Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamon

One of my rules is to buy a new perfume if I am going on holiday. I always get it duty-free and it goes a long to explaining my out of control perfume collection. However, if you do this the perfume gives you such nice memories when you wear it afterwards. I still think of Arizona when I wear Jo Malone's Grapefruit layered with Red Roses. That holiday was eight years ago!

On my way to Lisbon in May, I picked up this. I actually wasn't going to indulge for this little trip but after buying my new sunglasses, I was given a 20% off voucher for anything in duty-free and it would have been criminal not to use it.

This is a creamy, very soft fragrance. It reminds me of what your skin smells like after applying sun tan lotion and lying in hot sun for an hour or so. I think it's perfect for the summer.

Givenchy Teint Couture Balm Blurring Foundation

I've had my eye on this for a while. Sali Hughes raved about it a while back and I've been meaning to explore it. Givenchy counters are hard to track down. I decided to actually take a lunch hour a few weeks back and walk to the House of Fraser across London Bridge. I got there - no Givenchy counter. I bought a Tom Ford lipstick as a consolation prize and more about that another time.

Anyway, as so often with me, I became obsessed in the space of 24 hours. I went from a curious 'I must try this' to 'I need it in my life now, nothing I have works AT ALL'. A fine Saturday dawned and my sister and I spontaneously decided to meet at Selfridges for a little shop and some coffee. Guess what? Selfridges doesn't have Givenchy either. It became a mission. Turns out Debenhams does and so we fell in there and started to explore.

Givenchy make up is beautiful. Why have I never explored it before? Possibly because it's not everywhere. It's so pretty! We were helped by an extremely competent assistant. She knew her stuff, popped me in a chair and took off my make up and started again. It was honestly like a magician at work although she used a lot of product. By the time she had finished I wanted everything but I managed to be reasonably restrained. The foundation is life-changing. I've been wearing it every day and people have commented on how well I look. I am not well at the moment, I am in the middle of the project from hell, I am doing 13 hour days in the office, sleeping badly and I have a cold. That's how good this base is. It transcends all that and makes you glow.

I also bought the concealer which has a highlighter built in. I am quite lazy about concealer and I don't wear it all the time but it's very easy to work with and nice and light, not cakey. And I got the wondrous mascara which is bizarre.

I was sceptical until she used it on me. Long lashes be mine! It's a little bit of a knack to master without poking yourself in the eye but this is very good.

My sister also succumbed having said she wasn't buying anything. She got the foundation and the mascara. We swung out looking uber glamorous and went to, ermmm, Nando's.

If you just buy one product, buy the foundation. It really is wonderfully good, easy to apply and perks you up a treat. Recommended.

Percy & Reed

I have a new wonder hair product! I didn't think I could add anything more to my hair routine but this miracle product has won me over.

Percy & Reed Wonder Prime Light. It basically extends your hairstyle an extra day. We all know, an extra day of not having to style your hair is something to be applauded. Spray it on damp hair, add styling products, blow dry, add this:

Percy & Reed No Oil Oil.  Stupid name but I love this. No grease, no slick, just shiny and frizz-free hair.

So basically three different products go on my hair because I am still addicted to Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 styling treatment. Oh, and of course I add hairspray. It's amazing my hair doesn't go up in flames to be honest!

Anyway, try the primer, I absolutely love it.