Beauty Look - Purple Lips & Eyes - Purple Haze

Having eyeshadow palettes with berries and and purples I thought it would be a nice idea to try and bring some more colour to my face. Now it just so happens that various hues of purple shades are fab for making my green eyes pop and the whites of my eyes even whiter. I used two palettes - this brilliant one from Kiko Lounge Warm Tones and one that is US only - Pur Minerals Beautiful Creatures Eyeshadow Palette.

As I have small eyes I concentrated the darker shades in the sockets and corners of my eyes and finished with lashings of black mascara. I used the Berry Lip Shine from No7 on my lips as it is an easy way to wear darker lipstick. For the warmth in my cheeks I contoured with Smashbox Blush Silhouette in Rush and then applied a pinker toned blush Liz Earle Healthy Glow Blush in Rose.

* I am not a makeup artist, just enjoy playing with makeup

Bright & Glowy - Make Up For Summer

The sun's out (at last) and this is one of my favourite looks for daytime. Coral blush awakens the face and is super flattering and bright coral lipstick intensifies and enhances the whites of the eyes. I wear it with a light brightening base ( GINVERA BB Cream is excellent - coverage vs lightness is the best I have tried) and add a cream based highlighter for extra glow. Pair with a bronzer and lashings of jet black mascara and you are set for Summer.

Swatches

L-R

Pur Minerals Beach Bum Gloss Stick - Super glossy hint of colour that works with your own lip colour, bright coral but wearable. I wear this in the mornings for the school run as it is less punchy than a full on lipstick.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Coral Reef - This fluoro bright lipstick with a sheen finish is packed with colour, one swipe and you get gorgeously creamy rich, even coverage. Coral Reef is not a colour you would wear if you want to hide away, it is so bright and punchy, instantly awakening the face. I love it. Shades optional.

Liz Earle Healthy Glow Powder Blush in Nectar - Words cannot express how much I love this blusher, unfortunately I dropped it the day I received it so the packaging broke but it's what's inside that really counts.  Nectar is described as a rose pink but I think there is definitely a hint of orange in it. I finger swatched it so you can see just how bright and stunning this is. So complementary to my skin tone, Nectar brightens my cheeks effortlessly with a pop of colour and provides a healthy glow. The formula is sheer but buildable so it looks really natural on the skin and not powdery in the slightest. If you haven't tried the Liz Earle blushes I can highly recommend them.

Benefit Watt's Up Soft Focus Highlighter -  One of my all time faves, this is a champagne toned highlighter that is in stick formula, just glide across the top of the cheekbones and blend. Simple but effective natural looking radiance.

Perfume Sample Saturday - Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.100 Review

The newest Liz Earle Eau de Parfum has just been released - Botanical Essence No.100 has been created in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate the centenary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013.

Liz Earle says

A fresh floral fragrance capturing the sublime, uplifting joy of entering a British florist's shop.

Over 90% derived from natural ingredients.

Containing the following

Mandarin
Clove Leaf
Bergamot
Damask Rose
Indian Jasmine
Orange Flower
Ylang Ylang
Vetiver
Cypress
Sandalwood
Rose Scented Geranium
Bourbon Vanilla

My thoughts

As you would expect this fragrance is a strong and heady floral and if you love floral perfumes then you will adore this one.  There is no denying this a gorgeous blend packed full of blooms, on initial spray the beautiful rose scents burst through but this soon dissipates to bring forward the jasmine and neroli. I cannot detect the more woody notes or the vanilla at all.

Personally this leans too heavily on the florals for my taste and more particularly my delicate and sensitive hay fever ravaged nose but I know my mum will LOVE it as it harks back and reminds me of the days of the popular power scents and is similar to those that she loved and still appeal.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.100 EDP costs £47 for 50ml.

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Powder Foundation - Review

Regular readers of BeautySwot will know that my preference is firmly on the side of liquid foundations so when it comes to powder foundations they have a long way to go to impress me. However, I am not averse to trying them to see if I can be swayed away from the liquid.. one of the latest ones I have been testing out is this one by Liz Earle.

