Everlasting Brows NEW Double Sided Eyeliner Pencil

 (sample)

 I had been thinking about buying a new eyeliner for a few weeks (I know this is a lot of time to spend pondering something so menial) before I was gifted the Everlasting Eye-Edge Double Sided Eye Pencil from Everlasting Brows. I was after something that was easy to work with and versatile, with good staying power and decent pigment, and it just so happens that this eye pencil ticks all those boxes.

Made in Italy, the eyeliner feels like it’s of very decent quality and, at a similar price point to many big-name-brand eyeliners you’ll find in Boots or Superdrug, I think it’s fantastic value too. The eye pencil is currently available in Heavenly Black and Glitter, with a rich black shade at one end and a beautiful, iridescent glitter at the other.

Both shades glide on smoothly, with minimal tugging and the black shade ‘sets’ in a few minutes, so there’s plenty of time to smudge out your line if you’re wanting a smoky look. Equally, the lasting power of the liner means it’d be perfect for a cat eye or extended liner look, though I’ve lost my nerve lately when it comes to creating a cat eye. I’ve used the black pencil on my upper and lower lids and found that it stays put pretty well – I was actually a little amazed that it still clung to my upper lash line and waterline after walking my son to school and back again in the wind and rain last week!

I’m not a very glittery person, so to speak, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the glitter end of the pencil, but it turns out that it’s one of those ‘fairy wing’ shape-shifting, glowing glitters, that’s sort of holographic and absolutely gorgeous. This glitter will be featured on my eyelids at least once this festive season I think.

If you don’t already know about Everlasting Brows, I’ve written about them before here. The company specialise in professional Microblading and Permanent Makeup, so they know their stuff.

The Everlasting Eye-Edge Double Sided Eye Pencil is £7.95 at Everlasting Brows.

Everlasting Brows Highlighter and Concealer Duo

(sample product)

 Everlasting Brows have launched a new Highlighter and Concealer Duo that I have to say is quite a handy little product. The double-ended pencil duo is currently available in two shades – Gold Shimmer & Light Concealer and Gold Shimmer & Medium Concealer – and is designed to be a must have, multifunctional product for beauty on the move.

It's worth mentioning that Everlasting Brows is a company that specialises in professional Microblading and Permanent Makeup products and courses, so they know what they're doing when it comes to professional-standard products. The Highlighter and Concealer Duo was even created for artists to use to enhance their 'after' photos of clients!

Now that the world has sort of opened up again, travel-friendly, handbag-perfect and multitasking products are more relevant than ever and the Everlasting Brows Highlighter and Concealer Duo is no exception.

I have the Gold Shimmer & Medium Concealer variation and, having had a good play with it, can confirm that it’s a handy little stick! Not only does it take up virtually no space, but it’s convenient and the formula of both the shimmer and concealer are quite nice.

I’ve tried the concealer on minor blemishes and under the eyes and found that, once blended, it leaves a pretty traceless finish. At first I thought it might go a bit powdery but in reality it sort of disappears into the skin and just evens out the colour. I found the best way to use it is to either ‘draw’ on my fingertip and press it on, or apply directly from the pencil, wait for my natural body heat to warm it up a little and then pat it gently with a finger to blend. I haven’t noticed any major creasing or oxidation, which is a bonus.

The gold shimmer is shimmery indeed, but not in a chunky, glittery way. Once this blends out it creates that gorgeous ‘wet look’ on the skin. Like a healthy sheen or glow. As is the case with the concealer, the shimmer is designed to be used anywhere and everywhere – I’ve used it in the corners of my eyes to brighten and high on cheekbones to highlight and add a bit of a dewy glow. Everlasting Brows also recommend using the shimmer to accentuate brow bones but as someone with hooded eyes I tend to avoid highlight in this area.

The Everlasting Brows Highlighter and Concealer Duo is available right now for £7.95 from Everlasting Brows.

B'KATE Vegan Brow Cosmetics

post features samples

There's been such a strong focus on eyebrows for the past decade or so in the makeup realm hasn't there? With countless brow products to choose from, it's going to take something pretty special to standout from the crowd, which is exactly what Dutch brand B'KATE intends to do.

