Oskia - Glowing and smooth skin

I saw Oskia at a press day and immediately fell in love as it is a premium British beauty brand with a difference. Oskia is the first skincare brand to supply the skin with essential cell nutrients to help rebuild skin health and to use MSM as a skin conditioner and preventative ageing ingredient. MSM (Methyl Sulphonyl Methane) is one of nature's most remarkable and powerful medicines and is known as the 'beauty mineral' and 'healing mineral'. It provides the body with the natural materials to make collagen and elastin itself rather than using a product with collagen in it.

One of my favourite products is Get Up & Glow. It is a serum that illuminates, evens skin tone and firms. I use it as a highlighter or for an overall glow. This is one of the products that generates comments like 'Wow, you are glowing today!'. It can be used by itself or with with foundation. It is has an iridescent sheen to it. £64.50 

Atelier Swarovski Diana Vreeland collection

It has been a few weeks since I posted. I have started a new job and to say it is manic is an understatement. I get home and I collapse on my bed. Over the last few weeks I have been going to lots of Christmas in July events which takes up my evenings so I have lots to write about and I am back with a bang with this amazing collection from Atelier Swarovski. Atelier Swarovski have announced the Diana Vreeland Legacy collection which is inspired by and honors the lady herself.
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Superdry Nail Paints

Did you know Superdry do nail polish? Neither did I until recently. When I showed the latest colours to a friend, her reaction was 'Since when do Superdry do nail polish?' Well they do!! In pastels and brights, perfect for summer. Each shade has unique designs which is a nice touch. So I tried out their new pastel colours. Here is Jade. It went on really smooth and glossy. I only needed two coats and had no issues.

OOTD: Sugarlips

I came across an American brand who have super cute dresses and clothing. They are similar to Warehouse and Oasis in the UK. So thought I would try them out. This dress is really flattering and I love the contrasting outline. This dress is perfect for a summer day out or barbeque party. It is a dress you can dress up with jewellery or dress down for something more casual.

BeautyWorksWest - Get ready for summer

So you last year I came across Beauty Works West and reviewed some items here including the fabulous Prtty Peaushun which is perfect for summer skin. Well there are some new products which can help you get in tip-top shape for summer.  The BeautyWorksWest range is a luxurious, natural range made by anti-ageing expert, Dr. Daniel Sister MD. You will find cleanser, beauty oils and candles all in the range. So what makes this different to the hundreds of other skincare brands? For me, it was the ingredients. I tried the Sugar Cane Scrub and Anti-Ageing Treatment.

OOTD: Wedding outfit

So we are well into the wedding season now. I went to a wedding yesterday which was beautiful. For wedding outfits, there are some beautiful dresses out now which can look amazing. Here is I am wearing my choice

The dress is Zara and I got so many compliments on it. I love the print and the material is thick and very good quality. The stitching is not great. There are threads coming out everywhere but I snipped them off. It is worth it.

The finishing touch was the necklace. It was a gorgeous statement necklace from H&M which compliments the colours of the dress.

The studded babies on my feet are from River Island. Super high but amazing.

I do not usually do OOTD but this was something special and I had to share. What do you think?

Fancy an Encounter with Alexander Skarsgard?

It was announced today that Alexander Skarsgard is the face of the new Calvin Klein frangrance, Encounter. I just want to stare at this picture so let's keep this and short and sweet. Alexander, you can bite me anytime! If only....

Triumph Lingerie

There were times when shapewear was black or nude and most definitely boring. They were not the sexiest of things and were definitely not made to be seen. They did their job of sucking the bits in (sometimes) but that was it. Well if Triumph has anything to say about, those days are long gone. Their current collection of shapewear is lovely with some lace detail and bright colours. Ladies, they look good and they work. Here's a little taster...

Ahava Facial Mud Exfoliator Review

We all know exfoliation is important. For all skin types, it is important to get rid of the dead skin cells to get a clear, glowing complexion. Exfoliation is a necessary part of skincare routine. The trick is finding one that is not too abrasive yet gets the job done. So a new addition to the market is Ahava Facial Mud Exfoliator. We all know dead sea minerals have amazing properties and can do wonders for your skin. Ahava specialise in Dead Sea Mineral skincare.

Dead Sea Minerals hydrate the skin and have regenerative properties. The Facial Mud Exfoliator is part of the My Skin Reborn - Time to Clear range. The range comprises of a mud mask and cleansers. I have very dry skin so I used this twice a week to exfoliate my skin. Cleanse your skin first so it is clean and then exfoliate on wet skin. Follow up with a moisturiser to leave your skin feeling refreshed or even a mud mask for a detoxing cleanse. Exfoliation is also good for cleansing pores which is a must if have large, open pores like me.

After using this my skin definitely felt smoother. I found it quite gentle and not abrasive so this is good for sensitive skin. For example, it is not as abrasive as St Ives Apricot Scrub. It is so gentle you can use everyday if you like. Ahava is available for £20 from department stores, salons and pharmacies.

