August Beauty Favourites

Can you believe that it's September tomorrow?! The time is flying by! Which is why I need to press pause for a moment and reflect on my August Beauty Favourites before another month rushes past. This favourites edit includes an awesome foundation and concealer, a frizzy hair fighter, a self-tanning facial product that won't make you look like Donald Trump, a fab new lip plumping gadget, and an incredible budget skin care dupe. Phew!

PMD Kiss Lip Plumping System* (£125, link)

If you like the look of fuller lips, but are way too squeamish to get anything as extreme as lip injections or fillers done, PMD's Kiss Lip Plumping System is the best alternative for those who are after a bigger pout without the needles. This clever, new-to-the-beauty-market gadget uses a 'pulsating vacuum' in conjunction with a topical serum (that's included), to plump up the lips in a painless and non-invasive way. To use it, you simply charge the PMD Kiss beforehand, apply the minty serum to clean and dry lips, choose the setting you want (there are two; a quick one and a longer one) and then place the device over your lips in sections. It's easy to do, doesn't hurt at all, takes less than 5 minutes and it's safe to use as often as you like.

I was sceptical about this at first because the device wasn't pulling on my lips as much as I thought it would be (you do feel some suction of course, but it's certainly not as strong as I imagined), but looking in the mirror afterwards, I did see a noticeable difference, especially with my thinner top lip. The results lasted for about 3-4 hours for me, and PMD say that with daily use, you can achieve longer lasting results.

It's not going to give you ridiculous Kylie Jenner style lips (cus we ALL know those are fake!), but it certainly helps to plump them up which is great if your lips are uneven or you have very thin lips to begin with. This device also helps to boost collagen production with long term use, as well as helping to smooth out lip lines, so it can be useful for older women who are want to get back some of the fullness that can be lost through ageing. It's certainly not cheap, but if you fancy a splurge, it's one of the best pain-free lip plumpers that I've tried so far.   

 Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic* (100ml, £5.99, link)

I've been a big fan of Superdrug's own brand skin care ranges for a long time now, mainly because they work incredibly well, are super affordable, vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. But they've really hit the ball straight out of the park with an amazing new dupe for one of my favourite skincare products, the infamous PIXI Glow Tonic. 

Superdrug's version contains the same magical ingredient of 5% Glycolic Acid that's in the PIXI Glow Tonic and also has extra natural botanical extracts in it to further boost the skin. It's a brilliant liquid exfoliating toner to add to your skincare routine if you don't already use one, or simply pick it up to try out and compare if you're a PIXI Glow fan. An absolute steal at just £5.99 and one of the best beauty bargains that I've come across all year.

Tropic Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum* (30ml, £22, link)

Facial self-tanners can be really hit and miss and I've used my fair share of 'duds' over the years. The problem seems to lie in how they work as some can turn the skin too dark or with a hideous orange tone, and there are some that I've tried which don't give any colour to the skin at all! My go-to has always been James Read's Sleep Mask Tan, but this product from Tropic has been giving it a run for its money over the past month.

Tropic's Sun Drops look very scary and dark in the bottle, but they're designed to be added to your regular daily facial moisturiser for a streak-free and natural looking glow. As you're essentially mixing a gradual tanner pigment into your moisturiser, you can easily control how dark you want to go - add 2-3 drops for a light and subtle colour, whereas 4-6 drops will give you a more tanned and sunkissed glow. The colour will continue to develop over a couple of hours, and you can use more in the evening if you want a darker result. I've really been enjoying using this serum and it smells great!

Joan Collins First Base Foundation* (30ml, £25, link) & Fade To Perfect Concealer* (5ml, £17, link)

Joan Collins' makeup line continues to impress me after I fell in love with her gorgeous lipsticks earlier this year, so I've been keen to try out some more products from her brand. I decided to test out the First Base Foundation after seeing only positive reviews online and I love it! It comes packaged in a luxurious glass bottle with a gold coloured pump, and I have the shade Warm Medium which is a perfect match for my post-Summer skin tone right now. This foundation has a lightweight and silky feel to it, blends easily and offers light to medium coverage with a very natural looking finish. One pump is usually all I need for a nice and even base, and it does a great job of blurring imperfections and any fine lines, without clinging to dry areas.

To compliment the foundation, I tried the Fade To Perfect Concealer which is like a love child of YSL's Touche Eclat and NARS Creamy Concealer. It has the consistency and light reflecting power of the former, yet provides more coverage to help cover up dark circles. It goes on smoothly, stays put all day and doesn't settle into fine lines, plus the packaging feels really high-end and luxury.

