Dinner At Berners Tavern

I recently experienced Private Dining at the Michelin Star Chef  Jason Atherton's restaurant Berners Tavern at the London Edition Hotel. Situated just off Oxford street, Berners Tavern is a gastronomy gem. Billed as a place for all day dining and entertainment, the restaurant offers a contemporary British menu that is simple yet elegant. The setting is chic, stylish yet relaxed.

On the night that I went (a weekday) it had a great buzzy atmosphere and was full of beautiful, glamorous people. I have heard that George Clooney is a fan...

We were taken to the Private Dining Room above the restaurant.

I chose the following options from the menu

Starter

Middle white pork and pistachio pate, spiced pear puree, toasted sourdough

The starter was a course pate and it was a fantastic choice to start the meal, there was plenty of bread for the pate and the pear puree was a perfect balance of sweet and spice. Very nice.

Main 

Creedy Carver duck, braised leg, caramel apples, pickled plum puree, turnips

The main was deceivingly filling. The duck was succulent and melt in your mouth. The vegetables the ideal accompaniment and the sweet caramel apples completed the meal. Absolutely delicious.

Dessert 

Caramel apple and Calvados éclair, Devon 

A beautiful dessert. This looked pretty on the plate and was a taste explosion in the mouth. The eclair was light. The salted caramel ice cream..to die for. I am a huge pudding person and this hit the spot entirely.

Exceptional food, a venue that you won't want to leave. I was seduced and I think you will  be too. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Berners Tavern -10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP Tel: +44 (0)20 7908 7979

Instant Radiance With Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder

I do love glowing, radiant skin and although I do have a strict beauty routine that I rarely skip on there are of course times when my skin can do with a quick fix/boost of radiance. The fastest way to cheat your way to radiant skin that positively glows is with a highlighting product. I have many liquids, sticks and powders exactly for this purpose and I tend to use them mostly on my cheekbones...

However, right now I am absolutely loving this pretty heart beads from Too Faced. Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder is a pretty, vintage style tin that looks like it should contain sweeties.. what it does contain however is cute radiance imparting hearts of varying shades of pinks, golds, bronzes and browns.

Too Faced say

- Blendable multi-coloured heart pearls for a natural glow
- Can be used for buildable colour or a hint of shimmer
- To illuminate and brighten the skin

My thoughts

Swirling your brush around in the pot, you can apply all over the face for the most beautiful subtle sheen of radiance, or just apply as you would as a highlighter. It is completely buildable for more depth and warmth if required. I personally love the pretty gleam it provides, my face looks fantastically healthy and glowing without leaving an oily or greasy appearance.

Illuminate, brighten, shimmer and glow. The Radiant Glow Face Powder does it all.

Very, very nice product.

Too Faced Sweetheart Beads Radiant Glow Face Powder £26

*PR Sample

Pond's Institute Cold Cream Cleanser Review

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser was my very first recommendation and review on BeautySwot.com and four years down the line I am returning full circle and am pleased to say that I still recommend it.

Rebranded Pond's Institute and the pot having undergone a little makeover the contents are just as good as they always were...

Pond's Institute say

The Cold Cream Cleanser cleanses the skin deep down without drying it and leaves your skin perfectly clean.

The deep cleansing action removes hidden dirt and make up, even stubborn waterproof mascara.

Its special blend of ingredients softens the skin as they deep cleanse so your complexion feels smooth- never tight or dry.

My thoughts 

The cream has a delicate rose scent, to use you apply a layer of cold cream and massage it in, then I use a warm, wet muslin to wash it off and then finish with a splash of cold water. It removes makeup, including my eye make up effectively and skin feels so clean after. Skin is left super soft and positively glowing, looking and feeling clean it doesn't feel tight at all.

A classic cleanser at an incredibly budget, bargain price.

A winner in my book.

Pond's Institute Cold Cream Cleanser 50ml £3.40

January GlossyBox 2014 - Back To Basics

January's GlossyBox is themed 'Back To Basics' with a range of products 'designed to get you back on the road to moisturised, toned, healthy skin, bright eyes and sculpted eyebrows' ..all sounds good doesn't it?

What's Inside The January 2014 GlossyBox 

So what did I get in my GlossyBox this month?

