Nuxe Travel Kit - If You Only Buy One Thing This Week

Nuxe Summer Travel Kit 

Browsing beauty on the internet I cam across this brilliant value travel set or great introduction to Nuxe - The Nuxe Travel Kit £12.40 so if you only buy one thing this week, make it this!

 The 5 travel size NUXE products:

- Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals 30ml
- Nuxellence® 15ml - Face Cream
- Huile Prodigieuse® 10ml - Multi Purpose Oil
- Rêve de Miel® Hand and Nail Cream 15ml
- Nuxe Body Fondant Shower Gel 30ml

Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Blackest Black Review

Today I am reviewing probably the most curious looking mascara I have ever seen. Introducing Avon Mega Effects Mascara.  Small, compact, travel friendly packaging that is quite different from the usual barrel wand. The wand is also different as it resembles a paint brush and has a flexible handle

Take a look 

Brush close up 

Avon say

The Wonderbrush that's going to change mascara history

Provides panoramic volume and corner to corner coverage for dramatic definition. Flake-proof and sweat-proof.

9ml

How To Use 

Step 1 - Grip it

Grip at the sides and remove cap.

Step 2 - Rock it

Rock brush from side to side to pull out and bend to desired angle.

Step 3 - Brush it

Comb through from root to tip.

Step 4 - Lock it

Insert applicator until it locks in place.

My thoughts 

I like the packaging and the design, it is, bright, innovative and a major shake up of something a bit more traditional. However, I used the mascara 3 or 4 times and I just couldn't get to grips with the best way to use it. I followed the instructions but I wasn't wowed with the end result. 

It may be that my eye area is too small for the wand and it was all a bit too straight for me, even though I did try to use the flexible wand to change angles to see how best to get coverage on every lash. I found that it was really hard to capture the smaller inner lashes. I also found that one coat was all I could do without it getting too clumpy and it was really messy to apply in the first instance as I applied. 

The plus points - a decent rich black colour and it does stay in place all day without smudging.

Overall, this mascara wasn't for me.

Before and After Shots

Before 

After 

If you are looking at the screen, on your left the lashes have two coats and on the right my lashes are the result of just one coat.

I think that this really is a one coat mascara but for me although it lengthened nicely, there wasn't quite enough impact. Ps I did try and clean up all the mascara mess before taking the photo!

Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Blackest Black costs £10 

*PR Sample

Chanel Spring 2014 Makeup Swatches

Chanel's Spring Makeup Collection for 2014 is beautifully understated, I was immediately drawn to the stand from its images and couldn't resist a swatching a few of the lipsticks and glosses. As a makeup lover I do find myself choosing to update my collection with a lipstick or a gloss. It is such a simple thing to do but it can make the world of difference and take your look from Winter to Spring etc. Also it is a fairly inexpensive way to embrace a trend.

This Spring, maybe predictably, there are a lot of pinks and corals on the stands but Chanel was one of the cosmetic brands that made me stop in my tracks. A fresh flawless skin with a pinky/coral lip is a real statement and one that I adore. Light and wearable, it is just utterly gorgeous.

Below, I have swatches of

136 Melodieuse Rouge Allure Lip Colour, 
60 Triomphe Rouge Coco 

and the two complimenting glosses 

Lèvres Scintillantes, Sonate - the sheer one

and the creamy peachy one that you can see in the pic next to 60 Triomphe that I am afraid I didn't get the name of! 

I am very, very tempted!

Models Own Speckled Eggs Collection - Dove

Today's Nails Of The Day come courtesy of the new Models Own Speckled Eggs Collection. Pictured is Dove a pastel pink. Inspired by ornate egg shells, they also remind me of one of Easter favourites - Cadbury Mini Eggs.

I love the speckled effect, it looks even more amazing in the Sun. The formula is quite sheer so you will need at least two coats to achieve opacity for maximum effect and to bring out the pinkness.

Available in 5 shades and costing £5 each.

Available exclusively at the Models Own Bottleshops worldwide on the 8th March. The models own website and and Superdrug stores from 12th March and Boots Stores on the 19th March 2014.

