BEAUTY NEW IN: EVE LOM SHEER RADIANCE TRANSLUCENT POWDER

Ever since I first laid my hands upon a sample of Eve Lom's legendary Cleanser I have been a die-hard fan. I've stocked up on a big pot of the Cleanser and multiple muslin cloths and am this close to nabbing the Morning Time Cleanser too. The Eve Lom website have a great offer on at the moment - they send you a perfect travel sized 30ml pot of Cleanser with every order over £40. Run! 

So - given my new found love for all things Lom, I was very excited about the new make-up offering. I won't lie -  fuelled by Lisa Eldridge's rave review - there may even have been a pre-order.

This powder replaced my Shu Uemura Sheer Face Powder which I've been pretty loyal to over the past few years. However, sometimes I feel it has a bit of a dulling effect on my skin if I'm accidentally a little heavy handed with it. 

When I first tried the Eve Lom powder I was concerned a little too much came out of the brush and it was hard to control how much powder you apply. I'm used to applying my powder with a powder puff rather than a brush and only like a light sweep to mattify around the forehead, nose and chin. However, having used it a few times and become confident with the application I can safely say I LOVE IT! It mattifies perfectly (my number one concern), allows for light application and leaves my face with a nice glow. There is no dusty, powdery look that I sometimes find there is with Shu Uemura. 

It's also the perfect size to pop in your bag for a top up during the day. Perfecto!

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BEAUTY: NEW DAILY FAVOURITES

I've added a few products to my daily routine of late, and they're worthy of a mention. 

You may or may not have picked up on the fact that I'm something of a die hard Real Housewives fan, and if there is something the Wives do well, it is an out of this world reunion show glow. In my endless quest for the perfect glow, I came across Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in pearl. I first saw this on Lisa Eldridge's website, and given that everything she says is gospel, I purchased it without further ado. I also got myself a No 7 foundation brush for application (also on Ms Eldridge's advice). At the moment, I mix Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser with the Becca Skin Perfector on the back of my hand and apply it with my new brush. And it's lovely. It imparts such a perfect glow - exactly what I was after. It isn't OTT, just pretty and healthy looking skin that lasts all day. Plus, SPF 25! How could it be better?? 

I've also gone through a bit of a patchy eyebrow situation of late. I noticed recently that when I'm concentrating very intensely - staring at a screen or reading a book - I stroke my left eyebrow. Yes it's very odd, and it led to a patchy brow. Not good. So, I have now tried to stop myself being such an odd bod, and whilst the brow grows back, I've investigated eyebrow pencils. Again, I stumbled across Kevin Aucoin's Precision Brow Pencil on Lisa's site - you're sensing a theme. It's a brilliant pencil for people who have never attempted to use a pencil on their brows before. I'm notoriously dreadful at such things. I'm very lucky with my eyebrows, I don't pluck them, thread them or do anything to them and they tend to look like I do maintain them. The Kevin Aucoin pencil is perfect because it adds just the right depth of colour and the handy brush on the end of the pencil ensures the product is blended and eyebrows are groomed. I wouldn't be without it now. 

Finally, make up can only go so far if your skin isn't up to par. I received a pot of Eve Lom Cleanser for Christmas and have been really enjoying using it every evening with a muslin cloth. Not only is it a gentle, effective exfoliator (it's no exaggeration to say my skin has never felt so soft and smooth post-cleansing and during the day) and also, it is a lovely, calming pre-bed step of an evening. I'd highly recommend it. 

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SPOILS OF THE FESTIVE SEASON

I'll admit that I could have been a little more prompt with my Christmas/Birthday present post, but when the norovirus is one of your Christmas presents, things tend to get a bit delayed! Boxing day morning onwards was rather sadly wiped out - my planned birthday tea at Sketch had to be called off and our trip to The Pig in the New Forest too. But I'm sure we'll find another day to go so I can't be too blue about it all!

And anyway, how blue could I be with lots of beautiful presents to stare at from my sickbed. I've picked out a few of my favourites: J.Crew silver brogues, new coffee table books for my little book stack, Jo Malone cologne (Orange Blossom this time!), an array of candles from Christian Tortu, Diptyque and Space NK and beautiful J.Crew costume jewellery:

 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year! Here's to 2014!

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BEAUTY: CLINIQUE BLACK HONEY

 Just a quick post to mention my latest nail varnish obsession: Clinique Black Honey. I adore this shade - it's the perfect near black with a hint of wine. Anyone who has tried the lipstick in this shade will know it more than earns its cult status. 

I love a glossy black nail but being on the pale side, it just doesn't work for me. Somehow this shade is just perfection and I urge you to go out there and grab one for yourself post haste. 

