Christmas with Clarins

Ok so the title of this post may not strictly be utterly correct, and I may be just teasing you and giving a glimpse into what is actually only going to be hitting the shelves in 2016, but I just couldn't resist showing you all the beautiful newness from Clarins. We all need something to look forward to during these chilly mornings and gloomy nights, and I for one am looking forward to getting back my glow. Yes, a holiday in the sun would be preferable, but thankfully the Clarins Spring Collection has everything we need to bring that radiance back into our complexions.

Starting with the lips, dry chapped lips can be quenched with the new Instant Light Lip Perfectors - I've been a fan of these since they came to my rescue during the coldest months last Winter - as the ingredients soften and protect as well as offering just a hint of beautiful colour. The new purple plum shade doesn't look as intense on the lip as it does in the tube, but offers a light wash of colour and just a hint of shine.

As for the lipsticks, Clarins is my go-to brand when I need a lippy that delivers serious colour, but also moisturisation for my lips. The new shades of Rouge Eclat offer exactly that - protecting lips and also working to minimize fine lines. If that's not enough, they also contain ingredients which actually battle against dehydration and boost collagen! All of this doesn't compromise on the appearance or lasting power of the lipsticks though, and I can confirm that after standing on the rugby pitch side lines for over 3 hours in the biting winds, my lippy remained in tact, and I didn't even find myself reaching for my trusty lip balm once inside!

Claris never fail to hit the nail on the head when it comes to eyeshadow palettes, I've become a collector of their small palettes, and their new rose-bronze compact is my favourite so far! The shades are so incredibly wearable, ranging from a light beige (perfect for the brow bone or inner corners) to deep velvety browns, all of which are superbly blendable - making for an easy smoky or natural eye look. I'm never a fan of the brushes that come with these palettes (Naked Smokey palette is an exception) and I'm not too blown away by the one in the Clarins palette. It's OK for emergencies but these eye shadows deserve a proper blending brush to bring out their beauty.


The four new shades of Ombre Iridescent eye shadows look just like little round candies, dotted around my makeup drawer - and as fun as they are to look at, they are to apply too. With a pearlescent finish, I still find the cream to powder formula rather mind-boggling. How can something so flat in the pot create such a pop of colour and luminous glow?! I'll never know, but boy do I love it!

Available online and in-store on January 10th.

Which is your favourite from the new Clarins Spring Makeup range?

xoxo

Discovering Tom Ford

There's something decidedly old school about Tom Ford makeup. Whether it's the luxe black and gold packaging which evokes thoughts of the couture ranges from the man himself, or the timeless colour range of the products which feels as though they were designed with me in mind. Perhaps that's the magic of Tom Ford beauty - it's luxurious, almost inaccessible, and yet you instantly feel as though you were meant to wear it. It's more pricey than other designer beauty ranges, so I just had to put the products to the test to let you know if they're worth the splurge! 

I began with the mascara (applied to the left eye in the image above), which promises to transform lashes with optimal glamour and drama. I have small eyes, so rely on mascara to intensify my makeup look, and it has to be long lasting! I found the wand very easy to use, it's tapered and has a slight angle, and delivers plenty of the mascara to each lash, instantly adding length and volume in just a couple of strokes. The finished result is a dramatic yet delicate lash, and thankfully they lasted all day with no crumbling or smearing, surviving even my runny eyes on a chilly Autumn morning!

Before we continue, I must apologise for the airbrush effect that I've used for my skin in these photos! If you watch my vlogs you'll have heard me complaining about a strange reaction that I've been suffering from on my cheeks, and I didn't want this to detract from the makeup which I wanted to focus on, so I decided to just blur it out!

Back to the brows. I used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in the shade Taupe. I'm not typically a fan of this type of brow pencil - a calligraphy type waxy pencil tip, I usually prefer a very thin pencil type brow product like the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor changed my mind. Easy to apply and create natural looking shape and depth to the brows, I found the colour match incredibly natural, and even in the areas where my brows are very sparse, the Brow Sculptor added colour and definition in the most natural way. The packaging is stunning, and in the opposite end is a handy spoolie to neaten brows once you've finished shading, as well as a sharpener hidden inside.