Perfect Finish Foundation in shade 03 Soft Beige

Liz Earle says

Discover the perfect finish to your skin. Soft and feather-light for a natural-looking, matte, yet luminous finish. Our special micronised pigments help minimise the appearance of minor skin imperfections and ensure colour purity, making it perfect for touch-ups throughout the day. Enriched with our own natural source vitamin E, borage and avocado.

Suitable for all but the driest of skin types.

My thoughts

Sleek navy packaging with a casing that feels pretty sturdy, this powder foundation comes with a mirror inside and a separate compartment to hold the sponge applicator. I couldn't wait to use it.

The sponge is super soft and sufficiently thick, application is smooth, light and even, I was pleasantly surprised at just how velvety smooth this felt and looked on my skin. It covered up my redness brilliantly with just one swipe and left my skin looking soft and perfectly matte but not dull. It lasted well throughout the day with not a hint of shine coming through in the usual places (t zone) that I have grown accustomed to.

03 Soft Beige is described as being fair/medium to suit most caucasian skin tones. It was a touch warmer than my actual skin tone but as the product is ultra fine this was barely detectable once applied fully.

The main issue I have with powder foundations is that they tend to highlight the pores on my nose. I was hoping that as it was so good covering up redness that it would make my nose appear all lovely, smooth and flawless but sadly, even using with a primer, I felt that it didn't cover up the pores as much as I would have liked, but I am very fussy about this! This is the only reservation that I have with this product. However, I have to add, I have since passed this over to my sister who (having no pore problems) thinks this foundation is fantastic and loves it.

If you like compact powder foundations I think that this is definitely worth giving a go, with all the extra little bits, the perfect portable travel companion and ideal for touching up on the go.

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Powder Foundation 03 Soft Beige swatched on my skin

Liz Earle Perfect Finish Foundation is available in 7 shades and costs £21.

*PR Sample

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 - Review

Botanical Essence No15 from Liz Earle is only the second fragrance from the brand and I was lucky enough to be sent a bottle to review.

Inspired by a myriad of scents and aromas from around the globe No15 is so named as fifteen precious botanicals have been carefully selected and handcrafted by one of the world’s leading female perfumers to create a fresh, spicy oriental scent.

The wonderful 15 ingredients making up this scent - Damask Rose Absolute, Cedarwood - Virginian Essential Oil, Vetiver, Bergamot, Tonka Bean Absolute, Clove bud oil, Benzoin Gum, Elemi Gum, 
Vanilla Extract, Pink Pepper Berry Oil, Sandalwood Essential Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Guaiacwood Oil, Cypriol Root Oil and Patchouli.

Described as clean, sexy and addictive the eau de parfum is synonymous with feeling seductive and elegant.

My thoughts 

From the clean lines of the angled bottle to the classic pale green 'Liz Earle' brand colour, this eau de parfum is classy inside and out. The bottle is opaque and the outer packaging is designed with drawings of the 15 ingredients, which then unfolds to list the ingredients. Very nice and quite unusual, I like it a lot.

This is a beautiful grown up scent, spicy and warming but still managing to retain a freshness and lightness that makes it ideal for any time of day or night. Intoxicating, sensual and inviting, I am drawn to the fact that the spicy aspects mean that it is not overtly feminine but neither is it masculine. I find it complex to describe fully and yet for me it evokes everything that is found in the winter and Christmas months - with the inclusion of clove, sandalwood, bergamot and pink pepper berry.

I feel that actually, this would also make a really fantastic candle fragrance floating around the room.

As the clocks have gone back just this weekend signalling the start of winter and the nights drawing ever darker and colder we begin to seek solace in familiar things, comfort and warmth. Whether this is curling up in our favourite chair or wrapping our hands around a hot drink, I know that I will also be spraying No15, the newest fragrance from Liz Earle.  If ever there was a fragrance to describe winter, this is it.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 costs £45 for 50ml

Liz Earle Prince's Trust Limited Edition Rose and Lavender Cleanse & Polish

What a bit of luck, I was just about to run out of a bottle of my all time favourite cleanser, the original Cleanse & Polish, when this version popped through the letterbox.