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THE FRAGRANCE QUEST: BONPOINT

A new perfume has made its way into my collection! Eau de toilette Bonpoint. 
Now I know what you might be thinking - am I a mother? No. Does this matter? Not in the slightest. This perfume spoke to me and many others precisely because it fits well with people that love wearing a fragrance but don't want something overpowering and in your face, but something subtle and expensive smelling. It's the perfect every day scent. 
The blend of orange blossom, petitgrain and jasmine makes for such a gentle, elegant perfume. On me, I find it has that clean, crisp, ever so slightly masculine edge in amidst the florals. It's exactly this that I love in Jo Malone's Lime Basil and Mandarin cologne and attracts me to the classic Acqua di Parma scent. 
As if being a lovely perfume wasn't enough, it was so beautifully packaged and presented in a little pink dust bag. Perfection.

Eau de toilette Bonpoint 50ml £39

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NEW IN: LIPSTICK QUEEN

I'm a huuuuge fan of Lipstick Queen by Poppy King. My favourite all-time every day lipstick is without a doubt Jean Queen. I left it in Devon this weekend following my visit home, and I miss it dreadfully. Whilst I wait to be reunited with my One, I'm happy to be distracted by the new Endless Summer collection which is made up of 3 great shades: nude, hot pink and coral. I plumped for the coral 'Stoked' shade in the end, though it was a close run thing with Perfect Wave (the pink).

I also picked up the Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Cameo. I was after a very subtle nude, something to add a polished gloss to lips that is a step above a simple slick of balm. And this delivers! The only thing I'd say is it does veer ever so ever so slightly towards that chalky quality some nude shades have IF applied to poorly prepped lips. Lips need to be moisturised and nicely exfoliated before application. I wasn't able to satisfactorily capture the shade on film, because it is subtle, but I'd definitely recommend it. 

As you can see, I did attempt to photograph the Stoked lipstick in action, and it was harder than I thought!! I'd say in reality the colour is just a little brighter. 

 I know what one looks for in a lipstick is different for everyone, but I personally always look for a sheer, glossy, lightweight lipstick. Because of this I'm drawn to the Clinique Chubby Sticks and the like. If that's the kind of lipstick that floats your boat, I think you'll definitely find your dream lipstick amongst Lipstick Queen's offerings. 

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BEAUTY: NEW MUST HAVES

I wanted to take some time to share some products I've discovered recently that I now would not be without. I try new things quite often, but over the past few months, these fellows have really stood out and are definite buy-again-ers. 

I bought the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque and Phyto 7 Hydrating Day Cream after watching Lisa Eldridge's video about her in flight beauty routine. If you have a long-haul, or even a shorter flight coming up, I would urge you in the strongest possible terms to run straight over to her website and watch it for yourself. My boyfriend found my little plastic bag bursting with beauty products for the flight most amusing, but I am not exaggerating when I say I stepped off the flight to New York (and the return flight too) with better skin that when I climbed aboard. This will be my trusted routine for all flights from now on, it's really that good. 
Given this sparkling review, I'd be mad not to incorporate two of the products into my regular beauty routine. The Dermalogica mask is a true hero product. On a flight, Lisa recommends applying it twice, and taking it off with Bioderma 45mins before landing. It works like a dream. I would therefore now apply it before bed and wash my face the following morning. 
Phyto 7 Day Cream is exactly what it says on the tube, a day cream for your locks. I love how it smells (sort of very subtly nutty) and it leaves my hair soft and more manageable. Of course there is still dryness - I dye my hair, blowdry it and use heated tools on it - but this cream adds a certain silkiness and ups the manageability big time. Again, I noticed this most after getting off my flight after having applied it to dry hair to protect it from the brutal air con on board. On a day-to-day basis however, I apply it to towel-dried hair pre-blowdrying. 

Whilst we're nattering about hair, I bought Oribe's Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray from Space NK in an attempt to combat the humidity in New York and Washington DC. IT ACTUALLY WORKED! There were days were a a tiny touch of fluffiness crept in, but this works reliably better than any other anti-humidity product I've tried. I read recently how important it is to follow instructions on products like this - we all too often spray vaguely and hope for the best. I followed Oribe's instructions to the letter: spray all over post-styling, flip head over and spray all over again. 

In the make-up stakes there are two products hugely deserving of a mention. By Terry's Rose de Rose (which I first heard about again via Lisa Eldridge's website) and Lipstick Queen's Jean Queen. As Lisa points out, Rose de Rose is not for all over face application as By Terry seem to suggest. I use it as you would a blusher and it gives such a beautiful glow. When you first dispense it you might be a tad fearful - it looks VERY pink. But as you apply it, your fears will fade away. I'm rather on the pale side, so use shade 1 (Fresh Rose), and half a pump is plenty.
I bought Lipstick Queen Jean Queen a little while ago, but it has become the lipstick I turn to everyday. It is the perfect everyday shade for 9-5, and to add a polished, pretty look for evening. 

Are there any new beauty products you've tried recently that have become firm favourites?

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