Charlotte Tilbury eye palette

Birthdays are the best. Especially when you have a sister that never says, oh but you're so hard to buy for, I never know what to get you blah blah blah. She sensibly reads this blog and takes notes.

And so we come to pass, a heavenly chorus sang and angels descended because this year she bought me this baby. The Rebel palette from Charlotte Tilbury. Just look at it. Green goodness in a sleek palette. Dreams are made of such palettes. I can report that it's marvellous. Each colour is coded and you are told what to do with them. You can wear a little in the day and build up for night or just slap a ton on and wear with attitude at 8am. The quality is very good, easy to apply, they stay put. It's all really rather fabulous.

Nobody needs another eye palette but nobody turns one down either. Lovely.

Charlotte Tilbury lipstick

My name is Cover Girl and I have no willpower. But you knew that already. The other day I decided I must have this lipstick in Stoned Rose and so I ordered it online instead if buying it in Peter Jones hours earlier when it is was in my hands.

The online Charlotte Tilbury shopping experience is gold star fantastic. It arrived the next day, beautifully packaged and you get little samples you can choose yourself. I picked more of her perfume which I am fast becoming addicted to. P&P is also free.

I love this lipstick, it's really flattering, easy to wear and doesn't dry my lips out (yet - it's early days). I also like that the name isn't as stupid as her other lipsticks.

My lips are Christmas-ready!

Christmas shopping

If you've not completed your shopping yet or you want a treat for yourself (entirely understandable) then here are my thoughts.

First up, my beloved Bobbi Brown. Someone please buy a city palette. They are beyond divine. I want all of them but if forced to choose, I'd pick London:

I also have loved the Bobbi Luxe lipstick this year. One of the few lippies I've found that don't dry my lips.

Nail polish - always a winner. OPI has a new Breakfast at Tiffany's collection. I admit to not being a fan of the film but it's iconic, no arguments from me there. I especially like this colour: Can't Read Without My Lipstick:

I also want YSL Rouge Pop Art. I've said it before but I like to repeat myself, YSL nail varnish is the easiest to apply for a perfect home manicure.

New perfume? Yes, always. I am taken with Jo Loves in Pomelo. Gorgeous bottle and as delightful as you would expect it to be.

I also want to try the Byredo Unnamed. Exactly what it sounds like, it has no name, you make your own up.

I don't think anyone would be disappointed in a Charlotte Tilbury palette. The Rebel makes my heart race with those gorgeous greens.

After all the parties and family get togethers, there is nothing better than a bubble bath and there are no finer oils than Aromatherapy Associates. All of them are wonderful but Relax does the job. Expensive but a little goes a long way.

You'll need a scented candle too. I adore Diptyque, you can't go wrong with this brand and it's always a treat to receive a candle. The Menthe Verte is refreshing and clears the head.

I shall be back with a specific skin care Christmas guide soon.

Gimme Gimme Gimme ... some Autumn make-up

My one loyal reader (ok, I know there are more of you but she actually comments - thanks Jenni!) asked me what was rocking my world for Autumn. As always, I am very excited about Autumn make-up and trying to restrain myself. First up, the Bobbi Brown city collection. Let us feast our eyes.

 I want all these compacts. They are beautiful. The London one perhaps pips them because of the navy shadow. I do love a bit of blue.

Also, limited edition gel eyeliner. Oh my. Read more about them here.

I also don't know how much longer I can go without a cushion foundation and Bobbi has one.

Lightweight and easy to apply. Let me at it.

Chanel nail varnish. Reformulated so it no longer chips as easily. I've not tried it yet because I think we all know about my nail varnish addiction.

But my will just weakened.

Chanel has some gorgeous limited edition make-up. Click here to see more. Don't say I didn't warn you.

If I needed more perfume, I'd be all over this.

Charlotte Tilbury has a new perfume. I have a sample. It's lovely and worth investigating.

If I won the lottery, I'd buy all the Bobbi palettes. I just want them on my dressing table!

New Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner

Once upon a time I bought the best eyeliner ever. It was by SmashBox and it was an olive gold. I forget the name of it now but I adored it and wore it every day. Then it broke. It just fell out of the pencil. Heart. Broken. They've long since stopped making it.

Last week I was browsing and saw this by Charlotte Tilbury. It's called Gold Digger (great name) and it's limited edition.

Snapped it up I did and hooray. I am happy once more.

The moral of this story is there is always something round the corner to replace your beloved discontinued make-up. I am coming round to Charlotte. More on that soon.

More Charlotte Tilbury

I decided to try some Charlotte make-up. I bought two products. Firstly, this blusher.

