Bye bye 2018

Just like that, it's New Year's Eve. I have a few products to talk about before I look back on the year beauty-wise.

I didn't mention this face mask in my previous Body Shop post because I had bought it as a present for my sister-in-law. Obviously I operated on the principle, one for her, one for me. 

This Drops of Youth mask is marketed as bouncy. It's hard to explain the texture, it's very slippery and you have to dig in. I am here to tell you that it's Very Good Indeed. I don't use it as a mask, which implies you rinse it off, I slap it on and go to bed. One wakes up looking all dewy. Honestly, it works a treat. You can feel it doing you good as you apply it. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

My sister gave me this for Christmas.

Bjork and Berries Dark Rain body wash. I am not exaggerating when I say it smells like heaven. It's delicious and I have been using as a bubble bath in my bathroom of joy. 

Looking back on 2018, it's the year I concentrated on haircare. The Grow Gorgeous Cleaning Conditioner was a revelation although I am not using it now it's winter. For me, it's a summer product and a life saver on holidays. I've loved my Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioner and can't wait to finish my original order so I can try another scent. Kristen Ess needs to come to the UK at a reasonable price. Or I need to go back to the US to stock up.

I also hit Beauty Pie hard. I've said this a few times on here but the serums are incredibly good value. The eyeliners are great too. I have more products to review over the coming weeks. 

I've invested in regular facials and as a result, I barely wear foundation which was what I was after. The Bobbi Brown serum concealer has become my new BFF.

I learned that too much shellac is not a good thing and that you do need to wait two weeks before having it removed. My nails spent the autumn in rehab with the help of Sally Hansen Gel Rehab and Moisture Rehab.

The Moisture Rehab is so good that I now have about six bottles of it so I always have it to hand. It soaks into cuticles with no grease. 

Thank you for reading and happy 2019!

The Body Shop

It's nice to visit old friends. Especially ones you've not seen for ages. I've not investigated The Body Shop for years but recently I went in and was deeply impressed.

It seems to be the law that all 10-15 year old girls love The Body Shop. Thus I found myself in the Oxford Street branch with my friend who has a 12 year-old daughter. She was after the advent calendar but it was long since sold out. However, they had a little booth where you can instantly print personalised covers for their body butters. What a great idea. It's not online so you have to pop in but we were entranced and I only just managed to stop getting one for me.

I bought this.

The Almond and Milk Honey bath milk. I basically bathe in my new bathroom any time I can so bubble baths are a must. This is sublime. It's soothing, delicious and soft. 

I came home and immediately went online to explore more. I bought this:

If you love rose scent, then this is for you. It's gorgeous, not greasy but deeply moisturising. 

It's almost impossible to pay full price. Currently there is 40% off if you spend £15 and more. I stocked up on Christmas presents. If you're reading this and in my family, DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY!

The Body Shop does appeal to girls but it has serious products in there as well. The skincare range is excellent. I avoid anything strawberry scented but that's just me.

A word about REN

I've always liked REN beauty but tend to forget about it. However, a few things reminded me. Firstly, I have finally managed to get a bathroom renovated. This has been months in the making, it was going to be the shower room but at the last minute, I decided I needed a bathing boudoir and so I did the attic bathroom. This is a tiny little room and it was unusable. Now it's a pink, bathing heaven.

It's been a slog getting this room done and I won't bore with you with the details but I think we can all agree that a new bathroom needs new products.

Then Caroline Hirons posted a 20% code for REN and the deal was done.

The classic Moroccan Rose Otto body wash. The last time I had this, it was a present from my mum so it's been a while. You may have noticed my new bathroom is pink. Very, very pink. I wanted it to feel like a haven and a retreat and it really does. I lie there in rose scented bubbles admiring my excellent taste.

I also purchased some skincare. Ready Steady Glow tonic. This is incredibly good and pretty strong. You really feel your skin tingle. It may replace my beloved Zelen pads which are expensive and I wince when I buy them. This is much more reasonable at £25 (plus 20% off!) and it has properly good packaging, as you press your cotton pad down on it and pump. Why more brands don't do this is a mystery.