Founded by International Brow Artist Marlies Gregorius, B'KATE is all about high performance, top quality vegan -friendly brow cosmetics, designed to inspire confidence and authenticity. I have been trying the Brow Oil, Brow Gel and Brow Pencil and can confidently report that all three are lovely products.

First things first, I love the packaging this brand uses. It's sleek and quite sophisticated; it looks like it means business, if you know what I mean! Everything I've tried feels quite sturdy too - there's nothing flimsy about these products at all. Here's a bit more about the three bits I've tried out:

B'KATE Pro Brow Powder Pencil £14

I really like the Pro Brow Powder Pencil. It's a creamy powder formula with a handy spoolie on the other end. I have the shade 'Scott' which is a soft brown but you can also choose from Tatum, a dark brown and Leo, which is blonde. It's really soft, blendable and buildable, which I appreciate in a brow product because I have a habit of being a bit heavy handed and making my brows darker than intended, which results in wiping a lot of product off. I don't seem to have that issue with this pencil and find it really easy to work with. I don't fill in the my brows much because they are quite full anyway (with more and more random, white and wirey ones appearing) but I do add some definition through the length and fill in the inner corners a bit where the hair is a bit sparse. This pencil is the first I've used in quite some time - I usually stick to tinted gels and waxes - but I find it really user friendly and the colour I have blends in with my brows quite naturally.

B'KATE Castor Roll On Brow Oil £6.95

The Castor Roll on Brow Oil is basically what it says on the tin; a rollerball of 100% pure Castor Oil especially for your brows. Castor Oil is renowned for promoting hair growth and this little rollerball is an easy way of applying it to your brows. The soothing oil can be simply rolled on before makeup or applied a little more thickly as an overnight mask. 

B'KATE Brow Gel £14

My favourite product of the three, the B'KATE Brow Gel is a clear gel with added Vitamin B5 to moisturise and add shine. This is a really nice brow grooming product - you only need a little bit to tame the brows, it doesn't feel sticky, doesn't dry stiff and I haven't noticed it flaking. I've used a swipe of this after the Pro Powder Pencil to make the hairs nice and tidy and lock the colour in place.

The products I've mentioned are really just a taster of the B'KATE brand - there are much more products to explore, including brushes, pomades and brow scissors.

 You can shop B'KATE in the UK at Everlasting Atelier

YSL Lash Clash Mascara Review

(affiliate links)

 Every now and then a mascara comes along that pulls out the all the stops and gives me everything I'm looking for when it comes to my lashes. A bit of volume, a lot of length, a touch of curl, non-smudging and not-crumbly are my general criteria and YSL have hit it out of the park and then some with the new Lash Clash Mascara. 

Before now it had been a very long time since I treated myself to a high end mascara. My most recent 'drugstore' buy smudged horrifically, which was disappointing because it was such a hyped up product. After falling for the the fuss surrounding YSL's latest lash offering and being incredibly drawn to the very stylish packaging, I went to John Lewis and told the YSL rep I needed enabling. To be honest, the salesperson didn't need to do much selling, once I saw the tube and very generous wand up close I was already sold. Just a quick note- As amazing as this product is, your stunning new Russian lashes won’t appreciate it! Using mascara with lash extensions can ruin them, so just be aware. It’s also a waste of good mascara!

I like a large mascara wand and Lash Clash really isn't lacking in that department, so that coupled with the formula meant I needed this mascara in my life.

Here are my lashes before Lash Clash Mascara:

And here they are with two coats of Lash Clash:

Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara is currently available in one shade (Black Noir) and features a patent-pending, double-conical brush designed to aid in creating a voluminous lash look. The formula is a unique oil in water wax that combines with black pigments and smudge-resistant 'boosters' for a thick and creamy mascara that is rather beautiful to apply.

This mascara stays put on me all day. By all day I mean at least 12 hours, with perhaps only a very occasional 'flake'.

As with most mascaras, Lash Clash is best removed with an oil based cleanser. Something like Simple Cleansing Oil does the trick beautifully.

