My Beauty Pie round-up

Before we start, I don't get any money from Beauty Pie and there are no affiliate posts to be seen here.

Now then, I love Beauty Pie. I joined very early on and have been happy with 90% of what I have bought. Here are some of my favourites.

I've talked about the serums before. The serums are worth the membership alone. At last, I am serum happy! I've tried all of them. None of them are bad, most of them are excellent. I am not a huge fan of the QI energy one but I still use it. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Uber Youth Super Serum. This is a great all-rounder and feels very moisturising.

I am a big fan of the Japanfusion cleanser, it's gentle and works a treat. I am a cleanser junkie. I have about five on the go at any one time but this remains a staple. I don't feel the other Beauty Pie cleansers are quite as good for me. I tried a few and didn't rebuy.

I am currently using the Dr Glycolic toner. I decided to stop my Zelens facial pads habit because they are expensive even with the discounts I always sought out. I like this, it does the job. I also love REN Ready Steady Glow and find a combination of these work (not at the same time! use on alternate days).

I just bought the Super Healthy skin moisturiser for the second time. It's a good basic day moisturiser and works as a base for make-up. Is it my perfect moisturiser? No because my perfect moisturisers are from Drunk Elephant and Sunday Riley and they are £££££. However, this is perfectly acceptable and good value and I am happy using it.

The Japanfusion Supreme cream is marvellous. This is an excellent night cream. One wakes up glowing. My only issue is it's often out of stock and is right now.

That's the face sorted, moving on to the body. This body cream is a miracle. Deeply moisturising yet non tacky. It smells great too. I raced through my tub and am tapping my foot impatiently because it's out of stock.

I can never resist a shower gel and although I did not need this, obviously I bought it. This is a downside of Beauty Pie, you think oh well, I'll just try it, I am paying for shipping anyway. Fortunately it's a delightful scent and a huge bottle.

The tanning mousse is better than any I have tried which isn't to say it's for everyone. It's not subtle but I don't mind that on my legs. I wouldn't use it everywhere. Also, buy a mitt and use that for seamless application.

I am much less into the make-up. However, the pro gel eyeliner is the best eyeliner ever. I say this with no hyperbole and vast experience. This stuff does not budge until you want it to. I adore it and have it in every shade. I've just noticed the green one seems to be removed which is devastating as it's my favourite colour and I am on my third one.

Finally, the perfume. One has fig in and I know people love fig but it makes me feel sick. I have the red apple, white peony and cashmere perfume and it's very sniffable. The bottle is nicely luxurious. It doesn't last very long but sometimes a pretty light fragrance is what you want. They've just introduced 15ml sample sprays which is good because 100ml is a big commitment and I often get bored about halfway through a bottle of perfume. I ordered the Love fragrance which is new and it's again, very inoffensive. I am glad I could get a much smaller bottle. I think these would make great Christmas presents. If you are a true perfume nerd, I would say there's not much to see here but that's fine. It's why we have Chanel and Guerlain.

The make-up brushes are very good too. I have tried foundation samples and I am not into them. The tinted moisturiser is ok but nothing special. The nail varnish is terrible. The candles are fine but I am a Diptyque girl. Lipsticks are again ok but not noteworthy. I've not investigated the haircare range because literally the last thing I need is more haircare.

To summarise, serum and eyeliners are truly excellent. There are also lots of very, very good products as listed above. A downside is that products are often out of stock which can be frustrating. The packaging is chic and looks pleasing in one's bathroom. Speaking of bathrooms, I had mine renovated into a shower room of joy. I'll share photos in a future post but basically, I want to move in there.

Murad City Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Summer is here! It's 26 degrees in London today. Flaming June!

With summer comes the tedious topic of SPF. I know we're meant to use SPF every single day come rain or shine but it's hard for me to believe in deepest winter that I need it in London. However, now we're into very long days and hot sun, I am here for it.

I find a good facial SPF hard to find. Many make me eyes stream, some are too chalky, or too sticky. They can be hard to apply make up over.

Call off the search because this is a miracle. I read about it on Caroline Hirons blog and she handily had a discount code so I availed myself. I am absolutely loving it. It's easy to apply, it doesn't make you greasy or leave a residue. It also gives you a little glow and it's a great primer for make-up. Also, my eyes are just fine.

I can't recommend this highly enough. I know it's quite expensive but the best thing you can do for your skin is use a SPF so think of that. And look out for discount codes.