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream 2 x 3g mini samples (full size product £13.50 for 33g)

Described as a skincare essential, I recently reviewed this product and I can confirm I do love it. Enriched with vitamins E and B2, a high glycerine content and camphor this really works. However it would have been fantastic if it had been a full sized product.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash 50ml (full size £10.25 for 250ml)

I haven't had a chance to try this body wash yet but it smells good and it comes in a generous sample size. Excellent for a weekend away. It contains a blend of juniper, bergamot, geranium and lavender essential oils and is paraben free.

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers £8 

These are pretty tweezers. I must admit I am a Tweezerman girl through and through but I have already used these and so far so good and they look perfect in my Cath Kidston makeup bag!

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches pack of 2 (£6 for pack of 3)

These under eye patches will apparently reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and revitalise the skin around the eyes.. I am looking forward to pepping my peepers so watch this space for a review of these very soon!

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Masque & Blemish Mud Masque £1.09 each

Deep cleansing masks. I stopped using masks when I got psoriasis on my face a couple of months ago. Now it has cleared up I will be giving these a go. I do like MJ masks, the Passion Peel sounds very fruity and who doesn't love a mud pack :)

Final thoughts 

Opening up this box I thought it looked pretty empty, the products were tiny and there wasn't any pretty makeup to reel me in. However what GlossyBox has delivered this month is a box full of useful items and products that I will be using so actually it is a pretty good box this month. Yes I would have loved a full size beauty product somewhere in there but value wise it is not a bad box and for the theme .. it is a perfect fit.

Roll on February Box

A Spring Makeup Look

This was my make-up look on Saturday. I saw a glimmer of Sun and fancied something a little brighter than my usual taupe/neutral go to on the eyes.. I opted for a splash of Spring with this gorgeous Kiko Loose Pigment in Sunny Coral. 

I kept it very simple.

I prepped the area with Kiko Pearly Eye Base £6.90, a gorgeous and light eye brightening base that can be worn alone or under eye shadow.. it also keeps eye make-up in place all day. I followed by applying the Kiki Loose Pigment in Sunny Coral £5.90 all over the eyelid. I used the really rather brilliant Kiko Eyes 203 Flat Base Brush to apply the loose pigment and it kept all the product on the brush so I experienced no fall out and it blended nicely. I completed the look by lining my eyes with Clinique Quickliner Intense in Intense Plum £15. I love the Quickliner as it really is so quick to apply a strong line and it stays put. Finally I used Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara £9.99 for pretty, soft defined lashes. The wand coats all my lashes creating more volume. Fabulous.

What do you think?

Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Curl Tong Review

I use the Remington Therapy Pro Straightener to straighten my hair, I am really happy with how easy it is to use and the results it gives, having used it for quite a while now I am confident that it protects my hair.

A couple of days ago I dried my hair, then straightened it as I normally do and it did look lovely but as I had a spare 10 minutes I thought I might try something a little different..I dug out the Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Curl Tong, had a quick look online for how to use it. I plugged it in, it took just seconds to heat up and away I went. Although the tong temperature can be set from 130 degrees up to 210 degrees (in 20 degree increments) I opted for 190 as this was my first time and I wanted to get a feel for the tool. The look I was trying to create was soft waves and a bit of volume as opposed to tight curls. For this I took wider sections of hair and wrapped it around the barrel, holding it in place for 10 seconds (mine were fast 10 seconds, blame the fear of the unknown ;-))

The result you can see is above.

Remington say 

You can style to your heart’s content whilst creating stunning curls with the Keratin Therapy Pro Curl Tong. The Advanced Keratin Ceramic coated barrel is infused with Keratin Micro Conditioners that transfer to your hair as you style. With a 19mm barrel, 210°C heat up and five different heat settings to tailor the temperature to your hair type, achieving enviable, healthy looking curls couldn’t be easier.

Features 

Professional 19mm curling tong
Advanced Keratin Ceramic coated barrel
Integrated digital temperature display, 5 setting 130°-210°C
Heat up in 30 seconds
Ready indicator – display stops flashing
Auto shut off after 60 minutes
Heat resistant pouch
Worldwide voltage
Swivel cord – 2.5M
5 year guarantee

My thoughts 

I was surprised as to just how easy the Pro Curl Tong was to use. How I could create a different look so quickly, with very little effort. This is exactly the kind of hair tool I like, I hate fuss and fiddly things so this is perfect. It is light to hold, has a lovely long cord and you can adjust the heat setting based on your hair type.