*PR Sample

A Perfect Weekend Away In London

Pre our son my husband and I would think nothing of booking a weekend away. Even though we were born and bred in London some of our favourite weekend trips have been spent in London, staying in a nice hotel and just doing the tourist thing. I find that when you live in London you can become blind to all it has to offer, and opt to go further afield. However, we have so much literally on our doorstep so why waste time travelling and take in some more of the local sites. I have seen so much but there is so much that I have yet to discover!

Getting away these days is a lot harder now that we have our 5 year old to consider but that doesn't stop me planning a perfect weekend away in my head, dreaming and imagining of all the fun things I would like to do.

First things first, I would choose and book a Central London hotel online and would look at using Hotel Direct who offer a great choice of hotels, most of which have spa facilities.

My perfect weekend in London would of course include my husband for company; we would start with a leisurely breakfast at Leyas in Camden. It is an independent coffee shop serving a delicious brunch menu at weekends. I would have Eggs Benedict as it is tasty and filling, a glass of orange juice and a latte to set me up for the day. We would amble down the road to Camden Market, a must visit destination and get a bite to eat from one of the many street kitchens. The variety of choice is huge, so there really is something for everyone there.

Making our way back to Central London, we will take in a West-End show. I love plays and musicals and have seen quite a few over the years. On this occasion I fancy seeing a matinee performance of the musical The Jersey Boys which has been on my to see list for quite a while now. Dinner would be fun and relaxing at Belgian favourite Belgos restaurant in Covent Garden for dinner and drinks, it isn't romantic as it is far too noisy but there is plenty of time for that...if it is a nice evening we will no doubt end up in a Cocktail bar, mine is a White Russian or a refreshing Mojito.

Next morning we will visit a museum, a revisit to The Victoria and Albert or perhaps The Charles Dickens Museum would be great, take a walk in a Royal Park and make a visit to Fortnum and Mason for a bit of food shopping. Heading back to the hotel our afternoon will be spent enjoying one of my favourite past-times afternoon tea and some indulgent spa treatments. Nothing less than a full body massage will do for me to relax body and mind, ready for the week ahead. If time allows a facial or manicure would be nice and then use of the spa facilities.

Oh yes that pretty much sums up my perfect weekend.

How about you?

*Sponsored post 

Facial Mists

A facial spritz/cooling spray has been part of my holiday beauty bag since my 20's but it used to be Evian that I took and I would use it to cool down during the day in the heat, certainly never wearing my makeup by the pool.

However, more recently I have been using a Facial Mist during the winter months for a boost of hydration and to pep up my tired looking skin during the day. Great for spraying mid afternoon the facial mist has given my skin a dewy look and freshened up my makeup for a more radiant appearance. This way I have found I can add things like blusher to refreshed skin rather than add more foundation and layer even more make up on to dry skin (does that make sense?) or washing off and starting again!

Not entirely a beauty essential but a welcome addition to mine...just close your eyes, spray and enjoy reaping the benefits.

Two that I am liking -

Simple Kind To Skin Moisture Boost Hydro Mist Spray 50ml £5.99*

Perfect for sensitive skin, this has no scent and feels really gentle. This mist absorbs into the skin pretty much instantly (don't rub it in) to give nice dewy skin with a nice cooling effect. Small enough to pop into your handbag.

Simple say 

2 Skin Loving Nutrients: Lotus Flower for optimum hydration and Glycerin hydrates and nourishes

2 Vital Vitamins: Pro-Vitamin B5 actively restores, softens and smoothes and Vitamin E moisturises to improve skin condition

No Perfume, No Colour, No Unnecessary Ingredients and No Harsh Chemicals so it won’t upset your skin.

Dermatologically Tested and Approved

Anatomicals Spray Misty For Me Facial Spritz 100ml £6**

Refresh, hydrate and cool down with this wonderfully scented calming facial spritz which contains lavender and peppermint extracts. Ideal for after cleansing, refreshing or setting makeup. This is great for Summer too.

Next on my list to try ... Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist 

*PR Sample
**Glossybox inclusion

Models Own HyperGel Gel Effect Polish in Naked Glow - Nails Of The Day

Today I fancied going nude and Models Own HyperGel Gel Effect Polish in Naked Glow is a fabulous, creamy, dreamy nude shade. As with the other shades in the collection this dries to a wonderful gel effect glossy finish.

Love it.

Models Own HyperGel Gel Effect Polish is available in 10 shades and costs £5

*It took two coats to achieve opacity

**PR Sample