Bath or Shower...

When it comes to bath and shower time(not both in one go!), I like luxury. I want warm to hot water, bubbles, lovely smelling products, peace & quiet, and a warm fluffy towel to wrap up in afterwards. Shower gel and bath products need to be on tap for me. I like creamy, foamy and subtle smells but I also love fruity, refreshing gels.


Some of my favourites are;
The Body Shop, Sweet Lemon shower gel Fruity, no offensive disinfectant smell, just sherbert lemons all the way!



Dove Cream Oil Bath Luxury for my skin. Its foams well and has that dove smell that I cant resist.


Dove Visible Care So thick it looks like moisturiser. Thick and creamy although it doesnt work so well as bubbles! This feels like a real treat.


Palmolive Milk & Honey I first used this years ago on holiday so everytime I use it, the memories come flooding back!



Radox Sleep Easy After a long day, this is so lovely to use. A hot bath and some of these bubbles allow you to relax ready for sleep! This is a permanent addition to my bathroom. Don't underestimate the radox!


Organic Surge Gentle Meadow shower gel. Soothing, fresh but not overpowering. Great for holiday as it cools burnt skin!




xoxo

Eye Creams...

Eye Creams are something I wish I had started using years ago. I am convinced these are the secret to stay looking fresh and battle the signs of ageing. Over the last few months I have started using an eyecream day and night as part of my routine rather than when I remember or have one infront of me. Some are good, some are ok and some I like. I dont have much experience with them but if I get compliments for looking 'well' I know its because of my eyes! Eyes are always the give away!
So first up, L'Oreal Youth Code. I picked this up around easter time and it set me back around £15. I use this in the mornings as its hydrates well, but I dont feel its thick enough to work its magic at night. It sinks in well so I dont have to wait hours before applying my make up.



Benefit EyeCon left me a bit disappointed when I used it on its own. Its reduces the appearancec of dark circles but you can't use this as a moisturiser for the eye contour, it just doesnt perform in that way. I have had this for a year and used it on and off. Its not part of my morning routine. I use this on my dark circles in particular along with Youth Code. This retails at £22.50.


Time Bomb Smart Balm Eye Cream. Again one to reverse the effects of sleep deprivation, which lets face it, twitter should send out to all their users!! It contains Omega-6 to leave you skin toned and tight. Liquorice to target dark circles too! This is more of an all in one cream, although I favour this for morning, I would use it at night too. This one gives the most instant refreshing effects. Once you apply it, you know about it. Its fresh and cooling. The little pot means I can throw it in my bag too. RRP is £20.



Garnier Ultralift eyecream is my favourite. I first saw this raved about on Vexandthecity's blog. Next time I passed the shops, I went on the hunt for this. At the time Garnier was on offer 2 for £12 so I picked up this and the matching night cream. A little goes a long way with this one meaning you wont get through the tube in a month. The price when it isnt on ofer is £9 so it wont break the bank. You could use this for day time but I prefer it for night.



Whats your fav eyecream?? What should I try next?
xoxo

Hot Hair Trends with Herbal Essences AW10

Sometimes you look at runway shots and think, I could never pull that off in the office. Other times, you get hair/make up envy! Like the shots from London Fashion week styled by Ben Cooke.


It couldnt be easier to recreate...

Use Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends shampoo and conditioner to smooth your hair. Use large tongs to create voluminous waves. If you take different sied amounts, you'll create a more 'undone' look. Place in a loose top knot to maintain root lift. When you're ready, let the hair down and scrunch with Split End protection cream to enhance and define your waves. Quick, easy and chic.






You can buy the Beautiful Ends range from Boots or any supermarket.


xoxo

BBLL - Saturday 28h August

Rae reviews a gorgeously packaged mascara that smells like blueberries (no, we're not kidding!) over at theNotice.


Tammerly from Pink Diva's Beauty Spot was GHD's guest at Little Joe Woman fashion luncheon which was also sponsored by Lancome.

IHeartCosmetics reviews the famous Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish .

The Pink Sith tries to put as many non sequitur references that she can into her review of Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush. See if she has finally gone too far!

Madame B Fatale swatches some Australian Mineral Shadows by Kylies Professional.

Jellyminx creates an affordable autumn inspired eye look perfect for the dreary weather the UK has had recently!!

Urban Decay announce The Black Palette and Lipglossiping has the photos! This one's for the rock chick inside each of us!

Cindy from Prime Beauty is finally leading the semi-"charmed" life she thinks she deserves by wearing the newest Three Custom Color Specialist lipstick. Find out how you can get yours as a GWP!

What's in the vanity drawers at The Gloss Menagerie? Come have a look at Alyson's makeup organization.

Beautywoome takes you through the no-chip manicure paces.
It wasn't easy, but Glitter Geek actually listed her top 10 products for Summer 2010. See any of your own favourites?

Jeweled Thumb reviews a face paint by Models Own as a blush and discovers it works!

Want to learn how to self-apply individual false eyelashes at home? Mz. More of The Glamorous Gleam has a video tutorial!