Finally, I bought Evercalm Anti Redness Serum. I wanted this as my skin was feeling a little red and flushed. I think it's the change of season, central heating, endless dust because of the renovation (the project is bigger than one bathroom). Anyway, this does exactly what it promises and feels very soothing. 

I've fallen back in love with REN. I got a ton of huge samples with this order too.

Before I go, several people have asked me how my husband feels about a pink bathroom. Why would he object? Men like pink too. In fact, he encouraged me to go for this brighter pink (Farrow & Ball Rangwali). I find questions like this so interesting, as if men only like steel grey and blue and can't enjoy a bath while looking a pink walls! Mind you, I may have taken a step too far with my Joan Collins portrait...

Beauty round-up

Apologies for not posting in a while. I hope to atone by sharing lots of goodies I have recently acquired or played with. I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and made the most of the beauty opportunities available to me.

As always when I fly, I get my moisturiser packing all wrong. This is most frustrating since I have a lot of moisturiser. Maybe it's subconscious though so I feel justified in buying more.

I bought this Sunday Riley Tidal cream because the week before I was reading some beauty writer saying this is what she would use all the time if she could have it for free. Even with the crappy exchange rate, most beauty is cheaper in the US. Even so, they didn't give me this in Sephora sadly. However, I can report that it's marvellous. It sinks in immediately, no grease whatsoever but massively moisturising and just what my jet lagged skin needed. It does smell 'of the sea' somewhat which may put you off but I don't mind it.

While in Sephora, I played with Drunk Elephant. It launched here last week which I expect you know about because it was in every single thing I picked up, all over Instagram and I got about a dozen emails telling me. It's expensive. It was expensive in the US and it's even pricier here. Is it worth it? I dunno. I tried the C Firma Serum which felt lovely, if oily. I splodged other things on the back of my hand. The packaging is very cute but I can't justify £80 on packaging and when it came down to it, I just decided against the expense. Reviews vary wildly on this and I am a little sceptical of the whole 'clean' promise. 

One of my favourite rituals on any trip to the US is my foray into Sephora. I love their own range of cleansers, foot masks, hand masks etc. We can no longer access the US site in the UK which is so annoying, I have no words for my rage. I got the coconut dry shampoo and at last I have found a dry shampoo where I can cope with the scent. It's delicious and only $8. 

On to haircare and Target. I had been tipped off about Kristin Ess haircare by a friend of mine who is a millennial and therefore much cooler than me. It's exclusively sold in Target and (of course) cheaper in the US. Off I went, taking my pal with me. 

I bought The One shampoo and conditioner. It smells heavenly and I have to say, it's great. I am loving it. It's a joy to use, rinses out easily and leaves my hair in great condition. 

I also bought the Blow Dry Mist. This claims to cut down blow drying time and give shine blah blah This is true! It does! And you hardly need any (I found out the hard way) so it lasts for ages. 

My friend also bought from the range and is equally happy. You can buy this in the UK from Feel Unique but it's more expensive. Obviously.

If you know anyone crossing the Atlantic, you now have your shopping list. You're welcome.

Jo Loves

Jo Loves is by Jo Malone. I decided to treat myself after numerous hints for my birthday didn't work. I read about this Graffiti body spray in a magazine and knew I had to try it.

Because I love Grapefruit scented products, I chose that one but it comes in other flavours although the thought of Tuberose or Fig makes me want to heave but whatever floats your boat.

I love this, it's been perfect for this long hot summer and the scent lasts really well. It cools you down as well. I've not used a body spray since my teenage days of Impulse and I'd forgotten how nice they can be for a subtle, all-over saturation of very light fragrance. I can't see me using this in the deep and dark days of winter but for summer and holidays, it's lovely.

I also bought a fragrance paint brush.

I chose White Roses and Lemon Leaves which was nice enough but a bit of an obvious scent to my nose (I ordered these online). I love the portability of this, I took it into work and brushed it on my wrists. I like that you are not obviously applying perfume and choking people around you with a spray.

