Beelicious

Mmm. Butter.

2009-10-10T21:30:00.012+01:00

Thanks to the aforementioned MOBO Awards, I have a new all encompassing obsession - Palmer's Cocoa Butter.

Most of us are familiar with Cocoa Butter in the jar form:

And I was aware that there was a lotion equivalent:

So when I saw they were being represented at the MOBOs I had to approach the team at the end of the night to ask if there were any spares going. Turns out they had LOADS of stuff left and just gave me everything in a bag!

I ended up with two jars of the Cocoa Butter so I gave mum one, and I also got:

Olive Butter Formula Lotion
Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion
Cocoa Butter Formula SPF 15 Body Lotion
Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Firming Lotion
Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream for Stretch Marks
Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick
Cocoa Butter Formula Body Gloss
Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter

So yeah... lots!

I asked for the Skin Firming Lotion and Massage Cream for my pregnant friend, and another friend who's just had her second baby. The rest I am keeping as I am IN LOVE.

The Cocoa Butter Lotion is fabulous after a bath or shower. It's so easy to apply. I slapped it on after my shower yesterday and I can still feel the effects of it. I have also found myself using a small amount of this on my face, as my skin gets REALLY dry and tight during the colder months. Seeing as it's good for stretch marks and scars I wondered if it would even out my complexion. I'll keep you posted on this. It certainly seems to make my skin brighter and more glowy.

The Swivel Stick has been a lifesaver. It looks like this:

Basically it is the Cocoa Butter Formula in a stick. I like to think of it as being essentially a Pritt Stick, but instead of glue, it's Cocoa Butter. Yeah. This makes it so much easier to carry around and to apply. You can apply it straight from the stick and the butter just melts into your skin.

I have had a bad (and I mean REALLY bad) breakout of hand dermatitis, and my skin is very very dry and cracked. After a few weeks of trying every moisturiser and cream I could think of I was getting more and more stressed out which was just making my condition worse.

So I popped this into my bag and used it after washing my hands, or any time I felt my skin was getting sore. The results are amazing. Bearing in mind that there is no cure for eczema or dermatitis, this made a huge difference and acted as a barrier while keeping my skin soft.

But my new favourite thing in the whole wide world is the Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter...

Oh. My. God.

I have touched upon my obsession with lip balms but this is just divine. The scent is just as it's described. It's exactly like mint choc chip ice cream.

It goes without saying that the product is ultra moisturising. It has a thick (but not sticky) consistency and the gloss it gives is pretty without being over the top shiny. It has the usual ingredients of Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E but also contains Peppermint Oil. It doesn't actually taste of mint choc chip, which I actually like as I feel it would be sickeningly sweet if it did. It's pleasant while not really having a taste as such. If that makes sense to anyone...

Here it is on bare lips:

And with my favourite Barry M Lip Paint over the top:

Suffice to say I rate Palmer's Cocoa Butter products very highly. You can pick most of them up at Superdrug and they are so affordable for such high quality. I was almost scared to look online for the Dark Choc and Peppermint Lip Butter in case it was hard to get in the UK. Thankfully it's not ;)

I fear I might become a full blown collector of lip balms soon - the sort that can't see a new product and not buy it. Pray for me...

Music Of Black Origin

2009-10-09T11:23:00.004+01:00

My big event is now well and truly over. Seeing as I have been working non-stop since then (and trying to catch up on my sleep), it's been a while.

I can now tell you that the event I attended was the 2009 MOBO Awards. I was working backstage in the Celebrity Gifting Lounge (or Talent Retreat), promoting our company's products and trying to chat to celebs!

Spot me and my chosen outfit almost walking into frame here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8xtQLpp2bs

I had an awesome time on the night, and afterwards we attended the afterparty and ended up in the VIP dining room crashing JLS' table!

I'm off to get ready to meet some friends for lunch. I promise a proper update later tonight.

Apologies To The Bank Balance... Part II

2009-09-29T17:55:00.006+01:00

I have returned from an afternoon of browsing and the results are interesting.

