Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser

I had an inkling I would like this cleanser from Elemis as -

•  I have yet to find an Elemis product that I haven't liked
•  It is a cream cleanser that you use a towelling mitt with to wash off
•  It claims to be Pro- radiance and anything that promises to make me radiant is tempting

It comes in a pump action bottle - one pump dispensed enough product for use. Apply to dry skin, massage in and then leave for one minute - rinse product off using warm, wet mitt.

This claims to be a new generation anti-ageing cream cleanser which deeply moisturises to reveal a youthful complexion.

Elemis provide the following ingredients information - Active fragrances of Sweet Brazilian Orange, Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli veil the face whilst essential plant extracts purify the skin. Skin-protecting Moringa Seed Peptide defends against daily pollutants. Great Burdock helps to balance the skin whilst Noni and Assai Fruit are known for their high levels of anti-oxidants.

I found this to be very similar to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish in texture (creamy) and the results given - My skin felt fresh, ultra clean (even after wearing heavy make up) and well moisturised afterwards, with no feeling of tightness,  although I did need to use a separate eye make-up remover. I have been using this for 2 weeks now and love the results.

Where Elemis differs is in its claims to be an anti ageing cleanser - I haven't seen a huge difference as it is early days but I have noticed that my skin feels slightly plumper - so I imagine with long term use you may see results...

Although the cleanser comes with a mitt I did use it with my muslin cloths as well

My only disappointment was the scent - from the description I was expecting something with a really pleasant smell either of fruits or even Lavender but I didn't really detect much of a scent, if anything it was slightly clinical.

I have normal/combination skin and this suits my skin.

Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser is priced at £27 for 150mls and includes a 100% cotton mitt. Aailable from Elemis stockists and http://www.timetospa.co.uk/

Alternatively you can try it as part of the January limited edition Anti Ageing Detox Regime

Happy New Year!

I would like to wish all my reader's a very Happy New Year for 2011 and I hope that it is a good one for us all!

Taking a moment to reflect on what 2010 held for me (as I always do), I would say that 2010 was a mixed bag with some aims achieved and others left by the wayside. One of the best decisions was to return to my old love of writing, as from a young age I loved to read and write. I remember times when I would borrow a book from the library and have finished it by the time I arrived home. My love of writing has never diminished, just the time I have allocated to it.

So 2010 was the year that I put aside time to re-establish writing and return to beauty routines, and my life is all the better for both.

I also managed to fulfil a dream to visit Venice, which I absolutely loved and would love to return to again one day...

My hopes and dreams for 2011 are to visit more gorgeous places, enjoy more afternoon teas, discover new make-up brands, products and fabulous skincare - and just have a beautiful life.

More seriously, I wish to conquer my  fear of driving. A major setback was a car accident in November 2009 that literally has me sweating every time I am a passenger in a car, and has meant I haven't managed to drive my own car in 2010 :-(

I wish to thank each and every one of you for your support during the past 6 months, and I aim to bring you even more reviews, pictures and musings of all things beautiful in 2011. As ever, I love hearing from you so if you have any ideas for future posts, things that you would like me to cover or even just to say hi, please send an email to bettina@beautyswot.com.

Today I start with the one object that will help to keep me organised this year

My cute new diary :-)

I love the excitement of a fresh new diary and what the future holds, but I also love to save my past diaries to keep as a memory of the years gone by.

What has 2011 in store for you? What are your hopes, dreams and resolutions?

The Return of Revlon's Fire and Ice!

Revlon's Fire and Ice Lipstick and Nail Enamel were launched in 1952 and became one of the most iconic beauty launches and ad campaigns ever. It featured the rather strikingly beautiful Dorian Leigh and a full page quiz that asked if you were made for Fire and Ice.

Roll forward to December 2010 and Fire and Ice is back!  This time featuring Jessica Biel, the ad is shot by Mario Testino

Red really is the most glamorous of colours and I chose to wear this on Christmas Day as readers of my blog will know....

It is not a colour I have embraced until recently when I felt I had finally found a red lipstick that suited me and so I was excited to try this red and I have to say it didn't disappoint but it is very bright !!

Fire and Ice Lipstick

This is a beautifully creamy full pigmented lipstick that is so smooth to apply and well I fell it love with it!

On Christmas Day

All Fired Up Nail Enamel

I have mentioned before that I always steered clear of red polishes as my hands and nails are tiny ...but have this year tried red and well it looks cute.

I love this version from Revlon (one of my favourite nail enamel brands) Such good quality, this is a simply gorgeous red. I only applied one coat for the picture below. I feel naughty lol!

Fire and Ice Lipstick - £7.29
All Fired Up Nail Enamel - £6.29


Available exclusively to Boots

Max Factor Xperience Collection - Review

Max Factor was one of the first make-up brands I purchased when I started using cosmetics and I still have a soft spot for it today. I think the tag line The Make Up of Make Up Artists lured me in. In particular, I love their mascaras and foundation so was intrigued with the new collection from Max Factor - Xperience

Xperience Weightless Foundation - from £9.99 *


This claims to be a medium-high coverage that feels really light providing a flawless look.

I have been trialling shade Raw Silk 45 SPF10

I think this is a great foundation at a super price. It has a velvety smooth texture (that will be the whipped- formula cream), blends and glides on beautifully providing a great finish. The foundation is available in 6 shades and are based more on yellow tones than pink which are meant to deliver a closer match to women's skin tones. The foundation comes in a tube that you squeeze the product out of, which I really like. It smells lovely and fresh too, a bit peachy.

It is incredibly light and you can barely feel it when it is on. I would repurchase this.

Barely visible blended in

Two pictures one with flash, one without!

Xperience Volumising Mascara - £10.99


This mascara claims to give full, striking volume lashes without clumping or looking overdone.