Swell Ultimate Protect & Renew Serum* (50ml, £20, link)

As I've probably mentioned a million times, my hair is naturally very dry and frizzy, so I rely on a range of styling products to keep it in check. I've been particularly loving this Ultimate Protect & Renew Serum from Swell recently because it really helps to tame frizz during hot and humid weather. It's a lightweight serum that isn't sticky, and it doesn't weigh down my fine hair either (the whole Swell range is designed for fine hair so it's a good brand to look into if you have the same hair type). In addition to its frizz-taming abilities, it also protects hair from heat styling, adds shine and helps to keep dry hair hydrated for longer. This serum is 97% natural, free from silicones, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly too which is brilliant!

What are your beauty faves this month?

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April Beauty & Style Favourites

Well, another month has passed us by, so it's time for my April Favourites! These have been the standout products that I've been loving recently, plus a brand new watch fave too, so let's jump on in!

Joan Collins Divine Lips Lipstick in Marilyn* (£18, link)

Joan Collins' Timeless Beauty range has been one of my most surprising finds over the past year, and her makeup is definitely worth a try! I've been so impressed with the formula of these Divine Lips lipsticks in particular, which are beautifully pigmented, yet lovely and creamy in texture at the same time. They go on so smoothly, and I've been in love with this shade called Marilyn - a gorgeous and flattering, warm rosy pink that's perfect for Spring and Summer.

Green People Velvet Matte Lipstick in Damask Rose* (£15 - read my full review & see swatches here)

For an easy to wear nude matte lip, I've been obsessed with this new lippie from British organic brand, Green People. This velvet matte formula doesn't feel drying like other mattes, and the Damask Rose shade is simply stunning; I always get so many compliments about it! 

Tropic Sculping Palette in Vintage Rose* (£24 - read my full review & see swatches here)

I'm a sucker for a good palette and this Sculpting one from Tropic has been my go-to for the past couple of weeks now. It has a bronzer, highlighter and blush, and all of them are so easy to use for every day without making you look OTT. They blend beautifully and this colour-way really suits my skin tone.

Bodhi & Birch Desert Rose Facial Oil* (£38, link)

Bodhi & Birch have recently relaunched one of their hero products, Desert Rose Facial Oil which is exciting news! With a shorter, snappier name and a new blend, this face oil is a powerhouse of organic oils and utilises the natural qualities of Argan, Rose, Prickly Pear and Starflower oils to deeply nourish and moisturise the skin, whilst also improving the skin's texture, boosting cellular regeneration and evening out the skin tone. I've reintroduced it into my nighttime routine (it's a little too heavy and rich for the daytime for me but works a charm at night), and I like to treat my skin to an at-home pampering facial with it once or twice a week. I find that this really helps to plump up my skin and give it a rejuvenating shot of hydration at the same time. Wonderful stuff!

KISS Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes in Little Black Dress and Gala* (£7.99 per pair, link)

I was really excited to hear about these new faux-mink lashes from KISS and having tried these out for myself, I have to say that they're one of the best false lash new releases that I've seen in a long time! The lashes have been designed with a knot-free lash band to mimic the soft, layered, fluttery qualities of mink hair, but without the cruelty, as these are completely animal-free. 

I've been trying out Little Black Dress; a lovely lightweight and fluttery pair that look like 'your lashes but better', and Gala; a much more dramatic and glamorous full-on set for parties and nights out with the girls. These are currently on a 3 for 2 offer in Superdrug at the moment and you can use a pair of these up to 10 times so if you're a fan of falsies, they work out very cost-effective.

Welly Merck Classic New York Rose Gold Mesh Watch* (£205, link)

I'm one of those people who always wears a watch, and I really enjoy collecting them. This beautiful watch from Welly Merck arrived on my doorstep last month and it was love at first sight, so it's no wonder that it became an instant new favourite. I was lucky enough to be able to choose the design that I wanted myself, and I opted for the Classic New York design which is in the brand's contemporary 'mesh' range, as it features a fully adjustable strap made from a fine chainmail/ metal mesh in a stunning Rose Gold colour.

