May Favourites

It's that time of the month again where I get to share with you my monthly hits, I love these blog posts so if you've done one please leave your link below so I can have a nosey at your favourites.
OK so what are my MAY'S favourites? Well I have a mix for you this month, hair, skincare and makeup so let's get started!

SKINCARE

Bioderma has seriously changed my life! I finally caved a couple weeks ago and bought this from Ebay, I seriously think I've been missing out! It removes stubborn mascara and eyeliner so easily, I soak 2 cotton pads and then place over the eyes and let it work it's magic for a minute and then gently wipe away. Lisa Eldridge swears by this and I totally see why. I managed to get mine from this seller and it arrived within a couple days. Once I worked out the final cost including P&P it actually worked out cheaper than then ETAT PUR Micellar water. I know you have to be careful when buying off Ebay so always check the sellers feedback.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir has fast become the latest craze amongst beauty fanatics and bloggers, this is another product which has been used lots since it landed on my doorstep. I've been using this as a toner, facial mist and also to help relive tension and headaches. Full review to follow shortly.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Cream I started using this again a few weeks ago when my skin went AWOL, I love how you can always rely on Liz Earle for gentle yet effective skin care. The products are great for all skin types.

Origins Spot Remover has been a monthly favourite of mine since I got it a while ago, my skin has become more oily recently. The hot humid weather hasn't helped, I seem to be getting blemishes more frequently so the origins Spot Remover has become my S.O.S product to help me rid them! 

MAKEUP BRUSHES

Sigma E25 Blending brush has been used daily through the whole of May, I'm not sure why I never really used this before now. I actually got this one for free when I bought the Travel kit last year when Sigma had their FREE worldwide delivery offer on.

Japonesque Travel Blush Brush is fairly new to me but I've been using this lots and love how versatile it is, I took this brush on holiday and it did an amazing job. It contoured my cheeks, applied my blush and highlighter. The shape of the brush has a lot to do with it, it's very flat and fits perfectly into the hollows of cheeks, yet it's wide enough to apply blush to the cheeks and then highlight on top.

 

MAKEUP

Clarins Bronzing Powder Duo has been my go-to bronzer, I use the lighter shade to contour and then the darker shade all over or even as a blush. The compact is great and fits into your bag perfectly. 

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30 is ideal for the Summer, sadly I've used up all this sample and will 100% purchase the full size! You can check out my review here.

Origins BB Cream SPF15 has given me a nice light-medium coverage whilst also giving my skin a natural dewy finish. It also contains SPF30 which is great for this time of year. You can read my review here.

Mac Chromagraphic Pencil NC15/NW20 is great for the water line, giving your eyes an instant pop of brightness. It opens up and makes you look like you've had a good nights sleep even if you haven't! A must for mummies I think.

Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara is a great mascara, the wand is huge and really lengthens lashes effortlessly. This would be great if you have short stubby lashes.

 HAIRCARE

Batiste Lace Dry Shampoo is the newest edition to the range. I've found in the past that sometimes the Batiste shampoos can cause my scalp to itch but I have to say this one in particular has felt great. It did give me a slight grey halo but once you massage the scalp and the roots it soon disappears leaving you with fresh hair. Great if you're on a budget!

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product has been used loads last month. I not only use this on myself but also my daughter who has curls and often gets knotty hair. It smells amazing and it literally a micarcle product!

So there you have it, have you tried any of these products?

Sherrie xoxo

Tanatomicals

With the sun finally shining I've been reaching for self-tan, I hate my pale legs and whilst I can embrace my paleness through the winter months I can't embrace it through the Summer. So to help me through the Summer months I use self-tan, I've tried a few different brands which have made a good lasting impression. But I've been trying a new brand lately and wanted to tell you what I thought.

Tantomicals is a fairly new brand to myself but some of you may have been familiar with the brand Anatomicals. They have a body range, hair range, skincare range and even a men's range. I've been testing out 2 of their self- tanning products. I'm a huge fan of Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe but if you're on a budget you NEED to try the Natural look Tanning Cream.