Big thumbs up from me!

Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Curl Tong £29.99 

*PR Sample 

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Mauve Kiss - Nails Of The Day

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish is described as their first transparent gel based formula combining bold, crisp color with a runway-inspired wardrobe for your nails.

Mauve Kiss is a brown shade with a purple accent, a perfect warm Winter colour. Depending on how much product is on the brush you can paint your nails with just one coat..bizarrely one of my hands I applied one coat to and the other I needed two to achieve opacity. The brush is good for easy application and it dried quite quickly.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish costs £2.99 and is available in 41 shades

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Men - Review

My husband has just finished his second bottle of Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Men so I think it is safe to say this is one of his favourites, I would go far as to say that this could very well be his signature scent.

Carolina Herrera say 

212 VIP MEN is a masculine fragrance that completes the 212 VIP universe and represents the style and attitude of VIP men in New York.

The 212 VIP man: charismatic, fun, elegant, sophisticated, desired and envied.

DON'T JUST GO TO THE PARTY. BE THE PARTY.

The fragrance is an explosive cocktail of vodka with frozen mint, lime caviar and vibrant spices inspired by the scent and attitude of the most exclusive parties.

Fragrance group - Woody Oriental

Top notes: Caviar lime, Frozen mint, Black pepper, Passion Fruit

Heart notes: Chilled vodka, Hot ginger, Slice of apple

Base notes: King wood, Salty amber, Tonka beans, Leather

Thoughts 

Intensely masculine, this scent has a fresh yet spicy smell with a subtle sweetness which is incredibly alluring. Having tried various fragrances over the years I think my husband wears spice based scents particularly well. 212 VIP Men provokes lots of positive reaction as he often gets stopped and asked by both males and females what the scent is.. the most memorable being a guy surfing in Brighton sea who came out of the sea to ask him! 

A winner for us both.

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Men EDT 50ml £39

Win 1 of 10 Mandara Spa Honeymilk Dream Spa Escape Travel Bags!

Fancy a lovely pampering New Year body treat ? Then you have come to the right place!

The very lovely people from one of my favourite brands Mandara Spa have got in touch to offer a fantastic prize for BeautySwot.com readers. We are giving away not one but TEN Honeymilk Dream Spa Escape Travel Bags which includes; a softening body cream, conditioning shower cream, softening bath milk and a nourishing hand cream. Each prize is worth £19.50.

Honeymilk Dream : The Comforting Collection

Inspired by the comforting fragrance of Hawaii. Acacia honey and kukui nut oil cocoon you in a magical spa where the mind and body will be soothed and enriched.

Key ingredients:

acacia honey
cocoa butter 

kukui nut oil 

mango butter 

shea butter 

sweet almond oil 

wheat germ oil

How To Enter -

• You must be a follower of this blog - Please leave a comment stating how you are following the blog 
• You can gain an extra entry by tweeting about this giveaway. Just tag your tweet with @BeautySwot at the end so I can see it. 

The (not so) Small Print -

• Maximum entries per person is 2.
• Open only to UK residents.
• All entries will be logged and numbered, and the 10 winners will be selected by www.random.org
• Entries close at 23.59pm, Friday 31st January 2014.
• The winners and instructions on to how to claim your prize will appear on the blog on Saturday 1st Feb. You will have 48 hours to get in touch before any unclaimed prizes will be put back in the draw to be reselected.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Bettina x

White Tea & Raspberry Infusion Marks & Spencer - Review

After the popularity of my last tea post I thought I would write about another recent delicious tea discovery.. White Tea & Raspberry Infusion is ideal for drinking any time of day, I use it as an alternative to drinking black tea with milk.

Marks & Spencer say

Marks & Spencer describe this as a fine white tea with a delicious natural raspberry flavour and say that you won't find this particular tea anywhere else as their master blenders have created it just for M&S.