It comes in 2 shades - Black and Black/Brown. I tried the Black/Brown.

I must admit when it comes to mascara I love to have lashes that look like I am wearing mascara - nice deep, dark black fluttery lashes so wouldn't usually buy black/brown.

However, if I wanted to have natural looking, long full volume lashes then this is just perfect.

The brush is nothing out of the ordinary but you can see it would pick up all the lashes

A close up of my eye but you can see the full effect in my full face pics as I am wearing the mascara in those pics too.

It doesn't clump and leaves the lashes soft when dried rather than brittle. Very pretty!

Xperience Sheer Gloss Balm - £7.99

A gloss and balm in one - The colour of a gloss and the conditioning benefits of a balm with an SPF10 too. I love this product, good glossy colour with the lightness of a balm. 

I am wearing 07 Pink Oyster Shell

The gloss balm is only available in 3 shades which is a shame as I think the range could definitely be expanded. It is currently only available to purchase from Boots stores but will go nationwide from February 2011.

I love all 3 products, in the first two full face pictures I am wearing just the Max Factor 3 products and immediately I looked made up and ready to go out. -A fantastic new range from Max Factor that I believe is well worth checking out.

* Prices vary 

Two Christmas Days....

I was fortunate enough to experience 2 Christmas Days this year and thought I would try out two different looks ...

Christmas Day Number One

This was held on Saturday the 18th of December at my Mother In Law's house - She was flying off to Ireland for the Christmas break but didn't want my little boy, not to mention the whole family..to miss out over here.

Snow was forecast but for some reason we thought it would be inconsequential and set off on our journey. 15 minutes into it and driving on the M25 down some snow came and by the time we had exited the Motorway it was descending thick and fast.

The journey slowed significantly and around us people were having difficulty driving, we witnessed buses covered in snow, cars struggling to climb hills, people getting out of cars and pushing them and others fighting to maintain control.

It had to be bad.... Brent Cross Shopping Centre closed for the first time in its 34 year history!

We were lucky, we had no hills to climb and the traffic appeared to be going in the opposite direction. Our hairy, touch and go, journey lasted 3 hours, one that usually only takes 40 minutes.

We made it though and spent the rest of the day exchanging presents and enjoying food!

My Look - 

I chose to focus on my eyes and kept my lips neutral

What I used -

Foundation - Lancome Teint Miracle in 01
Lips - No7 Nude from the A/W limited edition collection
Cheeks - LilyLolo Clementine Blush
Eyes - Korres Sunflower & Primrose Eye Shadow in Gold
            Frontcover Cosmetics To Go - Black Spark
            Avon Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner in Twilight Sparkle
            L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Black

Primers - Benefit Stay Don't Stray and Korres Silicone Free Colour Organic Face Primer
          
Christmas Day Number Two 


This was held on the actual day - 25th December. The much anticipated 'more' snow failed to thankfully materialise but the cold weather meant that ice on the roads hadn't thawed, much care had to be taken when driving. Not everybody holds this view however, and some people still drive as if it is a sunny day in warm Summer.

We had a fab day , a great Christmas dinner and even more presents opened, we even managed to indulge in Baileys, Sherry, Wine and Hot Chocolate, marshmallows and cream!

My Look -

This time I chose to make the focus of the day my lips  - I think I succeeded!

What I used -

Foundation - Lancome Teint Miracle in 01

Lips - Revlon Fire and Ice

Cheeks - LilyLolo Clementine Blush 

                New CID ID Bronzer

Eyes - Korres Sunflower & Primrose Eye Shadow in Gold

            L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Black 

Primers - Benefit Stay Don't Stray and Korres Silicone Free Colour Organic Face Primer

And I leave you with a picture of my dessert on Christmas Day - Iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce! 

Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa!

I have been trying quite a few balms this winter for the blog and have been really enjoying them, so much so  that I vowed not to go back to my tried, tested and beloved Vaseline in a tin....

When I found myself in Boots perusing the balms section for yet another pretty tin I was surprised to find that Vaseline had added to the range!

I picked up the Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter, this has all the benefits of traditional Vaseline but the added benefit of the moisturising cocoa butter. The scent is unmistakeably the sweetness of cocoa butter and inevitably I fell in love with it the minute the tin was opened. I hasten to add I opened it once I had purchased it!

If you are a fan of cocoa butter you will love this!

The scientific bit - Vaseline helps protect your lips by maintaining its natural moisture barrier which forms a protective shield between the skin and the elements.

Lip Therapy now comes in 4 ranges - Original, Cocoa Butter, Rose and Almond Oil (next on my list) and Aloe Vera. Available in tins and sticks. They remain in their classic packaging.

Lip Therapy tins are priced just £1.29 for a 20g tin and are available from the usual stockists of Boots, Superdrug and Supermarkets.

Avon Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner

I have quite sensitive eyes so have shied away for many years from using eye-liners. Recently however, I have found that my sensitivity has lessened and now I love wearing eye liners to frame and enhance. I have green eyes and my favourite shades are not only the obvious ones like black and brown but other shades like blues, greens, purples, gold and silver.

This is one of my current favourites - Avon Glimmersticks Diamonds in Twilight Sparkle

This is a pencil eye liner that comes in a roller-ball format that you twist when needed. It is soft and creamy and doesn't drag. I am using twilight sparkle which is a blue liner with a hint of glitter - very pretty indeed and perfect for party season. It is long lasting and doesn't really budge - I drew a line on my hand to test it and gently rubbed and it was still there without smudging, in fact it took quite a few rubs to remove, which is great!

Here I am wearing it

Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner comes in 6 shades and is available to purchase from the Avon Catalogue and on-line at www.avonshop.co.uk

They are currently on offer for just £3! (usual price £6)