This year Liz Earle have been working with Rebecca Taylor - a young entrepreneur supported by The Prince’s Trust - who is being mentored by Liz for the Tomorrow Campaign. The Tomorrow Campaign was created to inspire the next generation and paired six Trust-supported young people with iconic mentors to create a product that will be retailed nationwide to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust. Together, Liz and Rebecca have given the original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser a new twist. Their award-winning formula has been updated to include rose and lavender essential oils and a fresh white pump bottle with an attractive design.

This special edition had a lot to live up to, I absolutely lovely the original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and in particular the almost medicinal scent of eucalyptus. I have to say though that this has not disappointed.

Although the eucalyptus has been removed to be replaced with rose and lavender essential oils, it has a pleasant scent. I am not overly keen on lavender but the smell only becomes apparent when you start applying it onto your face, before that the scent when pumped out of the bottle is a faint rose fragrance which I do like!

It still has the same ingredients that has made the formula so popular including skin softening cocoa butter and rosemary and chamomile to tone and smooth.

This is a lovely rich and creamy cleanser that is to be used in the same way as the original cleanse & polish - 2 steps -

Step one - massage 1 or 2 pumps ( I find one plenty) onto dry skin in circular movements
Step two - rinse muslin cloth in hand hot water and wring out before gently polishing off the cream. Finish by splashing face with cool water.

This is an effective cleanser that leaves my skin feeling clean, soft to the touch and bright looking. Another winner from Liz Earle.

Liz Earle recommends using the original Cleanse & Polish for mornings and using this version at night because of its calming and relaxing properties and although I have used this both morning and evening, I have certainly felt the effects of a better night's sleep!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Rose and Lavender is priced at £19.75 with £2 from every sale going to The Prince's Trust. 

Available in store, online at lizearle.com, at John Lewis and on QVC.

This is a limited edition product so once it's gone, it's gone!

*PR Sample

Holiday Makeup By Night

You may have already seen my 'by day' holiday makeup, pictured above are the items that I wore in the evenings.

I didn't have much time from leaving the pool or beach, showering and getting myself and my 4yr old son ready for dinner to sit and apply makeup at my leisure. I had to choose items that I knew would create the look I wanted to achieve as fast as possible with as few items as possible.

The look I was going for in the evening was radiance, illumination and a flash of bright colour on my lips - not a million miles away from my day look but just ramped up with more definition :-) A sun kissed and healthy looking glow is always a winner when you are on holiday in my opinion.

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation - My current favourite foundation. Coverage is light but even and radiant. I popped some into a sample pot so that I didn't have to take the full size glass bottle with me.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Rather than take the full size version, I took the rather travel handy mini version that came with the Anniversary set.. Another current favourite, love how black and defined it makes my lashes, real flutter worthy and they stand out a mile!

17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze This shimmer brick made it into my evening makeup as it is so versatile and multipurpose. I used the different shades as eye shadows, the second one really made my eyes pop. I also used the lightest shade as a highlighter on my cheeks. Best bargain product of the Summer by far!

I took two lipsticks with me as I wanted to have alternatives depending on my outfit!

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick 152 Rouge Mars This is a favourite Summer lipstick of mine, brightens the whites of my eyes and wakes up the whole face. Seriously, it is that good! It looks gorgeous with a warm tan too (I get mine with bronzer ;-))

Clinique Long Last Lipstick All Heart Such an easy to wear bright lipstick although it doesn't look that in the tube, it appears quite dark. In reality this is a very pretty and flattering pinky red toned shade.

Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer and Liz Earle Healthy Glow Powder Blush in Nectar I was sent these items just as I was about to leave for my holiday so decided to take them with me and use them every evening, full review coming shortly...watch this space!

Just a final and quick mention for my holiday nails - I used Rimmel London 60 Seconds Coralicious on my fingers and toes! Bright and cheery.

Liz Earle Special Offer - Everyday Favourites Kit!

Liz Earle fans will not want to miss this fab online only offer!

