Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

This is the more intense version of the original chubby stick with more pigment. The colour I bought (Roomiest Rose) is very flattering. However, I take issue that these are lip balms. I find them drying and have to put a separate lip balm on before applying them. The description on the website says lips are immediately moisturised. Well, mine aren't! However, I love the ease of them, you can chuck them in your bag and you didn't need a mirror to apply them.

Sun protection

I've just returned from a blissful week in Spain. I went on a health and well being retreat and it was heavenly. Healthy food, plenty of exercise and sun bathing by the pool. What's not to love? It was hot of course since I was in Spain. I didn't get a single burn anywhere which is rare, usually I manage to miss a spot somewhere and burn something. I put it down to this.

It's sun protection that you spray on and doesn't need rubbing in, just spray it all over and away you go. Great for your back too which can be hard to get to.  You need to reapply it more than you would a lotion that you rub in but I love it and it's not sticky at all. For my face I used this.

Trusty Bobbi Brown Factor 50. Don't go any lower on your face, sun damage cannot be undone. Use a fake tan so you don't have a ghost face compared to your body!

Post sunbathing, I bought this at the airport.

This is fantastic, no greasiness at all so you can put your clothes on immediately, I do hate waiting around for lotions to sink in. It is deeply moisturising and my tan is still looking shiny instead of fading as it so often does in the face of English gloom. My mother used to say she could feel her tan fading on the airplane!

It is beautifully sunny and warm as I type this so I shall be enjoying the novelty of having to apply sunscreen to my body in England. Long may it last!

A little trip to SpaceNK...

Before I begin, I have to tell you that the Clinique CC cream is excellent, it really does make you look better with very little effort. It's a tiny bit drying, I put serum and then moisturiser on before this however I do have quite dry skin and most people would be fine with just one of these. I'm enjoying it very much. Recommended.

Yesterday I met a friend in town and she wanted a new tinted moisturiser and lipstick. Off to SpaceNK we went to be helped by a gay Kiwi guy called Gary. He looked rather extraordinary but he knew what he was talking about. The lipstick he picked out for her brightened her whole face. And the tinted moisturiser (both Laura Mercier) was perfect. Covent Garden branch - check him out.

While we were in there, I took some time to explore the Nars counter. Oh, how I adore Nars. The make-up is so funky yet wearable. I've wanted the creamy concealer for a while but couldn't quite justify it. My friend said she'd given up on concealer however Gary applied it and honestly, it's not like she didn't look good before but this is eight hours sleep in a bottle. We were both deeply impressed.

Unfortunately they were sold out of our colour (Vanilla) however it's in stock online so naturally I ordered it. I don't think it's worth ordering just one product online so I also bought the eye base.

And I was very impressed by the Caudelie make-up removing cleansing water so I got that too.

And then I don't know how it happened but a Laura Mercier nail varnish jumped in.

Look at that colour and tell me you could have resisted? I was feeling proud that I'd resisted in the shop but it all fell apart once I opened my laptop. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Revisiting Clinique

It's years since I paid any real attention to Clinique. When I was in my 20s, I loved it and thought it was the pinnacle of sophistication. I did the 3-step skincare thing until I realised the toner was like paint stripper and the cleanser didn't really cleanse so much as scrub. I moved on to Clarins in my 30s, deciding Clinique was a little passe and a bit, well, young. In my 40s I try everything in an attempt to halt middle-age but that's another story.

Word on the street gathered about the new CC cream. BB - whatevs. I am over it. But several people I trust told me the CC cream was worth a look. And so it came to pass today, I finally spent a bit of time at a Clinique counter and drew comfort in the knowledge that some things never change. One being that Clinique sales assistants always wear too much, badly applied make-up. It's so off-putting. I soldiered on however and decided that the CC cream was worth £28 of my hard-earned pennies.

I am posting this hot off the press so I shall report back with my verdict. If you are wondering what on earth a CC cream is and why it is different to a BB cream, the information on their website is helpful. Lightweight and naturally radiant. Who doesn't want that?

While there, it would have been rude not to investigate further (plus there was a free gift with two purchases) so I picked up a Chubby Stick for the eyes in Mighty Moss. I couldn't resist.

I didn't need it as you all know but well, the colour is lovely. And I also picked up the superbalm for lips because 20 lip balms are not enough.

For my troubles, they rewarded me with a very nice free gift.

