Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Beauty Balm
I'll admit that I haven't been swept up in the BB phenomenon that's been taking over the beauty industry so far this year. It seems like every brand out there has jumped on the bandwagon and the whole original concept of BB Creams has been lost amid a sea of glorified tinted moisturisers. When I first saw the Dr Jart brand appear on shelves a few months ago my initial thoughts were "oh God not another one". However, after reading some quite worthy reviews and discovering this was in fact one of the leading brands in Korea, the land of BB, I really had to give it a go.

There are four in the range, catering to different skin types and concerns. I went for the Water Fuse which claims to be an Oil-free yet hydrating product, keeping the skins water levels balanced for a dewy, fresh look and protected with SPF 25. I think the main problem with other BB Creams is that most tend to be far too greasy and for my oily/combination skin. I found though that this product did live up to it's claim, giving a radiant finish without leaving skin overly shiny or uncomfortable at all.

Now, I'm a girl that likes a good full coverage, don't get me wrong, but recently my skin seems to have calmed down and I think (touch wood) I might finally be out of that annoying late-teen phase of life where I don't quite suffer from spots but always have the odd patch of redness and a few pimples. Growing old does have some advantages.. The formula is understandably quite sheer which I've actually been enjoying, although the coverage is quite buildable enabling you to get a reasonably flawless finish.

The one drawback I've found is that the product only comes in one colour. It is slightly darker than my pale skin, but I find if I blend this in well and make sure I take it down the neck it's very wearable. Unfortunately though I think anyone with very fair or dark skin would struggle with this.

All in all I actually really like this product and have been using it quite a lot lately. Shockingly enough I'm actually favouring this over my coveted Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation at the moment. I think I'll get a lot of use out of it in the coming weeks too as I love the contrast between fresh clean skin and a rich smokey eye, something I tend to wear a lot more in Autumn and despite it's £18 price tag I really would recommend this to someone looking for a light coverage base.


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• October 24, 2012

Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Beauty Balm

Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Beauty Balm
I'll admit that I haven't been swept up in the BB phenomenon that's been taking over the beauty industry so far this year. It seems like every brand out there has jumped on the bandwagon and the whole original concept of BB Creams has been lost amid a sea of glorified tinted moisturisers. When I first saw the Dr Jart brand appear on shelves a few months ago my initial thoughts were "oh God not another one". However, after reading some quite worthy reviews and discovering this was in fact one of the leading brands in Korea, the land of BB, I really had to give it a go.

There are four in the range, catering to different skin types and concerns. I went for the Water Fuse which claims to be an Oil-free yet hydrating product, keeping the skins water levels balanced for a dewy, fresh look and protected with SPF 25. I think the main problem with other BB Creams is that most tend to be far too greasy and for my oily/combination skin. I found though that this product did live up to it's claim, giving a radiant finish without leaving skin overly shiny or uncomfortable at all.

Now, I'm a girl that likes a good full coverage, don't get me wrong, but recently my skin seems to have calmed down and I think (touch wood) I might finally be out of that annoying late-teen phase of life where I don't quite suffer from spots but always have the odd patch of redness and a few pimples. Growing old does have some advantages.. The formula is understandably quite sheer which I've actually been enjoying, although the coverage is quite buildable enabling you to get a reasonably flawless finish.

The one drawback I've found is that the product only comes in one colour. It is slightly darker than my pale skin, but I find if I blend this in well and make sure I take it down the neck it's very wearable. Unfortunately though I think anyone with very fair or dark skin would struggle with this.

All in all I actually really like this product and have been using it quite a lot lately. Shockingly enough I'm actually favouring this over my coveted Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation at the moment. I think I'll get a lot of use out of it in the coming weeks too as I love the contrast between fresh clean skin and a rich smokey eye, something I tend to wear a lot more in Autumn and despite it's £18 price tag I really would recommend this to someone looking for a light coverage base.