I must be totally honest and say I did have a slight hitch using the Instant Self Tan Mousse* on my face, whilst I won't scare you with a photo I will say I did resemble the old lady off 'There's Something about Mary' movie. I'll leave it at that!
However thankfully the following morning the shower helped wash it away and I was back to my normal colouring. It did however give my legs and arms a beautiful deep golden tan. I would definitely not use this on my face again BUT would totally use it on my legs and arms etc. However if you're naturally darker than myself it would probably be fine to use all over.

 

The stand out for me though has to be the Natural Look Tanning Cream*, this really reminds me of the Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe finish wise. Whilst the smell is the total opposite being a fresh piña colada scent, where as the Xen-Tan is vanilla. Overall I'm really impressed with it, I used this on my face and it was perfect. I would use this in between my Xen-Tan Deep bronze Luxe to help top it up, plus if you're on a budget this would be perfect to use. I just wish they had a larger size of it!!

 

You can purchase both of these as well as other products from the Tanatomicals range online www.superdrug.com

What is your favourite Self-Tan brand? Product?

Sherrie xoxo

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30

This is going to be a RAVE review, I'm totally in love with the new NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30. I've been reaching for this and my Origins BB Cream loads since the sun finally came to say hello!
I've just used up 2 small samples which I've tried to make last as long as possible and even cut the tops off so I can scrape every last drop out of them. I love the light texture, it's a dream to apply and blend- But most of all I LOVE the finish it gives. My skin looks healthy and radiant, this is an oil-free formula which provides a translucent veil of colour. The SPF30 sun protection is amazing and now I'm getting older I've found myself looking at products which contain SPF. It doesn't collect around my dry areas such as my forehead, I think that's thanks to the botanical hydrating ingredients.

 

I hope these photos capture how well this tinted moisturiser looks on my skin, it evens out redness and just looks amazing in my opinion. There's 9 shades available, I'm shade 2 (Alaska) and it's perfect for me. Whilst it's on the expensive scale I would totally 100% pay £27 for this, I just love how I know I can apply it and my skin looks 10 times better in minutes. 

It also photographs really well considering it has a SPF30, I would say this would be my go-to face product for summer. It feels so lightweight on the face yet gives a lovely coverage. I don't think there's anything else to say apart from I want the full size now! ha ha 

You can find the new NARS Tinted Moisturiser online from www.narscosmetics.co.uk or www.asos.com

Will you be treating yourself to the new NARS Tinted Moisturiser?


Sherrie xoxo

~Happy Anniversary~ Glossybox!

In case you've been hiding in a closet you should all know that Glossybox has been celebrating their birthday this month. So today's blog post is about their Mays Anniversary Box, I'm sorry if you've seen a heap of these posts.

I had a rush of excitement once I saw this waiting to be opened, upon first glances I thought the box looked fab! I love the patterned tissue paper and the printed ribbon. However once I opened up the box I must be honest and say my excitement didn't last long which is a REAL shame because I really wanted this to be a WOW box! I expected a makeup/skincare product I think which would've been a good size and a popular brand maybe? Especially after their first ever box, I will never forget the hype about the NARS Orgasm Highlighter. I was hoping they where going to do something similar if not top it!

 

However after going through and looking at the samples again I've changed my mind slightly and am actually happy to see brands which I've not tried before. After all this is what it's all about, trying new products and brands which you may not know about ot haven't tried before.

OK so what's in my box?

Noble Isle 

Summer Rising Bath & Shower gel (75ml)

The packaging is very sleek and chic, it looks expensive and reminds me of Molton brown. Can't wait to try this, I think the hubby will be wanting this!

Eldora

Handmade lashes B148 (Full Size)

I first saw Eldora lashes when they came out in the Carmine beauty box, they are such good value for money. The lashes I have are really wearable and pretty.

Lolita Lempicka

L'Eau en Blanc (sample)

 I've never tried any of the Lolita Lempicka's fragrances so was very happy to see a couple samples. I must admit I probably wouldn't have thought much of these but after spraying them I've fallen head over heels for both of them! They've both been added to my 'Birthday' list, plus the full sized bottles look so magical and different.