However, after a week, it stopped working. No more gel was coming out of the brush. I clicked away but to no avail. The customer service was interesting. I sent an email explaining the problem. I got an answer back quickly that I needed to shake it vigorously. I did this, nope, didn't work. I emailed back and explained this. I was told that I needed to pack it up sturdily and they'd send a driver to pick it up on a day I chose. I did all this and driver duly turned up. I then received an email saying, yes it is broken, would I like a new one or a refund? No apology and I didn't like the implication that somehow I had been lying until they had tested it. I asked for a refund because by the point I was annoyed and I wasn't massively into the smell anyway.

Jo Loves is a top-end and luxury retailer. They should have immediately sent me another one when I sent my first email. This is clearly a known problem. It's very disappointing.

Grow Gorgeous Cleansing Conditioner

My lovely friend gave me this for my birthday and I am here to tell you it's a game changer. I was massively sceptical I must admit. This is a 'no poo' conditioner and the thought of not cleansing my hair freaked me out a little.

She gave me clear instructions: soak your hair, use quite a lot, massage in, leave for three minutes, comb hair, rinse out. If you follow these instructions, then you will have amazing shiny hair. I am blown away by it. I had my hair cut and coloured last week and my hairdresser asked me what I had been using to make my hair look so good.

I wouldn't use this every time I wash my hair because I think hair does need a proper cleanse now and then but I am using it every other wash (I wash my hair twice a week) and I love it. It also smells great. Perfect for holiday hair too.

You can read more about it here. You can buy it here (cheaper). And you can thank me below in the comments.

Beauty Pie round-up

I've been a member of Beauty Pie now for just over a year. In that time, I have tried loads of products. My favourite category is serums. I have tried all of these.

It's almost impossible to pick my favourite. The Uber Youth maybe wins but they are all excellent and worth membership alone. Serum is expensive and I seem to canter through it. 

I ordered the sunscreen in my last batch since our summer seems to keep on giving. This is also very good, lightweight, no chalkiness, no greasiness and you can easily put make up over it.

The sheet masks are also really very good. Although they come with a weird layer you need to peel off and this is not made clear except for the fact that trying to put it on with the layer is awkward. I like all sheet masks and these are no exception.

I tried a couple of cleansers and was less impressed. This Japanfusion is acceptable, it smells lovely and works well but I probably wouldn't buy it again. I want them to do an oil-based cleanser as those are my favourite.

This eyeliner in Envy is truly excellent and lasts all day long with no travelling. I got the blue one as well which I like less as it's a bit too blue for me but the quality of these are excellent.

I have also tried the candles (fine but not a patch on my beloved Diptyque), the lipsticks (perfectly nice without being memorable), foundation samples (the jury is out, maybe ok but I prefer to buy my foundation properly at a beauty counter), primer (ok but there are better primers available), retinol hand cream (excellent), five minute facial (reviewed here) and the fabulous Awesome Bronze.

The service is very good, everything comes in a nice box and all in all, I think Beauty Pie is worth the hype. It's exceptionally good value. I really want them to do shower gels as I am obsessed with shower gels.

Sunshine!

This summer seems to be serious. I've become so used to English summers that I tend not to bother with self-tan since it's usually too cold to wear anything to show it off. But after a glorious May, June and July (so far), I decided it was time to move from milk bottle white to off white.

First of all, I tried this.

St Tropez Gradual Tan In-Shower. It's a bit odd as a concept. You wash in the shower, turn off the shower and apply this lotion. Wait three minutes and rinse it off. I went with 'light' and yes, it's for the timid because it took several applications for me to notice anything. Eventually I decided my legs were showing some very natural looking colour. This is great if you don't want any mistakes and want to go slow. It's annoying waiting in the shower for three minutes. I found myself thinking it needed a good clean which isn't very relaxing.

Then last week, I ordered this.

Beauty Pie's Awesome Bronze mousse. This has changed my life. You need a tanning mitt which is no great disaster but it doesn't come with one. You apply this with the mitt and it glides on, it has some colour initially so you can see what you're doing and where you've missed. It dries in seconds. Wait a few hours and then you have a tan. A proper tan. This is quite full on, it's not messing about. I don't mean you are Love Island bronzed but you know you've done something. I've been applying it daily because SUNSHINE. I absolutely love it. It's the best self tanner I've ever used. It doesn't smell, it's not fiddly, you don't get your hands all orange because of the mitt (you do need to wash them afterwards just to be safe) and it's truly awesome. I am not being paid to say this (I wish).

