I do love a good cleanser, there is nothing better than taking the grime and dirt of the day off with a nice hot cloth and a creamy cleanser. But I also can be very picky when it comes to them. I have stayed clear of the cleansing balms for a while now mostly down to the fact that a lot of them are heavy scented with perfume to give you that luxurious feel. The trouble is, my skin hates perfume and almost 99%  breaks out when I use something with it in it.

But not so with the Clinique Cleansing Balm. This one is 100% fragrance free and makes cleansing my face super easy and hassle free. I like to use it mostly in the evening to take of all my make up and because its a lightweight oil based balm, it dissolves and breaks down any sort of stubborn mascara or full coverage foundation. I often do a double cleans and use a little water with it, when you add the water it becomes  a silky liquid oil and with a hot cloth cleans deep into the pores so that even when you swipe over your toner there will be no make up left on your cotton pad.

If I wasn't always on the hunt for the next product I can easily say that this would be my staple cleanser of choice. I even have been thinking of repurchasing it again (that's not very much like me), that how much I like it. It might not be the most luxurious cleanser out there but that's why my skin probably loved this so much. It left my skin clean and nourished without drying it out and not breakout in sight. What else can you ask for from a cleanser?

Have you got a cleanser at the moment that you are very impressed by?? Leave me a comment, I would love to know!

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100 FOLLOWERS MAC LIPSTICK GIVEAWAY

I am so happy to announce that I just reached 100 followers this last weekend. Its been 5 month of blogging and I feel so happy and enjoyed reading all your comments and messages. It is great that I can share with you my love of beauty and find an outlet to talk about all the thinks I love and enjoy.

And why not celebrate the fact with a good old fashioned GIVEAWAY!

As you all know my love for lipsticks, I thought it would be only fair to give one of my most loved lipsticks to one of you! The lipstick you will receive is Mac's Creme Cup, a perfect nude shade that will suit all skintones. I have gone through two of them in the last two years and will probably always be one of my most reached for lipsticks. 

Here is what you have to do to enter this giveaway!

1. Make sure you follow me either via Blogloving CLICK HERE or by Google Friends Connect
2. Leave me a comment about your favourite Mac lipstick shade and why you like it. I love to hear your opinions!!
3. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address in case you win!

This Giveaway will last for one week only until Monday the 3rd of February and everybody, everywhere in the world can participate!

I wish you all good luck and I will contact the winner per e-mail.

YSL POINTED ANKLE BOOT DUPE

I can not tell you how long I have been looking for a pointed ankle boot like these baby's. I have been searching high and low and each time I came close, there was just something not quite right. Either they were suede instead of leather (suede in the UK with all the rain is not a good idea) or the heel was not high enough which made my feet look huge (because of the pointed foot) or of course the price was way to steep. I don't know when it comes to shoe shopping I can be ever so indecisive and picky.

For me it has to be the perfect shoe in order to hand over my hard earned cash because if I am not particularly happy with them I most probably will not wear them!

Just ask my hubby he will tell you some stories of sheer frustration, haha.

But anyway, last week I was meeting with my best friend in town for coffee and afterwards for some shopping (as you do). We went into Mango and there they were, on sale and in my size. I took it as a sign and grabbed them.

I am glad I waited and didn't settle for another pair as they look almost exactly like the YSL Ankle Boots that all the celebs are wearing at the moment. And as I told you they were even on sale, so I got them for £45, 50% less then the asking price.

I have never been a great sales girl but I just love when things like this happen!

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IN NEED OF A PERFECT BLUSH BRUSH

I have to confess that when it comes to blush I don't really know how to make it work some days. I often end up with way to much on or even placed in the total wrong place. And lets face it that is not a good look, right? For some reason I can just not make it work and the thought came to me that maybe its not just entirely my own fault but that the brushes that I own are perhaps not the best to work with. Especially when you don't have amazing bone structure like other girls have.

