Dune Jetsetter

I love a neon splash against nude.. it’s the perfect combination to be bang on trend and stylish at the same time. I’ve been eyeing up these Jetsetters from Dune but haven’t made the splash because I’m so short I need a little bit of a heel.. just a little one! Other than the heel issue these are just about perfect. They’re HERE.

L’oreal Sublime Bronze Exfoliator

Right, this is both good and bad. It’s easily one of the best exfoliators I’ve ever used (thanks to AHAs which really do leave skin feeling outrageously smooth and soft) but I really don’t like the message ‘Tan Optimiser’. There isn’t anything tan optimising about it other than exfoliated skin tans a bit better. I feel that by labelling it ‘Tan Optimizer’ it rather suggests that there might be more to it such as melanin enhancer or even some kind of self tan involved and there isn’t. It’s just an exfoliator, but oh my goodness, such a good one!

I totally recommend it although I’m finding it hard to identify the slight scent – I sort of recognise it but can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s both warm in a skin-scent way and rather fresh. The consistency is a gel-like formula with quite firm granules (so if you don’t like a brisk exfoliator then avoid – and also if you are sensitive to AHAs then you might also want to give it a miss).

It’s going into Superdrug and Tesco next week for £7.99. It’s stuff like this – that does a brilliant job for a decent price – that makes me raise my brows at the ‘luxury’ exfolitors knocking around for £25 and more. There’s definitely a ‘because they’re not worth it’ joke in there but …

Montange Jeunesse Body Products

More famous for their face masks, this is the first Montagne Jeunesse foray into body care. Montagne Jeunesse as it turns out translates as Mountain Youth. Who knew? !

So, I have to say they are extremely fruity smelling – but because they don’t follow the usual stereotype of fruity flavoured beauty, they aren’t as obvious as you might think. I mean, who knows what a Goji Berry smells like? I don’t. But they’re going to have a broad appeal I think for those who like sweet and fruity butters and scrubs. They’re quite inventive really, with Black Raspberry, Buriti, Acai and Goji and a change from the usual suspects, coconut, vanilla  or chocolate. In texture, they’re much like you’d expect from a Body Shop body butter (as a comparison) and they certainly do the hydrating job, leaving my skin feeling totally moisturised. I think a lot will depend upon whether you can live with the scents on your skin. My instincts tell me they’re aimed at a young market who like that confectionary-fruity combination, but it’s also a bit more sophisticated than that. Hard to put my finger on it really.

I should also add that this is a prime example of some very good marketing. It’s no secret that we (journalists and bloggers) are sent ‘incentives’ from time to time, usually in the form of a gift of chocolates, flowers, etc, but these body products came in a massive box full of fruit with a blender. I was sitting in my hall surrounded by bananas and blueberries thinking what a fabulous idea. Now, given that I don’t think I have ever reviewed a Montagne Jeunesse product in my life before, it certainly gave me the push to at least have a proper look at the offering.

And the reason I say that is that while I like to think I can’t be persuaded, I was and I’d rather be open about it. It didn’t make me feel obliged to feature them, but it did make me look and try which then led to me thinking actually, yes, these are worth talking about.

Generally, I prefer not to be pressured with incentives but in this instance it was a win-win because I hate the feeling of obligation but in fact this was such a wholesome thing, with fruit, not massively luxury whatevers, that the whole thing worked. Nice.

L’oreal Paris Neon Pop Nails

I love this collection of popping neons from L’Oreal Paris. I should say they aren’t exactly what I would put in a true neon category but they are colours that come to life on the nails.

L’Oreal Neon Pop Wheel

Love a nail wheel. It’s hours of fun, and if you ever wondered how to do the yellow nail look with a bit of style, this is it. I’m going to do it when I’ve finished my week long test of Vinylux.

L’Oreal Neon Pop Wheel

Or, forget the coloured French – go all rainbow like this (I think they were applied with a sponge) – I’m kind of tempted to try this look too but a little bit worried I might be mistaken for a children’s TV presenter .

I have to say that I really like the bottle sizes of these.. just enough to work the trend for the moment it exists and no more. I would far rather run out of polish than be left with lots that will never get used, and they’re £4.99 which is a good enough price point to make you feel you aren’t breaking the bank.

So, colour wise, the line up is as follows: Banana Pop (yellow), Flashing Lilac (purple), Acid Watermelon (pink) and Wasabi Hint (green) and Snow in Megeve (white). These all launch in June although some are already on the Boots site HERE.

Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Balm

This is the sweetest thing – a little hive style, honey infused balm from Body Shop.

Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Balm

It smells quite honey-ish and uses Community Fair Trade honey from the Western Ethiopian Highlands where bees forage on wild trees and plants.

Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Balm 004

The balm itself has the lightest of shimmers, but it’s definitely there and on the lip is almost see-through so you could add it over the top of lipstick to give some sparkle.

Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Balm

Directly on the lip it does make them slightly paler initially, but that wears away quite quickly and you are left with just the glitter (a no-no for me, but great for glitter lovers).

It’s £6 – not quite launched yet, but coming soon.

