Chantecaille - Just Skin...Worth It?

Hi Ladies,

I hope that you're all looking forward to the weekend.

Just a quick one, I need your help. Is this worth the price?

I've read so many mixed reviews so I don't know if I should take the plunge or not?!

To be fair, I still have other foundation based products to use up (Jemma Kidd Light as Air, Mac Pro Longwear, Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation and Chanel Pro Lumiere, in case you're interested) but I like the idea of a tinted moisturiser and letting my skin breathe.

Have you tried this? How does it compare to foundation?

Lets vote, splurge or use up the others then reassess?!!

Thank you for reading.

Love, Amy
xxx

New Shellac, A Lust Have & I Just Could NOT Help Myself.......

Hi Ladies,

I've missed you!

I'm sorry for the lack of posts recently. I had a little slump in product love but it's definitely back with a vengeance now!

First up, my new Shellac! For those of you who haven't tried this, I URGE you to! My nails are so much stronger now, they don't snap and split as easily and the finish is just gorgeous! I tried the colour 'Hollywood' last time, which was lovely, my new colour though is 'Masquarade'....

Now, I always felt like I had self control, really, until I saw this. It's completely unnecessary, I don't need it and have enough blushes but look how PRETTY this is:

It's so gorgeous, I don't want to use it! This is marketed as a blusher/highlighter and I suppose, eye colours. I used this yesterday to go to a Christening and I couldn't be more in love! Have you tried anything from the new Chanel Spring Collection? I love the 'April' nail varnish too.....

Lastly, a new lust have. I never thought I'd be bothered about this but saw it in the flesh (so to speak) yesterday and I need it in my life. I've even started planning outfits around it. BAD SIGN!

Here it is, the Louis Vuitton Never Full...

Do any of you have this? Would you recommend?

Lots of love,
Amy

xxxx

Updated What's In My Bag

Hi Ladies,

Happy Friday!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I have been shattered all week and wanted to share an updated What's In My Bag post with you:

• Bag - Hermes
• Purse - Mulberry
• Body Mist - Bath & Body Works Winter Wonderland
• Soap & Glory - Hand Food
• Make Up Bag - Topshop
• Car Keys
• Anadin
• Hair Bobble
• Salt
• Bonjela
• Pen
• Notebooks
• Bobbi Brown Corrector
• Telescopic Mascara
• Gosh Darling Lipstick
• Mac Stripdown Lipliner
• Rimmel Eye Liner
• Mac Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks
• Clarins Lip Perfector in 02
• Mac Creme De Nude Lipstick

I'd LOVE to see what's in your bag! Please post links below.

Thank you for reading.

Love,
Amy
xxx

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff....

Hi Ladies (and Gents),

So a more personal post today but wanted to reach out to all of you and maybe help someone if you're in the same place.

If you know me, you'll know that I am a TERRIBLE worrier. I worry and panic about anything and everything and once I have a worry in my head, my thoughts just snowball and the issue (that is usually something small and insignificant) becomes the worst thing in the world.

I've been feeling pretty overly stressed over the last few weeks due to work and a 'friend' that I thought I could trust, really letting me down. It's effected me and I thought that my silly thought processes had to stop because it just makes me feel miserable (usually for no reason), if I don't nip it in the bud.

Dulce Candy mentioned a book on her blog that really helped her, it's called Don't Sweat The Small Stuff...And It's All Stuff by Dr Richard Carlson. Being honest, it arrived yesterday so I haven't had that much of a chance to have a look yet, but I'll keep you posted.

There are 136 short chapters in this book which apparently help you see differently so that you can manage the way that you think about things and have a calmer, happier and stress free life.

I bought the book from Amazon, if you're interested.

Have any of you read this?

What books do you recommend?

Thank you for reading and as always, all comments are welcomed.

Love,
Amy xxx

Project 10 Pan Update

Hi Ladies,

I hope that you're all well and that you're safe in the snow (for all UK readers!)

So, I am feeling so smug at the moment. Why is it so satisfying to use up beauty products?!

If you didn't read one of my previous posts, I decided that I wanted to use up a minimum of ten products before I buy anything else as my cosmetic/make up/product wise as my collection was just getting ridiculous and totally out of hand.

This week, I used up all of the products in the picture above. To be honest, I don't actually want to buy anything else, I'm quite happy using things up (there is the new Limited Edition Chanel Blusher, but I am going to try and resist as I need to save up for New York.)

Here is a run down of the products that I used up this week:

• Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub - smells delicious and does what it says on the tin! Would I repurchase? Yes!

• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter - I love love LOVE this! One tub lasts for AGES and it smells divine! The butter is thick and luxurious but sinks in to the skin quickly with no residue. Would I repurchase? Absolutely!

• The Body Butter Dreams Unlimited Body Butter - I think this came free with a Glamour Magazine. It's nice and the smaller size. Would I repurchase? Yes but I wouldn't purposefully go looking for it as I feel there are nicer butters in The Body Shop range (such as mango and coconut.)