My thoughts 

A fruit tea that actually tastes as good as it smells! White tea is well lauded for its health benefits and I was planning on switching to drinking mostly white or green tea instead of a standard cup of tea so this was a great tasting find. I used to like drinking white tea with pomegranate so was happy to give this a try. White Tea & Raspberry Infusion is delicately flavoured with sweet raspberry. You only need to brew it for a couple of minutes for a decent cup, be careful of leaving the tea bag any longer as the drink then (to me) becomes nasty and bitter. The tea takes on a lovely pink hue but when brewed stronger it resembles a dark blackcurrant squash.

Composition

White Tea 80%
Hibiscus 15%
Raspberry Flavouring 5%

Marks & Spencer White Tea & Raspberry Infusion 20 bags costs 99p 

EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set

Apologies for the grubbiness of the product but I think it demonstrates the amount of use that it gets.

This beauty is the EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set and it is really rather fabulous. Compact and slim it is a great piece of kit. Containing 5 eye make-up brushes in a ultra handy travel case complete with mirror it is perfect for popping in the make-up bag without compromising on performance.  The 5 brushes are handily labelled with what they are ideal to use for...great for someone like me who for many years just used the brush that would come with the product (not ideal), I have seen the error of my ways. I understand now the need for decent tools but they don't have to be costly as this set shows..

As the name suggests EcoTools are an earth-friendly brand. The handles are made from bamboo.  Soft taklon bristles are 100% cruelty-free and the sleek metal ferrule clasp is made from recycled aluminium.
The travel case is made from natural cotton and hemp.

Set includes: Everything you need to create the perfect eye.

Large eye brush
Angled crease brush
Petite eye shading brush
Highlighting brush
Smudge brush
Travel case with mirror 

Fuss free, self explanatory, portable and beautifully soft. You cannot go wrong with these.

EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set £14.99 available from Boots

Thomas Sabo Charm Club Charm Rose Perfume - Review

Charm Rose Eau de Parfum was the first fragrance from Thomas Sabo Charm Club, released back in 2010. Since then there have been two other Eau de Parfum releases, Charm Rose Intense and Charm Kiss .

Just like the Thomas Sabo charms, Charm Rose EDP comes in a beautiful plush presentation box, the outer is a gorgeous black and white striped printed box and the interior is lined with pretty pink satin. The bottle takes inspiration from a 1950's bottle design and comes with its own rose charm that can be used as a hairband or as a bracelet. Very cute indeed and it makes a wonderful gift.

Thomas Sabo say 

The very first Thomas Sabo Charm Club fragrance is the culmination of all CHARM CLUB collections – Charm Rose Eau de Parfum. A fragrance all about Luck, Fashion, Love & Passion.

My thoughts 

Feminine, light, fruity and fun, Charm Rose is a sparkling, fresh rose scent. It starts off being fruity and sweet (not cloying) but develops into a more floral, oriental scent. Containing lots of individual notes that appeal to me this is just perfect for Spring/Summer.

Top notes: Plum, Blueberry, Peach Blossom and Clementine
Heart notes: Rose, Magnolia, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang
Base notes:  Silver Amber, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Tonka Bean and Powdery Vanilla 

A scent full of charm in more ways than one!

Thomas Sabo Charm Club Charm Rose EDP 50ml costs £44.95

New! Clinique 16 Shades Of Beige - Limited Edition

I do get excited by nude and neutral shades it has to be said, you only have to read my recent nude lipstick and gloss post to know that! Perfect for an everyday look or ramping up with darker shades for a smokier more evening look, neutrals are so wearable and versatile. It is no wonder they are my default beauty look.

As soon as I heard about Clinique's latest limited edition releases I had to find out more and of course share the news with you.

Take a look at the image above..gorgeous!

Clinique All About Shadow Neutral Territory 8 Shade Palette £32

Containing eight shades from the lightest beige to the darkest chocolate, this essential palette is all you need to create a soft or smouldering look.

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel For Sensitive Skins £12 each

This limited collection of 8 glossy neutrals can be worn either to complement your skin tone and elongate your fingers or in a contrasting classy nude shade. I am liking the look of Peek a Boo, I See You, Birthday Suit and Nighty Night.

