My New Autumn/Winter Polish Picks

A Mini Pamper Routine

May Beauty Favourites

A Much Needed Beauty Pamper

I've had a seriously relaxing bank holiday weekend and it's left me feeling incredibly refreshed - and also really motivated to make the most of the week ahead. One thing that I really enjoyed about this weekend is that I took the time to really look after myself, and I mean this in so many different ways. One of them was by indulging in some old, and some new, beauty favourites, reaching for a few seriously luxe skin treats as well as continuing the mission to nourish my ever-parched hands. If you're looking to try some new beauty products then I can seriously recommend everything mentioned in this blog post. Read on to discover why exactly these are the beauty bits that I think are worth investing in.

Nourish Kale Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser* | rrp £16.50

I've only been using this cleanser for approximately a week - so this isn't a "proper" review - but it was, absolutely and completely, love at first application. The cleanser is entirely cruelty free, 81% certified organic and contains pomegranate enzymes that gently exfoliate your skin to leave it looking smoother and healthier, whilst kale extracts help to increase the suppleness of your skin. I often find that chemical exfoliating cleansers or masks can be a bit harsh on my skin but Nourish have struck the perfect balance. Although it's called a cleanser the product can actually be applied in three different ways - as a cleanser, an exfoliating mask or a revitalizing weekly facial. If you use it as a cleanser then you apply the product onto wet skin, whereas if you want to use it as a mask or facial then you apply it onto dry skin and leave it on for longer. I find that this makes the cleanser much more suitable for a range of skin-types, and it allows me to tailor my use of the product to my exact needs. This is all wonderful, but the best part is the fact that it gives instant results. Honestly, my skin hasn't been this smooth and glow-y in so, so long and I really do think that this cleanser is the reason why. I reached for this at the very beginning of my pamper routine to get rid of all my dead skin and to set the scene so my other skincare products can really get to work. 

Caudalie Purifying Mask* | rrp £22.00

 Caudalie's Purifying Mask is another relatively new addition to my skincare arsenal, and it's another winner. I've become so used to cleansing masks being very heavily clay based, difficult to remove and harsh on the skin, but Caudalie's Purifying Mask is a whole different ball game. Although it contains  white clays (bentonin and kaolin) it's a very smooth and creamy mask with a 94% natural formula that works to balance the skin - clarifying and deeply cleansing without drying it out. I find that it's so much more gentle than my other masks, and it's really easy to remove too, so I've been reaching for it over pretty much every other mask I own. Another reason why I like reaching for it is because it's specifically designed for blemish prone skin and it's definitely made a difference to my complexion. It's been a great introduction to Caudalie's skincare range and I just know that I'll be reaching for this mask a lot from now on.

Organic Surge Replenishing Facial Oil* | rrp £23.50

Organic Surge consistently impress me - and this facial oil is no exception. It's cruelty free, certified natural and organic (55% of the ingredients come from organic farming) and it's made up of a mixture of argan oil, yarrow oil and essential oils. Together, they form a really luxurious facial oil that's very hydrating but also has a very light consistency that absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin. Organic Surge's Replenishing Facial Oil is designed for dry or mature skin, but I think that it would suit many skin types as you can easily adjust how much oil you apply each time - either applying it straight onto your skin (which is what I prefer) or mixing it with your moisturiser. I particularly like applying this facial oil after I've used face masks as I find that it instantly works to restore and hydrate my skin, leaving it looking really fresh and supple.

Botanicals Lemongrass & Ginger Body Polish* | rrp £19.95 for 175g

When it comes to looking after my hands I really do swear by exfoliation. If you struggle with dry skin then exfoliating before you apply your mosituriser can make a wolrd of difference! I've tried my fair share of exfoliaters and although I've only tried a sample size of Botanicals' Lemongrass and Ginger Body Polish it's finally replaced & Other Stories' Body Scrubs as my new favourite body exfoliater. The body polish has a gorgeous consistency, and it certainly doesn't hurt that it's also 100% natural and 82% organic It's essentially a very high quality sugar scrub made up of raw cane sugar, shea butter, lemongrass (for toning), mandarin (for balancing) and ginger (for detoxifying) essential oils. You mix a small amount of the scrub with warm water before using it to exfoliate your skin. A little goes a very long way and you can alter the ratio of water to body polish to create your perfect level of exfoliation. Although this works really well on the body, I've particulalry enjoyed using it to gently exfoliate my hands before applying my moisturiser. I find that this helps my mosituriser really get to work which gives me longer lasting results. I'd absolutely, without any question, like to purchase the full-size body polish now that I've had the chance to try this sample size out for myself. It's been a superb introduction to the brand and I'm now really keen to try out more of their extensive beauty range.