Lolita Lempica

Eau de parfum (sample)

 

Uniqone

All in one hair treatment (9ml)

I've never heard of this brand but am very interested to try this. The first leave-on mask on the market that offers 10 main benefits that hair needs. I'm sold!

Murad

Clarifying Mask (30g)

I've heard good things about Murad skincare so when I saw Murad in this months Glossybox I did feel a little excited! I've finally got my skin back in good condition, It's not perfect but it's heaps better than it was. I can't wait to try this natural clay-based mask on my t-zone to help combat oiliness, and mostly to help prevent blemishes.

I thought the compact purse mirror was a nice touch, I'm always searching for my mirror so this will come in very handy! 

So there you have it, what do you think of this months Glossybox? Yay or Nay?
Glossybox have been celebrating all month with lots of giveaways, so check out their Facebook page for updates and competitions. You can follow them here on Facebook and also here on Twitter.

If you would like to sign up to Glossybox and have a little box of goodies delivered to your door each month then sign up here. It's really simple and easy, it costs £10 & £2.95 P&P each month. 

Thanks for reading,

Sherrie x♥x♥

GOSH Intense Eye Liner pen

I love the look which liquid eye liner gives but I'm rubbish at applying it! So thank god for eye liner pens, these are much more my cup of tea. I feel I can get a good enough straight even line when using them. GOSH have recently launched an Intense Eye Liner pen* which has a dual tip, you can actually take out the nib turn it around and slot it back in, it does get messy mind so me careful and have tissues at the ready. The nibs have 2 different tips depending on the thickness you want to create.

There's six shades to pick from, Black /Grey/ Brown/ Dark Green/ Purple/ Blue. I've been using the shades 06 Blue and 01 Black, I personally love the blue more than the black. I think it's something different and looks amazing against gold eyeshadow. The blue isn't what I would call a true blue but more of a teal blue. It looks beautiful against green/brown eyes, however Black is such a wearable shade and is always needed.

They're very long lasting and smudge proof, once you apply them they don't budge. These would be great to use for a night out or a special occasion.You could also apply a shadow over the top if you wanted a shimmer finish or a slightly different shade.

They retail at £6.49 which is well worth the money, you can purchase GOSH Intense Eye Liner Pen from Superdrug Stores nationwide or from www.superdrug.com

Will you be trying the new GOSH Intense Eye Liner Pens?

Sherrie x☮x☮

My go to Travel Brushes

I've been enjoying 'What's In my travel makeup bag' and other Travel related posts. So seeings as I'm going on holiday (I'm probably on Holiday when you're reading this!) I thought it would be a good post to share.

I only have one Makeup travel pouch which I got last year with Sigma had their worldwide free delivery, and no doubt I will place another order this year if they do the same thing. I bought their Black travel pouch which had a nice selection of travel brushes and I also bought their Sigmax brushes which I'd read rave reviews about and can totally see why.

Face Brushes (L-R)

Japonesque Travel Powder (review coming)/ Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki/ Japonesque Travel Blush ( review coming)

Eye Brushes (L-R)

 Sigma E40 Tapered Blending/ Sigma E55 Shading/ Sigma F70 Concealer/ Sigma E30 Pencil

 Other Brushes

Lastly are some brushes which don't fit in the pouch, the first one was a freebie from a Clinique Bonus Time which my mum gave me. I use this to apply my cream blush, I nearly always throw away the free brushes because 9 times out of 10 they're a load of rubbish. However it just goes to show that sometimes you get a good one!  

Clinique Foundation brush/ Boots No7 Concealer brush/ Sigma Travel E35 / Japonesque travel Smudger brush

I hope you enjoyed this post, I love reading about makeup brushes and trying new ones. If you have any you love let me know. These are only my travel ones, I do have others so if you would like to see my collection leave a comment below!

What are your favourite travel brushes?


Sherrie xoxo

Getting my Nails in Tip Top Condition

You may know that I've been wishing for luscious long strong nails for months well if you know me that well I've always wished for nicer nails.

I've tried various brands and whilst they seem to help initially my nails seem to get use to them and the resort back to their shameful excuse of a nail. So I have now started taking Vitamin D tablets and have got myself into a good routine when painting my nails.