Overall, a fantastic high end mascara that I think might just be worth the luxury price tag. It ticks every box for me!

YSL Lash Clash Mascara has an RRP of £29 but I've found it cheapest at for under £25 at Escentual.

Estee Lauder Wake Up Balm

(affiliate links) 

The Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti-Ageing Wake Up Balm has been on my to-try list for literal years and it finally became mine on my birthday a few months ago. And you know what? I've used it almost every day since.

It was Ruth Crilly who actually convinced me I needed this product. Ruth's review when the Wake Up Balm first hit the shelves made it sound like this one product that lives up to its name and I have to agree. 

I am currently a walking mum cliché and having a 13 week old and a 4 year old means that most days I look as knackered as I feel. So something that goes on like a moisturiser/primer, can be applied without the need for a mirror (often on the go) and works instantly is something I can definitely get on board with.

Minimal effort and maximum payoff is what this product is all about and I am here for it.

The Wake Up Balm combines 'optical' ingredients for that instant glow effect with a high tech skincare formula. The light- reflecting mica in the balm is so finely milled that it creates a radiant look without glitter or sparkle and creates such a pretty, subtle finish that instantly makes the skin look well-hydrated and rested. It just makes it look better really, but in a sort of understated, non-obvious way.

Designed to be worn instead of or on top of your moisturiser, the balm is silky and velvety, but not heavy or ‘silicone-y’. It contains a range of ingredients that work over time to improve the appearance and texture of the skin, including Estee Lauder’s trademarked RevitaKey Technology and Plant Stem Cell extracts. RevitaKey features Moringa extract which is rich in Amino Acids, Vitamin C and Omega 3 and works to firm the skin and reduce the look of lines and wrinkles.

To be honest, I would use this product for the instant, optical effect alone, I like it that much.

I have used the Wake Up Balm as the only thing on my face, on top of serum and moisturiser and underneath foundation and enjoyed it every time. I didn’t experience any pilling when wearing beneath foundation which is a major win because I really hate a product that pills! 

If you’re in the market for something you can literally apply in seconds, will instantly refresh the look and feel of your skin and just give you a bit of a spring in your step I would highly recommend this. It makes me feel at least a tiny bit put-together for the morning school run and that’s got to count for something, right? The Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti-Ageing Wake Up Balm has an rrp of £49 but I’ve found it for £39.20 at All Beauty.                                                                                                                               

bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation

 (post contains sample and affiliate links)

 Back in the day when I would wear makeup daily, I was a big fan of the original powder bareMinerals foundation. In fact I think one of my first blog or Instagram posts was about a very cute, very tiny pot of the powder foundation. I remember loving how buildable it was, the swish-tap method of applying it and the seamless, lightweight finish. Reminiscing about it now actually has me wondering if I should revisit it and add a pot of the powder to my stash! Or I could stick with the foundation I've got to review today- the bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation. Inspired by the powder version, the foundation is formulated with minimal, vegan ingredients designed to improve the appearance of skin over time.

I really like the packaging for the bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation. It's an airless pump bottle with a twist-up function, so there's no separate lid and it's virtually spill proof. In the images here I've used two pumps of product, which gives me the kind of natural look that I like, but you can of course use more or less depending on the kind of coverage you prefer. This is advertised as a medium coverage foundation so if you'd like even more of a subtle finish just mix a pump in with some moisturiser to sheer it out.

With Squalane derived from olives and mineral sunscreens, the liquid foundation has an SPF of 20, which is excellent, but I've seen enough to understand that a separate SPF is required before you apply any foundation, regardless of the SPF rating, because you're not going to be applying enough to actually reap the benefit. The Original Liquid Mineral Foundation feels light and comfortable on the skin and is non-comedogenic, so it's not going to clog pores.

With and without the foundation:

I really like the finish of this foundation. It's dewy with a nice glow. A true lit-from-within look which I think most would appreciate. If you prefer a matte finish or have an oily skin type, you might want to add a little powder afterwards.

