Origins

I was given a sample of Starting Over a while ago and liked it so when in NY this week, I did what any sane person does, I hit the Origins shop. Origins is somehow so much better state-side. It's cheaper (although still not cheap) and they have standalone shops which is always more fun.

Anyway, I bought some of this and I must say I am loving it. It's not greasy yet very moisturising. And it's especially nice as a night cream. It smells gorgeous too. They do an oil-free version as well.

And I got the GinZing eye cream. What can I say? I was hit at a weak moment. I don't particularly believe in eye creams but after the flight, jet lag and 7am office starts every day, I looked wrecked by the time I made it to the shop.  It's pretty good and you get loads for your money so I suspect it will last me for at least 10 years!

Sisley Radiance Mask

I've waited a long time for this little beauty. But a birthday came and so did this, all wrapped up beautifully. Seriously beautifully actually - my friends ordered it on Harrods.com and wow - the packaging! Completely over the top and there is nothing wrong with that. I love bling.

Anyway, what with getting married and escaping to Italy, I hadn't had time to try this but last week I finally cracked it open.

First thing I like about it - it promises to work in 5 minutes. I do like a speedy beauty product.
Second thing - you don't have to chisel it off your face after 5 minutes. It washes off very easily.
Third thing - it works. This is what the Sisley site says it does:

1. The skin is cleansed and purified
2. The skin is smoothed and matified
3. Pores are tightened
4. The complexion is more radiant

Let's take each in turn.
1) Yes, it does cleanse your skin in that deep cleanse way one expects from a mask.
2) Yes it makes the skin smooth (although to be fair, my skin is smooth already so it's hard to measure but it felt a little smoother afterwards!)
3) This is a big YES. Pores were tightened. I have blackheads on my nose and they were noticeably smaller after this.
4) Yes, my skin was more radiant I would say. Although not blinding.

The big sell for me was the pore tightening. It really delivers on this promise. I can see this lasting me quite a while as you don't use much with each application. So per use, it probably isn't that expensive but I do know it's very expensive to buy and I am very grateful to my generous friends for getting it for me.

If I could only have one mask (horrors - thank goodness I don't have that dilemma) then I would probably pick the Bliss one. However, if money is no object, I would say have both!

Shiny happy people

Shiny, smooth non-frizzy hair. It's the dream. Right? Well, I have recently purchased this little beauty and although it doesn't make your dream a daily reality, I am really impressed by it.

Alterna Hemp Shine and Texturising Catalyst. You really couldn't make up these names, could you? Anyway, you put a little bit on combed, wet hair and it does very much help smooth your hair without making it lank and greasy. I'd buy it again.

The really exciting news is that in two weeks I am getting a Brazilian blow-dry. Nothing to do with your nether regions, fear not. I shall be reporting back fully of course.

Today's nail colour

I was feeling sophisticated so went for Playa Del Platinum. It's part of the Resort Collection gift I have previously mentioned. It's from the school of Beige neutrals that Chanel started with Particuliere. I wasn't sure about it in the bottle but it's actually really nice - it looks like putty. And it makes a nice change. I feel very Fifth Avenue Princess.

Speaking of which, I'm off to New York next week where Essie nail varnish is only $8 a bottle! I shall be stocking up.

I swapped the MAC lipstick

I hiked off to MAC today. I know, it's such a trial being me. While waiting for it to open, I browsed Peter Jones and found some jeans that make me look a stone lighter. And I mean that seriously. They are proper amazing. Not Your Daughter's Jeans. Check them out.

So my wallet a little lightened, I skipped to MAC. And there was no queue to get in, unlike yesterday.  I swapped my broken lipstick for a Cremesheen Glass lip gloss. I needed more lip gloss in my life. I just did. OK? Good. I got it in Right Image.  It's very nice and just the right glossy without catching in your hair on a windy day.

We are the world...

I was just perusing my blog stats. And wondering why nobody had commented for weeks. I can't answer that, I still have lots of visitors. Have you all gone shy on me? Am I boring you?

Anyway, you are able to see where the visits come from in a map form. It's quite interesting. I got excited to see I had a visitor from Georgia but further investigation showed they stayed for one second. Way to deflate my ego.

Anyway, am I boring you? You used to all have lots to say! It's nice to know I am talking to someone.

Birthday beauty haul

Not only did I get married this month, I also had a birthday. My present haul post is later than usual but I know you'll forgive me. I've been kind of busy. As always, I did very well on the beauty present front.