The Ordinary

The Ordinary is so refreshing. The pricing is a joy and the packaging is chic. I've been investigating it more over the last few months on the basis if I don't like something, it only cost me £5.

It can be intimidating if you don't know ingredients or have a chemistry degree. I have thought for some time that they need to explain the products better. Last night, I came across this article and it explains each product beautifully.

The repeat buy for me is this one:

Marine Hyaluronics has a water-like texture, it's very light. I use it after cleansing and before serum. Not every single time I wash my face but when I feel it needs a boost. It sinks in immediately and leaves no residue. I love it and it's especially good after a winter of central heating and windy walks. 

I acquired the cleanser this week:

It's moisturising, easy to rinse off and very effective. It's a perfect size for travelling too. I am impressed with it.

I have really only dipped my toe in The Ordinary. I think there will always be duds and by that I mean, products that won't suit my skin but may be fabulous for someone else. I tried a serum and found it too heavy for me.  There are dozens of items to try and as I say, it's so nice to not be spending £££ on skincare. 

Drunk Elephant Babyfacial

As promised in my previous post, this is my report on Drunk Elephant's Babyfacial mask. As a reminder, you can't buy this in the UK because of EU regulations. I asked a friend to get me some in the US. It's $80, not cheap but you don't need much so I think there are at least 15 applications here (I made that number up, could be more, could be less) which then works out at around $5 for a facial which doesn't seem so bad. I am here to always justify spending money on products for you.

Is it any good? Short answer, yes. Let me expand. The reason you can't buy it here is it's considered too strong for at home facials. It comes with warnings of building up to leaving it on for 20 minutes, not to use if your skin feels sore etc. I approached with some trepidation. However, it was fine. I had no tingles, no redness. I left it on for 15 minutes to be on the safe side. You must do this at night because many people are red afterwards but fine after a night's sleep.

My skin is pretty robust, I use exfoliating toners almost every day. Before using this, I skipped my exfoliating toner the night before. As it is winter, skin tends to be a little more sensitive with central heating and freezing temperatures. I would say if you have skin prone to redness or sensitivity to maybe wait until spring before using this.

I applied a thin layer (no need to go thick and waste this elixir of youth) and waited. I used a soft flannel to remove. I looked in the mirror and saw no immediate difference whatsoever! But then I felt my skin and it was incredibly soft, I examined it more closely with my trusty magnifying mirror and it looked more even, open pores had shrunk a little, and it was glowier (that's a word now).

My box came with a sample of the Marula Facial Oil so I popped that on and went to bed. The oil is annoyingly good. I can see a Drunk Elephant obsession blooming here and I was so determined to not be drawn in, ah well.

Is it worth $80? Only you can answer that. For me, yes. I will use it once a week. I am going to the US in March so let me know in the comments if you need this and I can be your mule.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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?

Zelens Vitamin D Treatment Drops

As I march through the valley of time, I find myself adding more layers to my skincare than I ever thought possible. Zelens is a brand I adore and I've talked about the Resurfacing Facial Pads and how  revolutionary they are.

I did not pay full price for this product. Not because I am a blogger and brands give me freebies or discounts. No, sadly not. I follow Caroline Hirons and she often has discounts to share and recently she had a 30% off everything Zelens code so I got properly involved. When something costs £110 (I know, I know), a 30% discount is significant.

Caroline raved about these drops. I have been using them twice a day for a month and I am smitten. Add after cleansing, before your serum. I am not sure I'd use these in Spring and Summer (well, I would if I had a lifetime supply). They are what my skin needs right now with central heating, wood burning stoves and freezing cold weather walking my dog. It adds a level of comfort and protection.

It's very light and non-greasy yet deeply moisturising. Like I say, I am smitten.

I am aware these are very expensive and out of many people's budget but if someone is looking to buy you a present or you want to really treat yourself then these are well worth it.

Beauty Pie

Hello! I am back. Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I've been sunning myself in the Med (dealing with carry on luggage only - a beauty junkie's nightmare).

Today we are talking about Beauty Pie. A new venture by the woman who is behind Bliss. It's a new approach to shopping for beauty. You pay £10 a month and then you can shop for products at factory prices. For someone like me (i.e famously befuddled by numbers) I found it quite hard to properly get my head round so let me explain what I have bought and how much it cost me, all in.