I've only worn this foundation for a few hours at a time so can't comment on it's true staying power, but I will say that for those few hours I didn't notice any oxidisation or separation. Overall an impressive foundation that I'd recommend to fans of the powder formula and really anyone who likes a light yet buildable base and natural look.

BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation is available in 30 shades, so in theory everyone should be able to find a pretty close match. 

Retailing for £31, the foundation is available from Look Fantastic and Feel Unique.

CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturiser

 (post contains affiliate links)

The CHANEL Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturiser is an example of when it's worth spending a bit extra. It feels virtually weightless on, gives a your-skin-but-better finish and really does seem to add a healthy glow to the complexion.

I sought out the tinted moisturiser because, with a 4 week old and 4 year old, I felt I needed something to make me look (and in turn feel) a bit brighter and I wanted something a bit special that I perhaps wouldn't normally buy. The Les Beiges Tinted Moisturiser has been around for a while now and it's something I've always been keen to try so figured this is the ideal time. I'm certainly not disappointed.

The SPF 30 tinted moisturiser is designed to add luminosity and hydration to the skin, while evening out the complexion and imparting a 'healthy outdoor glow'. I think it does just that and it's really almost foolproof to apply- I just dot it on and blend it out with my fingers. The hyaluronic acid rich formula contains antioxidant Kalanchoe Leaf extract (a type of succulent), with mineral pigments and soft-focus powders providing the glow-giving finish.

I have the shade 'Medium' which actually surprised me a little as I'm usually matched to shades with 'Light' in the title, and this product comes in two pale shades - Light and Medium Light. When dotted on, Medium does look too dark for me but once blended out it is pretty much a perfect match. There are currently 6 shades in total, with the 3 darkest being Medium Plus, Light Deep and Deep. As this is a tinted moisturiser rather than a medium to full coverage foundation, I think the limited shade range is ok, though I had trouble finding examples of the tint used on darker skins so I could be very wrong here!

Overall, this might just be my favourite complexion product so far. It's simple to apply, feels breathable and weightless on, evens things out and gives good glow. Well played CHANEL!

CHANEL Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturiser retails for £40. I got mine at Bentalls but I think it's worth buying from Boots so you get some loyalty points to soften the blow a bit.

Amanda Harrington Face Illuminating Bronzing Mist

 (article contains affiliate links)

There are so many bronzing and tanning products on the market right now and while formulas have vastly improved overall, it’s still a pretty hit and miss market.

I recently tried a new collection from a very well known Australian tanning brand and couldn’t quite believe how exceptionally orange the products left my face – in contrast I couldn’t have had a more different experience with the Amanda Harrington Face Illuminating Bronzing Mist.

For a bit of background info, Amanda Harrington is a Makeup and Body Artist, with plenty of experience on film sets and photo shoots sculpting bodies using painting and contouring techniques. With more than 10,000 faux tans under her belt, the tanning expert went ahead and launched her own brand, which features gradual tans, luxury brushes, glycolic exfoliating products, bronzing mousses and the facial mists. While the gradual tanning products are one-size-fits-all, the facial Illuminating Bronzing Mist and Illuminating Bronzing Mousse are available in three variations, depending on your natural complexion and undertones. Natural Rose is designed for fairer skins with a cool undertone – perfect for redheads and classic English Rose complexions. Natural Honey is good for medium skin with yellow or peach/golden undertones that may still be fair in Winter but warms up in Summer. If you tan easily but also burn if you’re not careful, Natural Honey is for you. Natural Olive was developed for darker skin tones, think Mediterranean and black skin. If you don’t burn/very rarely burn and go beautifully deep in the sun, this shade has your name on it.

I knew straight away that I would be a Natural Honey girl, but Natural Rose would probably do the trick too. The colour leans brown, rather than orange, and looks really impressively natural. To use the mist, either spray it onto your hand (wear the included gloves if you can, though it does rinse away easily with soap and water – just don’t leave it too long or it will start to develop!) and dab the colour onto a brush or spritz directly onto a brush. You want to use a brush that is fluffy with a bit of density to it, so you can use it to buff and contour. You can buy a couple of special brushes from the Amanda Harrington brand, which I hope to invest in eventually, but for now I’m just using a Real Techniques multitasking brush. Once you’ve got some of the mist on the brush, you can either buff all over or contour/ focus on specific points like you would with your regular bronzer. I like to apply it on the high points of my forehead (blending into hairline), my cheeks, nose and just under my jaw, the go in again and sort of buff and blend all over. I'm wearing the mist in all of these images - in the last one you can see the colour on the top of my hand after I've used it as a makeshift palette!