That just leaves the face. I purchased this.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. You add a few drops of this to your moisturiser, mix it up and slap it on. This is subtle and all the better for it. I am still scarred by my St Tropez sheet mask orange face from last summer. This does what it says it will do, it gives you a glow and makes you look sun-kissed. You can do as many drops as you like, I go for three. Again, no biscuit smells and a cinch to apply.

Fake tans have come a long way. I wish you all a safe tanned Summer.

La Roche-Posay Hyaluronic Acid Serum

I've been using this for a couple of months and I really like it. I've become a bit obsessed with serums as you may have noticed. I still rate the Beauty Pies ones as well (more on them in a future post). This one requires one drop, it's almost unbelievable that one drop is enough but there you go. It feels very refreshing and sinks in immediately. It's £37 which is expensive but it lasts for ages because of the one drop thing.

La Roche-Posay is a great brand, I've yet to buy something that disappoints me. I am using the Anthelios SPF 50 fluid in this glorious heatwave we've having and it's brilliant. Non-greasy, easy to apply and light as a feather.

Function of Beauty

I love this idea so much. Function of Beauty allows you to create your own formula for shampoo and conditioner, pick your colour, pick your scent and it puts your name on it.

Obviously, the very moment I heard about this, I was all over it like a rash. You answer a hair quiz, then you select five hair goals, then you pick colour and scent and finally you add your name so they can put it on the bottle. If you use more shampoo than conditioner, you can order a bigger bottle of shampoo and vice versa.

After all that excitement, the only question is, is it any good? I am delighted to tell you yes, it really is. My order arrived quickly (it comes from the US), it comes with separate pumps (which I only found after raking through my recycling) and it smelt divine (I picked feeling (f) ineapple). An important hair goal for me is anti-frizz. Frizz is my mortal enemy and if I can find something that keeps it at bay, I am happy. This does that. And it makes my hair very shiny. I really do love it. It's very concentrated so a little goes a long way.  There are a selection of sizes, my order was £29. Which is not cheap but it's also not eye watering.

It's such a great idea that you wonder why nobody has done it sooner.  It's fun and it works, what's not to like?

REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum

Hi everyone! The sun is shining and we've had a lovely May haven't we? Two bank holiday weekends with sunshine has to be the rarest occurrence. I hope you've all enjoyed it.

This recommendation could not come at a better time. This is basically an AHA-based serum for your body. Those AHAs that whisk away dead cells in your facial serums? This does the same for your body. It's brilliant. I whole heartedly recommend this with massive enthusiasm. I've not used such a great product for years. It works immediately. No waiting and patiently using it for weeks before you see a result. I slapped this on my arms and then noticed how soft my elbows were.

It's sold out in lots of places, I got mine from M&S. Yes, it's expensive but it's worth it and you don't need masses of it. It sinks in really quickly, it doesn't leave your skin tacky. Honestly, go buy some.

New hair discoveries

I bought this La Roche-Posay Extra Gentle shampoo for CoverBoy who has to have very gentle shampoo for various reasons. However, it's amazing, I love it. It's very creamy, lathers pleasingly, rinses out perfectly and is very gentle.

I had a small tube of this light weight deep conditioning cream rinse in one of the Cult Beauty boxes. It's really good. It conditions hair deeply but manages to not leave it lank. That is the holy grail of deep hair conditioners. I immediately purchased the large tube.

Together, these work brilliantly on my hair and so I pass this information on to you.

Glossier

Is anyone else slightly perturbed by how targeted digital advertising is? It's so pernicious, you only have to click on Hush once and that t-shirt pops up for the next eight weeks on your Facebook and Instagram feeds. Bobbi Brown pops up with 'take another look' and a picture of the very eyeshadow you're doing your best to resist.

Glossier launched a few months back and clearly I am the target audience because I could not escape it. The thing is, I am not the target audience. This is aimed at the much-maligned millennials. It didn't stop me succumbing to see what all the fuss was about.

The cloud paints are beautifully named. We all know I cannot resist a blusher. I tried hard to not buy this but in the end, I had to have a looksie. I bought it in Puff which is very pink and it's really nice. I think I prefer it to the NARS Liquid Orgasm which I liked at first but I've decided it's actually too pigmented. This you can build up or just leave sheer.