• Soap & Glory Flake Away x 2 - this is a similar product to the Breakfast scrub and I love both of them. This leaves a filmy oil on the skin which gives a lovely sheen so sometimes there isn't the need for moisturiser after using this in the bath/shower. Would I repurchase? Yes. 

• Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation - you know the script here so I won't bore you to tears! Would I repurchase? Yes but I have three other foundations to use up first (see, I AM being disciplined!)

• Origins Incredible Spreadable - this smells of ginger and is really lovely at Christmas time matched with the Origins Ginger Souffle. Would I repurchase? Yes, around Christmas!

• Origins Ginger Souffle - really moisturising and leaves a lovely glow to the skin. Would I repurchase? Again, yes, around Christmas.

• Bastille Dry Shampoo - my hair is so thick and it is getting longer now so takes AGES to wash, use a treatment, dry hair, straighten hair/curl hair, style hair, etc so this is a lifesaver on days that I simply can't be bothered. Would I repurchase? YES!

Do you get a strangely satisfying feeling when you use up your products or is that just me?

Thank you for reading.

Lots of love,
Amy

xxxxx

Current Ins & Outs

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to write a little Ins & Outs post as I haven't done one for such a long time. This time though, it won't be all beauty related!

Ins:

• Moroccan Oil
• Water (hot or cold) with lemon
• Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (I know, I'm like a broken record)
• Handcream (in particular, Clarins)
• Healthy eating
• Tea
• Planning where to go in New York (any recommendations are welcome)
• Mama Bee Leg & Foot Cream
• My Macbook Pro
• New Mulberry Purse
• Ron Pope
• Blogging
• Gradual tanning (such as Dove Summer Glow)
• Any body moisturiser (I wish we had Bath & Body Works in the UK)
• Candles
• Reading blogs
• Long hair
• YouTube
• Tumblr
• Room Spray (Jo Malone Fig & Eucalyptus Living Cologne)
• Eye Drops
• Starbucks Hot Chocolate
• Shellac
• Tangle Teezer
• Eyebrow threading

Outs:

• Being cold
• Carbs and sugar as they bloat you and make you feel rubbish
• Bus drivers (they pull out on you and think they own the road)
• Taxi drivers
• People that you thought were friends letting you down
• Putting petrol in the car
• Cracked windscreens
• Split ends
• Cleaners that come in to work and don't clean
• Too little hours in the day

It's nice to see that they are more Ins than Outs!

As I'm loving Tumblr at the moment, I thought I'd leave you a quote that I saw earlier and loved.

I'd love to hear your comments and your Ins & Outs!

Thank you for reading.

Lots of love,
Amy

xxxx

My Current Bedtime Face Routine

Hi Ladies,

I'm always really interested to know what others do to their skin before going to sleep; what products they use and what they would recommend.

I wanted to share with you what I am currently using on my skin before bed and would love to hear the same from you.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel:

I've used this for a while now. I don't LOVE it but it keeps my skin clean and clear. It does exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. I usually do a double cleanse, using a hot cloth/flannel. I can rely on this to not overload my skin with chemicals and not break me out.

Simple Eye Make Up Remover:

I use this to remove any eye make up. It is very gentle on the eyes and removes all product pretty quickly. It doesn't leave behind any residue and retails very cheaply at only a couple of pounds.

YSL Exfoliator:

I don't always use an exfoliator but when I do it's either Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (which I have run out of) or this. Really gentle on the skin with a lovely consistency. It leaves skin smooth without the feeling that it has been exfoliated (there are no harsh grains.)

Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner:

I've been using this for just over a week now and it's love. At first, I worried that maybe it was breaking me out but even in such a short space of time, I've noticed my skin to be much softer, clearer and balanced. If you get the chance to try this, I'd recommend that you do. It's much more gentle than I expected it to be too.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion:

I've used this for YEARS now. It's the one that I always go back to. Also, this is the only moisturiser that I can wear under make up without looking oily. This delivers just the right about of moisture for my skin.

Dermalogica Total Eye Cream:

Again, I don't love or hate this. To be honest, I haven't really noticed much of a difference in using this so would really like to hear what eye cream you'd recommend.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil:

I've been using a sample of this lovely oil and have to say that I've noticed a massive difference in the way that my skin looks and feels. It smells divine and when you wake up your skin just feels so nourished. Highly recommended and I'll be purchasing the full size.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream:

I'm sure you all know by now how much I love this!! I dab a tiny bit on my lips and sometimes eyebrows before I sleep.  As ridiculous as it sounds, my lips cry out for this if I haven't used it for a few hours. Also, one tube lasts forever.

In the morning, I am extremely low maintenance. Just a splash of cold water, moisturiser and lip balm (Nivea Milk and Honey) before make up.

What is your routine? What products do you recommend? I'm considering trying the Clarisonic.....is it worth it?

Thank you for reading.

Love,
Amy

xxx