Shades available -

Room Service - Off White

Peek a Boo,I See You - Nude Peach

Birthday Suit -Neutral Beige

Tickle Me - Neutral Yellow-Beige

Pajama Party -Neutral Pinky-Beige

Do Not Disturb - Reddish Beige

Chocolate On My Pillow - Pearlized Warm Brown

Nighty Night - Deep Cocoa

Available at exclusively at www.clinique.co.uk from 10th January 2014
Available on Clinique counters nationwide from 7th February 2014

Ojon Rare Blend Infusion Shampoo and Rare Blend Deep Conditioner - Review

My mum is a big fan of Ojon products, swearing by the products that are best suited for her hair type she has already repurchased.. Her hair always looks healthy and luscious so she must be on to something there. I recently spent an evening with a few of the Ojon team and was really looking forward to trying out a few products from the Ojon range suitable for my hair type. Today I am focusing on the Shampoo and Conditioner designed for my hair... (dry and coloured)

Ojon Rare Blend Infusion Shampoo

Ojon say 

Deeply nourishing shampoo to restore as it cleanses.
Fortified with a rare blend of legendary "healing" oils including pure Ojon™ Oil, this moisturizing shampoo nourishes to restore every time you wash your hair. Beads of antioxidant-rich Rouge Oleifera release on contact to revive and bring vibrant life to parched, damaged hair. Hair is visibly rejuvenated. And coconut cleansers formulated without sulfates help protect hair's vital natural oils.

My thoughts

The infusion shampoo has a really pleasant subtle vanilla scent and I like the fact that the bottle is clear so I can see the amount of product inside. I wish all products were like this to be honest as I hate not knowing how much I have left! The shampoo is clear with these hard micro beads inside suspended within it which burst open when you massage the product into the hair. The shampoo foams in abundance.

I found it to be gentle on my scalp and appreciate the lack of sulfates (being a scalp psoriasis sufferer)

Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner 

Ojon say 

A dual-phase, multitasking, conditioning treatment that deeply nourishes to repair, detangles, hydrates, smoothes and restores high-gloss shine.

This deep conditioner contains two potent phases:
The amber is a restorative blend of 7 rare oils including pure hair-repairing Ojon™ Oil plus African Shea, Brazilian Muru Muru, and Indian Kokum butters.
Tthe ivory is a moisture-rich cream infused with deeply nourishing plant-derived conditioners.
Just a dollop softens, hydrates and helps restore high-gloss shine and healthy look to even the most dry, damaged hair.

My thoughts 

Just like the Shampoo, the Conditioner bottle is see through so I can see how much product is left. It has a really nice creamy lemon scent and I love the novelty of the dual phase that means that two colours come out of the tube. I think it looks just like the inside of a Cadbury's creme egg.. tempted to lick it!

After shampooing and rinsing, you apply this blended together onto your scalp, leave for 2 minutes and rinse out.

Rinsing it out, hair feels so silky smooth.

The results 

I am really pleased with the results I have to say. Immediately, I noticed my hair was tangle free, brushing it after washing with ease. The condition of my hair was much improved, healthier looking, smoother, sleeker after styling and the all important shine was there! Oh the shine, how I love thee...

For me I can really see the difference swapping to these products from what I was currently using. Hair is super soft, shiny and healthy looking, easier and more manageable to style and my ends rather than looking frazzled and tired have perked right up.

Ojon Rare Blend Infusion Shampoo 240ml £25
Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner 150ml £29

*PR Samples

Elemis Skin Nourishing Body Scrub - Review

Elemis say 

This luxurious creamy body scrub uses natural exfoliators of rice, Bora Bora sand and bamboo to gently polish the skin, whilst sweet almond, macadamia and wheat germ oils nourish and condition. An exquisite milk protein base rich in vitamins is combined with organic oat extract tp help leave skin feeling soft, supple and velvety smooth.

My thoughts

Smelling soft, creamy and powdery this is an effective and gritty feeling body scrub. Coming out of the tube in quite a solid consistency, I found the screw top a bit hard to juggle with the product, I would have preferred a flip top. However, this is a tiny niggle. This Spa at Home Body Scrub smooths and softens skin wonderfully. I suffer from keratosis pilaris on my upper arms and this leaves my skin feeling ultra smooth, helping me to wave goodbye to the bumpy surface.

