisturised. 

Benefit Babes

Today I had one of those days that make having a beauty blog amazing. Not only did I get to meet some lovely people but also play with make-up all afternoon. The setting was Fibre Bar in Leeds city centre. The brand was Benefit, one I have loved for a long time and I can still remember the first product I bought, it was Dallas. 

First up we learned more about Benefit's history. For instance Benetint was created after a request for a product to enhance an exotic dancers nipples, which it still does (I checked). They are proud to be different and so am I.

They let us in on a secret: their new range of lip glosses which will be available on 28^th June (£13.50) and come in six different shades, each one to match a box o’powder. We got to be some of the first people to try them and even got one in our goodie bag. They all have a beautiful sheen, a hint of fruity scent and are non-sticky. To apply they feel as if you are putting on lip-balm as they feel soft and light against your lips. I loved the bella bamba, coralista, dallas, oh who am I kidding I loved them all. The coralista shade that was in the goodie bag has a great peachy pink tone to it.

We also got to learn more about the experience customers would receive at one of their concession stands. Each customer gets a pampering experience akin to a facial. They will prep, prime and perfect using their skincare range, even if you have only asked to try a blusher. They are extremely knowledgeable and passionate, and help you choose the products that are best suited to you. If you are new to Benefit you must experience the POREfessional, the UK’s best selling primer. My other personal favorites include the foamingly clean face wash, speed brow, BADgal mascara and their big beautiful eyes kit. After today next on my wish list is they’re real mascara because I have heard so many great thinks about it I have to try it, and sun beam, a gold shimmer that looks magical.

Not only is the brand concise in their ethos but also in their product line. Each product has been carefully developed, sometimes over years, and crafted to be the highest quality. They don’t sell a product if they don’t know it is really going to work. We learned some tricks, like using a foundation brush to apply POREfessional is more economical but still has the same fabulous effects. And to get the best results from they’re real mascara, wait a minute in-between coats to allow the mascara to curl. I was surprised at the perfumes as I had never tried them before and honestly Benefit wouldn’t be my first call for them but I really liked them, especially ring my Bella, a fruity scent.

A tasty lunch was provided, some drinks were clinked and we got to know more about some of the Benebabes. Turns out they are quite the lovely bunch.

Benefit are proud to be supporting Refuge, a charity established to provide help to women suffering domestic violence. 1 in 4 women are affected by domestic violence in their lifetime. Domestic violence affects women of different races, ages, financial status and upbringing. Refuge treats them all. They offer a range of services and have a network of refuges across the country.

To raise money Benefit have organized the Mascarathon. Between the 15^th and 29^th June runners will travel over 500 miles from Edinburgh to London. Each person will run 2 miles and celebrities like Caroline Flack and Jorgie Porter will be doing a leg. People are still needed to run though, I would but with my dislocating hips and bendy back I am not allowed, I will be donating however and so should you, each pound helps.

If you want to find out more click here and to donate click here. Lets help raise awareness and money to support women suffering everywhere.

If you are on Twitter lets help get #mascarathonuk trending.

************** IMPORTANT *****************

Lastly for the ladies in Leeds, if you go to the Benefit concession stand in House of Fraser and purchase a product quote my blog name (Beauty Truths Not Ugly Lies) and you will get a free gift. Supplies are limited so the sooner you go the better. I would be really pleased if you did and make sure to send me a message and let me know which product you got and what you thought of it. I get Benefit products if enough people quote my blog and you all know what that means? give aways silly! 

NEW limited edition launch from fragrant favourite

Impulse has launched a limited edition fragrance to keep girls feeling fresh and confident this summer.

Between the complications of work and play, modern girls have a lot to juggle and many problems to solve throughout the week.  Love Puzzle ensures that at least your fragrance dilemmas are solved for you.

The sister fragrance of new launch to 2012, Loving Words, Love Puzzle is a juicy, cheeky fragrance inspiring romance and leaving the wearer feeling flirty and fresh

This light, subtle fragrance features fruity top notes of pear, plum, apricot and mango, allowing the wearer to feel confident and ready to face the complications of love.

Delicate floral tones follow, infused with peony, lilac and violet which evokes a sense of romance and inspires flirtation and fun.

The ultimate handbag-essential for social butterflies, Love Puzzle is available in stores nationwide, RRP £1.27.

Radox

Radox has a be selfish philosophy section up on their website and I totally empathise with them. They realise that most of the time we look out for other people and the only way we can do that properly is if sometimes we look after ourselves. Whether its children that you are running after, a partner, relative, friend or co-worker, we spend much of the day making sure the people around us are cared for. Every so often though we have to stop and make sure we are being cared for.  My all time favourite thing to relax, recharge and reflect is in a hot bubble bath.

Brazilian Fusion (£1.89) is a limited edition bath therapy from Radox that combines dragon fruit with camu camu berries. Now I am not really sure what either of those things is meant to smell like but I can tell you that a soft and subtle sweet floral scent that conjures up images of summertime. It smells clean and fresh, not in the same way that spring scents smell with their hints of grass, no its much more exotic than that. As with all Radox bath products it produces a tumbling waterfall of long lasting bubbles. 