I promised to take pictures and I did. This in itself was difficult I was trying to avoid the embarrassment of it being obvious I was photographing myself (camera flash, camera clicky noises etc). Then without a flash some of the pictures came out a bit blurry. And also taking a photo of your own body is both tricky and unflattering. With that in mind and the previous post to hand, here's how I got on.

I parked the car at Debenhams and walked through. Browsed the rails of the concessions in there that included Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, Oasis, Red Herring and Julien McDonald. I wasn't impressed, and I couldn't find Dress Number 4.

After a quick overall scour I went round again to have a closer look at what was on offer. I picked up 4 dresses in the end, all Miss Selfridge.

First up, a one shouldered spotted number. Not particularly flattering on me and a bit low on the bust. Thumbs down. This one was even worse. No idea what's going on around the chest area at all. This was the best of the four, and it just makes me look all hips. The third one I tried on I'm not even going to post, safe to say it was a disastrous Aztecy number. Not good so far. In fact I was actually so glad to put my own clothes back on. This one is mine. By far my favourite in that changing room... Moving on, I checked Oasis and Warehouse's full range in their stores. Yawn yawn yawn.

I then almost ran to Republic as I knew I wouldn't be let down in there. Lots of lovely sequin numbers but I wanted to avoid them, as I already own a sequin dress and I wanted something a bit different.

First up remember Dress Number 2? It turned out to be a tad too casual, so I ended up with an armful of some that were completely different.

This one reminded me a bit of the River Island one that I had looked at, with lace-effect detailing at the top. It was "nice", but nothing special, and something I wasn't particularly excited about wearing. (Yes I cheated slightly, there's a sequin striped top in there that I just HAD to try on.)

Next I thought I was onto something. I really REALLY liked this Jessica's Attic beaded dress:

I would probably have bought this if it was any other occasion. There's a tunic underneath and then a beaded layer over the top which tied at the back with little tassels!

Told you that the self portraits were not flattering. And oops, there's my bra!

Once I decided that I needed something a bit more special I moved on. I headed into Dorothy Perkins and immediately came across Dress Number 5. Two of them. In a size 8 and a size 10. Fail! The entire back section is actually satin and the front seemed to be equally flimsy and not a good look for the curvier figure, so I scrapped that idea.

Next up, River Island. Could NOT find Dress Number 1. Nor did anything else take my fancy. I was beginning to feel a bit desperate.

Topshop was my last hope. I had walked the entire length of the shopping centre and this was the one shop remaining.

I started hunting for Dress Number 3 to no avail. Along the way things were catching my eye so I picked up two other dresses and on the way to the fitting room I found something else...

First up I tried that red and black number hanging up at the side. I liked that immensly until I literally put it over my head and decided that maybe I didn't like it, and that I would probably never wear it again anyway.

Then I tried on this purple one. This does appeal to me but it's a bit too prom-like and shiny and for the occasion.

BUT - we have a winner.

I do need to tie it properly (and may I just say there are some weird shadows going on the armpit area in that photo). However this nude cutie from TFNC, which I discovered stands for "Time For New Clothes!" by the way, is so me. I realised then that when I started out I didn't have any true idea of what I was looking for, just the boots I wanted to wear with it.

So this is the one and I'm picking it up in the morning. It's £60 and right at the top end of my budget but it's definitely going to be worn again and again.

I was so happy that on the way back to the car I treated myself to a GOSH lipstick in Darling. It had to be a lipstick ;)

Apologies To The Bank Balance...

2009-09-29T10:32:00.009+01:00

By some small miracle I am awake nice and early this morning, which has given me time to catch up on my internetting. I've now spent an hour and a half between Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook and Blogspot and achieved pretty much nothing...

I am however off out soon to (hopefully) find a dress for my big event. Unfortunately I can't rely on asos.com or oli.co.uk. These are my two favourite online shops for dresses, but if I'm not happy with the fit there won't be enough time to send them back and find something else...

I said I would try to post pictures today to help me decide what I want to wear. Not only that but a little experiment has popped into my head and I want to try it out.