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I've started making it a bit of a habit to spend an hour or so on a Sunday evening giving myself a mini pamper and I thought I'd do a little series over the next few weeks all about the things I use and my favourite indulgent products. I like to concentrate on one specific area, either skincare, nails, hair etc. and this week its all about body care.

I like to start in the shower with a good exfoliator to slough off any dry, dead skin. At the moment I'm using Soap and Glory's Pulp Friction, a fruity body scrub that foams up as you massage it in. Although it might seem a minor detail, I've noticed this lather helps get so much more out of the product. The foam sticks to the skin and ensures a great bit of exfoliation from the beads locked inside, leaving my skin soft and invigorated.

Next I like to use L'Occitain's Almond Shower Oil. This is a great for thoroughly cleansing the skin without stripping any moisture away. I like to pat my arms and legs down after exfoliating and really massage this in. On dry skin it's just a pure oil, but once introduced to water it emulsifies into a lovely thick lather. If you've never used a shower oil before I seriously recommend trying one out! No7 do a great cheaper alternative, although it doesn't smell anywhere near as good!

Next comes the combination of three wonder products that are going to make all the difference. I've never come across a product like Lush's King of Skin before (although we all know them for their unique concoctions). It's basically a solid body butter that you smooth over skin like a bar of soap right before coming out of the bath or shower. The excess water on the skin helps this glide on effortlessly and after one last quick splash you're ready to pat yourself dry. Full of Shea Butter, fresh bananas and various organic oils this makes for one beautiful smelling and extremely moisturising product.

Once I'm all dried off I take the Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil and spray it liberally all over my legs where I suffer from the most dryness. I love these dry oil sprays as they really are the quickest and simplest way of getting moisture into the skin. I mainly use them at night to give the oils time to sink in while I sleep, but if you're going out and you want those supermodel legs, this gives them the ultimate sheen.

Last of all I use a nice rich lotion on places like my knees and elbows. Although being ridiculously pricey the Kiehl's Creme de Corps really is the best for this. It's full of Cocoa Butter which leaves stubborn dry areas smoother than you can imagine.

So there you have it, skin as smooth as the day you were born with five amazing products and an hour to spare! What are your ultimate body pamper picks?

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• October 21, 2012

The Sunday Pamper: Part 1

I've started making it a bit of a habit to spend an hour or so on a Sunday evening giving myself a mini pamper and I thought I'd do a little series over the next few weeks all about the things I use and my favourite indulgent products. I like to concentrate on one specific area, either skincare, nails, hair etc. and this week its all about body care.

I like to start in the shower with a good exfoliator to slough off any dry, dead skin. At the moment I'm using Soap and Glory's Pulp Friction, a fruity body scrub that foams up as you massage it in. Although it might seem a minor detail, I've noticed this lather helps get so much more out of the product. The foam sticks to the skin and ensures a great bit of exfoliation from the beads locked inside, leaving my skin soft and invigorated.

Next I like to use L'Occitain's Almond Shower Oil. This is a great for thoroughly cleansing the skin without stripping any moisture away. I like to pat my arms and legs down after exfoliating and really massage this in. On dry skin it's just a pure oil, but once introduced to water it emulsifies into a lovely thick lather. If you've never used a shower oil before I seriously recommend trying one out! No7 do a great cheaper alternative, although it doesn't smell anywhere near as good!

Next comes the combination of three wonder products that are going to make all the difference. I've never come across a product like Lush's King of Skin before (although we all know them for their unique concoctions). It's basically a solid body butter that you smooth over skin like a bar of soap right before coming out of the bath or shower. The excess water on the skin helps this glide on effortlessly and after one last quick splash you're ready to pat yourself dry. Full of Shea Butter, fresh bananas and various organic oils this makes for one beautiful smelling and extremely moisturising product.

Once I'm all dried off I take the Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil and spray it liberally all over my legs where I suffer from the most dryness. I love these dry oil sprays as they really are the quickest and simplest way of getting moisture into the skin. I mainly use them at night to give the oils time to sink in while I sleep, but if you're going out and you want those supermodel legs, this gives them the ultimate sheen.

