Despite being a well documented lipstick fan there are sometimes days when I just don't feel like wearing anything - mostly when either my make up is taking a turn for the minimal side or if I know I'm about to tuck into a massive burger without a single regard for elegance and would rather not have it smeared all over my chin.

Unfortunately not being blessed with perfectly even lips I often feel like I'm going bare when theres a zero product situation, but I've recently found that a combination of lip balm and liner - in particular the NUXE Reve de Miel offering and the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus, to be the perfect way to correct my wonky lips and add a touch of colour. The lip pencil is one of those Holy Grail 'my lips but better' shades and blends into the balm to give a sheer wash of pink that, thanks to the matte finish of both products, imitates that natural texture of my lips perfectly. The waxy formula also sticks around for hours while the balm keeps everything hydrated for a simple but polished pout, giving the illusion that you're wearing nothing at all.

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• April 25, 2014

Cheating Perfect Lips

Despite being a well documented lipstick fan there are sometimes days when I just don't feel like wearing anything - mostly when either my make up is taking a turn for the minimal side or if I know I'm about to tuck into a massive burger without a single regard for elegance and would rather not have it smeared all over my chin.

Unfortunately not being blessed with perfectly even lips I often feel like I'm going bare when theres a zero product situation, but I've recently found that a combination of lip balm and liner - in particular the NUXE Reve de Miel offering and the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus, to be the perfect way to correct my wonky lips and add a touch of colour. The lip pencil is one of those Holy Grail 'my lips but better' shades and blends into the balm to give a sheer wash of pink that, thanks to the matte finish of both products, imitates that natural texture of my lips perfectly. The waxy formula also sticks around for hours while the balm keeps everything hydrated for a simple but polished pout, giving the illusion that you're wearing nothing at all.

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No doubt make up lovers all over the country exhaled a collective scream of joy when in February it was announced that Sephora would be shipping to the UK. Having never visited the US or any other place lucky enough to have a branch of the black and white striped Heaven, I headed straight to the site and frantically began adding everything into my virtual basket as soon as the news reached me. After coming across a few obstacles during the ordering process and common sense finally making it's way in, I decided to whittle down my purchases to a handful of products that I'd been lusting over for years, all from brands that have so far been impossible to find in England. As for the items that didn't make it into the final cut, I can't definitely see order number two making it's way into my life very soon!

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• April 21, 2014

Sephora Haul

No doubt make up lovers all over the country exhaled a collective scream of joy when in February it was announced that Sephora would be shipping to the UK. Having never visited the US or any other place lucky enough to have a branch of the black and white striped Heaven, I headed straight to the site and frantically began adding everything into my virtual basket as soon as the news reached me. After coming across a few obstacles during the ordering process and common sense finally making it's way in, I decided to whittle down my purchases to a handful of products that I'd been lusting over for years, all from brands that have so far been impossible to find in England. As for the items that didn't make it into the final cut, I can't definitely see order number two making it's way into my life very soon!

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On Friday we decided to head up to London for a day of shopping, eating and general roaming about hoping that the Bank Holiday would have driven most of the crowds away. Arriving off the train absolutely ravenous we headed towards Spitalfields for a rendezvous with The Breakfast Club, only to find the line (although not as long as usual) still would have kept our hungry tums waiting for at least twenty minutes. Instead we ended up at The Diner - always a fail safe. The Breakfast menu alone will have you wanting to order enough dishes for five people, but in the end I settled for a stack of blueberry pancakes and I have to say, they were probably the fluffiest, tastiest pancakes I've ever eaten. All washed down with a thick Oreo milkshake, of course. Calories don't count on Bank Holidays.

• April 20, 2014

This Week #58

On Friday we decided to head up to London for a day of shopping, eating and general roaming about hoping that the Bank Holiday would have driven most of the crowds away. Arriving off the train absolutely ravenous we headed towards Spitalfields for a rendezvous with The Breakfast Club, only to find the line (although not as long as usual) still would have kept our hungry tums waiting for at least twenty minutes. Instead we ended up at The Diner - always a fail safe. The Breakfast menu alone will have you wanting to order enough dishes for five people, but in the end I settled for a stack of blueberry pancakes and I have to say, they were probably the fluffiest, tastiest pancakes I've ever eaten. All washed down with a thick Oreo milkshake, of course. Calories don't count on Bank Holidays.

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Unfortunately being on the pastier side of things when it comes to skintone I'm always looking for products that are going to add a bit of a 'faux glow' to perk up my complexion from it's usual post-winter grey to something a little more human, while also sparing me a dreaded orange face that looks as if I've bee a little overzealous with the fake tan. Bronzers are the products I usually turn to for this but although they may be the easiest in terms of application, layering up powders can sometimes end up a draining all the life from my skin.