You’ll be left with a natural, pretty and healthy looking instant glow while a gradual colour builds underneath. In terms of scent, the Illuminating Mist smells a bit like frangipanis, and I honestly don’t detect any of that tell-tale fake tan scent at all! 

The light-reflecting bronzing mist is actually good for the skin too as it contains collagen, green tea and CQ10. It also has a bit of Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) in the mix, which I wasn’t aware of until researching for this article – something to bear in mind if you are pregnant and consciously avoiding Vit A.

I also have the Amanda Harrington Perfect Face Ultimate Gradual Tan which is a good base to apply before the Bronzing Mist. It’s also got a cooling, minty scent and feel to it which I find very refreshing. It’s probably the most subtle gradual tanner I’ve tried – often gradual tanning products are just regular fake tan in disguise – so I definitely recommend it, along with the mist, if you would like a truly buildable, natural colour.

The Amanda Harrington Face Illuminating Bronzing Mist is £28 for 75ml (I use around 3 sprays each time) and the Ultimate Gradual Tan is £23 for 75ml.

Feel Unique Beauty Kit

 (article contains affiliate links)

There's something extremely appealing about tiny beauty things. Whether it's a miniature lipstick or travel-sized pot of moisturiser, I've almost always preferred the small version of a product.
With my appreciation for little beauty bits in mind, the Beauty Kit service from Feel Unique was always going to give me a bit of a thrill.

Launched a few months ago, the Beauty Kit works like this:
You choose 5 items you'd like to try from a selection of around 150 skincare, haircare, bath and body, fragrance and makeup products. Your choices arrive presented in a rather sturdy zip up bag, that I imagine will be handy for travel once that becomes a thing again. The price of the build-your-own-kit is £12.95 plus a £3.95 delivery fee that you can redeem on a future purchase. A good deal, especially if you tend to shop at Feel Unique anyway.
There's a good mix of brands, the majority being high-end/luxury, with products served up in varying sizes and formats like tubes, pots, pods and bottles, with some in sachets.
I've found some brilliant sample sizes on here so far (the products on offer are constantly changing) including the Medik8 Hydr8 B5 serum in an 8ml bottle (£40 for 30ml) and Philip B. Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo (15ml) that retails for a wild £155 for 355ml.
My kit arrived a few days ago and I picked a mixture of bits I've been meaning to try and products I didn't know existed until I started browsing the samples.

In my kit:

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Shampoo 80ml

I’ve never owned a Kerastase shampoo or conditioner before and have only experienced the brand at salons before. Knowing that the Nutritive range is popular and that my hair has been feeling a little dry and lacklustre, I figured this was the perfect way to try it at home. A beautiful, salon-smelling shampoo that leaves my hair feeling clean and healthy, with a nice sheen. I’ve been using this without following up with a conditioner.

Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser 20ml

I first tried the body lotion from Korres’ Greek Yoghurt line over a decade ago back in Australia and remember that I loved the smell. This cleanser brought all sorts of memories hurtling back to me when I used it the other day. It literally smells like a bowl of Greek yoghurt with honey and cinnamon. To me, anyway. I would definitely buy the full size of this – it’s more ‘frothy’ than foaming and doesn’t dry out my skin and rinses away beautifully. This one contains both prebiotics and probiotics to help maintain balance.

Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Hydrating Mask with Apricot & Swiss Glacier Water 15ml

I’m a huge fan of the iconic Drink Up Overnight Mask so was keen to give this 10 minute hydrating mask a go. It feels soothing and leaves skin suitably hydrated and soft, I’m just not overly excited by the Apricot scent – by no means a deal breaker but I think I’ll stick to the original.