You see I have two blush brushes and both I thought at the time would give me amazing cheeks but NO! The first one is an Ecotools Blush Brush that I have had for absolutely ages in my make up bag and probably the one I most reach for. The thing about the brush is that it picks up way to much product and I often end up looking like a tomato. I like that its angled which makes applying blush easy but its just to big for my face, making my cheeks bigger as they should be! ;-)

And then I have an expensive Laura Mercier Blush Brush which was kindly given to me by my lovely sister in law. When she gave me the brush I was all excited and thought that a better quality brush would also give better results but I was wrong again. This brush feels actually quite thin and a little bit to soft, making blending out blush a real task. It is great for picking up not to much product but because of its flimsiness it can sometimes feel like you doing nothing to your cheeks.

So now I have two blush brushes but am still not happy with the results which is why I thought I would ask you for some help. Can you recommend me a good blush brush?  I am kind of looking for a brush that does all the work for me and that makes putting on blush fool prove.

BUDGET BUY

Everybody loves a bargain, that's why I thought I would share some of my beauty finds for just a fraction of the price. Its not always that you have to go high end to find a good product. And even more so these days when you can get good quality products in the drugstore.

One of those resent finds is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. When it comes to concealer I most of the time reach for an affordable one. Yes I am very tempted to go and get that Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer that everybody is loving right now but why spend 20 odd pounds for something that you can get nearly as good in the drugstore.

I like this concealer as it feels light weight and give good coverage that will last all day without looking too cakey. And with its doe foot applicator its super easy to apply to the areas where its needed.
Because of the great coverage its not just good for undereyes but also for those pesky little spots that keep on appearing on my face. It keeps them well covert until the day is done.

If you haven't tried this one yet I really urge you to give it a try, its amazing what you can find in the drugstore these days!

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HOW MUCH DOES MY FACE COST?!?

Not sure if I really want to know this answer to this question but at the same time I am curious! How much do I spend on my face? I am sure the answer would be something my husband would not approve of but in my head would esaiely be justified, haha!

I choose the make up I wear on a daily basis as an everyday kind of look. Ok lets have a look!

YSL YOUTH LIBERATOR SERUM FOUNDATION £34

RIMMEL WAKE ME UP CONCEALER £3.49

NARS LAGUNA BRONZER £26

NARS ORGASM BLUSH £21.50

MAC BLOTTING POWDER £20

MAYBELLINE BROWDRAMA £4.99

LANCOME BROW PENCIL £ 16

BOBBI BROWN  BLACK GEL LINER £17.50

LOREAL VOLUME MILLION LASHES MASCARA £10.99

RIMMEL MOISTURE RENEW LIPSTICK £6.49

=

£160.96

Oh dear, that's way to much, I am shocked. I feel a little embarrassed. To think what else I could do with this money but then again I would probably buy more make up. Its just one of those thinks that make me happy and I love buying. Even seeing the total I spend is not going to change me, I would think. Mostly because I love my luxury products and some of them like the Nars Orgasm blush I had for more than two years.

Its just a passion of mine and I don't really spend my money on other expensive stuff. maybe I just want to justify myself and all make sense of it and I should put on the breaks of spending but  knowing me that's not going to last very long.

Oh well life is to short!

If you want to take part in this tag then feel free to do so and let me know, so that we all can be horrified on how much we spend on your faces!!

The January Detox

January has to be the month I least enjoy, Christmas is over and all the excitement in the air has gone, the weather is gray and miserable and there is in general not much to do this month,  mostly down to the fact that my purse is empty and needs some time to get back to its normal state.
But one thing I do enjoy is getting my body back to its pre Christmas shape and getting the healthy eating habits started again. I love healthy eating, last year I really got the swing of it and was quite thorough with my diet, seeing some amazing benefits from it. But then came Christmas and it all went a bit pear shape!
I find it really hard to make good choices in the colder month, salads and fruits is just not something I fancy when the cold hits. Instead I want roasted dinners and heavy desserts!
But that's all over now and the best way to kick start a new healthy diet regime is a a good detox.