The lidstars are for your eyes. Again, it's about building up to intense colour or having a wash of colour. I bought Herb which is described as a smoky green. The day I resist green eyeshadow will be the day I give up on life. Anyway, it's a doddle to apply and it stays on all day long.

I'm not remotely tempted by the skincare range as I honestly think it's for 20-somethings and my skin concerns are not those of a 20-something.

I am not sure I'd buy anything else but the two products I got are surprisingly good.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Corrector

As we move into Spring (or today, full blown Summer) then I find I don't want to be bothered with a base. Also, my investment in facials (on which more in another post) means I am after skin that needs less base.

Nothing at all is a little ambitious, especially for work. Yet I find pretty much all concealers to be too cakey and heavy. Then I discovered this by Bobbi Brown. The name drew me in: Intensive Skin Serum Corrector.  This has a serum like consistency and glides on smoothly. It's not actually a concealer, it neutralises under eye discolouration and primes skin for a concealer (yes, I just typed that from the site's description). If you have spots that you want to conceal, this won't do the job well. I use it to cover up unevenness on my skin which it does brilliantly.

I also bought this brush to help apply it very lightly.

I admit, I am a bit obsessed with make-up brushes but that's because they make such a difference.

A round up of a few recent products

I've been a bit quiet on the blog front but rest assured, not on the buying and trying products front. I don't have enough to say about these to warrant a separate post so I am bundling together.

Let's start with Clarins extra firming day cream. I bought this on one of those days when I felt vulnerable and I shouldn't have even been in the department store because I am a liability. Nonetheless, this had caught my eye in the press. It's expensive for a moisturiser, £58. I bought a shower gel as well and received some very generous gifts which helped me feel better about the price. 

This is good. There are two types to buy: for dry skin or all skin types, I went for all skin types. It does feel lovely and my skin looks nice and plump. No issues with applying make up over it either. Would I buy it again? Probably not but it's a lovely treat.

On the same day, I purchased this hydrating eye cream from Bobbi Brown. I needed this even less in my life but it's surprisingly excellent and that's all down to the packaging. I admit I am lazy, messing about with pots and tubes to add eye cream is often a step I can't be bothered with. This is so easy, swipe on and it gives you just the right amount. It's great for travels, it's fab for your handbag to pep your eyes up in the office mid-afternoon. I am genuinely loving it. Also, I have finally accepted I do need an eye cream having resisted them for years. Woe.

I bought a few bits and pieces online from La Roche-Posay which is fast becoming my favourite new brand. This is a face cleanser that I need for the shower. Yes, I need a cleanser for the shower, doesn't everyone? It's great, it does exactly what I need it to do without any dryness whatsoever. It also smells nice and French. I recommend this and it's inexpensive considering the size.

CliniqueFIT Workout 24-Hour Mascara

We've not discussed mascara for a while, have we? I've been meaning to write about this one for a couple of months. This is part of Clinique's make-up range to be worn while exercising. My eyes are rolling so hard, I am giving myself whiplash.

I find it hard to understand why anyone would wish to wear make-up when sweating and jumping about. These millennials and their instagramming ways have a lot to answer for. However, when I read about the range, I thought, I bet the mascara works.

It does work I guess. It's a tubing mascara so you wash it off with warm water, twiddling your lashes as you go. It's nowhere near as good as Lash Power though. This is my mascara of choice and I always have a spare one to hand just in case. Just in case of what I am not sure but the thought of being without it makes me anxious.

This mascara flakes more, it's harder to get off and it's somehow a bit drying on the lashes. It's cheaper than Lash Power and it shows. I've talked myself into throwing it away. Why bother when Lash Power is perfection?

Ren Rosa Centifoli Hot Cloth Cleanser

Will this godforsaken winter ever be over? I've just returned from a week in Morocco. When I booked that holiday I foolishly thought, when I come back, it will be spring! No, it's snowing and it's freezing.

I bought this cleanser before I went away. Everyone needs a sturdy and reliable hot cloth cream cleanser and after this long winter, my skin needs something gentle. The central heating and wood burning stove do not help my skin.