Elemis Skin Nourishing Body Scrub 200ml £28.50

*PR Sample

Burberry Lip Velvet Pink Apricot Lipstick

I was so impressed with the Burberry lipsticks that I have tried in the past that when I was on the hunt for a new nude lipstick I headed to the Burberry Beauty counter for some assistance. I was intending to try and get a dupe for my all time favourite nude shade by No7 a limited edition matte shade called Nude Rebel. As it happened there was nothing quite like it, with the help of the friendly assistant in John Lewis I took a closer look at Pink Apricot No301 in the Lip Velvet collection as I liked the look of it from the website.

The lip velvet collection are matte, are not at all drying on the lips but hydrating. Are packed full of pigment and smell wonderful. Pink Apricot is a delightful peachy nude and a welcome addition to my nude collection.

Swatch of Pink Apricot second in from left

Burberry Lip Velvet Lipsticks £22.50

Twinings Butter Mint Sensation and Camomile & Maple Sensation Herbal Teas - Review

I am always up for trying new teas and the amount of different teas I have tried is quite startling, given  my penchant for tea I always surprise people when I say that I only started drinking tea aged 25!

These prettily designed boxes from Twinings initially caught my eye in the busy tea aisle and then when I read the descriptions on the box they soon found their way into my shopping basket.

Note: Tea bags are individually wrapped for extra freshness.

Twinings Butter Mint Sensation * - Peppermint leaf & creamy vanilla flavour

The box smells exactly like Murray Mints so I was just a little bit excited about trying Butter Mint Sensation. It has to be noted I tried and really couldn't get into drinking pure Peppermint tea. Not a fan of its taste, it just tasted horrid to my palette and my stomach couldn't well.. stomach it.

Butter Mint Sensation is SO much nicer, if you think you are going to be drinking the liquid version of Murray Mints sadly you will be disappointed. However, it is a milder version of Peppermint tea with a delicious creamier and smoother aspect to it. For me, far more palatable and a real pleasure to drink after dinner as an alternative to a caffeine milky straight up tea. I would purchase this again.

Twinings Camomile & Maple Sensation - Camomile Flower with maple and Madagascan Vanilla *

Once again I have tried pure Camomile tea and didn't see what the fuss was about, I found it tasted how I would imagine dishwater would taste, bland and altogether yucky.

I actually bought this because I was enjoying hot chocolate as a bedtime drink a little too much and felt that was the ideal compromise, Camomile is calming and I felt this version would be worth a try as a bedtime alternative.

Thankfully it tastes wonderful, it is gentle and delicately sweet with the maple tones just poking through. It is perfect and calming before bed ensuring a good night's sleep. I would definitely purchase this again.

Finally some non caffeine, herbal teas I enjoy drinking! :)

Have you tried any of the Twinings Sensation ranges?

** Please note these have been renamed Intensely Buttermint and Intensely Camomile & Maple

Seven Nude Glosses and Lipsticks In My Handbag - With Swatches

My handbag is a treasure trove of mystery, it always seems so heavy and in an attempt to lighten the load I realised that it was being weighed down by makeup and more accurately umpteen lipsticks and glosses.. I thought I had removed a few of the offending items (yes, there are even more nude shades that are not shown here) but it seemed when I yet again emptied my bag that there were no less than 7 nude shades of lipsticks and glosses that I came across. I might add I do also have two bright shades of lipstick permanently in my bag, you know for those just in case moments!

Pictured above are the 7 shades that seem to live in my handbag or get thrown in when I fancy yet another shade of ..nude.

Swatches 

Pictured from left to right

New CID Cosmetics i-gloss in Honey Pot

Burberry Lip Velvet in Pink Apricot 

No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Daydreamer

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist

Collection Little Mix Jade's Lipstick

Benefit Hoola Ultra Plush Lip Gloss 

No7 High Shine Lip Gloss in Coral Kiss

Think All Mascaras Are The Same?

I have tried quite a few mascaras whilst blogging and I thought I would document the ones I have tried so far in a video so you can see just how different my lashes can appear using different mascaras!

Mascaras Featured & Shown In Order

Barry M Lash Vegas Mascara 
Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara 
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara 
Eyeko Magic Mascara 
Avon SuperShock Mascara
No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara
17 Wild Curl Mascara
Max Factor Xperience Mascara Black/Brown

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara 

No7 Intense Volume Mascara - Waterproof

Lancome L'Extreme Waterproof Mascara (shown twice)

Benefit They're Real Mascara

No7 Lash Adapt Mascara

Terre Doc Natural Mascara

Derma ReWork Dreamweave Mascara

Clinique High Impact Mascara

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Flawless You Forever Luscious Mascara

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara

No7 Stay Perfect Mascara

Seventeen Back Lash Mascara

Max Factor Extreme Volume Mascara

Looking forward to trying and reviewing even more mascaras in 2014!