Last of all I use a nice rich lotion on places like my knees and elbows. Although being ridiculously pricey the Kiehl's Creme de Corps really is the best for this. It's full of Cocoa Butter which leaves stubborn dry areas smoother than you can imagine.

So there you have it, skin as smooth as the day you were born with five amazing products and an hour to spare! What are your ultimate body pamper picks?

YouTube - Twitter - Bloglovin' - Instagram

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I've never written a hair related post before, but a lot of people asked how I did this topknot style which featured in a few videos some months ago. It really is the simplest thing, but I've made a short video of me actually going through the hairstyle step by step if you want to see that here.

Basically all you need to do is tie your hair up in a high pony tail and plait that into a fishtail braid all the way to the end. Then just simply twist the braid around the top of your head so it forms a circle shape and pin into place. Voila!


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• October 16, 2012

Fishtail Topknot

I've never written a hair related post before, but a lot of people asked how I did this topknot style which featured in a few videos some months ago. It really is the simplest thing, but I've made a short video of me actually going through the hairstyle step by step if you want to see that here.

Basically all you need to do is tie your hair up in a high pony tail and plait that into a fishtail braid all the way to the end. Then just simply twist the braid around the top of your head so it forms a circle shape and pin into place. Voila!


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01. An inappropriate choice of beverage on cold day but it was yummy none the less / 02. Sunday walk with a Costa / 03. Woolly hat weather! / 04. Some new skincare additions / 05. Fishtail topkont, tutorial should be up by Tuesday! / 06. September favourites snapshot / 07. Diet Coke by Jean Paul Gaultier / 08. Nails Inc Baker Street with a Topshop accent / 09. Fairy lights / 10. Chunky fringe braid / 11. Evening skincare / 12. Essie Topless & Barefoot with another accent nail - Models Own this time / 13. Being posh with an M&S lunch for once / 14. Lol / 15. More nails! Leopard print for the first time in ages / 16. Home with the family / 17. Hot chocolate of the week / 18. If you live near Wickham you'll know how beautiful everything is in this place / 19. Ferrero Rocher mountain! / 20. The Christmas decs are out!


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• October 14, 2012

This Week #32

01. An inappropriate choice of beverage on cold day but it was yummy none the less / 02. Sunday walk with a Costa / 03. Woolly hat weather! / 04. Some new skincare additions / 05. Fishtail topkont, tutorial should be up by Tuesday! / 06. September favourites snapshot / 07. Diet Coke by Jean Paul Gaultier / 08. Nails Inc Baker Street with a Topshop accent / 09. Fairy lights / 10. Chunky fringe braid / 11. Evening skincare / 12. Essie Topless & Barefoot with another accent nail - Models Own this time / 13. Being posh with an M&S lunch for once / 14. Lol / 15. More nails! Leopard print for the first time in ages / 16. Home with the family / 17. Hot chocolate of the week / 18. If you live near Wickham you'll know how beautiful everything is in this place / 19. Ferrero Rocher mountain! / 20. The Christmas decs are out!


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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
01. I'm loving everything Aesop have to offer at the moment despite not even trying anything from their range yet. I'm such a sucker for branding! The Parsley Seed Mask is proving to be quite popular at the moment and I feel like my skin could do with a really deep cleanse.

02. I saw this beautiful dewy cheek colour on the Meg from Lipsofacto (post here) and decided I had to have it (and her skin too please!). I love fresh looking skin in Autumn and a natural toned cream blush is perfect for this.

03. The Bumble and Bumble Texture Creme has been on my list for so long now I think it's time I just bit the bullet. Luckily there's a double discount day coming up at work soon (oh my poor credit card) so there really isn't an excuse to put it off much longer!

04. I'm so much more drawn to a smokey eye in Autumn and think Beauty Marked from MAC would be the perfect deep plum for this.