This is gentle, smells like heaven and does the job beautifully. I also like the pump dispenser which means you don't accidentally squeeze out more than you want. I got it from M&S with 20% off so it cost me less than £15. I highly recommend it.

Badedas Original Indulgent Bath Gelee

This cold weather is made for long hot baths, sitting in the front of the fire, and plenty of toast with tea. I am indulging on all fronts because brrrrrrrrrrr.

I found myself buying this at the weekend. My mum used to have this and talk about being transported back to the 80s! I put some in my bath and could almost feel 16 again. Guess what? I am delighted to report that this product is still fabulous. It turns the water green (bonus), it smells heavenly and it makes the whole house smell gorgeous. My husband asked me, did you just have a bath with Badedas? Such is the power of this scent, even he recognised it.

It comes in a pointless box which is annoying in today's environmentally conscious world but other than that, I can find no fault. I am planning lots of baths over the next week so I can be a jolly green giant.

Margaret Dabbs Foot Oil

My feet are currently on a sabbatical. I am giving them a break from nail polish as my toe nails are really dry. I have other foot issues that I won't bore you with but I was told to give them a break over winter. I'm not going to lie, I HATE IT! But I am also strangely fascinated as I watch my toe nails regain their rosy glow.

Being me, I am treating this like a project. I am buffing my feet with a foot file with a religious devotion and I treated myself to this oil. And good lord, it's amazing. It smells like expensive essential oils but with a medicinal edge to it. It soaks in properly, especially after a bath. But it's not oily on the feet, it just absorbs beautifully. I feel I can sit and spray it on for ages and it would keep soaking in. I am rubbing it into my nails and watching them literally look less dry under my eye.

Yes, it is £22 and that's a lot for a foot product but feet get us everywhere, I say give them a treat. It also will last for a while as you don't need much, unless like me, you become addicted.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

I had a small pot of this from some offer or other. It's been sitting in my bathroom for ages. I decided to give it a go.

It smells gorgeous. It's honestly the nicest scent of a cleanser I've ever used. It's like having a facial. I like the texture very much, it's a nice soft gel which you apply to your face and then moisten your fingers and it turns to a watery gel. You buff it off with a hot flannel. It cleanses deeply but gently.

I like it very much but it's expensive. I am not convinced I would buy it but if you want a treaty cleanser then I can recommend it.

Ragdale Hall Pamper Bath Essence

I don't understand people who don't bathe. The joy of sinking into a bath, especially at this time of year, is heavenly. Sometimes I spend all day dreaming about when I can get into the bath.

Sometimes you just want something soft and fluffy that smells of expensive hotels. This fits the bill. Available from M&S for £7.50, it's almost perfect. To make it truly perfect, I add essential oils and my current obsession is with Marjoram.

Tisserand oils are the best. We have lots of them and they all smell divine. A few drops of this in the bubble bath with the aforementioned bath essence and it's bath heaven. Add an oil burner with the marjoram oil as well, a decent book and I can be in there for a good hour.  Baths make February bearable.

Unwanted hair

Another curse of getting older is the hair that pops up in unwanted places. I mean, it's not as if I didn't have enough unwanted body hair but jeez. I've talked about my foray into laser hair removal before. Let me give you an update on that since I posted it four years ago. I completed the New York treatment and I would say hair was 80% gone on my legs.

When I moved back to London, a new beauty salon opened opposite my house. Thank god it did. I am in there a lot, let me tell you. It's completely brilliant, small with two awesome therapists who just know what they're dong without it being all la de da intimidating.

I embarked on finishing the leg project with IPL treatment. I am including a link to explain IPL as it does it so much better than me. Good news: it doesn't hurt anywhere near as much as the laser. Lovely cold gel is applied first and it's a breeze in comparison. Having said that, it's not pain-free and the longer you have it done (in one session) the more it hurts as the nozzle gets very hot. I reckon with several of these sessions (specifically on the hair, not the whole leg) I got down to 5%. Which is when my therapist told me the only way to completely get rid of those stubborn last few was electrolysis. The hairs may be stubborn but so am I. I was determined to be hair-free so we have been on that project for the last few months. Yes, my quest for hair-free legs has now been going on for four years!