From my sister, I received the most perfect shower gel from Bliss. Blood Orange and White Pepper. Sounds bizarre but is very refreshing and gorgeous. As Bliss products always are.

My besties surpassed themselves and win 'most attentive to my blog' award. They bought me products I mentioned on this very blog in February 2009. That is what I call listening.

They got me the Sisley radiance mask and MAC lipstick in Ruby Woo. Now, I confess to not having had time to try the mask so I will be reporting back. And the MAC lipstick? Well, they ordered it on the internet as they are busy people. And it came in a ridiculously large box. Almost shoe-box size for one little lippie. I opened it with much excitement, undid the lipstick (as one always does with a new lippie) and the whole lipstick bit rolled off and onto the floor with a mighty thump! It was all dried out and broken. So I need to return it. Which I tried to do today but there was queue to get into the MAC store which so enraged me, I left. I may be swapping it for something else though as I don't think it's a red that suits me. Sorry girls if you are reading! But I loved the thought and that you are reading through my back catalogue.  Am not loving MAC however.

My husband (forgive me, it's still a novelty) bought me vouchers for my local beauty salon. Which I did ask for but it doesn't make it any less appreciated. And of course I got the nail varnishes I mentioned in my last post.

Excellent haulage.

Today's nail colour

Summer is here and so is the Essie Resort Collection. A lovely friend bought this for me for my birthday and it was the perfect present for a nail-obsessed person such as me. The colours are lovely. So lovely, the lilac was almost my wedding colour but was pipped to the post by Bermuda Shorts.

I think my favourite one is Splash of Grenadine, the lilac one however they are all very yum. I am currently sporting the pale blue one: Lapis of Luxury. Perfect name too.

Bobbi Brown wedding makeover

So after my £750 SpaceNK makeover (I'm still not quite over that one and won't be for some time), I went to Bobbi Brown in Peter Jones on Kings Rd. AKA my personal mothership.

I had no appointment but I must have looked panicked two days before my wedding asking for help and I got very lucky with the lovely Vickie. Who became my best friend over the course of the next hour. I really cannot recommend highly enough how good this makeover was. She listened to me. She didn't try and sell me anything, saying things like, if you have powder at home, that's fine, use that, no need to buy Bobbi Brown powder, and she did the make up in a way I could replicate easily.

I bought:
Tinted moisturiser
Bronzer
Blusher (of joy - I love it - powder pink shade)
3 eye shadows (and a cute little palette to put them in)
Concealer stick
A corrector
Concealer brush

Although there was quite a bit of make up involved, I didn't feel overly made up and fake. I felt like me. Only smoother!

The revelation was the corrector she used. You have to apply it with a brush (and yes, you really do, fingers are far too clumsy) and it just magically erases any dark circles. Not that I have any of those you understand...

Well, I think I know what you are all going to ask, so to preempt you, here is a photo of me in said make-up. Very easy to do myself. 10/10 Bobbi Brown!

THE wedding nail varnish

How have you all managed to sleep? I know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what nail varnish I was going to pick.

Well, I am delighted to tell you that I went for Essie's Bermuda Shorts. It's a perfect purple with a bit of 80s fluro in it and I love it. Today is the big day and I had my fingers and toes done yesterday in preparation.

I also had a Bobbi Brown makeover this week that didn't cost £750 but I shall tell you about that another time as I have to go and have my wedding bath now. I'll be back as Mrs Cover Girl...

Kérastase Micro-Voile Protecteur

The sun is shining and nobody loves the sunshine more than me. I love it. I love heat and I love summer.

But, it is a bit of a nightmare for the coloured hair. My hair seems to leach colour with one glance at the sun. But a year or so ago my hairdresser recommended this product and it is excellent. It's not necessarily something you'd use everyday (unless you were on holiday and sitting in the sun all day) but it's great for when you do plan to spend a lot of time outdoors.

You spray it in and leave it. It acts like an SPF for your hair. And it does make a difference. This is what the website says about it:

"Kérastase Micro-Voile Protecteur is an anti-photo degradation sun care treatment for coloured hair with low sensitivity. This transparent, non greasy spray protects hair exposed to the sun, sea and chlorinated water, leaving it soft and supple."

Coloured hair with low sensitivity? Crazy talk. However, it works. You can buy it here.

Eyelash serums and other excitement

It's been a while hasn't it? I'd like to say it's because I have found all my desert island products and have nothing new to...