The Everyday Favourites kit features some of my favourite products - the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 200ml and two pure muslin cloths, Botanical Shine Shampoo 200ml and your choice of Botanical Shine Conditioner 200ml (choose between Normal, Dry or Damaged, or Fine or Oily), as well as your choice of either the Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash 200ml or Men's Face and Body Wash 200ml.

In addition, when purchasing this offer, you'll be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a luxury family trip to the Isle of Wight.

This offer will be available for just seven days at a special price of £39.50 - that's a total saving of £14.50!

Offer available until 9am 20th August 2012

www.uk.lizearle.com

Fab Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Offer!

Readers of Beauty Swot will know that my all time favourite cleanser is Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, so as soon as I saw this offer arrive in my inbox I had to share.

Cleanse & Polish is a true beauty phenomenon and has won over 80 awards and accolades. At the recent CEW (UK) Awards 2012, considered the “Oscars” of the beauty industry, it was announced that Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser was voted Most Revolutionary Beauty Product of the Last 20 Years by 600 independent beauty industry 'insiders'. Cleanse & Polish has also just scooped the Best Cleanser accolade at the prestigious Sunday Times Style Beauty Awards 2012.

To celebrate these achievements Liz Earle will be selling Cleanse and Polish at its original launch price of £9.50 (Cleanse & Polish 100ml plus two pure muslin cloths) instead of the current price of £14.25! This offer launches on Wednesday 23rd May and is available online at lizearle.com and via their Customer Centre (01983 813 913) and is available until Friday 25th May, or while stocks last.

So if like me you love Cleanse and Polish or you have yet to try Cleanse and Polish, there has never been a better time to buy it.

Liz Earle Energising Body Wash Review

With no sign of these April showers abating I thought it would be rather a good time to write a review of  the Energising Body Wash from Liz Earle, one that I have been enjoying using whilst showering.

With ingredients of Damask Rose Flower Water and 8 pure essential oils of sweet orange, grapefruit, geranium, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, petitgrain and patchouli and natural Vitamin E this is a real treat for your skin and senses. Scent wise I was a little concerned when I smelt it out of the bottle as I wasn't entirely sure I was going to like it. Bizarrely I really didn't like the scent of the Energising Body Lotion from the bottle or on my skin at all, so was wondering how similar this was going to be.

I needn't have worried though, once mixed with water on my skin it was wonderful, the ingredients fused together beautifully to provide a really nice blend with the strongest scent being the rose, but still quite light and delicate.

Texture wise the wash is quite thick and gloopy but this means it lathers quite nicely and doesn't run down your body and get wasted!

I found it refreshing and invigorating and it really has lifted my spirits on these dreary wet days. A great start to the morning.

This product is SLS and paraben free.

Liz Earle Energising Body Wash costs £11.50 for 200ml


*PR Sample

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

Twice a week as part of my skincare routine I like to use a gentle polish/exfoliator on my face to remove dead skin cells and give my skin a boost of radiance. The Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator is ideal for this purpose and a product that I really enjoy using.

Just like my favourite cleanser Cleanse and Polish, the Gentle Face Exfoliator has the same slightly medicinal Eucalpytus scent that I adore. It also has cocoa butter for softness and features fine jojoba beads for the exfoliation.

Contained in a handy pump action bottle, one pump is all I need. The Gentle Face Exfoliator is designed to be used after cleansing - lightly massage into the skin in circular movements, avoiding the eye area. This is really lovely, it has a nice creamy texture and the beads are so gentle it doesn't feel like it is scratching the skin at all which I have found with some scrubs/exfoliators. The exfoliation process will remove impurities, help clear out blocked pores and flaky skin.

It leaves my skin really soft, smooth and my complexion appearing brighter and clearer.

Creamy!

You can see the tiny Jojoba beads here

I use this twice a week as mentioned before but it can be used as often as needed. It is suitable for all skin types except sensitive.

The ingredients of the Gentle Face Exfoliator

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator costs £13 for 70ml but it is available in other sizes and tube format.


*PR sample

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF15 - Review

When I wrote the 2 minute make up post  I used Liz Earle's Sheer Skin Tint as my base. I promised a review of the product and here it is.

