Cleansing

I'm a bit obsessed with cleansing, everything starts with clean skin sweeties. Last week I bought two essential cleansing products. First up, Shu Uemura cleansing oil.

Yes, I got the Karl Lagerfeld one because why not? I adore this stuff, it's very expensive but a large bottle lasts me a year. And this bottle makes any bathroom (even my horrid, needs replacing bathroom) look stylish. It's perfect for a quick morning cleanse requiring minimum effort and leaving skin soft and smooth.

I also bought the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish.

This smells heavenly. I think I am addicted to Eucalyptus because I am a sucker for anything made with it. I use this with a regular flannel in the evenings to lift all make-up off effortlessly. My usual rinse off cleansers just weren't doing the job for me anymore. It must be this damn ageing thing.

So, £100 on cleansers. I had better look radiant.

Liz Earle perfumes

I am having a Liz Earle moment. Having raved about her make-up, I'd like to discuss her perfume. I got a bottle of Botanical Essence No 1 for my birthday and it's absolutely lovely. It's not pushing the envelope in any way as it's very simple however it's delightful and a fragrance I think would suit all. You can read the long list of ingredients here. It's a scent you put on when you don't know what mood you are in. I like it very much.

I went into the Liz Earle shop again yesterday as I wanted to get more of the mascara base (if you don't have this yet, why?) and was planning to just get that but they had an offer where if you bought two make-up items, they gave you a free lip gloss. Naturally I found this irresistible so I picked some eye shadow which I've not tried yet, I'll report back. Then I was given a free Cherry lip gloss.

In addition, you also get to choose a sample. I am very impressed with Liz Earle service, you choose your own sample! Other brands could well take note. I picked the other perfume, Botanical Essence No 15. You can read the list of ingredients here.

I put this on yesterday after my shower and it's completely different to No 1. Much more complex and interesting. I was sniffing my wrist all night long. I don't think I'd get it but only because I have SO MUCH perfume that I have to fall in love completely to buy anything new but it's well worth seeking out. Given how great the service is, they'd probably just give you a sample if you ask nicely.

I can see why Liz Earle has such loyal followers. What she does, she does well with excellent service. Highly recommended.

Loving it at the moment

It's been a while since I've done a beauty round-up. Today is a boiling hot day and I've just emerged from a cool bath feeling revitalised and ready to share my current loves.

First up, Maybelline eye tattoos. Since blogging about these, I've been back to buy the gold and bronze shades. Not so keen on the gold but the bronze is a winner. I love how easy these are and that they last all day. They are cheap as chips, I am tempted to buy every colour just to play!

John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner. With my new, choppier hair cut I am really liking this, it's weightless and gives hair more body. I took it on holiday and it was perfect for when you need to wash your hair every day.

My beauty tip of the month is acetone-free nail polish remover. I know I know, this is so obvious and I am late to it but this makes a massive difference. Before my nails flaked, now they are much stronger. I actually can't believe it took me this long to try this. You can get any brand in Boots - I am sure they are all similar.

Bliss pedicures. I went back. The one I had in July lasted a month and that includes a week on a beach. Deeply impressed. I had the Hot Almond and Milk one on my second trip and can report that it's divine. It's an hour of pampering that I heartily recommend.

Givenchy Mister Radiant.  My sister bought me this for my birthday - it has little beads in it that explode to give you a healthy glow. It's very nice although a little scary at first, you really have to blend. It's very good mixed with moisturiser too.

MAC Prep and Prime. This primer is very good, it's slightly sparkly and is perfect in this hot weather to keep your make-up in place.

Finally the Liz Earle mascara base is soooo good. It's one of my favourite new products of the year.

Liz Earle make-up

Liz Earle is one of those brands you know is good for you but is frankly a bit dull. I think the packaging is tedious and although I know people rave about Cleanse and Polish, I can't quite be bothered with it. However, Sali Hughes gave the new make-up range such a great review a few weeks ago, I decided to investigate.

There is a huge Liz Earle just off Kings Rd and it's a beautiful shop, the perfect place for a browse. The make-up range is small which I like. On Sali's recommendation, I looked at the cream blush first. The texture on this is the best I've ever seen, it literally glides and blends like a dream. I could have bought two or three but in the end plumped for Coral. I will definitely be buying more of these as they are foolproof.

I was intrigued to read about the mascara base, it claims to make your lashes look thicker and longer. You can use it under any mascara. For £10, it was worth a go. What I have noticed the most is not that it makes my lashes look longer (nothing makes them look longer in my opinion, your lashes are a set length) but that it reduces smudging. I get a lot of smudging with mascara as the day wears on. I've tried everything but always resemble a panda by the end of the day. This reduces that. It doesn't eliminate it but there is improvement. Plus, yes, it makes lashes look thicker.

I was also impressed with the eye pencils especially the Golden Bronze. I didn't buy it but only because it was the same day as the Bliss pedicure and various other expenditures and I decided to try and be sensible. I am regretting it and will return. It's a gorgeous colour.  I also liked the look of the lip glosses.

All in all, I am impressed and the simplicity of the range is very appealing. I also got to choose a sample of a skincare product and choose this exfoliator. It's excellent and smells divine and so I am recommending that too!

All in all, a success. Perfect make-up for the natural 'no make-up' ladies.

Birthday perfumes

Don't ask me where the time goes but another birthday hit me this month. The advantage of getting older is that your friends and family learn your taste. My love of perfume is very well known and I am delighted to say that none of my nearest and dearest would consider getting me something from Duty Free. No, my tastes run a little more exclusive than that darlings.

The award for most attention paid to this blog goes to my two dear friends who scoured, scoured these pages I say, to decide what to get me. I wrote about Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino 15 months ago! That's what I call an eye for detail. I can't even begin to tell you the joy that this perfume gives. It's properly, perfectly wonderful. I've just come back from Mallorca and I do love a perfume you associate with holidays and this will now be one of them. It's perfect for sunny climes. In fact, it's exactly how you expect Portofino to smell like; orange blossom and lemon. It's very sexy, in fact it is unisex and it's complex yet fresh. Worrying CoverBoy took a shine to it so I shall be hiding it obviously.

Speaking of CoverBoy, he got me a very indulgent present.

Bois Des Iles is my desert island fragrance and my wedding scent. I have a 200ml bottle of it which is lovely and all but you can't take it with you anywhere. It's really a bit of a trauma as I know you'll understand. Since the Chanel exclusives are now available in 100ml bottles, I dropped hints. OK, I told him exactly where to go (Selfridges) and lucky me, he trotted off. Since he pretty much hates central London on a Saturday, I call that love.

Finally, my brother and his family got me Liz Earle's perfume. Again, I did ask for this (before I knew I was getting a perfume bonanza!)

I've been wanting this for a while and it's gorgeous. Very summery and I think excellent value as a French house would charge twice as much for it. I also took this to Mallorca (yes, I took two perfumes, what of it?!) and it was perfection. You can read more about it here.

I was also given a bottle of Apres L'Ondee by another dear friend and so I am wafting around in a cloud of scented glory. I don't understand people who don't wear perfume, it really gives me so much pleasure and I genuinely believe you can never have too much of it.

I have plenty more to tell you about too. Givenchy, Opi and Essie nail varnish, St Tropez sun cream, Liz Earle make-up (very exciting), Bliss body scrubs. It's been a big beauty month. Watch this space...