Cheek to Chic in Love Glow. I am disappointed, it's ok but it's quite hard to be subtle with this, it's full on PINK! I feel somewhat of a clown in it. And this is the thing about Charlotte Tilbury, she's like the antithesis of Bobbi Brown. She doesn't do subtle. It's more put your make-up on with a trowel. I read an interview in this month's Red magazine where she said her husband had never seen her without make-up on. That's just sad.

On a brighter note, I also got this:

A 'colour morphing eye shadow pencil' in Amber Haze. This is very nice, easy to work with, a pleasing colour and good lasting power. However, I think there are other eye pencils out there as good and don't cost £19. Sephora do a whole range of them in every colour you can imagine and they are about $12.

So I am underwhelmed. However, as I have said before, she has her marketing nailed. I bought the eye pencil in Leeds and had a lot of fun playing with everything. Her counters are really well thought out.

Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask

How many masks does a person need? What a ridiculous question and thankfully one I would never ask. I have a new mask love. And it's from a woman who I frankly have very little time for, Charlotte Tilbury*. When CT launched her make-up range the beauty internet world went crazy. Credit to her, she has great PR because she was everywhere, in every magazine. I dropped by the Selfridges counter at the time and came away distinctly underwhelmed. It was a zoo, the staff were doing their best but they were unable to cope with the demand and the packaging was so Avon calling.

Anyway, time moves on. Minds can be changed. I read an article about this mask on the pool which is becoming one of my favourite sites. A mask to tackle hangover face is the name of the article. I think you'll agree that I had to check it out. Yesterday, I was in London town having a delightful shop and went to Fenwicks where they have basically handed the entire front of shop over to CT. I was astounded. I've never seen such a huge real estate for beauty other than a standalone shop. It's full of art deco mirrors, studded lights and is completely over the top. It was not busy, the staff were very helpful (although yakked on to much and had SO much eye make-up on) and I bought myself a tube of this. £45. Not cheap.

I applied it last night and it is annoyingly, rather wonderful. Thin layer on cleansed skin, I relaxed in my bath, 10 minutes later, I massaged it in (which is what they tell you to do) and then rinsed it off. Poof! Younger, brighter, insanely soft skin was revealed. Plump! Fresh! Bright! Yep, I'm sold. It also smells lovely and does not require chiselling off your face.

I applied Kiehls Midnight Oil and woke up this morning expecting to look like my 12 year old niece. That didn't happen. Oh well.

*the hair, I can't get over her mane of hair. I don't know why it annoys me so much but it does.

Christmas beauty gifts

Yes it is December already. Yes, it's too early to put up your tree. No, it's not too early to start shopping for gifts. I'd be happy with any of these on Christmas morning.

Aromatherapy Associates are truly beautiful bath oils. I've only ever had one bottle of their oil and I still dream about it. Unfortunately CoverBoy took a shine to it as well so it didn't last long. This Lavender and Peppermint one sounds divine.

Clarins facial oils are a staple for me, especially in the winter. Pop this on before you go to sleep and wake up with plumped up, soft skin.

Their Tonic bath and shower concentrate is also a firm favourite. It smells like the essence of Clarins and I always take it travelling to pep me up.

2015 is going to be the year of Aesop for me. I am dying to try this serum.

I love all things Origins. Gloomaway is perfect for dark January mornings.

Jo Malone is always a treat and I can never resist a scented candle. Pine and Eucalyptus is the scent of Christmas. This one is ridiculously priced but I covet. Hard. You can buy a smaller one for £40.

My Christmas candle this year is from Diptyque and it is heavenly, filling my living room with the scent of pine needles.

My love of Chanel Exclusifs is bottomless. I adore Bois des Iles but I am currently having a moment with No18. They are a luxury but you will never tire of seeing this on your dressing table. So chic!

Charlotte Tilbury is the launch of the year. I've not tried any of it but I hear rave reviews. I have issues with the look of this range, it's too blingy for my tastes however I can never resist an eyeshadow palette and The Sophisticate looks like the perfect office colours.

I also think this make-up bag is cute.

I bought this YSL nail varnish in France not realising it has a grained effect. It's a gorgeous colour and the grainy thing is weird, I must admit it's not quite my thing but I think those more into nail art would love it. Perfect gift for a teenager.

Molecule 01 is the perfume that is unique to everyone. I adore it and always get compliments when I wear it (I've just finished my bottle - hint hint).

Finally, I am currently rediscovering the absolute joy of the heated roller. Pop a few in for 5 minutes and you have instant glamour. I've been using heated rollers for over 30 years and upgraded my ancient ones a few years ago. Look at these ones though! Who could resist?! And they are a bargain.

Happy shopping!