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil UV Filter For Coloured Hair - Review

L'Oreal Elvive's Extradordinary Oil UV Filter for Coloured Hair was one of the first hair oils I tried. I bought this quite a while ago and after the first use I wasn't totally convinced that it was as amazing as the reports I was hearing as I didn't really notice much difference from before when I wasn't using a hair oil...

However, as with all things that I review on BeautySwot.com I gave it the benefit of doubt and carried on using it, trying it in different ways to see which best suited my hair and gave the desired results and of course to give it a proper testing.

L'Oreal Elvive say 

A precious blend of 6 flower extracts with nourishing properties

Sublime Hair Enhancer

Versatile Use
Luminous Colour
Sumptuous Softness
Weightless Touch

To use - Rub 2 drops between the palms of your hands. Apply evenly through the lengths and ends of wet or dry hair. Before shampoo for extra colour protection; before styling to protect and transform your hair; as a finishing touch for sumptuous softness and luminous colour.

My thoughts 

As the oil comes out it has quite a chemical scent to it but as you warm it in the palms it transforms to a really rather pleasant fragrance. The oil is really light, not greasy and it doesn't weigh down the hair . After experimenting I found the best way to use it on my hair was to apply after towel drying and allowing to dry a little before blow-drying and straightening and then one pump as a finishing touch when hair is dry (if required) for extra sleekness. This way I get soft, silky hair with decent, light reflective shine.

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil costs £9.99 for 100ml

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash

Another gorgeous Body Wash to tell you about today. Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash is a gentle, paraben and SLS free creamy body wash with a delicate scent.

Weleda say 

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash is a wonderfully harmonising shower cream with an exquisite composition based on richly nourishing Rosehip Oil, blended to perfection with organic essential oil of Damask Rose which provides a delicate mild fragrance.

My thoughts 

This is a really gentle, yet rich cream formula body wash that is ideal for my can be irritated to some washes skin. It has a pleasant fresh rose scent and leaves skin feeling soft and silky without leaving any residue. Oh and the hot pink packaging adds a welcome splash of colour to the bathroom!

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash costs £8.95 for 200ml

*PR Sample

MeMeMe Seventh Heaven Moisturising Face Base - Review

I picked up Seventh Heaven Enriched Moisturising Facebase quite a while ago from Superdrug and have only got round to properly using it, which is a shame as Superdrug are no longer stocking MeMeME Cosmetics. However all is not lost as you can still pick it up online from the MeMeMe website.

MeMeMe say 

A moisturising face base enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene to prep and prime skin

My thoughts 

As a primer this is superb. It has a lovely cream texture that feels so nice, soft and moisturising on the skin. For those of you who don't like the feeling of silicone primers this is ideal and it has the added bonus of not reacting to certain foundation resulting in that rolling effect that can sometimes happen. It has a lovely citrus lemon scent that is really refreshing. Once it is applied it feels like it coats the skin and has a smoothing effect that results in foundation just gliding onto the skin, filling in pores and lines so that foundation really does appear smooth and flawless.

Very nice indeed.

MeMeMe Seventh Heaven Enriched Moisturising Face Base costs £15 for 30ml although currently on the MeMeMe website it is on offer at £10.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream - Review

Winter is in full flow now and as mentioned many times before on BeautySwot.com I do love a good hand cream and naturally I want to share this with you.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is a multi-purpose cream for dry skin or lips but my favourite application for it is as a hand cream to apply to my hands just before I go to bed.

This product has been on the market for a long time. Developed in 1957 it is said to be one of the best selling products in Japan and it is easy to see why. The cream has a concentrated Glycerin Formula and is enriched with Vitamins B2, C and E. It plumps, hydrates and soothes dry skin beautifully, absorbing fast without leaving an oily or greasy residue. The product is yellow in colour and initially has the medicinal scent of Camphor (smells like Vicks Vapor Rub) which I really love and also has the added bonus of helping to clear my airways to breathe easier (ideal in the Winter) though if you are not a fan, the scent, sadly for me, disappears fast.