Hot Beauty Health shares how to get short, curly hairstyles like celebs!

The Lip Print makes a change and crosses over to the light side .

Retrodiva explores eight autumn beauty trends sure to be popular this year.

Want Chanel Paradoxal but don't like it's price? Musicalhouses shows you Paradoxal's (much) cheaper little sister!

xoxo

Top of the Blondes!

Marilyn Monroe was yesterday hailed as the greatest blonde of all time.


The 'Some Like It Hot' star's classic wavy locks were her trademark during her heyday in the 1950s.

She topped the poll despite her mysterious death in the bathroom of her home in Brentwood , LA in July 1962 at the age of just 36.

Stunning actress Grace Kelly, who died following a car crash in southern France in September 1982, took second place while French beauty Brigitte Bardot came third.

American actress Cameron Diaz was the highest placed modern day star, making it into fourth place.

This Morning host Holly Willoughby was fifth.

Yesterday a spokesman for Clairol nice'n easy, which carried out the study of 3,000 women, said: ''Marilyn Monroe has always been known for her iconic blonde hair.

''But it's amazing to think that even now, almost half a century after her death, she has still beaten modern blondes to the top spot.

''Her hair is synonymous with 1950s glamour but it has stood the test of time against hair styles and colours which have come and gone over the years.''

Hollywood star Diaz's platinum blonde locks first came to our attention when she starred with Jim Carrey in The Mask in 1994.

Since then, she has gone on to become one of the world's highest paid actresses.

Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley was sixth while Lost in Translation actress Scarlett Johansson was seventh.

They were followed by Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks and Grease actress Olivia Newton-John.

Blondie singer Debbie Harry completed the top ten.

Other blonde bombshells to feature in the poll include Madonna, new mum Denise Van Outen, Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, and socialite Paris Hilton.

Researchers also revealed 67 per cent of blonde women believe their natural-looking light hair colour makes them feeling more confident.

More than a third said they feel more attractive after they've had their hair coloured.

The study found men are also more likely to try and hit on a blonde with 44 per cent naming blonde as their favourite hair colour.

But 85 per cent of guys prefer the natural-looking blonde shades to the bright platinum colour.

More than 89 per cent of men also said they would prefer to have a serious relationship with a girl who had natural-looking blonde hair over one who had a bright platinum tone to her locks.

Greatest Blondes of All Time

1. Marilyn Monroe

2. Grace Kelly

3. Brigitte Bardot

4. Cameron Diaz

5. Holly Willoughby

6. Joanna Lumley

7. Scarlett Johansson

8. Stevie Nicks

9. Olivia Newton-John

10. Debbie Harry

Who's your fav blonde???
 
xoxo

Lee Stafford Blow Dry You Hair Faster Spray

I was pretty excited when I heard about this product as I have a mane to rival Simba and blow drying is a time consuming activity! Also pretty un comfortable during the summer months! I really hoped it worked.... and it did...

The spray comes in Lee Stafford's distinctive bright pink packaging, the bottle making an attractive addition to any dressing table. You spray it on wet hair and run it through with a brush. The smell, like all his products is gorgeous! So far, so good. I began blow drying and couldn't believe the difference!

Wanting to really know if it worked, I had timed my last usual blow dry without the product - 15 mins. The next day I used the product and was amazed at the difference. My hair dried in half the time and even better it held in place as there is also a hairspray-like holding product in the spray. My hair was dry in 6 minutes, smelt great and held all day - what more could you ask for! The only one tiny flaw was that my hair did feel a bit dry, but this was nothing a bit of serum couldn't fix.

I'd definitely recommend this product and I am so glad I found it just in time for my Summer holiday where I won't have to sweat gallons just to dry my hair!



xoxo

Oral-B Triumph PC 5000

I am petrified of the dentist. So much so that when I was 16 and was dragged there (literally) for a check up, I refused to open my mouth. I don’t have bad teeth. They are pretty straight and white (bleached) but the thought of foreign objects being in my mouth and the word ‘extract’ is enough to scare me into brushing my teeth a million times a day!

I have always used manual toothbrushes. The main reason is because I have never got the hang of the electric ones. I have bought a few in the past but discarded them after a couple of uses. You could say I am a control freak! When I was introduced to the Oral-B Triumph PC 5000 it looked fool proof. It comes with a mini computer which tells you where to brush and for how long. There are different settings for deep clean, polish and even gum massage. You get different types of heads too. You don’t get that from your (butterfly imprinted) standard toothbrush.
When I first emptied the box I was a tiny bit overwhelmed and for the first time ever, I opened the instruction booklet to help me out. Once I had worked out how to charge it, I left it to charge fully which was about 4 hours ish, then used it for the first time. The normal cycle is 2 minutes long…2 minutes is a long time when you are watching the clock! But at the end, a smiley face pops up on the computer to tell you you are finished. At 30 second intervals, the toothbrush vibrates in a different way telling you to move onto the next section so if your computer isn’t in front of you, you can still ensure you are getting a good clean. This means you can brush your teeth by feeding the dog, ironing your clothes and packing your make up bag for the day. A big thing for this brush is it tells you if you brush too hard. You don’t even need to worry about damaging your teeth. All you can do is good!