- Deep Mink -

- So Vain - 

Ah the lipsticks! This is where I truly feel that the beauty products were made with me in mind! Tom Ford beauty has all of my favourite lip shades covered, for an everyday but glamorous lip colour, the Deep mink and So Vain shades are amongst the most beautiful lip colours that I've ever tried. The colour payoff is gorgeous - an intense colour payoff with a surprisingly balmy soft texture. A natural shine but without being glossy is a nice change to my usual matte finish, and much more comfortable to wear now that the weather is getting cooler. At �38, they are most definitely a splurge for most of us, so these incredibly wearable shades are the ones that I'd be most tempted to splash out on - they are timeless classics which add a priceless elegant finish to even the simplest of makeup looks.

And finally, Lips & Boys. I mean, what a great name! They're hard to get your hands on, but with 50 shades to choose from it's worth searching for them because you're bound to fall in love with a shade or two! A personal favourite is this deep red, plum, autumnal shade named 'Wes'. It's fortunate that it's so tiny, perfect for popping in your clutch bag - as the lasting power is not fantastic. It's my only fault with this lipstick, and when you're used to matte lip products which don't need touching up for hours, it's more noticeable when wearing a glossier shade that needs frequent reapplication. The colours work well when you blot with tissue, and this helps with the lasting power without softening the colour.

Another beautiful shade which i'll be picking up more frequently when we reach spring time is Addison - a very girly pink shade but without the 'cheap' look that so many pale pinks can give. So often I avoid the girly shades, worried that they detract from an otherwise elegant makeup look, but Tom Ford have developed a shade that ticks all the boxes for a perfect pretty shade while still looking classic, and beautiful.

Also in the images above, is the Tom Ford Nail Polish in the shade Toasted Sugar. While I'm yet to apply it (never have I regretted my Shellac decision so much!) the shade is beyond beautiful, and destined to become my everyday colour.

Overall, a luxurious and beautiful range, from the packaging to the product inside. Tom Ford has encapsulated the exclusivity and desirability of his couture ranges in his beauty range and it's most definitely one to your 'must try' list!

These products were kindly sent to me for review purposes and so that I could share them with you! Find out more on my Disclaimer.

Have you tried Tom Ford beauty? Which products would you most like to discover?

xoxo

SHOP THE RANGE

Bigger, Brighter Eyes

Because our eyes are often the first feature that people notice about us, perfecting that 'big and bright' makeup look is a seriously handy skill! Using the right makeup and skincare products, you can make it look as though you've had 8 hours of sleep, even when you only got a fraction of that! Gone are the days where we like to plaster our lids in dark kohl liner, now it's all about going bigger and brighter.

Of course, long term it's crucial to get a good night's sleep (8 hours) and stay hydrated. Especially during winter when our skin gets dry, we need to make sure we are drinking enough water to keep our eyes looking dazzling white. Eye drops can help, but hydration and plenty of rest and sleep are by far the most effective way of having naturally bright eyes.

Choosing a brilliant eye cream will brighten, hydrate, and work to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and fatigue - the best way to start your bigger and brighter eye routine. I may only be 23 but my eye area is already an area of concern and I've recently become addicted to the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye cream. It's a rich gel-like texture which you apply the smallest amount of to the eye area, with short term and long term benefits it fights signs of fatigue, puffiness and dark circles, as well as fine lines and pollution. The difference is noticeable within just a few days of using this cream, I'm already noticing a brighter and more vibrant eye area!

A bright creamy shadow can make your eyes look bigger and brighter, one of my favourites is the Benefit Creaseless cream eyeshadow in the shade Bikini Tini. Bringing the cream into the inner corner of your eyes will make the whites look brighter, and open up your eyes giving you an instant doe eyed appearance. To create more definition, using a slightly darker (but not dark!) eye crayon such as the Elizabeth Arden Eyeshadow Stylo in Sunkissed Pearl over the crease to extend the illusion of bigger eyes.

If you want to give the illusion of larger eyes, apply mascara to upper lashes only. Application on the lower lashes can close the eye area, but using a volumising mascara such as the Pixi Lengthy Fibre mascara (which has silk filaments which add to the volume of your lashes) and curled lashes can make your eyes look bigger in seconds!