50ml of this serum cost £7.79. It's really good. It has a great texture, it sinks in, it smells good. I am already a big fan. People, we may have solved my serum needs.

A primer. £3.18. I have not tested this enough to give you a thorough review. I have post holiday tan which means I am not wearing foundation. However, I will say it's very heavily scented and it would be better not being very heavily scented. However, at this price, who cares if it's not a hit?

A lip set for £7.78. This I am very impressed with. First up my lip pencil had snapped off. I called customer service and a new one was despatched that day. Excellent response and makes me like them more. I now have two (I sharpened the broken one) and that's a jolly good thing because this is a revelation in lip pencil technology.  Every lip pencil I've used has been drying and tugs the lips. This glides on. It's magnificent. I absolutely love it. The lipstick is also a treat, very moisturising. The lip gloss is also good although I find lip glosses a bit sticky as a rule. Did I need any of these? No. But I am very glad I have them and the colours are gorgeous and very flattering.

Five minute facial - £5.86. I returned from my week on a boat with skin that needed a little TLC.  I put this on and it made everything better. Stick it on, wait five minutes, rinse it off. Glowy skin is yours. It gets great reviews and I can see why.

Having paid my fee of £29, this haul came to £60.12. I consider this very good value. However, if I want to order more (and I will be ordering more serum, I can tell you that right now), then I have to pay more money because you can't buy at the factory prices for a one off fee. I can see why, you could pay £29 for a year and then buy a ton of stuff and how would they make a profit? That isn't made as clear as it could be. Read more here. They also wildly over estimate how much each product would cost and make a big deal of the factory price. For example, they claim the serum would be £85. Maybe and I know plenty of serums that cost that much however, I am not sure this would.

I will certainly be buying again from Beauty Pie, I am very impressed with what I have and the lip liner is a game changer.

By the way, I am not paid a penny from any company to blog about products. I buy everything myself and am not affiliated with anyone. I have a day job and this blog is a hobby and always has been.

Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum

Regular readers know I've yet to find my perfect serum and I have tried many. Yes, the Chanel one was perfect but too expensive.

Breaking news... I think I've found it. I bought this Clinique Turnaround Serum in New York in January and it's a winner. It sinks in, no greasiness but feels nourishing and it doesn't bobble when you apply make up. I have just ordered another bottle. It's £38 for 30ml. It's expensive but it's not Chanel-expensive. The problem with serums is I seem to race through them really quickly. This one lasted a month. £38 a month isn't cheap I know but I am getting bored with trying so many. This works and that's that. For now.

M&S Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream

My resolution was going so well. I have been to Terminal 5 twice since I wrote it and bought nothing. I managed a trip to New York and stuck to it. What has broken me? Marks & Spencer, that's what!

I can hardly believe it either. India Knight wrote about how wondrous this night cream is. I resisted for three whole weeks (it was sold out, it was easy to resist) and then I thought, no, I have to try it.  Let me outline my defence: I had no other night creams, only night oils. A vital difference I think we can all agree? It's £22. It's not exactly breaking the bank now is it? I haven't broken my resolution anywhere else and I now consider myself back on the wagon.

Having got that out of the way, let's discuss this. It's a rich cream, feels lovely, sinks in well. It's good but I don't think it's ground breaking. It's very nice, it's an excellent price and I do love a rich cream. If your skin is on the oilier side, I don't think you'll get on with it. I am not sure I'd buy it again, it's not as good as my beloved L'Oreal cream. It's sold out again now but I've seen it in store.

Today I went to the Kings Road, mooched around Peter Jones beauty hall, visited Space NK and walked past MAC. I remained strong and resolute. I bought nothing. Not even the Diptique special edition candle which is oh so pretty. I am very proud of myself.

Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil

I am holding fast to my new year skincare resolution. That is, I am not buying any until I've finished two products. Last night I finished my Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial oil which is the elixir of youth.  It was with sadness I put the empty in the bin. I have two other face oils in my arsenal and so we move on to this Caudalie one.

I bought it a while ago and didn't reach for it much because the smell is an acquired taste. Normally I am a big fan of all Caudalie products and the scent but this is not a smell I can get on board with and when it's all over your face, you become very aware of it. No matter. This is why I made this resolution, to plough through the backlog.

I just had a long bath and have put this on. It has the same texture of my beloved Clarins oil and I am determined to use it. It works and it cost me £29. It must be used! I will use this up and then I have half a bottle of the Clarins oil and then I can buy a new oil. And I will buy Clarins which is my desert island night oil. OK, now I sound like a nutter. Who has a desert island night oil?! I do!

