Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Blend Collection

I have done it again. And you would of thought I would of learnt by now...but of course I didn't listen to myself, and I've underestimated Makeup Revolution. Again. In my defence, I am not normally a Christmas gift set sort of girl, I just find them a bit useless and would rather I spend my money on the exact items I want. Perfume sets in particular, I am looking at you.

So Makeup Revolution have a few Christmasy sort of gift sets out at the moment, at least I am guessing thats what they are going for, and I have the rather lovely Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Blend Collection (£14.99) in my makeup kit currently. So yes, as you can tell, I haven't passed this on for a Christmas gift, nor do I intend to. I love this set. All made from ridiculously soft  synthetic hair, they can handle anything; cream, liquid and powder makeup.

The Bold Metals collection from Real Techniques has been the obvious idea behind this set, and includes three brushes and one blending egg sponge. First is the Powder, Sculpt & Blend Brush, which has been blending out my contouring efforts, and doing such a good job. Not many brushes seem to meet my contour standards (I do hate a stripy face) but this little brush knows whats it is doing. 

Next is the Cheek & Highlight Sculpt & Blend Brush for sculpting and making my contour look that bit more professional. Somehow it is also cheek shaped, and pays my cheeks the perfect amount of attention, and cuts my job of the painful length of time blending can take. On that note, the Ultra Metals Eyeshadow Blender, does the exact same thing, but for my eyes. This easily tops some of my favourite eyeshadow brushes, hands down. 

And lastly, the Foundation & Base Blending Sponge. The beloved egg sponge, we all know what these do, and no other words are needed, but if you don't have this egg in your bag, you don't know what you're missing. 

And did you really think Miss Shallow over here would finish this post without stating the obvious? The shiny rose gold that you can't miss? Nope. Just look at those handles. I am sorry Makeup Revolution for the underestimation, but then you could also throw in a apology as I have realised how selfish I am because of you...as this set isn't being let out my sight. 

Will you be trying the Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Blend Collection?

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Dove DermaSpa Range

I love Dove. No secrets about it. It truly is a case of 'old school' is best with their original Dove smell. At least I think its their 'original' scent, but its the one all their soaps and deodorants smell of, that one?

So you can imagine it only took me around a second to say yes to trying Dove's recently launched most scientifically advanced collection yet - DermaSpa, dermatalogy meeting Spa basically (Geniusly named Dove DermaSpa Range . You could say Dove has worked hard here, as this advanced body care range has resulted from over ten years of skincare research and the involvement of 280 scientists. Dove will sell its self, yet with 'why has this not been done sooner' moment they have released this high end-esque range but at a decent price. Everything is under £9.99 to be exact.

Aimed at normal to dry skin, this range to 'help women get back in touch with their bodies' includes; the Uplifted Roll-On, which isn't a deodorant as I thought (yes I do wonder why I blog sometimes).  However this does a great job of encouraging the circulation round by body, and over the lumps, in a very Soap & Glory Sit Tight style, but with no tingle. I'm too old for that sort of thing now.

We need to stop and appreciate the Uplifted Lotion, as wait for this, it's Waterlily & Cucumber scented and doesn't smell like some intimating spas do. This is just a lightweight lotion that has become my to go to cream when I need to moisturise but still need to smell classy, not my typical sugar overloaded sort of thing. Next is the DermaSpa Summer Revived Body Lotion, which of course is welcomed with open arms as the British summer didn't make much a appearance this year, so I am in dire need of a body lotion with a bit of colour.

DermaSpa Goodness Body Cream (the tub one) has coconut in so naturally I was biased towards it. This slightly thicker cream absorbs surprisingly quickly so I have no Omega Oil trails left, and with the Vanilla, Coconut and Citrus and Frangipani (thought this was what they put in those pastries?!) mixture, its safe to say I can't put this down.

In my opinion, I have saved the best to last with the Uplifted+ Body Oil. Not being one for oils as a I barely have patience for lotions to dry, I have been using this a awful lot. Oddly its so light that I don't really notice I've put it on, despite the gorgeous waterlily, cucumber, green violet leaves, sandalwood, patchouli and sweet musk combination, and my skin feels incredible afterwards. Comment worthy soft in fact, and yes, I have had a comment on how soft my skin is. So, not only do I feel a tad more classy and softer with this range, I do in fact feel silkier. 

Will you be trying the Dove DermaSpa Range?

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Jo Malone London Christmas 2015

I have fallen for it. The whole Christmas in October thing. But then, it is Jo Malone, and with that in mind Christmas can't come early enough, even for scrooges like myself. If you're not a Jo Malone fan (which wouldn't happen) then you might not want to scroll down too much further as I basically don't keep quiet about my love for their Christmas 2015 campaign. Just look at the mistletoe on the bag.

Best advertising aside, Jo Malone have got me in mood for a non tacky, classy Christmas with a sneak into what they are offering (FYI it is actually on sale now if your near Harrods, any excuse eh). Their scent of the season is the Jo Malone Roasted Chestnut candle. This is just stunning, and even though chestnuts aren't my usual fragrance of choice, the nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, sweetened with soft caramel has left me unsure how I am going to survive the festive season without it. The beautiful chestnut scent will be back not only within a candle gift set with two other candles: Blackberry & Bay and Pine & Eucalyptus (£64) but also as a stand alone deluxe candle (£120).

Another (slightly more affordable gift) that I have fallen for is the Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Bath Salts (£30 for three sachets). Jo Malone in my bath? Need I say more? There is also the return of the Jo Malone Christmas Ornament (£24) and Jo Malone Christmas Cracker (£32), as well as something you'll need to smile sweetly for prior to Christmas, the Luxury Advent Calendar (£280). This has put all other beauty advent calendars to shame, as every townhouse door comes with a product based surprise, and will defiantly make a cold December more bearable, and more indulgent. 