05 & 06. Stylenomics and Skirting the Issue from Essie's new fall collection. Dark green isn't really my colour when it comes to nails but this was the one I was most drawn to of the new range. Such perfect Autumn shades!

07. I'm not usually one to get excited over the MAC collections and want to buy everything but the new Marilyn Monroe range is just beautiful.

08. I never really jumped on the BB bandwagon as I like a good coverage base, but I've heard so many good things from people about Dr Jart I really want to try this out.

• October 11, 2012

Autumn Beauty Wish List

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
01. I'm loving everything Aesop have to offer at the moment despite not even trying anything from their range yet. I'm such a sucker for branding! The Parsley Seed Mask is proving to be quite popular at the moment and I feel like my skin could do with a really deep cleanse.

02. I saw this beautiful dewy cheek colour on the Meg from Lipsofacto (post here) and decided I had to have it (and her skin too please!). I love fresh looking skin in Autumn and a natural toned cream blush is perfect for this.

03. The Bumble and Bumble Texture Creme has been on my list for so long now I think it's time I just bit the bullet. Luckily there's a double discount day coming up at work soon (oh my poor credit card) so there really isn't an excuse to put it off much longer!

04. I'm so much more drawn to a smokey eye in Autumn and think Beauty Marked from MAC would be the perfect deep plum for this.

05 & 06. Stylenomics and Skirting the Issue from Essie's new fall collection. Dark green isn't really my colour when it comes to nails but this was the one I was most drawn to of the new range. Such perfect Autumn shades!

07. I'm not usually one to get excited over the MAC collections and want to buy everything but the new Marilyn Monroe range is just beautiful.

08. I never really jumped on the BB bandwagon as I like a good coverage base, but I've heard so many good things from people about Dr Jart I really want to try this out.

Read More >

Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Lotion SPF 30: Although this is a bit of an irrelevant favourite now as I doubt we'll be getting any sun until next year I really enjoyed using this on holiday at the beginning of the month. It gives the skin a subtle shimmering glow that makes your tan (or lack of in my case) look all the better.

L'Oreal Kids Sweet Pear Tangle Tamer: A bit of a random favourite but this stuff really works! It reduces brushing time by half and smells absolutely divine. Bringing back all those childhood memories!

Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo: This shampoo is literally made up of gritty chunks of salt that dissolve into the hair while the product laters up, giving the scalp a nice bit of exfoliation and also leaving an amazing amount of volume and bounce.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: This appeared in my lasts months favourites but I can't help it, I'm in love. I haven't even reached for another foundation since the bringing of August which for someone with a stash like mine is a very big deal! Beautiful full coverage whilst still feeling soft and lightweight on the skin and leaving a gorgeous glow.

Collection Cream Puff In Fairy Cake: I don't really wear a lot on my lips other than reds but recently I've been getting a bit more into colour. I love the formula of these and wish they did more than five colours! They apply like a lipgloss but with a matte texture and give that same amount of colour as a lipstick. This colour is a warm coral toned pink which I've been wearing practically everyday.

Maybelline Colour Sensation Lipstick in Pleasure Me Red: I'm starting to get into those deep Autumn reds and this one has proven to be my favourite so far. I'm surprised at the quality actually as it's only Maybelline but it's so pigmented and extra moisturising.

MAC Harmony Blush: My go to brozing/contour colour at the minute. It's perfect for those with fair skins like me as it's quite a cool toned taupe colour but still gives that warm look without being orange at all.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in Eternal Gold: I bought this back when the Colour Tattoo eyeshadows were quite big but forgot about it almost right away. I took it on holiday with me though for a quick and easy eyeshadow that would stay on well in the heat but I've been using it all month too. I love using this on it's own with just a few coats of mascara for a natural but brightened eye.

Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil: I've been loving this new dry oil spray from Garnier which leaves my skin feeling so plumped up and nourished, great for the cold winter months when my skin becomes unbearably dehydrated!