This toothbrush promises brighter teeth in 28 days. Well the challenge is over.

I honestly can’t believe how clean my teeth are now. I thought they were clean before but they clearly weren’t. I am completely converted to electric toothbrushes. My teeth are brighter and actually shine! As for being whiter, this doesn’t promise any changes but the brightness of them makes up for this. I will continue to bleach my teeth when they need it. This brush also comes with a carry case which fits the main bulk of the brush and 2 heads. I took this away along with my computer to see how travel friendly it was, I didn’t have any problems at all. A fully charged battery lasts around 14-16 days with use twice a day so you wouldn’t have to worry about lugging the charger in your suitcase.

The brush retails at £129.99 which includes the computer and 3 different heads which will each last 3 months of continuous use. In my eyes this isn’t overpriced. If you think you pay a dental hygienist £30-£40 per session every 6 months and another £30 for a dentist check up, that alone in a year can cost £140 without any extras included. This brush will lengthen the time between appointments for me and also reduce the need for check ups. This is more of an investment but if it means keeping those pearly whites, I’m sold!



xoxo

Aussie Take the Heat

Aussie have added a new range to their ever growing line of products. Take the Heat is specific to protecting your lock from the heat of blow drying, straightening and curling. In the range is a shampoo (full, conditioning and smells amazing), conditioner (light weight but smoothing), 3 Minute Miracle (does exactly what is says on the tin). And even a cream and spray for styling.
The range is all about prevention rather than cure. The shampoo and conditioner leaves my hair feeling feel and nourished while the hair cream smoothes my ends to give a straight flawless look. As with all Aussie products, they smell amazing! The new range contains Australian Jojoba Seed Oil to protect the hair and leave it smelling good enough to eat.

The range is out now! I am already onto my second round of bottles!


xoxo

The Sanctuary Spa - Trim & Tone

When it comes to weightloss and toning, we all want a quick fix. Sadly dreaming about it wont help you lost a couple of centimetres. But The Sanctuary Trim & Tone will!


I first came across these style of treatments about 10 years ago when the (size 8) girls at school were getting them done. I always thought that I would get a salon wrap before a holiday or a party but just never seemed to grab the time.

Luckily this treatment can be done at home. You exfoliate the area you want to wrap(arms, thighs, tummy), slap on the treatment mask, then wrap the bandage style wraps around the area applying some pressure. Give it an hour and then unwrap your newly toned limbs.

I tried this before a night out on my arms and tummy. I buffed, applied the mask, then wrapped. Tip- It can be slightly uncomfortable and messy so take care! I managed to turn my bathroom into a swamp scene but I got too excited. I wrapped a towelling dressing gown over me while I waited for the magic to happen. You need to sit/lie somewhere that might get slightly damp from the wet wraps.

So, did I see any results?

Yes! I lost 3 cms from my tummy and 2cm from each arm. A total of 7cm altogether. This is perfect if you have a dress that is that tiny bit tight or you want to feel more comfortable. The results didn’t last forever, but for a few days, I was 7cm smaller. I am now stockpiling this ready for parties, especially at Christmas after too many mulled wines!!



xoxo

BBLL - Saturday 14th August

Phyrra shows you Meow's Friday the 13th Collection, just in time for Friday the 13th!


Louise wonders about the Thierry Mugler wisdom of Womanity.
Lismarie from Beauty Crazed opens up Pandora's Box - Pandora's Makeup Box that is!
Take a look at swatches of Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipglosses and see what Sophie thinks of them.

The fish pedicure has come to London via Aqua Sheko and Beautywoome tries it out.

Lipglossiping has the scoop on the NARS Christmas Bento Box Lip Set that EVERYONE will want, but that at £95, few will be able to justify!

Krasey Beauty swatches her entire collection of Make Up For Ever eyeshadows, for all the world to see!

Retrodiva discovers a mascara that's almost identical to her beloved Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper. a solution to her oily skin, she just can't get enough of it!

Want soft skin, smooth legs and shiny hair? Cindy at Prime Beauty has your solution--find out what ten must-have beauty products are in her shower.
Broke your nail and don't know what to do? Musicalhouses will show you how to fix your nail with a DIY nail wrap!

Rachel's been finding possible Liz Earle alternatives.. is Soap and Glory's Hot Cloth Cleanser "the one"?

Jeweled Thumb reviews a miniature blush from a brand that doesn't seem to get quite enough love (PS she loves it!)

Are you looking for some everyday nude lip products? Check out Spiced Beauty's top 3!

Jolie Laide Girl falls in love forever and its with the creamy Make Up Forever Aqua Creams.

***

Finally, over to theNotice for Rae's Silicone Giveaway, which includes a lustrous hair lotion, a Canada-exclusive powder, and a bit of Urban Decay!

xoxo