I've never had electrolysis before. It is still the only guaranteed way to get rid of hair but obviously it's time consuming since each hair is zapped individually. On my legs it's mild pain, nothing too bad (but don't talk to me about toes, I drew the line when she started needling my toes and decided a few odd hairs on my toes can be dealt with thank you very much).

Which leads me on to my current obsession. Chin hair. Oh yes. I have a few, not like a beard or anything but more than none is too many, am I right? I've always tweezered them and not thought anymore about it. This is a no-no. They just come back more fierce than ever. This is actually true. My therapist confirmed it and said she would zap them. This was my third new year's beauty resolution.

The hardest thing about this is that you have to let them be until your appointment. This is really hard when you are borderline obsessed and have tweezers in every room in your house together with magnifying mirrors. Come on, I am not the only one. I have weekly appointments and I've had three treatments. It takes no more than five minutes because your chin is not a large surface area and each week I race across the road, offer up my chin and say ZAP THEM ALL! The relief, I can't tell you.

It barely hurts. Your chin is hardy and if you've been plucking them as I have, it's used to pain. I would almost call it relaxing. If you've never touched your chin then yes, it will hurt. I honestly don't know why it took me so long to do this, it's deeply satisfying and I am so pleased to be on the way to a hair-free chin forever. Any new buggers that come up will be zapped pronto. It's also cheap - £5 a session.

Is it all worth it? Should we just embrace hair and not worry about it? It's up to you, if you do, fair play to you. I am too much of an 80s girl to not care. I was brought up conditioned to want to be smooth and I can't uncondition my mind on this. So, the battle continues but I am winning.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Tinted Fluid SPF 50+

January is a slightly odd time to be discussing sun protection. It's grim out there and I don't think I've seen sunshine this year yet. Yet every expert says we should be wearing SPF all year round and we all know that the sun is bad for our skin and that means January cloud too apparently, it can still damage.

My second new year resolution was to start wearing an SPF. I admit that I don't unless it's scorching on the basis that I work in an office and am not outside all that much. But guess what? I've got a dog now and she needs walking and I find myself outside more.

Do I need SPF 50+? Umm, probably not right now but I do like La Roche-Posay. I picked this up for £17 which is quite reasonable and I like that it's tinted. You can use it instead of a foundation. Because you're not meant to combine your SPF with your moisturiser. This way, it will be the last layer to my routine which is what we're after. Except if you use foundation. It's all very confusing.

I have tried this a couple of times. On the upside, it's very light and a great texture. Downside - it bobbles. Nothing is more frustrating than skincare that bobbles. I am persevering with it because it could be I simply have too many layers of product. Maybe I just need to master it.

Readers, do you use SPF every day? And if so, what do you use and when do you apply it in your routine?

Mio: my new favourite brand

Congratulations, we made it through the first week of January.  25 days to go before February! I have made three beauty resolutions for 2018: to start dry body brushing, to wear an SPF on my face every day, and to stop tweezing nefarious hairs and get them zapped with electrolysis.

Dry body brushing. Every beauty writer raves about it. It's boring to do but I decided to bite the bullet and help my lymphatic system out a bit. I read up about it and this brush from Mio got good reviews. I have used it exactly once so far (it only arrived a few days ago!) So far, so good, yes I could feel my blood pumping a bit and I can see it'll be good for me.

Obviously I did not just order a body brush. I mean, that would be dull and they had a sale on.

This Liquid Yoga bubble soak is astonishingly good. It's perfectly named. If, like me, yoga is not your thing then assuage your guilt and lie in a bath with this in it. No bubbles but it's deeply relaxing and smells like heaven.

Anything that jump starts my mornings is worth investing in at this time of year. This quick start shower gel is very zingy and delicious.

I have mentioned this muscle gel before. I got a little sample a while ago and immediately ordered a full size and I have now bought some more. Post work out - after the above mentioned shower gel, rub this in and your legs feel alive. I am seriously addicted to it. Sometimes it can feel almost too much tingling but it stays just the right side of painful. You will become addicted to this.

I am loving it all. I look forward to reporting back on my new regime soon and wowing you all with my glowiness. More on my other two resolutions in future posts.