Like I mentioned, this is just the loveliest Christmas campaign I've seen in a long time, and being Jo Malone every item speaks for itself and doesn't need my explanation. I'm just scared now my usual chocolate advent calendar will seem bit a 'meh'....

What do you think of the Jo Malone London Christmas 2015 collection? 

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The one you get to pick... both the Birchboxes for October 2015

Has a beauty box done this before? A option to actually the box you want? Well, if it has, it hasn't done a good job as I don't remember it. And this is exactly what Birchbox has done this month with their October box, as you can pick from two. The first, is back to basics (their words not mine) with essentials or opt for the Stylist Magazine Guest Editor Box curated by Joanna McGarry for the second. As you can guess by the boxes, you can see which one is the basic one.

That being said, it is anything but basic, filled with a Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat, a mini Bioderma (a.k.a the best micellar water), Beaver Professional shampoo & conditioner, a (very handy) toothpaste and lastly, my ultimate essential Full Size Eyeko Fat Liner. Cat eyes are a necessity.

And inside the pink patterned Stylist box? Birchbox has thrown in another mini Bioderma, a Rituals shower gel, Jeff Chastain Blowout Spray (note to self to blow dry hair), a slightly intriguing When Travelmate Sheet Mask and a rather lovely surprising scent of the English Laundry No.7. No relation to that No7, which was naturally my first thoughts, this rose and creamy white flower scent is much nicer than I ever expected as beauty box fragrances aren't my thing, and even though I do love this handy little travel size, I am already eyeing up the full size. 

I do think this is one of the months Birchbox has done well, either one of these boxes would of put a smile on my face (once I saw past the slightly dowdy basics box) so its even better you can actually pick one. Or you could just do a me and get both....

What do you think of this months Birchbox?

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Candles for the greedy: Jewel Candles

I am all for a scented candle, and with one that comes with jewellery? What was I meant to say? No? Yeah as if....I think we've all heard of Jewel Candle at some point, or something along the same lines where you get a bit of jewellery hidden inside a rather large candle. A.k.a the candles suitable for people like me, who are a tad greedy and always want a bit extra. 

I have been eager here, and have two, a sweet caramel fragrance named appropriately Sweet Cupcake and a nostalgia provoking scent with Candy Floss. Both contain a sterling silver ring, which appears in some sliver foil once you've burnt done enough of the wax, and luckily this method of ring keeping doesn't damage the jewellery (apart from it smelling very much like the candle for a while). I have lost patience with Candy Floss as the ring appears to far done for my tolerance levels, but as you can see Sweet Cupcake has delivered a cute heart ring, which while it might not be my complete taste it is rather cute. 

Shame there is no value attached (I'm not shallow, just nosey I promise) and the company say the only way to find out value is to take it to a jewellers, which I can safely say I'll never remember to do. That aside, for £24.95 they do make a good present idea for anyone who loves a candle, and with a piece of jewellery somewhere inside you can take the credit for two presents. They just better have better patience than me. 

Have you tried Jewel Candles before?

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Instagram Diary: Part Eleven

Lacking in chandeliers apparently | Harrods cupcake heaven | Feeling like Olivia Newton John | Happy face at LFW | Coconut oil fixes ALL | The Ivy celebrations | Hotel dressing gown fun | Tourists getting in the way of my tourist photo...| New hair on the 'darker' side of life |

Bit of a face palm moment, as apparently I had to Google how to spell 'eleven'. But somehow I have made double figures with these Instagram posts. Who knew I had that much of a Instagrammable life? Well I probably don't, but I can always find a white wall or a bunch of flowers or something. Saying that, I have been to Rome so if that can't be Instagrammed then I might as well give up my account now and save the hassle of trying to spell 'twelve'...but as along as I can find a white wall (and keep changing my hair weekly) that is never going to happen.

What have you been up too recently?

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New in from John Frieda

You know that feeling when good hair is wasted on a bad day? Well that has been happening a lot recently. Not so much the bad days, but more the good hair, and before you call big headed; one my hair is fake and two, my hair is hardly Victorias Secret swish worthy but the past few weeks have seen my hair actually behaving itself somewhat. And the reason behind this? The new John Frieda blonde range.

Apparently a revamp of their Beach Blonde line which was around back in 2000 (which I don't remember as I wasn't actually blonde then...), John Frieda has come back to help with the beach waves we all want, well I certainly do at least. The range consists of the Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo, John Frieda Beach Blonde Smooth Seas Detangling Conditioner (£5.99) and the John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray (£5.89).

I was a tad dubious that a shampoo & conditioner duo could really do the whole beach vibe thing, but somehow, these have done it, and it has been said that this range is in fact suitable for blondes and brunettes. Smelling of mojito cocktails no less, both of these really have cleansed, nourished and hydrated my hair, and given a almost matte finish. Greasy hair girls (my hand is up) this is the one for you. The minty properties of these give a cooling effect that help with that hydration. And sorry Toni & Guy salt spray, you've been replaced by the John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray.

I hate to admit I have saved the best for last, and the Luxurious Volume 7 Day In-Shower Treatment (£9.99) is something you need if you have flat and limp hair. Like the name suggests, this in shower product is simply applied post shampoo & conditioner, left on for 3-5 minutes and then washed off. I excepted a bit of root lift from this, but even my ends of hair have come out thicker and right to the top of my head with my dire fringe actually looking full. Blonde or not, a beach fan or not, you can't deny the need for fuller hair.

My only suggestion for John Frieda about their new products? Please throw in complimentary mojitos to cure my cravings now please.

Have you tried any of these new John Frieda products?

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