Lush King of Skin Body Butter: Another body product I've been using religiously. This is a solid body butter that you rub into your skin (like a bar of soap) after a bath or shower before you dry yourself off. It smoothes on to the skin so quickly and is a really easy way of getting an intense body treatment without having to rub in a lotion then waddle waiting for it to dry for ten minutes. Just apply, pat dry and you're done with this one.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Rose and Lavender Special Edition: My all time favourite cleanser has had a make over. I wasn't sure I wanted to buy this as I love the original so much but I'm glad I did. The scent isn't too different, it's still very herbal and botanical, but you can really smell the lavender in it, something which I don't usually like at all. I've found though that combined with the Rose fragrance makes it very refreshing and calming.

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum: This is the only perfume I've found myself reaching for this month. It's sweet but warm and makes feel oh-so cosy when I wear it.

• October 09, 2012

September 2012 Favourites

Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Lotion SPF 30: Although this is a bit of an irrelevant favourite now as I doubt we'll be getting any sun until next year I really enjoyed using this on holiday at the beginning of the month. It gives the skin a subtle shimmering glow that makes your tan (or lack of in my case) look all the better.

L'Oreal Kids Sweet Pear Tangle Tamer: A bit of a random favourite but this stuff really works! It reduces brushing time by half and smells absolutely divine. Bringing back all those childhood memories!

Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo: This shampoo is literally made up of gritty chunks of salt that dissolve into the hair while the product laters up, giving the scalp a nice bit of exfoliation and also leaving an amazing amount of volume and bounce.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: This appeared in my lasts months favourites but I can't help it, I'm in love. I haven't even reached for another foundation since the bringing of August which for someone with a stash like mine is a very big deal! Beautiful full coverage whilst still feeling soft and lightweight on the skin and leaving a gorgeous glow.

Collection Cream Puff In Fairy Cake: I don't really wear a lot on my lips other than reds but recently I've been getting a bit more into colour. I love the formula of these and wish they did more than five colours! They apply like a lipgloss but with a matte texture and give that same amount of colour as a lipstick. This colour is a warm coral toned pink which I've been wearing practically everyday.

Maybelline Colour Sensation Lipstick in Pleasure Me Red: I'm starting to get into those deep Autumn reds and this one has proven to be my favourite so far. I'm surprised at the quality actually as it's only Maybelline but it's so pigmented and extra moisturising.

MAC Harmony Blush: My go to brozing/contour colour at the minute. It's perfect for those with fair skins like me as it's quite a cool toned taupe colour but still gives that warm look without being orange at all.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in Eternal Gold: I bought this back when the Colour Tattoo eyeshadows were quite big but forgot about it almost right away. I took it on holiday with me though for a quick and easy eyeshadow that would stay on well in the heat but I've been using it all month too. I love using this on it's own with just a few coats of mascara for a natural but brightened eye.

Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil: I've been loving this new dry oil spray from Garnier which leaves my skin feeling so plumped up and nourished, great for the cold winter months when my skin becomes unbearably dehydrated!

Lush King of Skin Body Butter: Another body product I've been using religiously. This is a solid body butter that you rub into your skin (like a bar of soap) after a bath or shower before you dry yourself off. It smoothes on to the skin so quickly and is a really easy way of getting an intense body treatment without having to rub in a lotion then waddle waiting for it to dry for ten minutes. Just apply, pat dry and you're done with this one.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Rose and Lavender Special Edition: My all time favourite cleanser has had a make over. I wasn't sure I wanted to buy this as I love the original so much but I'm glad I did. The scent isn't too different, it's still very herbal and botanical, but you can really smell the lavender in it, something which I don't usually like at all. I've found though that combined with the Rose fragrance makes it very refreshing and calming.

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum: This is the only perfume I've found myself reaching for this month. It's sweet but warm and makes feel oh-so cosy when I wear it.