When I received an email informing me that Liz Earle was venturing into makeup I knew that she would probably be onto a winner if the products were as well devised and created with the same care and attention that is used with existing Liz Earle products.

The first product in the Colour range is the Sheer Skin Tint. I was sent shade Beige 02 (the medium shade) to try.  Sheer Tint is packaged in a nice sleek dark blue tube.

What Liz Earle claims - 'Our rich, creamy formula leaves skin looking naturally dewy, even and radiant. With mineral UV protection SPF15, plus our own specially selected blend of botanicals. You'll love its sheer coverage and lightweight feel.'

My thoughts - Sheer Skin Tint is somewhere between a tint and a foundation. It does have a good thick texture but it blends very easily and I like the coverage which is nice and even. I have been using it for when I need to look good quickly and it does the job providing a nice dewy appearance, although if you have blemishes they won't cover that or any redness.

Wonderfully creamy

I have combination skin and I noticed that if I applied too much I ended up looking a bit greasy rather than radiant and glowy which is really not a good look! Personally, I feel this may not be ideal for oily skins. I like the fact that it has a SPF, I am always trying to use products with these in wherever possible.

Leaves skin looking radiant

Two things prevent me from absolutely loving this product -

One - I am not keen on  the scent, it really smells of the minerals it has been composed with and quite metallic.
Two - Tackiness, touching my face it feels a bit sticky to the touch and this pretty much lasts all day. You won't know it unless you touch your face, but I seem to have got into this terrible habit!

I am looking forward to seeing what other Colour products Liz Earle will be introducing.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint comes in a generous 40ml tube costing £21 and is available in 3 shades 

Make Up For The School Run - Just 2 minutes!

My little boy has recently started nursery school, whereas before we could pretty much be anywhere at anytime we are now battling against the dreaded clock..

I like to take my time applying my makeup, nothing excessive like Joan Collins (a rumoured three hours) but around 10- 15 minutes usually and more if required.

I have quickly learnt that in order to get myself and him ready in the morning the one thing that I don't have much of is time. Most of my morning is battling with him to eat his breakfast and chasing him around the house to get ready!

I like to wear makeup and am not the kind of person that will pop to the shops without my makeup.

So I have perfected the it takes less than 2 minutes ready for the day look.. I know it takes this as I timed it!

Two minutes, four products.


Base - Liz Earle Skin Tint in shade Beige 02 
Blusher - Flawless You Forever Cheeky in Country Fresh - I love how natural this is.
Mascara - Max Factor Xperience Volumising Mascara in brown/black - My go to everyday mascara
Lipstick - Revlon Colourburst Lipstick in Raspberry 045 - An instant pop of colour is a guaranteed face brightener, I LOVE this shade.

Here you go - a picture of me on the school run

Beauty News - Liz Earle to launch new product...

Exciting news dropped into my email box today....

One of my favourite brands, Liz Earle, are to launch a new product 'Sheer Skin Tint', after many requests and 3 years in the making... This is the first step into Liz Earle Colour!

If you want to find out more you can register here to be one of the first to know

http://uk.lizearle.com/makeupuk.lizearle.com/makeup

I for one cannot wait!

Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask - Review

As I mentioned in the post reviewing SuperBalm, I have been getting through this winter with a few items to keep me protected and moisturised. Here I review another of those items -

Click picture to enlarge

This Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask is for dry, dehydrated or stressed skin. My skin was beginning to suffer from the elements (usually I have normal/combination skin) and needed a bit of a boost. It felt tight, dry and itchy so I knew I had to do something.

This promises to replenish, calm, condition and moisturise skin and lists the following ingredients -  St John’s Wort, Borage & Rose scented Geranium amongst others - a full list of the ingredients are available on the website.

I applied this after cleansing, generously covering my face with it. It comes out of the tube like a thick cream and the only downside for me is that it has no smell except well the smell of cream..(Looking at the ingredients that could be the Talc)
I  sat down with a magazine and waited 10-15 minutes for it to do its magic.. 15 minutes later my skin felt hydrated as it had literally drunk the mask  - there was just a slight amount to remove which was done with the accompanying muslin cloth. I soaked this in hand hot water (as per instructions) and wrung before gently wiping off. I finished off by using a toner.