Wishful Honey Balm Jelly Moisturiser 6.3g

The fact that the Honey Balm sample was a choice for the Beauty Kit is what really convinced me to press buy. I have wanted to try Wishful products for so long and the Honey Balm Moisturiser in particular sounded right up my street. This sample is presented in a ‘pod’ format with just over 6 grams of product inside, which might not sound a lot but I have had five or six doses out of it so far, with still about half left. Even though I absolutely love the thick, honey-like texture of the balm and it feels great on, I had no idea that it had a lavender scent to it, which I don’t love. This is what makes sampling programs like the Beauty Kit great – it’s an excellent opportunity to get a feel for products, get to know what they smell like and establish if you have any sort of reaction etc without forking out for the full size.

Dermalogica Hydra Masque Exfoliant 7ml

To me, Dermalogica is one of those reliable, no-frills sort of brands that just delivers. This mask/exfoliant in one is no exception – it’s a fantastic product! Applied to a cleansed, dry face, you massage the icy blue gel in until you feel the little exfoliating spheres disappear, leave the mask to ‘set’ for a few minutes then rinse away. I was left with smooth, bouncy skin that felt as if it’d just had a big drink of water. I would buy the full size of this.

You can create your own Beauty Kit by visiting Feel Unique or for something on a smaller scale, the Pick & Mix samples are back - you can choose up to five samples and just pay the (redeemable) £3.95 shipping fee.

Glossier Future Dew

Yes, there are already half a million reviews of Glossier Future Dew on the internet, but what's the harm in another, hey?

When Glossier first debuted, I'll admit I totally bought into the hype. I loved Boy Brow for its effortless application, Cloud Paint (in Dusk) for its blendability and naturally flushed finish, and Glossier You because, well, it's just an excellent clean-skin-but-better scent. I don't mind a bit of Balm Dotcom either (currently use Coconut but keen to try Birthday).

I got these products soon after Glossier became available in the UK but truth be told I hadn't really had much of a browse since. A lot of the new launches didn't appeal to me enough to part with my money, I suppose.
But then Future Dew appeared and all that changed. When I first read about the skincare/makeup hybrid I was instantly interested. Yes, we have tinted moisturisers, illuminating primers and highlighters but we didn't quite have something like this. That is, an oil/serum with a host of beneficial ingredients and reflective minerals that gives your skin the most gorgeous, dewy glow.

You know how your face looks for the ten minutes or so after you've done your routine? That sort of lit-from-within look when you've just applied a beautiful cream or oil and it's yet to fully asborb? Glossier have managed to recreate that glow with Future Dew. And the best part is, it lasts. All. Day.

Designed to be applied as your very last skincare step, Future Dew is made up of four different oils, as well as Evodia Rutaecarpa Extract, which is a fruit extract that increases brightness, hydrating Squalane derived from Sugarcane (not olives, nor Whales) and the aforementioned light reflecting minerals. In case you're wondering, the light reflecting minerals in this are Mica and Tin Oxide, which work to give Future Dew that sort of lustrous finish.

The oils in the formula are Jojoba, Grape Seed, Evening Primrose and Rosehip, which are included not only for their silky texture, but to hydrate.

I wear Future Dew on its own if I can't be bothered with foundation, just to give my skin a little lift, and have also tried it with bases including my Chantecaille Just Skin tinted moisturiser. In these pictures I'm wearing it underneath Estée Lauder Double Wear Light (which is incidentally a matte finish foundation) and as you can see, the glow of Future Dew definitely comes through. It's worth mentioning that it doesn't pill at all beneath foundations, which I know will be a huge plus point for pretty much anyone.

Overall, I was doing just fine without Future Dew in my life but I have a feeling it's going to become one of those products I won't want to be without from now on.

You can find it in the UK online at Glossier for £23 for 30ml

Space NK Black Friday Event!

My love for Space NK is currently going strong -have you seen their latest drops?- and today for Black Friday they've got an amazing deal, which I don't think they've actually done before! From today until Monday, you will receive a free full sized product when you spend £50, £100 or £150. 