When I thing of detox I think of flushing out toxins in the body rather than loosing weight. Yes you can loose some weight while being on a good detox but its not the main reason you should do a detox.
Basically, detoxification means cleaning of the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood of the liver, where most toxins are filtered out. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines and even the skin. That is why you can have acne if your diet is not the best.
I am by no means perfect when it comes to having a totally clean lifestyle, there are moments when I have to have a burger or a whole packet of sweets but here are a few tips for what you could do to get your body clean again.

1. Taking a supplement called Chlorella. Chlorella is an single-celled algae and its one of the most nutritionally dense foods to be found in nature containing key vitamins, minerals, anti oxidants, essential fatty acids and proteins. It is excellent for cleansing and detoxifying the body because of its ability to bind heavy metals such as lead, mercury and copper, pulling them from tissues and cells to the liver where they can be detoxed. If you like the sound of this make a goggle search and you will be amazed what else this supplement can do.
2. Drink a lot of water, at least 1.5 l a day. I know everybody is always going on about drinking more water but it is essential for the body to flush out all the toxins otherwise all your hard work on eating healthy and looking after yourself is in vain. If you don't like the taste of plain water, teas are great for keeping thinks interesting. I like the brand Pukka, they do some great tasting organic teas that matches every mood. The one to go with my detox plan is the Pukka Detox Tea with organic aniseed, fennel and cardamon. Pure bliss!
3. Lighten up the toxin load by eliminating alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and stop your healing process.
4. Try and eat organic foods and stay away from processed foods. I know its hard to by organic but if you can do it for only one or two weeks while you are on the detox it will really benefit your body. But if you can't then at least stay away from any kind of processed foods, they really interfere with a good cleans.
5. Other ways to try and get the toxins out of your body is having a hot shower or bath and sweating in a sauna or hot yoga. All of which make your pores and sweat glands open helping the body to detox. One more thing I like to do to help my acne is to have a mud mask. firstly I have a hot bath to open up all the pores and then apply a generous amount of mud or clay on my skin, my favourite mask to use is the Origins Clear Improvements Mask. It really helps and makes my skin look amazing afterwards. Even my husband likes this stuff!

MY TOP MAKE UP PRODUCTS OF 2013 #2 Face

This will be my last post about my top products of 2013. The year has long gone now and it is time for me to look forward and start focusing on all new things that lie ahead.  Last year was the year that I started to venture more out into buying high end foundations. Before hand I would always opt for the more affordable foundations like Revlon and Rimmel but I always wanted to try the high end ones out as well, to see for myself what all the fuss is about and that they could truly life up to their hype.

One of my first foundations to try out was the Laura Mercier Loose Powder Foundation, I was amazed on the quality of the product and how long it lasted and that's what got my whole love for anything Laura Mercier started.

And then following every other beauty blogger out there, I also wanted to try out the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. Again I was not disappointed, I fell in love with this light yet medium coverage foundation in an instant and wore it for most of the summer ( full review here). I love that it makes my skin look flawless and natural without looking cakey.

At the end of the Summer, begin Autumn there was much hype about one foundation, the YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation. Since I love YSL so much I obviously had to try it too and I have to say this is probably the best foundation yet! I love how easy it glides on and even the smallest amount is enough to cover spots and unevenness. But what stands out the most is the glow that it gives my skin, I have oily skin and glow is normally not what I am after as that often means oiliness but not with this foundation. It kind of holds the oils in check and lets you shine from within, if that makes any sense!?

I have a full on review on this page!

When I think of one of my most loves blushes not just of this year but of all time it is hands down Mac Welldressed. As you can see in the picture there is not much left of it, I think if you are a pale girl like me this is the colour you should try. It always looks good one me whether when I have a tan in the Summer or when I am super pale in the colder month. Its the perfect pinkie blush colour for my cheeks!!

And lastly bronzer, I never really was bronzer mad and thought that it wasn't for me until I tried the Nars Laguna Bronzer. This is another product where the colour just fits my skintone and doesn't make me look orange or too shimmery. No instead it give me a healthy glow that I can not be without anymore and also sculpts my cheekbones, without it I would have probably none!!