Beauty at Cocosa

I first heard about Cocosa last year and my first thought was oh no, not another Brand Alley or discount site. Then I looked at the site and I was converted. Lovely clothes from cool brands, sold!! Now they are recently branching out in to beauty. So you now get flash sales from premium beauty brands like Oskia, Hersheson, Vita Liberata and exclusively, Bite. For me the standout brand was Bite. I have said before and I will say it again, red lips and a cat eye cannot be beaten. Bite Beauty are a collection of lip products which was sold in Sephora and sold out. Having tried the colours, they are sensational. My favorite product has to be the High Pigment Pencil in Zinfandel.

New colours from Nails Inc

So you all know that by now I am nail polish addict. If I could change every day I would but where does the time go? One of my favorite brands for nail polish is Nails Inc. I have had polishes from them which have lasted days without a chip. So what's new from Nails Inc? I'm glad you asked. First up is the neons. Perfect summer and creating a bold statement. These are the ones to really experiment with as they are so bright. They come in 6 different shades from a hot pink to a purple to bright green.

Cleaning Makeup and Handbags with Milton

When it comes to spring cleaning we often forget to clean the things we use the most. It is also the items most used that are the worst offenders and cleaned the least. Items like bags, makeup bags, brushes and toothbrushes all need a good clean. That is where Milton, who make sterilising products, can help. When you think of sterilising products, they are not just for baby bottles. Here's a few tips...

For makeup bags and brushes, how can you clear skin when there is bacteria all over it? Just because you cannot see them, does not mean they are not there. So empty your bags out and use Milton Antibacterial Surface Wipe to clean the inside. Soak hairbrushes in a solution of Milton Sterilising Fluid to give them a good clean. Wash makeup brushes in detergent to remove all the makeup, rinse then soak in Milton solution to kill the last few germs for super clean brushes and in turn clear skin. 

Docteur Renaud Review

Although you cannot tell by the weather, it is getting closer to summer. Women are getting ready to go their summer holiday. That can mean more time in the gym and it can also mean getting rid of cellulite with creams. One of latest cellulite busting creams is Docteur Renaud Grapefruit Slimming Concentrate Cream-Gel. Docteur Renaud is a highly respected french brand specialising in natural cosmetology which focuses on the benefits of plants for the skin. 

I have trying Docteur Renaud Grapefruit Slimming Concentrate Cream-Gel for a while now. The aim of the cream is to make the skin more refined, firm and reduce the appearance of cellulite. You apply morning and evening and massage into the skin. You can guess there is grapefruit in it but there is also Macadamia and Sweet Almond Oils to moisturise the skin. First thing noticed was the refreshing scent. I can smell the grapefruit but it is not overpowering. The active ingredients work to also reduce fat and water retention. 

Back to Work Haul

This week I had the best news in a long time. I got a new job which I really wanted and wished for all weekend. So when I got the phone call, after jumping and down in happiness, I decided to celebrate by going on a little shopping spree. So here is my work haul to update my wardrobe. If you follow me on Twitter you will know my most prized possession right now is my new Michael Kors watch. So here is the MK 5314 which is rose gold in colour. I honestly cannot stop looking at it, it is just so pretty and worth every single penny.

Caudalie Vinosource

A few weeks ago, Caudalie launched their Vinosource range. Caudalie are a french brand known for their antioxidant and anti-aging products. They research some of the latest technology to make their products unique. What the Vinosource range different is the key ingredient, organic grape water. It is a micellar water that, like thermal spa water, contains trace elements along with specific sugars to give it a dual power to soothe and hydrate the skin. There are 5 products in the range, each targeted at a different skintype.

I got the chance to try the SOS Thirst Quenching Serum from the range which is their hero product. It is aimed at dehydrated skin. During this season, I find the weather can change in an instant and my skin can react badly if it is not hydrated and moisturised. I used to often get dry, flaky skin halfway during the day. I started using it day and night and my skin transformed. Within a few days, I no longer got dry patches. First thing I noticed when using it was how light it is. I am used to using heavy creams for dry skin so I was sceptical. I could not have been wrong. Apparently it is all down to the organic grape water.  Essentially, it has hydrating and soothing properties which help water reach your epidermis and keep it hydrated.What is so special about organic grape water? Organic grape water is made from vines. During the winter, vines hibernates and store their water which is enriched by nutrients from the soil. When the warm weather returns the vines fill the grapes with water and all its nutrients, ready to be harvested. It is all these natural plant-based nutrients that makes it special. Why do you think red wine is good for you? (in moderation of course!).

Other products in the range are the Moisturising Sorbet which has a gel consistency and turns to water on contact.It is aimed at sensitive skin as the texture is very soft and soothing. The Moisturising Matifying Fluid is for oily skin looking to reduce shine. The Moisture Recovery Cream is for dry skin as it replaces lipids. The Intense Moisture Rescue Cream is for very dry and dehydrated skin as it has a butter-like texture and is perfect to protect against harsh weather conditions. These moisturisers are to be used in conjunction with the serum.

The serum costs £29 and the moisturisers cost £22. You can get Caudalie from selected department stores like Debenhams and online at Escentual, Feel Unique and http://www.caudalie.com.