At the risk of sounding like an old lady I do have problems with my joints that cause them to become quite painful over the course of the day. If I have had a particularly busy day then as soon as I get the chance I will run myself a hot bath and hide away in the bathroom until the aches and pains have subsided. Muscle therapy from Radox contains black pepper and ginseng, the black pepper helps to warm my skin while the ginseng is a known muscle relaxant. Radox baths really are like no other, the bubbles are plentiful, the products deliver & the prices are great. The only negative I have is that I would like to see bigger bottles. For someone that loves a bath like I do the bottle size is a little on the small side. If there was a bumper size bottle, I for one would be buying it. 

Yes to Carrots

Carrots probably aren't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about ingredients for body products. Well the people at Yes To have harnessed their source of Beta Carotene, rich in anti-ageing and antioxidants, to create some nourishing and lovely products. Their Yes to carrots on the go kit (£14.99) contains four essential items in travel sizes to get you through any summer jaunt.  


My favorite was always going to be the hand and elbow cream, softening, easily absorbed and thankfully not scented like carrots but a faint air of rosemary. The lip butter is really rich with a citrus scent. The super rich body butter is just that, super rich and luxurious and the shower wash has a fruity smell thanks to watermelon. 


The pack is really great value because as well as the travel sized products you also get a really handy make up bag to go with it. You could easily pay £14.99 for the makeup bag alone. It really gets me when you end up with loads of useless packaging with gift packs so its blissful to get such a neat bag to use after the products have all been applied. 

Keep Calm & Powder On with New jane iredale Celebration Compact

With the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, there’s a lot to celebrate in 2012 and we want make-up that rises to the occasion too, whatever the weather.  In the spirit of Cool Britannia, jane iredale^®  has commissioned a limited edition PurePressed base compact, perfect for adding a touch of patriotic glamour to the festivities!  Each compact is hand-painted in a contemporary red, blue and white design.  

Come rain or shine, you can ‘Keep Calm and Powder On’ with jane iredale^® pressed mineral foundation.  Officially rated as highly water resistant and with the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Approval for its SPF20, looking good and lasting long comes naturally to this skin-friendly mineral make-up.

The refillable, mirrored compact is available at a special price of £29.95 including the foundation of your choice from a range of 24 shades.  (A filled compact usually retails at £39.95 and refills cost £29.95).

Great Hair Moisture Drench Range

Moroccan Argan Oil is being heralded as the ingredient of choice if you want shinny and smooth hair. Trouble is that finding a reasonably priced product containing it can be tricky. 


Step forward Baylis and Harding who have just launched a Great Hair range containing Moroccan Argan Oil. Priced at £6 per 500ml bottle its not only the price that is fabulous about this range. The look of the range is sophisticated and look as if its from an exclusive salon, I also love the pump action on the bottle, so much easier than lids slipping around the shower. The smell of the products is reminiscent of getting your hair done at a salon to. Lastly of course is performance, again this range exceeds expectations. 


I was left feeling like I had had the salon experience but all from the comfort of my own bathroom. Salon looks, smell and results but with a price that means I can treat myself every day without feeling guilty about how much I spend. 

Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

I have always struggled to find a foundation to match my skin tone, my freckles don't really help  matters. I find that most foundation come in only a small range of colours and are either too light or too dark for my skin tone. 


So the first selling point for Jane Iredale's pure pressed mineral foundation is that it comes in a huge array of shades and there is a comprehensive guide on the site to help you get the perfect match.  


Second selling point, the compact that it comes in is easily the loveliest I have ever used. It's elegant while still being hardy enough to be put in your makeup bag without the worry of it cracking. 


Thirdly the foundation inside is simply magical. It feels weightless on your skin and glides on. It can be used a concealer, powder and foundation so saves you having to use other products and saves space in your makeup bag when you go out. It looks better as the day goes on so you don't have to worry about touch ups at lunchtime. It can be applied wet or dry, you can build the coverage you want and it applies evenly giving you flawless skin that looks natural. 


Just incase you need any other reasons to try it out, its SPF 20, gentle on sensitive skins and very water resistant. 


Simply put it is a perfect foundation. 

St. Ives

St. Ives has had a bit of a makeover recently but still at the heart of their range is quality products made with 100% natural quality ingredients. Regularly exfoliating keeps the skin radiant and youthful looking and I find that I feel happier with my body if my skin is in good condition.  

I choose to test the warming apricot scrub (£5.10 at Superdrug) and its made my mornings more enjoyable as well as making a difference to my skin. I find it hard getting out of bed on a good day but when the weather is as cold as it is at the moment the thought of leaving a warm bed isn't a nice one. Knowing that I have a warming face scrub eases that horrible feeling immensely. The scrub has just the right amount of grittiness but is still gentle enough to use daily and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. There is no point spending ages on putting on makeup if you don't have the base right and daily scrub keeps my skin in perfect condition.  

The apricot body scrub (£4.97 at Asda) is fabulous for a weekly treatment and I always feel renewed after a good exfoliation. It makes my skin softer and look more even, it also makes me feel better about problem areas such as my thighs as the exfoliation and massage helps to boost circulation.