Use on rough dry skin,split cuticles, chapped lips, cracked heels, calluses and sunburn anywhere on the body.

Contains no artificial colour or fragrance. Great stuff.

You can buy it in a tub format (70g) from Boots for £19.50 or in this tube format of 33g for around £13 from various online stores.

*PR Sample

Burberry Body EDP _ Perfume Sample Saturday

Today's Perfume Sample Saturday features Burberry Body Eau De Parfum 

Burberry Body is described as a feminine and effortlessly sensual fragrance. Initially, it is ever so slightly fruity and sparkly but the top notes move aside quickly to reveal the deliciously floral rose and iris blended with the warmth of sandalwood and the sweet powdery tones of vanilla and musk. This EDP is extremely easy to wear and for me the name Body for this perfume makes me think that it was so named because the delicateness of the perfume created is (in the perfumier's head) just how the bare skin of a woman smells, the scent of a woman. A fragrance that will appeal to all age groups.

Top notes: Green Absinthe, Peach, Freesia

Heart notes: Natural Rose Absolute, Iris, Sandalwood

Base notes: Woody Cashmeran, Creamy Vanilla, Amber, Musk

Subtle, sensual, very nice.

Burberry Body EDP 60ml costs £55

Max Factor Excess Volume Mascara - Review

Readers of BeautySwot will know that I am a huge fan of Max Factor mascaras so when the latest one landed on my doorstep I wasted no time in putting it to the test....

Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara in Black comes in two phases, the first plastic brush separates and provides extreme volume and the second traditional style brush provides dark lacquer.

Max Factor say 

Indulge your lashes with the ultimate combination of a volumising base, then an intensifying lacquer. Take your lashes to excess.

• Volumising base for excessively thick lashes
• Intensifying lacquer for a polished jet black finish
• Seals in volume for all-day impact
• Intense darkness lasts all day and night
• Easily removed with an oil-based remover

My thoughts 

The tube is quite a thick barrel and as my hands are small I was a little apprehensive of the handling but I needn't have worried as using the mascara was fine.

Part 1 - Extreme Volume 

This side of the brush contains many close together bristles and this separated my lashes beautifully to give the appearance of an abundance of lashes. A couple of coats later and I had wonderfully long lashes. I could wear this mascara as is.

Part 2 - Dark Lacquer 

Applying this over the top of the previous mascara achieves a darker, more intense appearance and stand out lashes. The lacquer seals the mascara and thickens the lashes.

The end result is one that I love very much, my lashes are lust and flutterworthy. They stand out and have high impact.

Excess Volume Mascara is a great addition to the Max Factor Mascara family, the formula is not overly wet, the brushes are easy to use and the effect is impressive.

I loved the effect of it so much it prompted me to make my first ever youtube video!

Take a look here:




Before 

After

Max Factor Excess Volume Mascara costs £12.99

*PR Sample

Rituals T'ai Chi White Lotus & Green Tea Shower Foam

Rituals T'ai Chi White Lotus & Green Tea Foaming Shower Gel is a gel to foam body wash. Just a little spray of the pump starts a chain of humongous foam, so do it carefully! It has a gorgeous fresh scent and leaves skin feeling silky soft without drying it out. Soft and gentle, I love this body wash for its delicious green tea scent. Just reading the ingredients makes me feel healthy. A great way to start 2014 :)

Rituals T'a Chi Shower Form costs £8.50 for 250ml

Every Woman Needs A Little Black Dress

When it comes to party outfits I think that if you only buy one thing you should make it a little black dress... The one I am wearing above was I admit an impulse purchase (I went into the shop looking for a cardigan!). I bought it on the proviso that if I changed my mind and wanted to buy it when I next went shopping it would not be there, like so many things before.

This fits so many of my perfect dress criteria, it is black, it is not too revealing and it gives an amazing shape to my hourglass figure while hiding a multitude of sins! The black lace fabric is stunning and although I am only 4ft 11 I can get away with this non petite sized dress which comes just over my knees. Extremely flattering, comfortable and I feel so good wearing it. What more can a girl ask for ??

Teamed with nude heels which elongates the appearance of my legs.

Dress pictured is from Monsoon's Fusion Collection