So this is it 2013 top products, DONE! Can't wait to find some new gems in the new year!

MY TOP MAKE UP PRODUCTS OF 2013 #1 LIPS

As I kicked of my top 2013 products with my most obsessed theme hair, it can only be followed with my most loved lipssticks and lip products. As I told you before I have a big love for lipsticks and anything lip related so it was only fair to share them with you as well. This year it was all about nudes and bold red lips (here) for me. 

One of them is my Mac Cindy Lauper lipstick that is now sadly coming to its. This is probably my most worn lipstick that I like to reach for in the colder month of the year. I just love this red, berry colour that suits my skintone so well. It is a great one to wear if you don't want to go all out with a bold red lip or if you want to start wearing red lips and are not quite brave enough.

In the nude section I have been most reaching for 3 lipsticks. No 1 is the Shiseido Lipstick in RS306 that was kindly given to me as a gift from a Shiseido sales lady, its only a sample size but an amazing nude pink that is super creamy and looks great on. Definitely one for repurchase!

No 2 is Rimmels lets get naked lipstick, I have told you of this one before and how much I love to layer it on top of more vibrant colours to tone them down but I also like this one on its own. It has a good lasting power and leaves your lips moisturized for quite some time.

No 3 is the all famous YSL Glossystain shade 7. This goes on like any other lipgloss but drys on your lips to an amazing long lasting nude colour that last for a long time. On a night out this is what you would find in my clutch!!

Lastly I want to tell you about my favourite summer lipstick and in 2013 coraly, orange colours where on top of everybodys list. I was no exception and this was also the year I fell in love with YSL products. My first every lip product was the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine no 14 a bright coral orange colour that looks amazing with a tan and smells of tropical juice. It has summer written all over it!

TOP HAIRCARE PRODUCTS OF 2013

Hi everybody I wish you all a very happy New Year of 2014. I have great hopes for this year and wish that some of my dreams will come true. One of those dreams is to blog more and make some more friends in the blogging community. So far I have had so much fun blogging but over Christmas it all went a little bit crazy. As you probably can imagine, it can get quite stressful getting prepared for the big day especially with two children never ending wishlists. So I took a little break and focused more on my design of the blog. I am not an expert but I am quite happy whit the results. What do you think?

But now that the new year is here I am back with new ideas and hopefully a new camera soon too.

And why not start with my all time favourite topic of haircare! 2013 was the year I got serious with looking after  my hair and trying to grow it longer. It has not been easy and at the end of this year I was fed up with my hair still splitting and I realise that super long hair is just not possible for me. My hair is too fine and fragile to make it past bra strap length so I had a chop down to shoulder length and I must say I am quite happy with it. My hair has so much more volume now and looks so much more healthy.

First up and the most stand out product is the Redken Extreme Shampoo. This shampoo is just pure magic on my hair, it strengthens it from within and is a life saver when it comes to split end, helping my hair to be more resilient to the wear and tear of blow drying and styling tools. Another thing that I love about this shampoo is the incredible shine that is give my hair and how smooth it looks after a blow dried it.

Next is the Philip Kingley Elasticizer Mask. If your hair feels really dry and is in need of some moisture, this is the mask that will bring it back to it life and make it shine. The day after you done this treatment your hair will be amazing and I often get compliments on my hair after I used this.

As for leave in conditioner the one that impressed me the most was the Kerastase Ciment Thermique Leave in Conditioner. A lovely product that gives strength and moisture while you styling your hair. I also found that it helped with some of the frizziness of my hair, making it look smooth, especially after a blow dry!

Lastly is perhaps the most unusual product out of them all. Percy & Reed Foaming Treatment Mask is as the name suggest a super light foam the has the power to really hydrate and nourish your fine hair without weighing it down or build up . I like to use this more like a conditioner than a mask as it leaves my hair nice and soft without taking away the volume.

So this is it, my most stand out products of the year 2013. Have you got a product that you loved the past year?