I exited Peter Jones very happy. People still buy their Dramatically Different Moisturiser. I find it astonishing. Who are you? Tell me if you buy it and like it, I am interested.

Nail colour of the week

Essie's Hip Anema today. What does that name even mean? I don't know but it's a glorious neon-y orange and perfect for the sunny day that swung into town.

Nail colour of the week

Essie's Fifth Avenue is exactly what you expect a colour called Fifth Avenue to be. A bright coral/red it's a perfect colour for Spring, bright and cheery.

Mint Julep Masque

Regular readers will know I have a weakness for face masks. I love them, you apply them, relax and 15 minutes later your complexion looks better. They are the ultimate beauty product for the lazy ones amongst us.

I read about Queen Helene's Mint Julep mask on the Sali Hughes forum.* It had rave reviews and it's cheap. Praise the lord, I have found something that works miracles and is cheap. I thought a lifetime of Chanel skincare was inevitable. It costs just £5.79 on Amazon for a big tube.

Does it work? It says it will shrink your pores and it is designed for problem skin. I don't have problem skin but I do have some blackheads on my nose - the glamour. Anyway, I layered it on yesterday expecting it to sting or be uncomfortable but no, it just felt pleasantly cool. It hardens in a very old school way and I then expected it to be a nightmare to rinse off but no, however I do recommend a muslin cloth to help. Then I looked in the mirror and lo and behold, my skin looked all smooth and airbrushed. I am not kidding. The effect of course doesn't last but it never does, right?

I am blown away by this, it would be perfect to take on holiday when your skin gets gunked up with sun block. At such a reasonable price, this is something I really think everyone should try.

*Caution: do not visit this forum if you have no will power.

Bourjois Cream Blush

I'm always on the look out for cream blushers as they are my desert island beauty product. Nothing makes you look better, faster than blusher. Bourjois has powder blushers that have always punched above their weight and it was with great interest I read that they have released a cream formula. I picked up one the other night, they are £7 and let me tell you, what an absolute bargain. I haven't loved a blusher like this for ages. It blends beautifully and lasts all day. It also comes in the dinkiest little pot. I am considering going and getting all four colours at that price. Highly recommended.

Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara

Although I said I wasn't buying anything else, I found myself in Selfridges the other night and before I knew it, I was purchasing this. It's had rave reviews, my sister declared it better than Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara so I felt obliged to road test it.

Firstly, let's talk about the packaging. Have you ever seen anything so divine? Boring old black tubes are so 2009 don't you think? This gold, twinkly tube will brighten up any morning.

I am impressed with the mascara. It has an excellent brush and there is no smudging on application. I had a very long day yesterday and I did detect some smudging after about 12 hours but I don't think that's too criminal.

Also, it smells of roses. How decadent! All in all, I am impressed and I am wearing it again today. I am not sure for me it's better than Double Wear but it sure looks the part in my bathroom.

Beauty buy update, part 2

I forgot some things. Yeah, I bought so much I forgot to tell you about some of them.

Now I am loving this, you pop it on, go about your business for 10 mins or so and then just rinse it off. It comes off easily, no chipping away at dried on mask and it makes your face brighter. Very nice.

I am also adoring this Grapefruit shower gel. It's lovely and refreshing and nicely rich, a little goes a long way.

Yesterday I went to Boots and got this.

I have tried so many dry shampoos and never understood the point of them, they never seemed to work on me however I think I have found The One. XXL volume is fantastic, I sprayed a bit on my hair yesterday which was looking a little lank and flat and instant volume was mine. I was amazed. There are now 14 varieties of Batiste so clearly it's a case of finding one that's right for you. Also, it's refreshingly cheap!

Beauty buy update

I may have gone a bit mad. The Dries Van Noten perfume obsession didn't abate so I succumbed to the inevitable and bought it.

It's heavenly and I am not sorry even though it wasn't exactly cheap.

I wanted the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick as they get great reviews but everywhere was sold out. This, of course, made me want one even more. To cope with my distress, I bought this Nars chunky eye pencil.

What a star it is, one swipe each eye and away you go. Gorgeous colour - black/grey with some sparkle but not too much.

Also, obviously I got this.

Both colours are perfect and very long wearing too.

And my sister texted me to say she found me the Bobbi Brown stick so that's coming this weekend. Ummm, yeah. Not exactly restrained then.