Read More >

Something a little different than my usual Sunday posts today but I though I'd share with you a spontaneous baking session I had! It's been dull and cloudy all week and I felt like making myself some serious comfort food. Cue cupcakes. I got the recipe from The Primrose Bakery's book which is a must for anyone into their cakes, but made a few tweaks here and there mostly down to laziness.

Ingredients;

125g unsalted butter, 250g caster sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 250g plain flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 4 bananas, 2 medium sized bars of dark chocolate

I mashed the bananas, threw everything except the chocolate into a bowl and used an electric hand whisk on it all for about 3 minutes. After that I broke the chocolate up into pieces and stirred them in. Last of all just spoon everything into cupcake cases and bake for 25 minutes at 160°c.

I cheated a little with some pre-made icing, as I never have the patience to make it myself and voila, done. Super quick, yummy and perfect on a rainy Sunday afternoon with a glass of milk.

• October 07, 2012

Chocolate Chip Banana Cupcakes

Something a little different than my usual Sunday posts today but I though I'd share with you a spontaneous baking session I had! It's been dull and cloudy all week and I felt like making myself some serious comfort food. Cue cupcakes. I got the recipe from The Primrose Bakery's book which is a must for anyone into their cakes, but made a few tweaks here and there mostly down to laziness.

Ingredients;

125g unsalted butter, 250g caster sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 250g plain flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 4 bananas, 2 medium sized bars of dark chocolate

I mashed the bananas, threw everything except the chocolate into a bowl and used an electric hand whisk on it all for about 3 minutes. After that I broke the chocolate up into pieces and stirred them in. Last of all just spoon everything into cupcake cases and bake for 25 minutes at 160°c.

I cheated a little with some pre-made icing, as I never have the patience to make it myself and voila, done. Super quick, yummy and perfect on a rainy Sunday afternoon with a glass of milk.

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Dress: American Apparel
Coat: New Look
Faux Fur Stole: Asos
Bag: eBay
Necklace: H&M
Boots: Topshop
Seriously hate wearing my hair up but its so blurgh at the moment I just don't know what to do with it. I think I need a new colour more than anything. Seriously debating going down the Ombre route again but I keep getting the fear. I even bought these two bad boys for no particular reason and they're now staring at me from across the room wanting to be used.

Shallow hair dramz aside, this dress isn't really my usual style but it was a mere £7.50 in the Asos sale so I couldn't say no. I love the slit at the side. Makes me feel a little bit Angelina Jolie.

I've had a lot of questions about this bag from it flashing up in various instagram pictures. It's literally just a random one off eBay but for the price I paid I think its pretty good quality that'll do until I can get my hands on the real thing. Here's a link to the seller if you're interested.

This is actually the first time I've worn a big winter coat this year too. Real milestone right there. This New Look one is from last year but I still love it. Who can say no to a bit of tweed? I'll still probably have to buy myself another one this year and at the moment this Topshop one has caught my eye.

• October 04, 2012

Tube Dress

Dress: American Apparel
Coat: New Look
Faux Fur Stole: Asos
Bag: eBay
Necklace: H&M
Boots: Topshop
Seriously hate wearing my hair up but its so blurgh at the moment I just don't know what to do with it. I think I need a new colour more than anything. Seriously debating going down the Ombre route again but I keep getting the fear. I even bought these two bad boys for no particular reason and they're now staring at me from across the room wanting to be used.

Shallow hair dramz aside, this dress isn't really my usual style but it was a mere £7.50 in the Asos sale so I couldn't say no. I love the slit at the side. Makes me feel a little bit Angelina Jolie.

I've had a lot of questions about this bag from it flashing up in various instagram pictures. It's literally just a random one off eBay but for the price I paid I think its pretty good quality that'll do until I can get my hands on the real thing. Here's a link to the seller if you're interested.

This is actually the first time I've worn a big winter coat this year too. Real milestone right there. This New Look one is from last year but I still love it. Who can say no to a bit of tweed? I'll still probably have to buy myself another one this year and at the moment this Topshop one has caught my eye.

Read More >