Each spending threshold features a selection of different products to choose from- in other words, if you spend £50, you can choose a free product from a selection, spend £100 and you choose from a different selection, spend £150 and choose a free full sized product from yet another selection.
The free full sized products are from covetable brands including Sunday Riley, Herbivore, Omorovicza and REN and I imagine that the higher the spend, the more luxurious the item! A great chance to do a bit of Christmas shopping and nab a freebie for yourself really! 

You can take advantage of the offer by clicking over now to Space NK

5 Ways I'm Reclaiming my Mojo after having a baby

Mojo, groove, sparkle - whatever you want to call it. Like many new mum's, I've felt like mine has been missing for a while now. I don't know if it's the weather (slowly) warming up or I've just subconsciously decided it's 'time' but recently I've found myself in the mood to dust off the cobwebs and rediscover myself as an individual, as well as my baby's mum. It's a bit like a personal spring cleaning mission I suppose and with it I think I'm starting to regain a bit of self confidence that had gone slightly AWOL in the past year or so. I love being a new parent (even though it can be both scary and bewildering at times) but as I've mentioned before in this post self care is so important. Personally I am trying to be a bit kinder to myself and I feel like it's paying off so I thought I'd share a few ways I'm getting my 'sparkle' back nearly one year on after having my baby.

Cleaning out my closet 
 A couple of weeks ago I'd suddenly had enough of my wardrobe. Everything was grey or black and I was still living in river island vests that I'd bought about 6 years ago when I lived in Hammersmith. Most of my tops and cardigans were pilled and faded and a lot of clothes just didn't flatter me. I was even still wearing maternity tops - you know the ones with ruched sides to account for big baby bumps- and feeling distinctly un-sexy and generally frumpy in them. I decided that something had to give and I no longer needed nor wanted the majority of tat that had accumulated in my chest of draws. So I had a clear out and ended up with two sacks for charity shops and one sack of straight up rubbish. It felt good and weirdly liberating to be so brutal with my belongings but really, what's the sense of hanging onto a pair of disco pants with a broken zipper and hole in the crotch and what purpose does a bra that's now two cup sizes too big and never properly fitted me in the first place actually serve?

Indulging in beautiful lingerie 
...Or at least matching bra and knickers. Lately I've found myself revisiting that self confidence hack I used to be quite fond of. That is, wearing matching bra and knickers underneath any clothing to instantly make you feel more put-together and weirdly more in control. I don't know why but it really is an instant confidence boost! The good old matching bra and undies hack is even more special when they're in a super cute design like this one by Promise from UK Lingerie. Just add red lipstick for a little extra boost of self belief!

Rediscovering my love of skincare
Ah, skincare. My love of skincare is pretty much what drove me to start this blog in the first place back in 2011 and I've learned so much about ingredients and formulas along the way. I used to be genuinely fascinated by the science behind cleansers and serums and loved researching ingredients I'd not heard of before and I can feel myself becoming interested again. Skincare will always trump makeup for me and with so many innovative new launches happening lately I'm loving feeling inspired again.

Mastering the art of the 5 minute face
While I've never really been one for spending hours getting ready before I leave the house, now that I've got a tiny human constantly trying to scale the furniture/ me, I've had to step things up a notch to look semi-presentable at super speed. This is where multi tasking products and easy peasy makeup bits come in very handy. To get myself looking like a better version of me, I've all but ditched the foundation and opted for a touch of concealer and Charlotte Tilbury's latest innovation - Hollywood Flawless Filter. If you've not tried this incredible product yet, you really should because it's bloody marvelous. Once I've got my face looking glowy and dewy, it's time to groom and fill my brows with Glossier Boy Brow (I use shade Brown), pat on some Lord and Berry Sculpt and Glow Cream Bronzer and curl and lengthen my lashes in one fell swoop with a swipe of Benefit Rollerlash.

Ditching the Mummy Guilt
I'm not quite there yet with this one but I've found myself starting to get better at accepting help with the baby. Sometimes I even ask for it, which is a bit shocking for me! But there have been times in the past few months that I've fancied having my hair done or just wanted a few hours on my own to do blog-related duties, and I've done it. Whenever I'm away from my little one I'm always thinking about him but it's so good to just hang out with Hannah every now and then.