Results - My skin felt incredibly soft, moisturised and hydrated.

I like this mask as it is so gentle, in fact it feels just like a normal cream and I would imagine you could put a thin layer on your face and leave it all night as the skin just absorbs it.

I was impressed with the results and I use this now whenever I feel like my skin needs some real TLC

Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask comes in a 50ml starter kit which includes a muslin cloth for £12.75.

Available to purchase from Liz Earle and John Lewis stores or on-line from www.uk.lizearle.com

Liz Earle SuperBalm

Liz Earle's SuperBalm is a thick salve that can be used on lips, dry skin on hands, heels and your elbows to soften and soothe dry, chapped skin. It is packed with Vitamin E, Echinacea and pure oils of Rosehip, Avocado, Hazlenut, Neroli, Lavender and Chamomile and smells divine.

I would advise to gently warm it up between your fingers before application as it is quite waxy.

As this winter has been particularly harsh I have been using a few products to keep me soft, moisturised and protected. Balms have been an essential of mine and this is one my favourites.

I used it on my lips after a day out in cold, windy weather when my lips felt like they were cracking and on the verge of splitting. Come morning, my lips were soft, smooth and perfect.

I must admit to being quite lucky that I don't really suffer from dry skin so this 30g jar would last me ages. I have however also been using the balm on my nails and cuticles as suggested. My fingers look oily for a few seconds but this disappears quickly. I am hoping with long term use it strengthens my nails that have a tendency to become brittle and break.

The packaging passes my all important bathroom test - The balm  is packaged in a gorgeous clear jar with frosted silver lid and looks great on my bathroom shelf.

SuperBalm is priced £15 for a 30g jar or £4.50 for 5g (the portable version) and available to purchase from www.uk.lizearle.com and selected stores - see website for more details.

Keep reading BeautySwot to find out what other products have been protecting me against the elements this winter.

What have you been using this winter?

BeautySwot's Best Christmas Gift Guide for under £50

I have trawled the shops, browsed online and magazines to bring to you my top picks of the most fabulous gifts to suit all budgets!


Lush Secret Santa - £5

Lush really have Christmas all wrapped up.  This is fantastic value and a great little gift for Lush fans or those who are looking for a 'Secret Santa' present. This  present is already wrapped and contains a Snowcake Star Soap and a Satsumo Santa Bath Ballistic. I love it!

This present and others to suit all budgets are available to purchase from Lush stores or online at www.lush.co.uk

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Limited Edition 150ml - £17.50

The multi award-winning Cleanse and Polish comes in a beautifully embossed metallic shell and includes a muslin cloth. Every woman should put this on their list or buy it as a gift.

Available from www.lizearle.com and selected John Lewis stores.

Lancome Juicy Tubes Gift Set - £16

Lancome's Juicy Tubes were my first lip gloss collection and I think this is a pretty gift featuring 4 cute miniatures (7ml) in great shades of Fraise, Lychee Toffee R&B and Marshmallow Electro.

Available from Lancome Counters nationwide

Sanctuary Skin Brightening Kit  - £16

Ideal for those who want to treat someone to a Spa experience. This is a 30 minute facial in a box containing everything you need for a radiant glow!

Available from Boots stores or online at www.boots.com

Frontcover To Go Eye Collection -  Usually £35 (currently on offer with a 1/3 off so now just -  £23.33!)

Beauty lovers will simple adore this amazing palette!
Featuring:

• Tips and Advice On How To Create Different Looks
• 10 removable domed baked powder eye shadows
• 3 removable domed baked twinkle powder eye shadows
• 5 removable fine line pressed powder eye shadow duos
• 2 removable pressed powder eye shadows
• Shadowline Liquid (turns shadow to eyeliner)
• Double ended applicator and an interchangeable compact.