 Bee Good Honey & Crambe Daily Hand Cream* | rrp £9.00

I've heard a lot of good things about Bee Good's British bodycare but this hand cream was my first foray into their range. Packed full of beeswax, honey, crambe oil and borage oil, this hand cream is quite nourishing whilst still being very easily absorbed into the skin. It has a light floral scent (reminiscent of lily of the valley) with just an undertone of honey, and all-in-all I'm rather enamoured with it! The cream itself doesn't have the thickest or richest consistency - especially for incredibly dry hands - but I love the formula. It absorbs so quickly and leaves behind a very pleasant matte coating on your hands that I'm convinced keeps them feeling softer for longer. I think that it would be a great product to use on-the-go, but you'll still find me using this at home as I just can't get enough. 

Essie Nail Lacquer in Geranium and Orly Nail Lacquer in Clear | rrp £7.99 and rrp £10.90

While I was getting my hands looking their best I thought I would do a quick switch-a-roo on the nail polish front. I opted for one of my new Essie polishes in the shade Geranium, a simply gorgeous orange toned red. It took two to three coats to get an even opaque finish and then I topped it off with a  coat of Orly's Nail Lacquer in the shade Clear which has a wonderfully glossy finish. It's not a typical spring nail polish shade but it's a very pretty shade that's bright enough to make a statement but still easy to wear. 

 La Montana First Light Candle* | rrp £35.00

If you're anything like me then when you go to have a bit of a pamper you'll love to set the mood. I like to do that with a good playlist and an even better candle. La Montaña recently sent me one of their candles in the fragrance 'First Light' which has a gorgeous floral/herbal scent that does as good a job as it possibly could to mentally transport you away from home and out into a hillside meadow. I think that the aroma of this candle is incredibly well balanced and sophisticated, and the scent is strong even when the candle isn't lit. Personally, I love that it has a strong aroma as it means that even when the candle isn't lit it can help scent a room, and when it is lit the aroma can quickly fill up the entire room. If you're tired of scented candles that smell fake, or that don't actually fragrance your home, then you'd really appreciate the quality of this candle. Plus, because these candles are made with high quality wax they supposedly offer a forty hour burn time - which is enough to fragrance your home for many, many happy days. This is my first time trying La Montaña's candles but it's been such a positive experience and I now associate them with very high quality fragrances. They're the perfect backdrop for some quality me-time.

All in all, this line-up of beauty products worked perfectly to give me the perfect mix of pampering and relaxation that I wanted from a chilled bank holiday night-in. Have you indulged in a bit of a beauty pamper this weekend? What products or brands do you usually reach for when you want to spoil yourself?

Haul: Luxury Nail Polishes at Discount Prices

So, I know what I said in my last Fragrance Direct Haul but with our brief glimpse of sunshine here in the UK I just got a hankering for some new summer nail polishes. I spotted some gorgeous Essie shades on Fragrance Direct, as well as some Orly Polishes - a brand I've wanted to try for a really long time. I also went on a bit of a mission to find a specific China Glaze Nail Polish that just screams summer, and I found it at a really good price.

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Are You Jelly?

This is the nail polish that sort of set everything off. I can't remember exactly where I first saw it but I do remember that I instantly wanted it, mainly because of its name. I ordered it from Nail Polish Direct (for the discounted price of £3.95) and expected that the shade would be purple - based on their colour guide and online swatches. However, the nail polish I recieved is a really bright - almost neon - fuchsia pink. It definitely leans slightly more purple in the bottle than when applied to your nails, so I'm not sure if I've recieved a mis-labelled bottle (as it does look a lot like the shade You Drive Me Coconuts). Regardless, I think it's a lovely colour and it's actually my first China Glaze nail polish so I'm excited to properly test it out and see if I should invest in some other shades.

Orly Nail Lacquers (left to right): Pink Chocolate, Terra Mauve and Clear

I always spot Orly polishes on one of my favourite blogs - Rotten Otter - so when I spied them on Fragrance Direct for the low price of £1.99 (reduced from £10.95) I just couldn't help myself. I picked up three polishes, two pinks that I thought would be easy to wear throughout the spring and summer as well as a clear polish. Despite always having a pedicure, I usually don't wear coloured polish on my hands - it's just one of my quirks - but I do love a clear glossy polish. I thought it would be nice to pick up one from Orly as I know I'll get a tremendous amount of use from it. I haven't properly tested these out yet but my first impressions of them are really swayed by their incredible packaging. The rubber handle makes the bottles so easy to open - so if this is something you often struggle with then I'd highly recommend them.

 Essie Nail Polishes (left to right): Geranium,  Merino Cool, Take it Outside and Summit of Style

Are these not some of the most chic shades you've ever seen? Fragrance Direct always stock a fantastic range of Essie shades but these four were my absolute favourites out of the shades available on their website. Geranium is a gorgeous orange toned red, Merino Cool is a beautiful dark purple-toned-grey, Take it Outside is a much cooler lighter shade and Summit of Style is the most beautiful gold glitter top coat that would look gorgeous over any of these polishes. I'm particulalry happy with these four shades, and at £2.49 each they were also a bit of a bargain!