I've had a look at the online websites of stores I might visit today and I am about to post some dresses I like the look of :)

Then later I will post some pictures of me wearing the dresses and see how they compare. I'll also post anything I missed from the websites, or things that I thought would be fugly in real life.

Ok let's go!

Number 1:

River Island, £34.99

Number 2:

Miso at Republic, £29.99

Number 3:

Topshop, £55

Number 4:

Oasis, £55

Number 5:

Dorothy Perkins, £40

So that's the shortlist. I have seen another million that I love but I am hesistant to stretch the budget...

Right now I am starving so I am off to have a light lunch in bed with The Hills, then get out of my PJs and hit "the mall".

(I've been watching The Hills far too much.)

A Very Special Event

2009-09-28T23:20:00.006+01:00

So in a couple of days time I am attending an event for work. A BIG event.

I can't quite reveal what it is yet, suffice to say it's a huge deal for me and I will very much be part of the action.

This throws up a couple of issues: what outfit to wear and how much makeup to wear.

I will no doubt be photographed at this event and my makeup has to last at least 7 hours without sliding off my face. Therefore I don't want to go OTT as the more you apply the messier it becomes.

I am really loving my new lipstick so I'm thinking of a slightly smoky eye, peachy blush and Impassioned to take centre stage.

Due to work itself I haven't had a chance to go out and try on any dresses yet, so far I know I want to wear:

Can't find a pic of the actual Zara boots but these are along the same lines.

Many dresses will be tried on tomorrow. I'll try to take pics as I go and then tomorrow night I need to make a decision...

In other news I've fallen out with L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara. It's really not doing it for me. I don't seem to get the separation and volume that I do with the regular Telescopic one (the good old fashioned kind in the gold tube).

It's just dawned on me that I used the same mascara for two years. TWO YEARS. (Not the same actual mascara, har har, just the same product.)

I seem to be getting a headache, so bedtime for me before some epic fashion browsing tomorrow.

Lipsticks!

2009-09-27T18:48:00.007+01:00

I am getting rubbish at updating this thing.

However I do feel compelled to write about lipsticks. I've never been mega into lipsticks, I stick to glosses and an embarrassing amount of lip balms. It's a fetish. I seriously think I have more lip balms than everyone I know put together.

I do tend to suffer with chapped lips so I do stick to more moisturising lip products. I did once go into MAC to buy Russian Red, but two weeks later I left it on the train. Seriously gutted, and I wasn't forking out for another one.

Recently thought I managed to actually use up enough MAC products to stomp into House of Fraser and take advantage of Back to MAC. Some people still haven't heard of Back to MAC; basically if you take back 6 empty containers (empty eyeshadow pots, lipsticks, primers/foundation bottles etc) you get to pick a lipstick for free.

So this time I was adventurous and decided to pick Myth:

It's a really nice nude, if a little bit dramatic. I do feel it's a bit too dramatic for everyday, it might just be my skin.

First of all here's my nudey lips:

And here is Myth on the lips:

I do find Myth to be quite drying in comparison to other MAC lipsticks I've tried, so I usually slap some gloss over it. This is what it looks like with Love Nectar over the top:

I find this makes it more wearable for me, although I think putting gloss over it might be cheating...

Once I felt I was well and truly broken in with lipsticks, I had to try one of the much-talked-about Barry M Lip Paints. At roughly £4 these are a total bargain as they are so creamy and last for ages.

I went with no 147 - Peachy Pink:

I love this as you can really build up the colour with it, or be subtle and dab it on and it still looks gorgeous on the lips:

I am highly impressed with something that is such a bargain. The lip paints come in about 30 colours and are really highly pigmented so I definitely want to try more of these.

The icing on the cake for this week was when the best friend in the whole wide world (she's MY best friend) came home from her holiday in NY with a MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick for meeee! The colour is Impassioned and it's a stunning bright fuschia:

I applied this sloppily last night and it clung on despite a munchy dinner and copious snacking throughout the evening.