Clarins Limited Edition Beauty Flash Balm  50ml - £26.50

This beauty booster instantly eliminates all signs of fatigue, promoting a radiant complexion.  This Christmas it comes with a gorgeous Swarovski crystal embellished cap. A real treat!

Available from Clarins Counters

Models Own Christmas Gift Set - £20 

Fans of Nail Polish will love this fabulous set of 6 Glitter Nail Polishes. Colours featured are Scarlet Sparkle, Mixed Up, Bluebelle, Magenta Devine, Emerald City and Disco Mix.

Available from www.modelsownit.com and Boots stores

Benefit Some Beauty To Love - £29.50

Benefit have come up trumps this year with some amazing gift sets, fun packaging and perfect products to boot! This one includes: CORALista coral–pink cheek powder with brush, 12g, Eye Bright instant eye brightener 1.4g, BADgal lash mascara deluxe mini 4g, ‘That Gal’ brightening face primer deluxe mini 7.5ml. You better be quick though as these sets are selling out fast!

Available from Benefit stores and counters.

L'Occitane Nourishing Shea Butter Collection - Currently £39! (Usually £55)

For a full body pamper pack this is wonderful. Shea Butter is perfect for dry or dehydrated skin.

Also worth checking out, one I particularly love the scent of, is the Cherry Blossom Collection £46

Both are available from www.uk.loccitane.com

And finally,

Aromatherapy Associates Ultimate Collection - £49.50

This indulgent miniature Bath and Shower Oil Collection contains 9 bottles, providing an effective and memorable aromatherapy experience

Available from www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Happy Shopping!

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

I love Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, readers of the blog will know it is my No1 beauty product. So I was delighted to be sent the latest products from Liz Earle - Shampoo and Conditioner - to review.

Those of you who already purchase from their website will know that when your order arrives it comes beautifully packaged and wrapped. It really is a pleasure to receive the items and this package was no different.

I was pleased as I knew that they would not contain parabens or SLS (sodium laurel/laureth sulphates) and although the jury is out as to whether they are harmful, I prefer, where possible, to err on the side of caution.
These were 6 years in the making and requested by thousands of Liz Earle customers.

Botanical Shine Shampoo 200ml - £7.50

Comes in a fresh blue, easy to use flip top bottle. Nice design.
With shea butter, vitamin E, apply and orange extracts and naturally derived cleansers. The shampoo claims to cleanse without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth.

Just like their cleanser, one product has been developed and deemed suitable for all. I have dry, coloured hair. I found the smell very fresh although I couldn't detect fruit when just smelling from the bottle, once on the hair it was nice. Somehow the fruit smell burst through, as if it had been unleashed but it was not overpowering. I really liked this product. I noticed immediately that my hair felt different, a lot smoother and clean when normally the texture is not pleasant and doesn't feel like it has been really washed. My hair lapped it up, like a thirsty puppy.

You can see the consistency of the shampoo and conditioner in the photo above, the thick white one is the conditioner.

Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry or damaged hair 200ml - £7.50

Same packaging as above except in white, handily different.

The claim - Specially formulated with shea butter and yangu oil, the ultra rich-rich colour safe conditioner leaves hair hydrated, under control, soft and smooth.

I loved this conditioner and could feel the difference immediately to my hair. It is quite thick but applies easily and washes off just as easily. It smelt gorgeous and when rinsing off, my hair was left feeling so silky, I knew straight-away it must have done something.

As I often leave my hair to try dry naturally and then scrunch with mousse, it gets very tangled and knotty and I can spend ages trying to brush it through after washing. After using these products, it was left pretty tangle free and easy to manage. I was suitably impressed by this as I have yet to find a good product to help this until now...

On the second use, I dried my hair with a hairdryer and then straightened it - it looked,smelt and felt amazing. Shiny and incredibly soft.  My sister said (without me even mentioning I was using anything different) that my hair hadn't looked that good in ages. Praise indeed!!

So in conclusion - More great products giving fab results. I love these products and will be adding them onto my Liz Earle order list.

The two other conditioners in the range are for normal hair and oily hair.

Products are available to purchase from http://uk.lizearle.com/ Travel versions also available - 50mls at £4.