I bought these after tweeting and asking how I can get better healthier nails, after a couple tweets I was recommended some Vitamin D tablets. I bought these mega cheap from Holland & Barrett for around £3, I think they were on offer. I started taking them then got lazy but am right back on it now. I take 2 a day with food.

My cuticles get really dry thanks to being a busy wife and mummy, I always wear marigolds when doing the dishes to help my nails. I suffer from dry soft peeling nails, so you could say they're pretty crap really! I love this nail oil which smells lush, it's from Nailtiques and has a handy roller ball applicator. I carry this around with me and try to put on at least once a day now. It contains Avcoado Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Sunflower and safflower oil. This really hydrates my cuticles and nails quickly and effectively. Another good habit to keep up is filing, making sure you keep them rounded or straight will help protect and keep them stronger for longer. If I get a nag on mine I try to file it smooth so that it doesn't get caught on any thing or even tear the whole nail tip off.  So annoying when that happens! Especially when you've just managed to grow it past your finger tip then it snaps, or breaks at the side.
I just opened up a new file from Anatomicals and it's a really good file, it's firm and works very smoothly!

I've tried a few different brands for nail treatments and whilst some of them have been fab and worked they haven't worked wonders. I'm currently using some treatments from the ORLY range.
I have reviewed these on my blog,  Nailtrition helps seal peeling nails and encourages them to grow smoother and faster hoping to prevent peeling. Nail Defense is a great base and top coat which helps repair nails and keep them strong. Calcium Build helps build thicker stronger nails, this is great for thin and weak nails.

I will let you know how my nails are getting on soon, do you have naturally long strong nails? What tips advice do you give? Any magic products which I need to know about?

Thanks for reading!
Sherrie xoxo

Clarins- Enchanted Summer Collection 2012

In case you didn't realise I'm a big Clarins fan, I love their famous Beauty Flash balm and their treatment products and then there's the makeup which is my favourite part! Be warned this is a photo heavy post, I wanted to show you the products in depth.

Enchanted Summer is due to launch late May ready for this Summer 2012, there's a mix of gorgeous bronzing powder duos SPF15, Instant Smooth Crystal lip balm (LE), Enchanted Eye Quartet & Eye liner palette (LE), Colour Quench Lip Balms and the very exciting Kohl Kajal. I found myself instantly swatching the Kohl Kajals first off then the Crystal lip balms and then the bronzing duo.
I think this collection genuinely has something for everyone, whether you want a nice lip balm for the summer which adds a beautiful wash of colour on the lips or whether you just want to pick up a bronzer. However once you feast your eyes on the beautifully packaged Enchanted palette I think You'll find it hard not to pick one up. I was very kindly sent some items from the collection and wanted to show you what I've been reaching for first.

Enchanted Quartet & Eyeliner palette*- First off I wanted to capture how intricate the detailing is on the compact, Clarins took inspiration from India for traditional patterns and striking shimmering tones inside the compact. The shadows inside also have been adorned with traditional Indian patterns. I did have to hesitate a couple times before trying the palette ha ha! The compact is the perfect Summer palette, a mix of subtle golds and then intense vibrant violet. There's 4 eyeshadows and a rich golden brown powder eye liner, also included is 2 sponge tipped applicators for when you're on the go or for touch ups during the day.

Kohl Kajal*- When I first saw and read about the collection I instantly fell in love with the Kohl Kajals. I loved the look and sound of them, and I can confirm they are beautiful and a must for any eye liner fanatic out there. They come in 2 shades- Black and Violet. Perfect for all year round, these would be a great addition to your stash! One word of warning though, when you take off the lid you must lift the lid in an upwards motion to prevent breaking the Kohl.

Bronzing Powder Duo*- I'm sure you all remember the very popular bronzer from the 2011 Summer collection. If not I will jog your memory with one word 'Moasic' yep, remember now? Whilst they haven't launched another big bronzer there are 3 new bronzing duos each containing SPF15. They come in Light, medium, Dark. I actually have the dark and to be honest it works fine on my skin tone, you only need a little, but I've been using it as an all over bronzer but also as my contour and it works perfectly for both! The packaging has a chic tortoiseshell lid and comes housed in  the traditional Clarins pouch but instead of red the bronzers come in a deep brown pouch.