I love the Sarah Chapman one but it's much more expensive. Clarins is 30ml for £33 and Sarah Chapman is 15ml for £46! I have had two bottles of the Sarah Chapman and both were presents. I can't justify that cost.

I am also near the end of my L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil Cream and that means two empties! Hooray. I will buy more of this and the good news is it costs £9.99. I absolutely love it and have raced through my jar so I have no guilt about buying more of it. It's rare to find a face cream I like so much for under a tenner. I am over the moon.

Skin Laundry

I've waited a while to post about Skin Laundry. It's a 15 minute laser and light facial and I am in love with it.

I discovered it on my recent trip to NYC. My hotel (Parker Meredien) had a salon in the basement and I was duty-bound to give it a shot. The first treatment is free and after that it is £50 a facial but there are deals to make it cheaper.

You sign your life away and then they wipe your face (best to go with no make-up on) and then put a hairband on to stop your hair getting covered in gel. They then laser your face which doesn't hurt but feels slightly odd. You wonder what the smell is - oh, that's just the muck in your skin being vapourised. Then a layer of gel is applied and they apply IPL. Then the gel is scraped off, your skin is toned and they apply a moisturiser and you are on your way.

Read all about it here and don't ask me about the science. It's wonderfully fast, your skin looks fabulous afterwards and you can, if you choose, apply make up immediately.

Now the thing is, your skin really does look noticeably brighter and clear. My sister and I had them done together in NYC and spent the whole day obnoxiously looking in mirrors and admiring ourselves. I liked it so much, I had it done twice while I was there. That's the other thing, you can have this done every day should you be so inclined (and wealthy). They recommend once a week for a month and then once a month as maintenance. If you have troublesome skin, I reckon this would be a life saver. I have fairly well behaved skin and I love it, blackheads are gone and my skin looks even and glowy.

Today I had another one done at Liberty in London. Two days before Christmas. I must be mad. It was so busy in the shop and I was in a rather fractious mood. The treatment room I was led to was very nice and calm. The therapist was competent but lacking in any personality whatsoever. I am not being mean, honestly, she was like a robot. However, she did a good job and talked me into buying a package of five and then walked away in the middle of making my next appointment with no explanation or goodbye!

Liberty is the only place in the UK offering Skin Laundry but surely that will change since it's very popular and booked out weeks in advance. If you are in New York, it's worth investigating and the first one is free. You have nothing to lose!

Now excuse me while I go and gaze in a mirror.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream

As a rule, I don't believe in eye creams. They are expensive and to my mind, you can moisturise round your eyes with your normal cream - job done. To sell you eye cream, beauty consultants will say it's a 'delicate area' and that normal moisturisers are 'too heavy and will drag the skin'. I call this utter nonsense. Are you applying lard to the rest of your face? No. Moisturisers don't drag for heaven's sake.

I've never bought an eye cream yet somehow I have ended up with little pots and tubes of samples which I've occasionally used and it's confirmed my above opinion. Waste of time.

However, rules are made to be broken. I decided to buy this months ago and I haven't blogged about it because I forgot. I bought this because I like the idea of soothing the skin around my eye area and I must have been caught on a very tired day when your eyes feel so exhausted that you can barely stand to open them. And I admit, I was a sucker for the name and packaging. Clinique do this so well.

I don't use it every day because I am quite lazy but I do believe this works. I've taken to applying it in the morning (before moisturiser - I read that this is important with eye creams otherwise you end up putting it on top of moisturiser and it can't work properly). I put quite a thick layer on and then go about my morning routine, then I come back and add my moisturiser and I find the thick layer seems to have always absorbed. The skin does feel plumper and the cream has a lovely soothing feel to it. Also, it's great for long flights when your eyes really do need some help.

I must face the fact that in my mid-40s perhaps I do need to pay more attention to my eyes. This is not massively expensive (£22.00) and you can usually get some sort of free gift from Clinique.

They've now introduced a whole range of pep-starts.

They look divine, the packaging is brilliant. However, on closer investigation it's all very lightweight and probably aimed at the younger crowd.

L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil Cream

I have a lot of beauty products, boxes of them. Moisturisers for every day of the week. How did I end up on my recent travels with a moisturiser deficit? I had my Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser which is all well and dandy but not enough for a hot and dry climate. I didn't have a good night cream on me. ROOKIE ERROR!