To conclude this ramble I can safely say I am sold on lipsticks in general. I might branch out and try some other brands. I always get overwhelmed by the colours so I will play around at the counters to find something interesting! Also, how asymmetrical are my lips? Raging.

Superdrug - A New Love

2009-08-30T19:50:00.007+01:00

As Friday was payday I was in a good mood, and ate some lunch at work before making the mistake of thinking "I'll go out for a wee wander". I ended up in Superdrug.

Let me backtrack for a minute. I work in the heart of Glasgow and shops surround me. They call out to me. As you may have noticed from this blog so far I am a Boots girl at heart. I love the Advantage Card points, I love the makeup counters, the fragrances, the brands on offer. In short I love the experience of visiting a Boots store. I very rarely visit Superdrug but as this was a "quick wander" before lunchtime ended, and there is one close to my work (closer than a Boots store), I popped in.

I came out with:

Sleek Divine Chaos Mineral Eyeshadow Palette
Vaseline Rosy Lips
GOSH Mineral Blush in Rose Whisper
Barry M Nail Paint in Mint Green (304)

The Vaseline is a bit of a staple for me as I love lip balms and will use one at least twice a day. Everyone at work knows there is a tub of my Carmex under the desk to reach for at all times! The air conditioning really wreaks havoc on my skin, lips in particular.

I tried out the Sleek palette yesterday. I was in need of some shimmer-free colours in my collection and these did not disappoint.

The colours are a bit brighter than that in real life. I used the taupe, top row 3rd from the left, and the brown on the top row 2nd from the right and did a smokey eye with MAC Phloof! as a highlight to lift the look. The shadows are very pigmented and lasted all day (1pm until I stumbled in drunk at 12.40am that night) on top of my UDPP.

Also yesterday I tried out the GOSH Blush on the apples of my cheeks, topped off with a MAC MSF in Porcelain Pink on the cheekbones. Very impressed I was. This also lasted most of the day.

I'll try to recreate the look and maybe do a tutorial. Right now I'm off for a Sunday night bath with my Lush goodies that I got free! More on them another time. Lots of love for Lush.

What I Am Using Right Now

2009-08-26T00:41:00.004+01:00

Feel free to share the love :)

Shampoo: Mark Hill Salon Sexy Straight as mentioned LOTS in my last post

Conditioner: Corresponding Mark Hill conditioner, and Soap & Glory Hair Supply once or twice a week

Styling products: Frizz Ease heat protection serum

Shower Gel: Soap & Glory Clean On Me

Body moisturiser: Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

Deodorant: Soap & Glory Glad Pits. Oh my god spot the pattern here...

Fake Tan: Occasional phases of applying Dove Summer Glow

Cleanser: Lush Ultra Bland

Exfoliator: Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It

Primer: None! I stick with a light moisturiser

Foundation brush: Usually blend with my fingers, or use Sephora's flat foundation brush

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish SPF 35

Powder: None!

Blusher: MAC Ladyblush which is a creme

Bronzer: None!

Highlighter: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Porcelain Pink

Eyeshadow base: MAC Paintpot in Bare Study, or Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadows: Faves are MAC Shale, MAC Phloof! and Urban Decay Last Call

Eyeliner: A Rimmel liquid liner

Curler: None!

Mascara: Loreal Telescopic in Carbon Black

Lipstick: MAC Myth

Lipgloss: Mostly Clinique Full Potential in Sugarplump, or Agatha Ruiz De La Prada tinted lipbalms

Nail Colour: Love Rimmel 60 Seconds in Coralicious

July Favourites

2009-08-18T13:54:00.017+01:00

This post should be inspired by summer, but I didn't feel summery once in July :( Weather fail. However here are a few things I've been loving over the past month, in no particular order.

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

I've used this paint pot almost every day since I got it and I am in love. I chose a paint pot over a matte paint as I tend to use sheer eyeshadows, and I also wanted something that could be used on its own that would still look pretty.

I have to say that this has almost replaced my Urban Decay Primer Potion as a base. It's easy to apply with (clean!) fingers and you can really build up the colour if you want to. Also depending on your skintone it's handy as a highlighter on the browbone.