Under eye concealer can hide any discolouration as well as illuminating the under eye area. My favourite is the By Terry Terrybly Densilis concealer - it's a fair shade but without being too light, it brightens and conceals, is lightweight and doesn't crease (never a good look!). Unlike other concealers that I've tried, the By Terry concealer not only covers darkness in the short term, but also contains ingredients which work to age-correct and firm your under eye area!

While white eyeliner in the waterline used to be the trend, it always looks a little stark and obvious! Only recently have I discovered flesh coloured pencils, and the Charlotte Tilbury Nude Eye Cheat is universal nude tone which instantly gives the illusion of wider, fuller eyes. It's the smoothest liner I've ever applied with a soft waxy texture, and unlike budget alternatives it stays put for hours and hours and contains ingredients which stimulate collagen production! Oh, and it's waterproof too!

How do you make your eyes look bigger and brighter?

xoxo

New In : H&M Beauty

Did you ever see a more beautiful beauty range?! As soon as I laid eyes upon the gorgeous new beauty collection from H&M, all beautifully lined up in the Oxford Circus store, I knew that it just had to be mine. I barely gave a thought to the actual makeup (I know, bad beauty blogger) and instead was just so transfixed with the packaging that before long, my shopping basket was full, and I was racing home eager to photograph possibly the most photogenic beauty range, ever.

Over on my YouTube channel today, I published a haul video going through my very first impressions of each of the gorgeous goodies, but since filming it I've tried all of the products ready to report back my first impressions, so let's kick off with the blushers, as I did in the video.

Colour wise, H&M have an incredible colour selection for their blushers; the Autumnal dusky pinks and mauves are exactly what I'd been looking for, and in this incredible packaging it was hard for me to resist, so yep, I bought two. The hexagons, the gold, there's something very luxe about how these look and I was instantly drawn to the almost purple toned blushers and grabbed a cream and a powder. Of the two, the powder is my favourite, purely as I prefer that texture for my blush in general, but the cream consistency was far better than I expected; not greasy in the slightest, and a lovely colour pay off. A little hard to blend, but the final result was lovely.

I picked up this cream eyeshadow in the shade 'Glam Glow' in the hope that it would be a dupe of my Charlotte Tilbury equivalent, and while it's not quite so luxe, I would say that it's a fabulous hughstreet alternative. The colour when applied is a whimsical pinky champagne, with a subtle shimmer, and decent colour payoff. A fabulous base, but I'm not sure how well this would blend for a smokey eye.

The lipsticks are another beautifully packaged produce, with their eye-catching gold tubes, and clean white lids. I picked up two pinky shades, going for a classic nude and a slightly more autumnal pink. Both have a lovely moisturising feel, similar to the KIKO lipsticks, giving a not quite gloss, but certainly not a matte-drying finish. They leave my lips feeling moisturised, and colour payoff is good, but the lasting power isn't quite as good as I'd hoped for.

The perfect amount of shimmer lies within these gorgeous single eyeshadows, not too sparkly, and not a flat matte-shade, H&M have got the glitter-scale absolutely tipped perfectly on their powder shadows. I went for three neutral colours which all blend very nicely together, but the colour payoff is not as intense as my pricier eyeshadows, you really have to give that brush a good swirl!!

Oh the nail varnishes. In the store the display seemed to go on for miles, it was so hard to choose which to go for (MAJOR first world problem) so I ended up walking home with four autumnal shades. I've been wearing U-Taupe-Ia for the past week now, and have given it one top up after a few chips appeared, but overall considering the price I'm very impressed with both the formula, and the incredible colour range.

9 incredible colours in one palette, I wouldn't be surprised if the Smokey Nudes eyeshadow palette sells out pretty soon, as every one of these shades is just so darn wearable. With stunning packaging and a lovely mirror in the lid (and at just �9.99) I think this is my favourite piece from the collection. Again the colour payoff isn't great, but if you keep on swirling, you'll be rewarded.

