New Spring make-up goodies

Today the sun was out and it was warm (ish). I went out without a coat. YES! Spring is in the air. I am still on my spending-ban but let me show you some of the lovely products I would totally consider if I could.

First up, YSL joy:

Lancome Blush and Highlighter cushion:

 Bobbi Brown Art Stick:

I don't know if this is new to Chanel but this nail colour is called Espadrilles.

It's enough to make you want to book a holiday and pack nothing but bikinis and nail polish!

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!

Dior Glow Maximiser

I have an update, I did indeed purchase the Dior Glow Maximiser last week at the airport. Given that I am prone to being a bit dozy, I thought I was on a later flight so I only had about five minutes to shop. I was very efficient speeding around picking up what I had identified as must-haves.

The Lancome mascara is fine but not life-changing. The Dior primer is brilliant, I love it. It just lights you up from within. It's a bit scary looking and I worried I'd look too sparkly but instead it just glows. I had a very busy week in New York and was jet lagged and waking up every day at 4am. Despite this, I managed to look more than presentable thanks to Dior.

I am sorry to tell you that you need this. Now.

Hitting duty-free

I found out last week that I need to fly to New York tonight. Which is fine because I am always happy to go to New York especially when I don't have to pay for the flight. I am planning my duty-free shopping because there are some items I really want to try thanks to Sali Hughes. Gee, thanks Sali.

First up and urgently, this.

Dior Glow Maximiser Primer. Read Sali's review here and tell me you don't want it immediately. I must have it.

I have also been reading good things about this.

Lancome Grandoise mascara. I read about it here. I think I need to stop following so much temptation on Twitter.

Then I must pick up my beloved Kiehls 24/7 moisturiser that you can only buy at duty-free. The shops don't stock it. I am nearly at the end of my supplies. Nothing is better for tired skin.

I shall then skip onto the plane to settle down to seven hours of movie heaven. I'll report back on the primer and mascara.

Lancome primer

A friend told me I had to buy a new miracle product from Lancome.  I quote: "it literally fills in wrinkles and lines on your face."

Hot-footed it I did to the nearest Lancome counter where I managed to buy the wrong product. She was talking about this:

But I managed to buy this. This is because the woman on the Lancome counter was hopeless. Now I hear Lancome are in a bit of trouble and if their staff don't know the products, then I am not surprised.

Anyway, I've been using what I bought because hey, a primer is always useful and I'm not about to waste £25.  It's very much like the Smashbox primer I got last year but not as plasticky. It's pretty good and nice with my new Bobbi Brown foundation over the top (yes, I bought it, nobody is surprised are they?) However, I wouldn't say it's a 'must-have'.

However, I am loving my Bobbi Brown. I went back and bought everything else from my recent makeover. The blusher is great but the foundation is a revelation. It glides on, you hardly need any and it smells truly lovely. The mascara is the only meh product. It's not rocking my world.

New and exciting mascara

Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells mascara. Where do they come up with these names? And how do they do so with a straight face?

Anyway, another in-flight purchase. 12 hours is a long time, I got bored, ok? This promises to 'regenerate' your eyelashes, used continuously it says it will make your lashes thicker. I am so sceptical, I have a face of pure scepticism.

However, I can report that this is almost a perfect mascara, it applies beautifully, it amplifies one's lashes, it barely smudges and it comes off without the need for a shovel. It's £22 so frankly it should be good but it really actually is. Something to buy in-flight again (where it only cost me £18 - I say only, it's still really expensive for a mascara). It's not often I find a new mascara I actually would buy again but this, I would. Recommended.