Definitely worth £12.50 and a little goes a long way.

The Body Shop Brow Definer

Funny story...

Last month my friend Leanne held a murder mystery party for her birthday (which was a few days before mine - interesting weekend!) and we all dressed up accordingly. My character was an older man complete with pocket watch, cane and handkerchief. He was also a dirty murderer ;)

I pulled together an outfit and when I got to Leanne's I decided it would be hilarious to give myself some manly makeup, so I used some eyeliner to slap on a fake moustache and darken my brows. I somehow got compliments on these horrific brows.

If you're interested...

Hot.

So on my birthday a few days later I picked up a brow pencil in The Body Shop. The dark brown shade was on special offer, obviously it was just meant to be!

I've never really thought much about eyebrows before but I did remember hearing somewhere that fuller eyebrows make you appear younger. I'm quite pleased with the shape of mine but I did wish they were more dramatic. So this is another toy I've been playing with every day.

The difference for me may be subtle, but the pencil is soft and easy to apply so you could definitely build up more colour and shape as necessary. Here's a pic minus any brow definition, and one after using Brow Definer:

Look how much happier I am!

Collection 2000 Hot Looks in Dynasty

Remember how I said I love cheapy cheap cheap polishes? These are the bomb!

Boots are offering 2 for £5 right now. My favourite is Dynasty, which is a milky lilac. Two coats and you're done! I found it really easy to apply, it does dry fast and it lasted well.

Mark Hill Salon Sexy Straight Shampoo/Conditioner

I'm sort of cheating with this one as I've been using this since Christmas...! I got the mini versions as part of a gift set and have since repurchased in full size. This stuff lasts aaaages, you need a teeny bit compared with most shampoos. Also I should mention that I've had the full size since April and I am only just about to run out of the shampoo. I've been using the Salon Sexy Straight conditioner most of the time, and Soap & Glory Hair Supply about once a week as a deeper conditioning treatment.

As someone with curly, unruly hair, this is a miracle worker. I've also noticed it's really easy to rinse out. I am usually paranoid about being able to feel the residue of a conditioner in my hair and I just don't have that problem with Salon Sexy Straight. That may be the reason that the shine you can achieve is amazing, and it's so much easier and quicker to dry hair into a style. It also contains shea butter and seasilk. No idea what seasilk is(!), but these ingredients are supposed to improve straightening while strengthening and protecting hair.

I don't use any other styling products so I am pretty sure that it's this particular formula that my hair loves :)

Cardigans

I love these all year round, but I'm obsessed with my new Dotty P pink one:

The buttons are like little black jewels!

That'll do for the moment I should think :)

GET HOT NAILS - BEST PRACTICE TIPS!

2009-07-29T22:44:00.018+01:00

I am jealous of girls who have consistently manicured nails; because my job is very hands-on at times I am constantly breaking mine and chipping the polish. When I do find the motivation and attempt to lavish them with TLC, it always seems to be a ridiculous time of night when I can't keep my eyes open. OR, it's just as I'm about to leave the house. I've got into a routine of looking after my nails that I'll happily share with you. I find this keeps them in nice shape, they look healthy and the polish lasts for days. Even if you're not into fuschias and corals and deep reds, there are easy ways to keep them looking groomed and classy. You can still achieve a manicured look without the steady hand!

Let's go.

Step One - Banish The Gunk

Ok, first of all - wash your hands. It's disgusting to think where those bad boys have been. Use a nail brush if you have one handy. Get right in there. All sorts of stuff gets underneath your fingernails and it's nice to start with a clean palette.

Step Two - Destroy The Evidence

Next, get rid of any traces of existing nail polish. The best tools I've found for this task are a pack of cotton wool pads (not balls), and a moisturising nail polish remover. The pads will cover a larger surface area and you can then flip them over and use the reverse side. Cotton wool balls shrink into a tiny fluffy mess so I tend to avoid them.

While it may not be an issue for some, I do find that my nails can look very dry. My favourite nail polish remover is Cutex Moisture Guard. It protects your nails, has a whitening formula and most importantly it does an excellent job of stripping off polish. It also seems to prevent staining around the nails and on fingers when taking off any wild colours.