Colour Crystal Lip Balms*- I was a fan of these last year so when I saw them in the collection I thought they had just re-promoted them. OH NO, I was SO wrong! Yes they have re-promoted them BUT and that's a BIG but. They still have their transparent glossy balm, but it's wrapped around a column of glossy lipstick. They are still very glossy but not sticky or thick like an actual lip gloss. When you apply them to your lips, the center adds the colour whilst the outer shell adds a subtle gloss to the lips. These are very hydrating and perfect to carry around with you. I think they're genius, 2 products in 1, you don't need to add a lipstick and then a balm over the top, this does it all for you!

Colour Quench Lip balm*- Another 2 beautiful shades added to the collection, Pink Japuir and Nude Dehli. I love the names of them don't you? Pink Japuir is what I would class as the perfect summer shade, rich in colour with beautiful gold shimmer. Where as Nude Dehli was a bit of a surprise when I saw it, I would probably where this in the Autumn months. Maybe that's just me or maybe it wouldn't suit my skin tone as nicely as others, what do you peeps think?

Clarins Enchanted Summer will be launching the end of this month May 2012, so not long to wait! Keep an eye out at your local counter or online www.Clarins.co.uk


Will you be picking anything up from this collection?


Sherrie x♥x☻

My Top Summer Scents

Hello everyone! I hope you're all having a good week so far, when you guys read this I will be on my family holiday. I wanted to make sure you all had some posts to read while I'm away and plus I have so many exciting things to share with you at the moment I don't want to waste any time!

Amongst having a desire for all things beauty related I've always had a weakness for perfume! I adore perfumes, the intricate styling and design of the bottle right down to how the scent lingers on your skin. I wanted to show you my top scents for the Summer. I actually struggled and did actually take 3 perfumes away because I thought this was a little too much, and yes some of you will think this is wayyyyy too much BUT like some women adore shoes or handbags I adore perfume.

To start off my top Summer Scents I had to feature the very chic Marc Jacobs Daisy- Eau So Fresh first. The bottle not only looks amazing on your dressing table it also smells amazing, a mix of a fruity floral. This would make a great wedding day fragrance, I know for sure when I get through my bottle I will be repurchasing!

Next up is a new scent to my perfume community, but it still makes the cut because it's a great summer scent. Boss Hugo Orange is great for the day time, it's a light fresh fruity scent which does need topping up through the day but it's worth it.

Clarins Eau des Jardins is packed full of great essential oils, this is more than a fragrance to me. It's a treatment which helps soothes the skin and uplifts the mind.

Yardley Royal English Daisy was a great discovery, once the perfume hit my wrist I instantly thought of Marc Jacobs Eau So Fresh! So if you can't part with the pennies or if you're a fan of the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh then trust me you NEED this! It has the same fruity-floral aroma. They both contain Green Leaves, Apple, Rose and Musk.

Vivienne Westwood Boudoir Jouy is the sister to the very famous original Boudoir fragrance. Boudoir Jouy still has the capturing qualities that Boudoir has except this is more of a softer playful scent which makes it much more wearable for the day time and summer. I tend to reach for Boudoir for special evenings or occasions because of its heady strong aroma. I love vintage image printed on the bottle, Vivienne Westwood

KORRES Paeonia/ Vanilla/ Amber Pear probably stands out most amongst all the clear light coloured bottles. I really like how different and traditional the bottle looks compared to others, KORRES is one of my favourite brands.

Laura Ashley Pink Petals is a very soft floral feminine scent which smells of crushed rose petals, so if you're a rose devotee this would be perfect for you. It's not over powering and makes the perfect present for a friend or family member. 

Escada Taj Sunset was sadly limited edition last year but I had to add this to my Summer Scents, I will keep this quick- LOVE LOVE LOVE this!

I would love to know if you've tried any of these scents? What's your Summer Scents?


Sherrie xoxo