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!

Beauty round-up

I'm back and just sneaking in a June post before we officially enter Cover Girl's Birthday Month. I've been kind of busy jet-setting to Monte Carlo and Madrid (for work), moving back to London and settling into my new house. My new favourite pastime is picking Farrow & Ball paint colours and considering what plants I should put in my garden.

Yes, I am officially middle-aged but no less fanatical about beauty. The busier you are, the more you need those products that make you look fabulous in minutes. These are my June hero products.

Origins Smarty Plants. This product is miraculous, I reviewed it back in March. No matter how you look, this will make you look better. I simply adore it.

I also love my Nars Multiple matte blusher. The difference the matte makes is extraordinary. This makes you look healthy and glowing and is the easiest blusher in the world to put on.

I bought this Smashbox eyeliner in New York and I am absolutely heartbroken to tell you they have discontinued this line of eyeliners completely. I have no idea why.

If you find this on eBay in Black Gold, buy it. It's the most flattering colour I've ever worn, it's easy to apply and it lasts all day long. I wear it most days.

This Sephora own brand jumbo eyeliner is also good. It's not as good as Smashbox but it's cheaper and it still pleases me. I have Dark Taupe Shimmer and it's a good day colour.

Sephora now ships to the UK so if you are buying one of the jumbo crayons, bung this in your basket too. It sharpens it beautifully and lots of people complain that normal pencil sharpeners don't work.

The 5 in 1 Living Proof cream still amazes me. Put this in your basket with your Sephora order too.

Finally, a beauty salon just opened up opposite our new house. It's like they knew I was arriving in the 'hood! I now Shellac pretty much all the time, the no chipping together with stronger nails works for me. If you have had a bad experience with removal (lord knows I have) then I must say it's worth looking around and finding someone you trust. My nails have never looked better!

Origins Smarty Plants

I wasn't sure anything could replace my beloved Vitazing but I bought the Origins CC cream at the weekend after my friend said it was brilliant. I must say she is right, it's fabulous. It's miles better than the Clinique one which I do like but it is a bit drying and you have to work quite hard to make it look good. The Origins one simply glides on, blends easily, smells lovely and lasts all day. I adore Vitazing and will always have it in my make-up bag but this is good for those days where you need a bit more help than Vitazing can provide.

Walking into the Origins shop I was overwhelmed with love for the brand. Their products are so good and smell so delicious. I've not looked at them closely for ages. I very much recommend this.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula

My beloved Estee Lauder mascara has been discontinued which makes me angry. Even worse, I left my tube of it in London. So I simply had to go and find a replacement. I picked up this baby in Sephora on Saturday. Two days in and I can report that it's good. It's not as perfect as the Estee Lauder but it doesn't smudge and it gives good lash. It has very low key packaging but that's ok. It's a perfectly serviceable everyday mascara. It's also only $16 which I consider a bit of a bargain.

Other products I am loving at the moment include the Bourjois cream blushers. They are so easy to apply. My divine Vitazing keeps me from looking dead in this ever-lasting winter. Seventeen powder which I dust it very lightly over my eyes so my mascara sticks better. I'd be lost without it, it's a real hero product and it's cheap as chips. Kiehls 24/7 moisturiser is my new favourite, the eucalyptus smell is so heavenly. I bought two bottles at the airport as they don't seem to sell it in the shops. Dries Van Noten perfume is perfect for this cold weather. And to cheer myself up, I bought this in Duane Reade at the weekend:

Carmex lip balm in a leopard skin tube! It makes me very happy. Read about it here, fab marketing.

I have my eye on...

Hello,  I've not abandoned this blog. I've been having a quiet January and not had much beauty news to report. However, yesterday I went shopping and perused various beauty counters. I didn't buy anything (well, no beauty things) but I have my eye on a few things I want.

First up of course is Bobbi Brown. I can't get enough of Bobbi. I am so loving the long-wear eye gels and want Chocolate Shimmer, Black Mauve Shimmer and Ivy Shimmer Ink. No, I don't need them but I want them.

I am also intrigued by the new Retouching powders. I tried these on my hand yesterday and think they could be winners.

I've never paid much attention to Origins make-up before but I've heard good things about their Ginzing mascara. Out of interest I had a look even though me and my beloved Estee Lauder Doublewear are rarely apart these days. It looked ok but the brush is too thick for me. However, the eye creams caught my attention.

These were in a gorgeous range of neutral, easy to wear colours, and the texture felt fabulous. If I needed them at all, I'd have bought one.

Finally I don't know how much longer I can resist Tom Ford make-up. 

Be still my beating heart.

Skin-care must-haves

As we move properly into Autumn, I thought it was worth doing a round-up of the skin-care products (for the face) I really would struggle to be without. I am constantly blogging about new things I try but here is my list of serious must-haves:

Origins Checks and Balances face wash. I've been using this for years and I still love it. I also love the Origins Clean Energy Oil but if I could only have one, I'd have to go for C&B.

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. This stuff still wows me. I adore it and really believe it works, it makes your skin more even, glowy and just fabulous. I can't imagine being without it.

Soap & Glory, No Clogs Allowed! This is a scrub that can also be used as a mask. It's a new favourite for me. It does leave your skin a little dry but if you suffer from blackheads, it's the business. I use it once a week in the bath so my pores are all opened up and it works wonders. If you live in a grimy city, this is indispensable.

It's hard to pick one moisturiser but if I had to, then it would be Origins Starting Over. It smells lovely, it sinks in and my skin feels just right when I use it. It doesn't have an SPF though.

My contender for product of the year is Origins VitaZing. If you've not tried it yet, I must implore you to run and don't walk to your local Origins counter. It's fantastic for that healthy glow. Perfect for those of us who don't wear foundation.

Five products and we're only on the face. Hmmmm. I really would struggle on a desert island! This post is not sponsored by Origins (I wish).

Next up will be hair care must-haves.

Origins VitaZing

I got this yesterday and have just tried it this morning. It's a tinted moisturiser! Nowhere does it say this is so on the packaging. How utterly bizarre. Having read about it on the Origins site, it says it adds a healthy hint of radiance that mimics a week's vacation.

I have to say that I am already loving it. It is one of those tinted moisturisers that blends with your skintone and adds a tiny hint of colour rather than a full on orange face. It also mattifies your skin ready for make-up. I am delighted I got this ready for Spring/Summer and can already tell it is a winner. Recommended. I do love Origins skincare.

Sometimes you just need to spend some money

It was time to go and sweep the Peter Jones beauty department today. As I have said, I've wanted some purple mascara for a while. I went to MAC where there was NO SIGN of any Wonder Woman stuff. Woe.

Instead I went to YSL in Peter Jones and got this in Burgundy.

I also got these three products from Origins.

I then got this hand cream for CoverBoy as it's his favourite.

And a friend recommended this.

And so I came home happy with my haul. Can't wait to try the mascara. Full reporting will occur.