Victoria Beckham for Estee Lauder

It annoys me just how good this range is. Damn. And it's expensive. Sorry.

I was in Selfridges on Friday morning, the day this range launched. My friend and I were at the counter at 10am. It's important that you understand this was not planned. I am not some sort of VB uber fan I can assure you. However, there is something very nice about knowing you are the first people at the testers.

It's all lovely, it really is. Victoria knows her make-up which can't be a great surprise to anyone.

I bought the finishing powder which is now already sold out online. Look, it's £62 which is a lot of money I know. But I had read about it and then I tested it and I simply had to have it. This claims to soften, smooth, even and set make-up. And it does, it's really good. I have never regretted spending money on the Modern Mercury highlighter (which is back, fill your boots) and I wear it every day and there is tonnes left.

I also liked the look of this eyeshadow duo.

That blue is to die for and the textures are fabulous.

And the creme blusher is wonderful.

However, I draw the line at spending £46 on a blusher. Blushers are easy to find, I should know, I have about ten of them and I love them all. Perfect powders are much harder, I have tried several and not been 100% happy so for me, it's worth spending the cash.

The packaging is a little bit different, being sleek and lovely but also distinctive. The powder comes in a gold compact and it's delightfully satisfying.

If you want to treat yourself, this is the place to go but hurry, it's selling out fast.

Victoria Beckham for Estee Lauder

I am typing this with a mouthful of humble pie. I've always found VB annoying and fairly mediocre. And I've been vocal in my opinion of her. However, as I get older and more Yoda-like, I find myself uncomfortable with being mean about women I've never met. Who I am to criticise VB, Charlotte Tilbury, Nicole Kidman (and many, many more I've vilified over the years)? I am not yet ready to be 100% kind about Kim Kardashian but I will hold my tongue more. We don't know the struggles these multi-millionaires go through every day, do we?! Sisterhood and all that.

I was intrigued by this collection. I much prefer VB as a fashion designer than a pop star and I am fully bought into the notion that she might know a thing or two about make-up. It took me a while to get my hands on this because it's not at all Estee Lauder counters. My flight back from Dubai this week provided me with the opportunity to check it out. What could be more perfect than shopping high-end make-up at Dubai airport? They had it all out to play with and nobody was hovering around me trying to help me. I also wasn't encumbered by TeenBoy (whose patience on such matters is not extensive) since he was buying smoked almonds (yum!)

There I was in my element playing with it all on the back of my hand. It is with regret that I have to report it's really bloody nice. I could have happily bought more than one thing except it's not cheap. It's Tom Ford prices and having just spent a small fortune on our holiday, I felt obliged to rein it in.

I purchased an eye foil in Burnt Anise. It has a lip gloss type applicator and it's all shiny (even after it dries). The texture is perfection. I must say it's not the easiest to master and just swiping it on from the applicator causes one to look like a clown. I use a brush to draw a line on and then smudge gently. I could do with more tips on how to work with it to be honest but I love the idea of it and am pleased I got it.

Today I explored the collection more in Selfridges and I can confirm I really badly want this.

The Modern Mercury highlighter. I've never been one for highlighters but this is good. Easy to apply without overdoing it and very subtle. Damn. It also seems to be sold out online and now I wish I'd got it in Dubai when it was all cheaper too. The eye foil is £40 and I got it for £30.

The lipsticks are lovely too - both very wearable colours. The eye metals (eyeshadows) are gorgeous. The Morning Aura illuminating cream is very silky and covetable but expensive for something I'd canter through.

I imagine VB in one of her many mansions with this whole collection at her dressing table and I seethe with envy. That's how nice it all is. My show of envy is to prove I've not gone totally soft. Fair play VB.

Spring, Spring, Spring!

Welcome to March. We made it! I am so excited that January and February are over. They are tough months and I am bored of being cold and wrapping up warm. I know March can be the cruellest month but psychologically I feel better.

Thoughts turn to new beauty treats to play with. We all deserve a treat for surviving the winter. Here are some delights that have caught my eye.

If I needed another perfume (which I resolutely don't, nope, no way), then these are To Die For.

Oh so pretty. I saw these in Peter Jones last week and had a good sniff of them all and they are divine. Look at those bottles. Tell me you don't want one on your dressing table. They are part of Estee Lauder and they are gorgeous. I am lusting hard. Read more here.