So there you have it - those are five ways I'm slowly reclaiming my mojo. I'd love to know how you helped yourself feel more like...yourself after having a baby or experiencing another life changing event. Let me know in the comments!

The Latest in Beauty Women's Health Beauty Box

Beauty box fans rejoice - this one is an absolute cracker! Featuring just under £140 worth of wellness goodies, the Women's Health Beauty Box is really high quality - no fillers here. The box has been curated by Editor of Women's Health magazine, Claire Sanderson, and features 18 of her favourite products from the past year (and a 50% off voucher for Bobble water bottles).

Satisfyingly heavy, the box is £40 for some very decent products and has a really good mix of skincare, makeup and wellbeing bits. I'd say it's well worth a look if you're wanting to discover a mixture of well known and niche brands.
Inside the box you'll find:

• TULA Exfoliating Treatment Mask
• MURAD Youth Renewal Retinol Eye Serum
• THIS WORKS Stress Check Roll-on
• SPORTFX Sport Stamina Mascara
• 58 LIFESTYLE Balancing Ecosoy Candle
• ORIGINS GinZing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturiser
• BUXOM Plumping Lip Liner
• WET BRUSH L'il Detangler in Punchy Pink
• SOL DE JANEIRO Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
• DR ORGANIC Lavender Deodorant
• FREE SOUL Hero Protein Blend (Chocolate or Vanilla)
• COLAB Dry Shampoo Tropical
• DR PAWPAW Original Clear Balm
• PUKKA Wonder Berry Green
• PHILOSOPHY The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash
• NIBBLE PROTEIN Nibble Protein Bites Lemon with Coconut
• DANDI Dandi Patch
• NARCISO RODRIGUEZ Fleur Musc for Her
• BOBBLE 50% OFF Voucher

As you can see, this really is a great line up - I'm most excited about the 58 Lifestyle Candle (It smells AMAZING), the Buxom liner and of course the skincare bits like the Philosophy Microdelivery wash, Origins moisturiser and the Tula mask. If you've not tried Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum cream, now is your chance to 'try before you buy' the full size but if you're anything like me, you're gonna want the full size!
You can buy the Latest in Beauty Women's Health Beauty Box for £40 online at Latest in Beauty.

Caudalie French Kiss Tinted Balms

Sweetly flavoured and scented but not sickly so, the French Kiss balms from Caudalie are a perfect makeup/ skincare hybrid. The balms launched last September but with Valentine's Day just around the corner, it would almost be rude not to treat yourself to one (or all of them if you're really feeling the love). The balms are available in three tints- Innocence, Seduction and Addiction - which add a flush of colour and a slight glossy finish while protecting and caring for the lips.

INNOCENCE, a natural pink, is infused with the scent of vanilla and orange peel.

‎SEDUCTION, a subtle pink, is vanilla scented.

ADDICTION is inspired by a syrup made from red berries. A raspberry red, this is the sassiest of the three tints and probably my favourite. You still get the confidence boosting feeling that comes on when you're wearing a red lipstick but with a much, much more subtle look on the lips.  ‎

The balms are designed to be applied with a finger so they really aren't heavily pigmented- you just get a lovely tint effect. If you like the feeling of cream blushers, there's no reason why each of the balms couldn't be used to add a touch of colour to the cheeks too. ‎Rich and creamy, the balms have a beeswax, aloe vera and sunflower and castor oil base enriched with Caudalie's signature antioxidant grape Polyphenols. Grape seed Polyphenols are naturally occurring antioxidants that protect the skin against free radicals (which, according to Caudalie are responsible for 4 out of 5 wrinkles...) and aid in preserving the hyaluronic acid content of the skin. Grape Polyphenols are also said to be 10,000 times more powerful than Vitamin E, which is quite incredible.
Each of the balms feel smooth and comfortable on the lips and I'm sure would be a welcome addition to any handbag. The balms retail for £10 each - you can find out more about them and purchase at Caudalie.