Finally the powder. I said in my video that I thought it may be quite drying, as that's the effect that it had when I swatched, however I'm pleased to report that I love the effect it has when applied to my face; not drying at all, just giving a lovely subtle matte finish to my makeup, and keeping my base in place for hours to come.

All in all, a fabulous collection, and no doubt one which will send the blogosphere into a frenzy! The stunning packaging and accessible price points (most items around �5) make this range an absolute winner, and I can't wait to try more!

Don't forget to head over and watch my video for more first impressions and information about the products!

Will you be trying out the H&M beauty range?

xoxo

Staycation Beauty

Sometimes a long weekend in the countryside, or perhaps the British Seaside can be equally as fun and equally as relaxing as a trip abroad, the only thing missing is that holiday glow! Today, Charlie and I are heading to Southhampton for the weekend, we will be heading aboard a cruise ship for a fabulous lunch experience before enjoying a couple of days by the coast. My makeup look for the weekend is this fresh and glowing look which I created using Seventeen beauty products, including some of my all time favourite products. With some products which truly rival their high-end counterparts, I've been pretty blown away by the incredibly purse friendly makeup

The first step for my glowing Staycation beauty look is the Seventeen BB cream. It's skincare and makeup all in one, meaning that I won't need to pack additional moisturiser in my overnight bag, and it's also SPF 25 so my skin is protected should we be treated to some British sunshine! The formula is easily blended and I use a dense foundation brush to give a flawless yet 'no-makeup' effect finish. The ingredients work wonders on your skin in the long run too, with pore minimising and breakout preventing effects.

Next I work on my brows, I know, I know, I SERIOUSLY need to get them threaded, but thankfully the Seventeen Brow's That! tool kit has all I need to create seriously Wow brows. With a powder, wax and highlighter, this handy little kit is perfect for filling in any sparse sections (I have a few...) as well as adding colour and shape for expertly defined brows.

In my travel beauty kit, multi tasking products are key, which is why I absolutely LOVE the Seventeen Instant Glow Shimmer Brick. With brown shimmering shades and a hint of a pink undertone, I use this palette both as a shimmering bronzer, and a range of eyeshadows. The colour payoff is incredibly intense, meaning that I only need to use the slightest touch on my lids to create a beautiful bronze smokey eye. The lightest shade can also be used as a brow bone highlighter, while the deepest brown gives my eyes definition when used as a crease shade.

Of course I couldn't write a Seventeen Beauty tutorial without including my favourite mascara; the Falsifeye HD mascara. I've raved about this many-a-time on the blog, and it can't be beaten for it's lash separating and lengthening abilities, even without lash curlers.

I may not be basking in the sunlight on a mediterranean beach, but who says I can't get a summer glow?! Using the Seventeen Instant Glow Bronzing Powder I can recreate that 'fresh from the beach' look - the soft matte shade gives my complexion a wash of colour, without any added shimmer.

I've cast aside my higher end contour kits in favour of Seventeen's Define & Conquer Contour Kit - at  �5.99 there is simply no comparison against it's pricey counterparts and I find it incredibly easy to use, getting flawless cheekbone definition every time, using the dark powder and light, but not shimmery highlighter. With not even the slightest hint of glitter, this contour kit can be used on an everyday basis, but for my Staycation glowing makeup look, I'm going to be adding some fool-proof highlighter.

The Skin Wow! highlighter from Seventeen is another multi-tasking wonder product which can be used along with your foundation for a perfectly glowing complexion base, or more specifically onto the cheekbones for that dramatic lifting effect. I've dotted the cream formula onto my cheekbones and used my fingers to blend, to give my face that holiday glow.

The final touch is a pop of coral lipstick - how else does one emulate a holiday beauty look!?! My favourite shade is the Stay Pout Showmance Lip Colour from Seventeen, which gives a subtle shimmer and a hint of colour to finish off this look.

Overall, the look takes me less than 15 minutes to complete - so more time exploring the seaside town! The Seventeen Beauty products are all available from Boots, and more excitingly I have 5 sets of Seventeen Beauty products to give away! All you have to do is send me a tweet using #SeventeenSummer to let me know that you've read this post, and i'll randomly pick five winners on Sunday the 13th of September.

Good luck!

xoxo

This post is in collaboration with Seventeen.