Hello Lancome.

I think I've learned my lesson with make up palettes and then one comes along that throws all logic out of the window. I don't use all the colours, therefore they are not good value but look. Look at it. It's just so pretty, frivolous and girlie. It's made for Spring. It's made for bouncing through Paris in a tutu. And at £42, is it really that expensive?

Another obsession that is growing by the minute is candles. Making my home smell like a spa is important because I live near a sewage works. That's my excuse for buying Diptique candles like there is about to be a worldwide ban. I admit I did pick up a couple in the post Christmas sales which required ninja-like skills. They are £40 each and yes, that is expensive but there is just nothing as good as Diptique. And believe me in candle world, £40 is often the entry price point. I think I've fully explained myself. Let's look at the joy

Do I need to explain Eucalyptus? It's one of my favourite smells and perfect for Spring.

I love Rose and I love Geranium. So this is a no brainer.

Moss. Named after me! "all the fresh scents of the forest floor after rain" they say. Also, pretty colour.

This is one I picked up in the sale (half price!) and it's minty. It's lovely and fresh.

And I got this one in the Selfridges sale (half price!). It isn't on the Diptique site. The description of it is ridiculous but it does smell heavenly.

And finally my friend bought me this for Christmas. There is a reason she is my friend.

Jo Malone has new perfume out. My Jo Malone obsession isn't as strong as it once was but Sali Hughes reviewed this yesterday in The Guardian and now I want to investigate more. Birch and Black Pepper sounds intriguing.

I just happen to be going to Terminal 5 next week so I shall do us all a favour and check them out. Happy March!

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

Much woe, Estee Lauder has discontinued by beloved Doublewear mascara. They still do DW but it's not the one I love and adore. I knew this would happen, I finally find my desert island mascara and they do away with it. I bought this new Bobbi Brown one to see how I'd get on. Meh, it's ok but it's not even in the same league as the Estee Lauder one. My one faint hope is I might be able to stock up while I am back in London as they are running down stocks.

One is not amused.

Estee Lauder - Modern Muse

Estee Lauder has a new perfume which is front page news. They've not released a new perfume for 10 years and so there is much excitement about this one. I would describe myself as an admirer of Estee Lauder perfume rather than a lover. My mother wore Private Collection and so I will always have a place in my heart for it but I could never wear it myself. I can't stand White Linen but appreciate why others like it. And I really actively dislike Beautiful, the name, the scent, everything about it.

However, Modern Muse sounds intriguing and I can't wait to have a sniff of it. I finished two perfumes this week, it felt almost liberating to actually finish a bottle of perfume and it means that technically there is room for a new purchase.

2012's heroes

We are reaching the end of another year and it's time to take stock. I've been having a think about products I've discovered this year and what have become staples. Here is my list.

First up is this simple Tangle Teezer. I have no idea why it took me so long to buy one of these but if you have thick hair that is prone to tangling then it's life-changing. My pink one fell in the toilet the other week so I had to replace it with a pale blue one. I got it from Amazon.

This root canal spray is what I bought after I had inches lopped off my hair. I adore it. It gives your hair a boost and is easy peasy to use. 

You know I am all about eye make-up. I've bought a lot of it this year but the one thing I am wearing every day is this old favourite from NARS - Nepal eyeshadow. It's the perfect base, easy to apply and goes with everything you layer over the top.

For fun, you can't beat the Maybelline eye tattoos. The blue one is gorgeous used as an eyeliner, the more daring may want to go full-on with it. Nothing shifts these babies until you are ready.

This was the year I finally found the perfect mascara. Estee Lauder Doublewear. It's perfection to apply, it never smudges, it lasts all day. Why did it take me this many years? My life is littered with failed mascaras but no more.

Coupled with the Liz Earle Lash Care eye base, my eyes have never been happier.

I've had a love affair with Bobbi Brown this year. The eye gels are fabulous and my navy liner is a look I frequent most days. And the other brand I've adored this year is Bliss. The pedicures are heavenly and you really must treat yourselves if you've not done so. They last far longer than a regular pedicure

I am saving my perfume musings for another post. What have you loved this year?