With every cloud comes a silver lining in the form of a shopping opportunity. I rocked up at Bangalore airport ready to buy some luxe moisturiser. Hmmmm, not all duty-free shops are created equal. I've been spoiled by Heathrow's shopping. Bangalore has a new airport and it has a lot of shops but weirdly it's all about perfume. It only had L'Oreal moisturisers and so I picked up this Extraordinary Oil Cream. You can see from my link it costs £10 in the UK. Yeah, I had to pay way more than that. I am blanking on how much because it was quite traumatising. Needs must and all that. You don't go to the desert of Oman with a light moisturiser.

The good news is I love it. It has a gorgeous velvety texture, it smells really nice, it glides on and makes you glow with good moisturising health without being sticky. It's a winner folks! I am continuing to use it at home which is a sign of how much I rate it. If you're looking for a good budget night cream (don't go to Bangalore to get it) then this is perfect. It's not marketed as a night cream but that's what I used it for.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face

Hello! Have you missed me? I've been away for three weeks, 10 days with work in India and 10 days for fun in Oman. I have much beauty news to share with you, which include me caving at Dubai airport in the face of the Victoria Beckham for Estee Lauder range.

However, let's not rush matters. Today I want to discuss Emma Hardie. I have two products which I am loving. First up, the Moringa Cleansing Balm.

I got a generous sized pot of this in the Cult Beauty box. I took it on my travels and it's wonderful. It's immensely soothing, it has an oil-based texture rather than being a cream. You rub it over your face and remove with a hot cloth. You emerge looking dewy and fresh as a daisy. And I really tested this theory with way too much wine, late nights, hot weather etc. This balm atones for all that. I don't love the packaging, I would prefer a travel-friendly tube. Nonetheless, it's a great cleansing balm and perfect for the colder weather as it's very comforting.

To get the above mentioned Cult Beauty box, I had to spend some money. One of the things I bought was the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Protect and Prime.

With an SPF of 30, one can expect a certain chalkiness but no, this stuff truly is amazing. It is the best facial SPF cream I have found. It sinks in like a dream with no stinging and it smells like heaven. Oh yes, and it works. Always handy to know. Cover Boy was instructed to put some on (why do men think it's ok to use normal SPF in spray format on their face?) and he was a convert. Which was a bit unfortunate, I had to ration it somewhat.

You can put your make-up on over it with no adverse effects. I highly recommend it if you are jetting off somewhere hot. Speaking of which, Oman was so hot. I've never been anywhere so relentlessly hot. 40 degrees every day. We escaped into the mountains where it was a much more comfortable 25 degrees. In 40 degree heat, this stuff worked a treat. You can't ask for more than that.

I have no idea who Emma is but I applaud her for these two products. I shall be exploring more in her range in due course.

Green People cleanser

Yet more evidence that I work with lovely people. A colleague and friend came in last week with a present for me. It was a bottle of this. A new cleanser which she said she loved (same friend who likes yesterday's This Works leg stuff) and that she orders through Ocado. She popped a bottle in for me on her last order. How delightful is that?

I scuttled home with it and tried it immediately. It is a balm and it smells like heaven on a plate. It really is gorgeous. It works very well although the instructions say you can rinse off with warm water. Yes, you can and I did but it's nowhere near as effective as the trusty hot flannel. It's a great cleanser that I think would suit any skin and if you shop with Ocado, it's easy to buy! You can read more about it here.

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleanser

It turns out my shoulder injury was a broken shoulder. I walked around with a broken shoulder and I didn't even know it so I couldn't milk it. Words fail me.  I had to endure a MRI scan (urgh, yuk), another scan and a cortisone injection. It was not my favourite 90 minutes and so as I lay in the MRI coffin trying not to panic I planned what I would buy in Selfridges when I emerged from this ordeal.

I went for some more Aesop handwash since I am now spoiled and nothing else is as nice. I also got the parsley seed face wash. I dithered over the oil version but I have other cleansing oils and sometimes you want a foamer. I love this. Aesop stuff just smells like total heaven. It cleanses very nicely, rinses off easily and leaves your skin all soft and glowy.

I also bought another YSL nail varnish because the brush makes it so easy to do a  good manicure. And with my loot I swept off to work to bore everyone about my broken shoulder.