Do you have any of these nail polish shades already? Which is your favourite shade out of the ones that I bought?

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On My Nails This Week: Essie's Lots of Lux

Lots of Lux* is part of Essie's 2013 Encrusted Treasures Collection and whenever I reach for it I feel as though I need take a moment just to appreciate how truly beautiful it is. On a shelf away from sunlight it could look pretty normal and unassuming, but in the light it is hard to ignore the shimmer that runs through it and gives it a gorgeous silvery-pink iridescence. Once I saw it in he sunlight I knew it was a polish that I couldn't ignore. Passing between different lights I find that my nails have the most beautiful radiance to them and with winter well and truly upon us (and Christmas looming not all that far away) it is the perfect way to embrace a little bit of glamour. For me, Essie's Lots of Lux is a wonderful festive polish that adds some much welcome glitz to my day-to-day life.

Other than it's beautiful colour, another element that makes this nail polish special is its texture. Textured nail polishes are among my favourite. I'm not usually a fan of a completely matte nail but a textured polish like Lots of Lux offers an alternative finish that lies somewhere between the two conventional finishes. The shimmer that Lots of Lux is laced with gives its finish a particularly attractive multi-dimensional look that stops it from looking flat. I found that without much in the way of maintenance (and without a topcoat) Lots of Lux lasted three days on my nails without any wear or chips but after that its wear-time degraded a bit and I had to re-paint my nails on day five. All in all I would very highly recommend it, especially if you want a nail polish to wear to any Christmas or New Year's parties - Lots of Lux is a showstopper!

Essie's Lots of Lux is available from Beauty Expert for £10.95*

What do you think of Lots of Lux? What nail polish are you wearing this Christmas?

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On My Nails This Week: Essie's We're In It Together

I have to very kindly ask you to forgive me for the discrepancies in lighting between the two photos! I took them on different days and the English weather is thoroughly changeable, and thus so is the light. Lighting aside, this week's nail polish is from Essie again... I swear I do use other brands I'm just on a proper Essie 'trip' at the moment. We're In It Together is a rather unassuming baby pink shade but oh mama this number has the most beautiful shimmer running through it. Wear this on a sunny day and your nails will just light up, and looking at them will undoubtedly improve your day tenfold! 

This lasted okay on my nails (three days completely chip free) but if you pick up an Essie polish full price you'd expect more! This is another item that the lovely Kayleigh from BeautyWish sent me in our beauty swap (you can read about that here if you want) and she really chose splendidly. As I've said before, pinks are some of my favourites when it comes to nail polish - the backbone of manicures as far as I see it! 

Do you like the look of We're In It Together? I'm personally loving the name, haha! What nail polish(es) have you been wearing this week?

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On My Nails This Week: Essie's Orange It's Obvious

After last week's super girly purple option  this week I decided to revert back to the wholesome satisfaction of the thick Essie brush and apply a bright dash of orange. Essie's Orange It's Obvious is a gorgeous shade and I think it is something that looks great year round. Whether it's clashed against a wintry black ensemble or thrown in among a colourful summer outfit it is a colour that I never fail to enjoy wearing. It's bright without being very hard to wear and I find the formula lasts a bit better on my nails than some of Essie's other polishes (namely Rosebowl, which is gorgeous but chips very quickly). 

Orange It's Obvious is a pleasure to wear and surprisingly it has slowly earnt a place in the list of my most worn nail polishes. You can vaguely see how much I've used of it in the top photo, vaguely, and I'm kind of sad to admit that using that much of a nail polish is kind of good going for me! Even when I've had a nail polish for six months... 

Do you like orange nails? What do you think of Orange It's Obvious?

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On My Nails This Week: Essie Rosebowl

So this week I finally ditched Headline Color's gorgeous 'Pool Party' and decided to head back into the bright pink end of the nail spectrum. Pink polishes are probably my most worn as I grew up thinking that pink nails were sort of the be-all-and-end-all - any other colours that I lacquered up with were never met well by my family! Essie's gorgeous Rosebowl polish is definitely 'my comfort zone' when it comes to nail polishes and I've been loving this a lot recently. It's a deep, relatively dark pink that contrasts really nicely with pale skin but comes into it's element against a tan (even if it's fake). If you have tanned or very dark skin then this colour is going to look gorgeous on you and I'd highly recommend it. My only concern is that this nail polish hasn't worn all that well on me. It is the newer Essie formula (which I definitely find superior to the old, thinner formula) and it has a gorgeous thick brush but I find that even with a good base and top coat I see chips after a day or so, which isn't something I expect from an £8 nail polish!

Alas, if only it wasn't so pretty. The other 'pink' Essie polish on my radar right now is 'Watermelon', which Amy posted about, and if this post has got you lusting after a dose of summer pink then you should definitely pop over and give Watermelon an oggle! 

What polish has been gracing your nails this week?

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