Then use a moisturiser or hand cream (a light one works best), making sure to get in around the cuticles.

I'm not exactly fond of nail polish remover pads as they can be very greasy and smell repulsive. However if you are in the habit of letting your polish chip away without properly removing it, these babies might be for you. I like to keep a tub in my locker at work. As I mentioned earlier, my job dislikes my nails.

Step Three - File Under "Boring"

This is actually the part I hate the most - shaping. If your nails are particularly unruly, cracked or uneven, then cutting them with nail scissors should be your first step. Another thing I happen not to be a fan of are nail clippers. They're not very precise and give you a brutal nip if you're not careful. Trim carefully with the scissors until nails are the length you desire, and of an even shape.

Then grab a nail file or emery board. I have an amazing glass nail file. It can be cleaned and reused for INFINITY - probably. If you've never heard of glass files they really are a must-have and you can find them in lots of places. ASOS currently do a pretty Bourjois one for an amazing £2.75, so add one to your basket the next time you place an order. If you use an emery board it is important to replace it every once in a while as they do gradually wear down and are less effective. You will find you have to file the nail harder which can cause breaking.

The best advice I was given was not to file back and forth. Always file in sweeping strokes in one direction only, ideally toward the middle. Another tip is to never try to file the sides as they are a supporting structure to the nail. An easy rule to stick to is to follow the shape of the base of your nail, and if you prefer squared nails just file straight at the top.

Step Four - Look At The Shiny Shiny

My secret nail weapon (how many times can you say nails in one post) is a really good base and top coat. I use Sally Hansen Double Duty which is a strengthening polish. There are other, more ridiculously named base and top coats by Sally Hansen if you prefer - Diamond Strength Diamond Shine Base & Top Coat, INSTA-GRIP Fast Dry Base Coat, Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat, Nail Quencher Hydrating Base Coat, and, my personal favourite, Sally Hansen Super Shine Shiny Top Coat. Say that after a few mojitos.

Sticking to the beautifully simple Double Duty Top & Base Coat, just a layer or two of this keeps nails strong and gives a really nice shine. This beats having to manicure your nails, and if they are nicely shaped then just a clear coat of polish makes a huge difference.

If you are intending to wear a coloured polish over the top, apply a base coat and let it dry properly. This means no tackiness when you run your finger over the top. As an example my base coat dries in about 2 minutes.

Step Five - Colour Injection

Nearly there!

When the base coat is dry pick out a polish. A few of my favourites:

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 430 - Coralicious

Barry M Nail Paint in

150 - Red Glitter

288 - Silver

273 - Raspberry

Natural Collection in Café Manicure

You'll notice I don't really spend a fortune on nail colours unless I really really like them. If you follow the steps properly you should get as much out of a cheaper polish as a more expensive one, although you may need an extra coat.

Now paint on your polish. Try to use three strokes per nail - one down the middle and one down each side. Don't overload the brush or it'll go all Mr Blobby.

Let this coat dry completely. Be warned as this can take up to half an hour, so put your feet up and let someone else make you a cold drink. And maybe read you a story.

Use your discretion when adding another coat. Some polishes are vibrant and thick enough that you will only need one coat. Others, like Rimmel's Coralicious that I mentioned above, look too transparent with just one coat.

Step Six - Glossed Over

Finally add your top coat when you are sure your nails are completely dry. A second coat of polish usually takes longer to dry than the first, so again, put those feet up. Sometimes I let my polish dry at night, go to bed and add the top coat in the morning just to make sure there's no tackiness left. A quick drying top coat will ensure your nails stay fresh and prevent chipping.

A handy tip if you have longer nails is to paint the top coat over the edge of the nail and slightly underneath the tip - this will create a seal and help to stop your nails breaking.

And believe it or not, you're done! This seems like a long post but the basics are in bold. I'm off to fix mine!