It's also available in two colours for the face (silver or black) and naturally, I had to get it in the black as I have a serious obsession with black-faced watches - I just think they look so modern and chic, plus they seem to go with just about anything. The quality of this watch is superb; the glass face is made from Sapphire Crystal and the technology is Swiss Quartz Movement. I'm absolutely smitten with it, and if you fancy treating yourself to one, you can use my code BEAUTYWOLFGIRL20 to get 20% off any watch from WellyMerck.com - thanks WM!

What are your current beauty & style favourites?

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Decluttering My Handbag: Minimalist Beauty Essentials

I used to be one of those women who carried everything in their handbag, especially when it came to beauty stuff. In fact, some of my most popular blog posts from a few years ago were 'What's In My Bag' features, and I love seeing the contents of other bloggers handbags (I don't know why, but I know I'm definitely not alone!). 

These days though, I'm much more of a minimalist and I've really scaled back on the number of beauty products that I keep in my handbag, carrying only what I'd consider being the 'bare essentials'. Why? Well, I've realised that a lot of the beauty stuff that I used to haul around in my bag simply wasn't getting used and that I honestly didn't need to have 12 different lip products rolling around at the bottom of it all amongst the receipts and pen lids.  

It was time for a declutter! Below is what I now keep in my bag (beauty-wise at least...!):-

 Handbag Beauty Essential No 1: The Hand Sanitiser

Hand sanitiser is a big essential for most people, and I'm really happy that I've found a natural one that I like, as I'm not much of a fan of the artificially perfumed ones. The Botanicals Organic Sanitiser* (50ml, £5.95, link) is 100% natural and contains essential oils of Lavender and Tea Tree to provide anti-bacterial protection without the need for petrochemicals. The alcohol in this formula is derived from Sugar Beet as well, and I don't find that it dries out my hands like some mainstream brands do. To use it, I just spray it all over my hands and rub them together  - it dries quickly and smells so lovely and fresh! You can also use this to refresh your feet, and it's available in a larger size bottle if you're carrying it around for the whole family to use on the go.

 Handbag Beauty Essential No. 2: The Aromatherapy Rollerball

As many of my regular readers will know, I'm very much into aromatherapy and mindfulness, so I like to carry a handy aromatherapy rollerball in my bag to help me feel calm when I'm feeling anxious or stressed, or to keep me feeling energised during a long day. Tisserand Aromatherapy Rollerball in Happy* (10ml, £5.95, link) mainly does the latter, but I do feel it helps to relax me as well which is a nice added bonus! It features a blend of Lemon Tea Tree, Bergamot and Nutmeg essential oils to balance, uplift and comfort, and it works very well for me.

 Handbag Beauty Essential No. 3: The Lipbalm

When I was decluttering my handbag, I was shocked to find that I had six lip balms in there. SIX! Nobody needs six lip balms in their bag! Even more annoying was the fact that most of these lip balms had expired, bar this one which I remember buying last year. I binned all of the others and now I can get to work using this one up as it's already half done. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this Our Tiny Bees Lip Balm (13g, £4.95, link) before, but it's basically just a really great simple lip balm that's made up of three ingredients; Honey, Beeswax and Almond Oil - that's it. I've actually gone through a tin of it in the past which goes to show how much I love it!

Handbag Beauty Essential No. 4: The 2-in-1 Makeup Compact

Makeup is something that I've had to be very ruthless with as I used to have a lot of makeup products in my bag. I used to pack at least three lipsticks, a foundation, a concealer or two, a powder, a mascara, an eyeliner, a couple of lip liners and glosses, and I even had a set of false eyelashes in there (you know, 'just in case'!). Evidently, I soon realised that I was hardly using any of this as I very rarely touched up my makeup during the day. When I did, I pretty much only ever used a lipstick and a powder blush or bronzer as this often started to fade first as the day went on.

So I cleared out everything, and now I'm sticking with a simple 2-in-1 makeup compact. I have a few of these from various brands, but I'm currently enjoying using this one from Joan Collins which is her Summer Kiss Compact Duo* (£30, link). The gold packaging is beautiful with a sturdy magnetic closure, and inside the compact is a flattering, neutral toned bronzing powder with SPF 15, a mirror, a mini brush, and a full-size lipstick. I have the lipstick in the shade Suzy Starr which is a gorgeous coral pink that's perfect for Spring & Summer, and that's it - all the makeup that I need in my bag!

What are your Handbag Beauty Essentials?

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Mother's Day Gift Guide 2017: Part One

Mother's Day is fast approaching (it's the 26th March in case you need a cheeky reminder!) and to prepare for the occasion, I've compiled a handy two-part Mother's Day Gift Guide that you can use to properly spoil your Mum this year - I'm sure she deserves it!