Garnier Miracle Skin a slightly baffeling product which starts off as a standard white cream, resembling any other moisturiser on it's exit from the tube, but on application transforms into a warm tint of colour. First things first, a little bit goes a long way (as I unfortunately discovered on my first heavy handed attempt which involved a swift dousing of Bioderma) but a small amount used as the last step in my skincare routine imparts a warm glow that blends into make up effortlessly - no odd brown patches here. Although the formula may feel light on application, it definitely adds a good boost of moisture making for plumped fresh looking skin. I could even see myself wearing this sans foundation come Summertime - good skin day depending of course!

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• April 19, 2014

Garnier Miracle Skin Cream

Unfortunately being on the pastier side of things when it comes to skintone I'm always looking for products that are going to add a bit of a 'faux glow' to perk up my complexion from it's usual post-winter grey to something a little more human, while also sparing me a dreaded orange face that looks as if I've bee a little overzealous with the fake tan. Bronzers are the products I usually turn to for this but although they may be the easiest in terms of application, layering up powders can sometimes end up a draining all the life from my skin.

Garnier Miracle Skin a slightly baffeling product which starts off as a standard white cream, resembling any other moisturiser on it's exit from the tube, but on application transforms into a warm tint of colour. First things first, a little bit goes a long way (as I unfortunately discovered on my first heavy handed attempt which involved a swift dousing of Bioderma) but a small amount used as the last step in my skincare routine imparts a warm glow that blends into make up effortlessly - no odd brown patches here. Although the formula may feel light on application, it definitely adds a good boost of moisture making for plumped fresh looking skin. I could even see myself wearing this sans foundation come Summertime - good skin day depending of course!

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I've been a big fan of the 'barely there' nail so far this year and haven't really been fussed with any new shades making their way into my collection unless hailing somewhere from the beige or neutral family. I've been enjoying the simple approach and a manicure that lasts twice as long - fellow lazy nail painters out there, aren't nudes just the best for disguising chips?

That being said however, as soon as March rolled around a subconscious part of my brain started chanting the word 'pastels' over and over again. They're unavoidable for Spring and among quite a few new launches from various brands this month it's the Barry M Gelly Shine range* that caught my eye.

I've talked about this line quite a bit before and hands down think it's one of the best formulas on the nail polish market. Opaque in two coats, glossy like no other and some serious durability all bundled up in one little bottle that will cost you no more than £3.99. Unsurprisingly their pastel offerings have fast become some of my favourites ever with three shades in the range - Sugar Apple, a perfect mint green that in my opinion gives the great Essie Mint Candy Apple a run for it's money, Rose Hip - a sweet and subtel baby pink and Huckleberry which currently sits on the top spot as my favourite of the three - I'm a sucker for anything powder blue at the moment, hello next Zara purchase, and this works perfectly with the monochrome outfits I've been wearing recently (my wardrobe could really do with a Spring update too). If only there were more shades!

* Gifted PR Samples

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• April 04, 2014

Barry M Does Pastels

I've been a big fan of the 'barely there' nail so far this year and haven't really been fussed with any new shades making their way into my collection unless hailing somewhere from the beige or neutral family. I've been enjoying the simple approach and a manicure that lasts twice as long - fellow lazy nail painters out there, aren't nudes just the best for disguising chips?

That being said however, as soon as March rolled around a subconscious part of my brain started chanting the word 'pastels' over and over again. They're unavoidable for Spring and among quite a few new launches from various brands this month it's the Barry M Gelly Shine range* that caught my eye.

I've talked about this line quite a bit before and hands down think it's one of the best formulas on the nail polish market. Opaque in two coats, glossy like no other and some serious durability all bundled up in one little bottle that will cost you no more than £3.99. Unsurprisingly their pastel offerings have fast become some of my favourites ever with three shades in the range - Sugar Apple, a perfect mint green that in my opinion gives the great Essie Mint Candy Apple a run for it's money, Rose Hip - a sweet and subtel baby pink and Huckleberry which currently sits on the top spot as my favourite of the three - I'm a sucker for anything powder blue at the moment, hello next Zara purchase, and this works perfectly with the monochrome outfits I've been wearing recently (my wardrobe could really do with a Spring update too). If only there were more shades!

* Gifted PR Samples

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It's time for another round of beauty favourites and coming to you today are my pick of the best products from the month of March. See what made it into the edit from my latest Drugstore Haul, a blogger influenced Shampoo & Conditioner combo and few other new discoveries that have been repeatedly reached for over the last four weeks.

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• April 03, 2014

March Favourites

It's time for another round of beauty favourites and coming to you today are my pick of the best products from the month of March. See what made it into the edit from my latest Drugstore Haul, a blogger influenced Shampoo & Conditioner combo and few other new discoveries that have been repeatedly reached for over the last four weeks.

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