SOAP & GLORY - A TESTIMONIAL

2009-07-24T14:01:00.018+01:00

I am a bit of a flutterer when shopping for beauty essentials. There are brands that I favour for impulse buys - a new eyeshadow, a bargain nail polish (hello Barry M), a lipgloss that I'm going to fall out with in an hour's time because in the harsh reality of daylight it makes me look ill - but somehow when it comes to everyday products I am always looking for a better alternative.

When I run out of something (something staple, like a moisturiser), I tend to give it a mini-review in my head. I weigh up the pros and cons, the value for money, the smell and the texture and sometimes the packaging. I am constantly asking myself if there is something better out there.

I then find myself in Boots as I can't possibly resist those 4 advantage points for every £1 spent. Screw it if it's cheaper elsewhere. Come Christmas I'll have enough points to buy myself a giant tub of that body butter I'll have just wrapped up for someone else.

And then I'm a bit stuck. There are dozens of brands in front of me and a hundred mixed messages in my head. I read about THAT shampoo in a magazine. Sounded good, but it made my friend's hair greasy. This mascara looks like it works wonders, but I'm not a fan of the brand. This concealer is HOW MUCH?!

I am however safe in the knowledge that I can't go wrong with Soap & Glory.

My favourite products right now:

Soap & Glory Flake Away

Soap & Glory describe this as "a spa-strength dry skin body polish". I describe it as the holy grail of body buffers.
It contains shea butter, sugar, peach seed powder, sea salt, grapeseed and almond oils(!) and it smells divine.
It might just be my favourite body product ever, which is why I couldn't even bear to take a stock picture from their site, I had to use my own romantic snap.
The consistency is of a sugary paste, with small grains that minimize discomfort. Apply this to damp skin in the shower in small circular motions until most of the grains are gone, then rinse.
The results are phenomenal. My skin is very dry in places as I suffer from dermatitis, and the thing I notice most about Flake Away is how moisturised my skin feels after I use this. It's almost like there is a layer of moisture on my skin. I usually finish with a body butter but to be honest if you miss this step, you shouldn't notice any dryness or tightening of the skin whatsoever. It eliminates bumps and roughness and leaves your skin glowing.
If you feel like your skin is dull, flaky or just in need of some TLC, I highly recommend this. I'm on my third tub in the space of a year.

Boots usually retail at £6.36 for 300ml. Their website currently says "Now £4.24".

Soap & Glory Off Your Face Cleansing Cloths

This is a new product from Soap & Glory's facial skincare range. I received mine as part of a birthday gift (you've missed it, it was Monday) and couldn't contain my excitement at something so simple. As usual the packaging is cute and they smell great too.
Apparently they contain "PORESHRINK-RS", so over time they visibly shrink your po res. I have a problem with large pores on my cheeks so I will be interested to see what difference these make.
That aside, as cleansers they remove every last bit of makeup if used properly. They are a reasonable size, so unless you really cake on the makeup one should be enough. They also contain toners, and on the back it advises to use a little extra pressure when you use them to exfoliate your skin also. This is another issue I have as I feel like my face never glows, and always looks dull. I have very dry patches around my nose and mouth. So far I have noticed a difference both visually and to the touch. My skin is brighter and smoother without being greasy. I always finish with a moisturiser at night and the results are impressive.

Boots currently retail at £2.65 for a pack of 25. Usually £3.97.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel

The first product I ever bought from Soap and Glory and it's still a favourite. The huuuge tub lasts for ages. I'm only on my second one of these!
The dispenser is really handy and a little really does go a long way. The shower gel has a built-in body lotion, and you can really feel the difference compared to other gels that smell nice at the time but dry out afterwards. It has a really creamy texture and is very gentle. As I said, I suffer from dermatitis so I sometimes have to be careful that what I'm using isn't too strong, but I find that Clean On Me works well. It settles my skin and if I have any itches or irritations it actually seems to improve them. It smells gorgeous long after you're finished using it. And the packaging makes me giggle.

Currently retailing at Boots for £3.33. Normally £5.00

I swear I'm not secretely working for Soap & Glory. Or Boots, for that matter. If only...