 For Mums Who Adore Designer Perfumes: GUCCI Bamboo Limited Edition Eau de Parfum* (50ml, £68, link)

Designer perfumes always make gorgeous gifts, and a Limited Edition one makes it feel even more special. Earlier this year, GUCCI released this beautiful new version of their popular Bamboo fragrance and I knew I had to include it in this Mother's Day Gift Guide because my mum would love to receive this! This is the same Bamboo fragrance, just updated with an eye-catching new rosy jewel toned tinted bottle and a Far-Eastern inspired print on the box packaging. GUCCI Bamboo is a lovely contemporary feminine scent with a strong top note of Italian Bergamot, heart notes of Ylang Ylang and Casablanca Lily, and a subtle sensual base note of Sandalwood. An ideal everyday fragrance to wear during Spring and Summer.

 For Mums Who Love Luxury Pampering Products: Aveda Beautifying Radiance Polish* (440g, £36, link) 

For a spot of luxury pampering, you can't go wrong with anything from Aveda. I'm a big fan of many of their ranges including the Beautifying line which has a gorgeous uplifting scent of organic Rosemary, Lavender and Bergamot. This Beautifying Radiance Body Polish combines this signature fragrance with a seriously good body scrub to thoroughly exfoliate and buff away dull dead skin cells, revealing brighter, more glowy skin. As the mineral-rich salt crystals are blended with nourishing plant oils such as Sunflower Seed, Olive and Safflower, your skin is left feeling silky soft and thoroughly pampered, with that scent lingering for a little while afterwards. Perfect to use on arms and legs to prep them for the warmer months ahead.

 For New Mums: Tropic Body Love Firming Buttercream* (250ml, £20, link)

One of my friends recently had a baby and she's been looking into lots of firming body moisturisers to give her skin some extra TLC, so I recommended this to her and she's been loving it! Tropic's Body Love Firming Buttercream will no doubt appeal to anyone who wants keep their skin nicely firm and supple, as well as hydrated, as it's a lovely thick body moisturiser. Formulated with Cocoa and Shea Butters, it does a great job of keeping dry skin away, and it also has Green Algae and Pink Peppercorn actives to help firm up cellulite and any wobbly areas. As with everything that I've tried from Tropic so far, it smells amazing (really fresh and clean) and a little goes a long way.

For Glamourous Mums Who Also Love a Bit of Joan Collins: Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Class Act Mascara* (£20, link)

Joan Collins is an iconic woman of many talents, and her makeup range, Timeless Beauty, has been getting some rave reviews online from women of all ages. My mum's been a fan of hers for some time, so I think she'd appreciate something like Joan's Class Act Mascara which promises to have a water-resistant, non-clumping, non-shedding, long-lasting formula. It also contains Seaweed and Algae extracts to encourage lashes to grow longer and fuller which is an interesting addition! All of the packaging for this range feels very luxurious and this mascara, in particular, boasts a beautiful vintage-inspired, metallic gold tube casing that would yield many compliments from my mum's friends.

For Mums Who Deserve a Spa-Like Pamper at Home: DHC Olive-Corn Body Scrub & Polish* (200g, £15.50, link) and DHC Olive Body Butter* (100g, £17, link)

Mums work hard, whether they're running around after kids at home or juggling the commitments of both with a career as well - I think it's safe to say that they could use a well deserved pamper! If time constraints won't allow for a proper Spa day, you can treat them to some pampering products that they can use at home instead.  DHC have a fantastic range of skincare and bodycare, and I've been enjoying using these two in my bathroom lately.

The Olive-Corn Body Scrub & Polish is one of those fab multi-tasking products for those who are short on time as it cleanses, exfoliates and conditions the skin with a creamy Olive Oil infused formula that features natural corn cob powder to gently but effectively exfoliate the skin. Afterwards, I've been applying the Olive Body Butter which is super rich in texture and features a blend of seven key natural skin-nourishing and hydrating ingredients; Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Squalene and Argan Oil. Both of these have a fresh Green Apple and Rose scent which has been getting me in the mood for Spring!

Have you started Mother's Day gift shopping yet?

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Christmas Gift Guide 2016: The Luxury Brands Edit

Welcome to the first feature in my Christmas Gift Guide for 2016, and what better way to kick things off than with a Luxury Edit featuring some of the most covetable high-end beauty brands around.

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