Philip Kingsley One More Day

I expect I’m in the majority of people who often leaves washing their hair that one day too long. I hate washing my hair.. it’s one of the most boring things I ever do. But at the same time I like having squeaky clean hair all the time. Dilemma!

So, while dry shampoo comes in handy, the newest launch from Philip Kingsley is a dry shampoo with a bit of a difference – it’s more than just a fast fix for the time poor – because it’s got active ingredients that look after the scalp and hair. Most dry shampoos are a blast of rice-starch or similar with nothing much extra added in – One More Day has Allantoin and Bisabolol to soothe itchy and flaky scalps and Zinc PCA for anti-flake and sebum absorption as well as rice-starch.

It’s launching into M&S Beauty in June for £13.50 (200ml) and a mini size (50ml) for £5.95.

Chanel Minaudiere

Did anyone else spot this minaudiere bag on the Chanel cruise runway? Chanel bag shaped like a bottle of Chanel No.5? Don’t mind if I do. It doesn’t launch until November so plenty of time to save up, sell the car, the house and the kids.

You can only just notice the nail polish though – it’s Chanel Le Vernis in Black Satin. At least I won’t have to sell anything to get a piece of that! It’s £18 HERE.

A ‘minaudiere’ by the way is a small clutch bag, generally jewelled or embellished in some way.

Tamefrizz Frizz Fighter Kit

I’m posting a little early on this one – I’m supposed to wait for three days to see if it lasts the promised three.. but I’m so impressed after one day that I can’t hold back.

I’ll give you the press release info on how it works because I can’t really explain it any better myself, but what I can say is that, on this damp, grey old day there is not a trace of frizz on my hair. That’s after a dog walk on the heath at 7.30am for an hour and then travelling all the way to Hammersmith and home again with the threat of rain heavy in the air all the time. Even if this only lasts one day, I’d still be totally converted. So here’s the ‘how it works’:

“The De-Frizz System (GlycylGlycine, Silicone Quaternium-22, Phenyl Trimethicone) improves the hair’s internal structure and smoothes the hair’s surface. Internally, the De-Frizz System strengthens the hair structure and increases pliability, helping to calm frizz. Externally, the De-Frizz System smoothes the cuticle and reduces the visible effects of frizz. The combined effect tames hair and improves the way the hair lies, letting it fall more naturally into place.

Featured ingredient Pequi Oil is an antioxidant-rich Brazilian fruit found in the Amazon, high in vitamin A and E which is known for taming frizz. Acacia is a tree cultivated in Africa and Australia, rich in sugar derivatives with moisturising properties, known for smoothing and increasing pliability.”

So, the products I used (last night) were the shampoo, the conditioner and the de-frizz oil. I would say that the shampoo doesn’t give that ‘squeaky’ clean feel.. it almost feels like it is coating the hair slightly and took some rinsing out. The conditioner was fine – softening and easy to rinse, while the serum is just pretty much like any other in texture. However, any worries about the shampoo not giving that clean feel had totally gone by the time I blow-dried. My hair just looks like it would with my regular shampoo.

My hair is normal to dry, and does get dreadful frizz in the wrong weather conditions. Ironically, the worst frizz of my life was actually in California, where KMS Tamefrizz comes from!

Prices are as follows:

TAMEFRIZZ shampoo –Prepares for frizz reduction (RRP £12.70),  TAMEFRIZZ conditioner – Smoothes and reduces frizz (RRP £13.50), TAMEFRIZZ smoothing lotion – Detangles and manages frizz (RRP £14.95), TAMEFRIZZ taming creme – Controls frizz with light hold (RRP £14.50)TAMEFRIZZ de-frizz oil – Fast-absorbing, lightweight oil that controls humidity and frizz for up to 3 days (RRP £14.50). It’s available from KMS stockists salons but haven’t been able to find it on line yet.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

They’ve basically made the formulas more long-wearing, added in some new shades (above Pacific Coast and Blushed) and given them more intensity.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

If the shades I have this is far and away my favourite – a completely suit-all, flattering colour that’s good all year round. It’s called Peach Pop.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

You can see from the swatch that they’re not so bright they won’t appeal to the core Clinique customer, but the shades are just the right side of muted-trend.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

This little duo is called Wave After Wave and I’d put it as being for the ‘make-up scared’. It’s light with a slightly darker definition shade – pretty much anyone could use this from age 19 to 90 and it would still look pretty and shimmery.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

So this is my favourite so far – called Jenna’s Essentials – it’s close to a Bobbi Brown palette with suit-all, wearable neutrals in a mix of textures (matte and sheen) and a guide on how to use the palette to best effect. Bliss.

Clinique All About Eyes Autumn 2013

This is On Safari – a mix of khaki shades that is beautiful. These are more shimmery than the previous Jenna’s Essentials palette. I will swatch them later in the week.

I should also point out that my new camera is proving to be a devil.. the *texture* you see on the picture doesn’t exist on the palette – just in my camera’s crazy imagination.

So, we’ll see these palettes roll out in late summer – what do you think? Improvement on the existing range of eye shades?

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic Tri Color Blending Refils

Shu Uemura just keeps on reinventing the wheel! I couldn’t love these more if I tried. They’re the shades from the Eye-Conic autumn/winter range and are designed to go inside the famous Shu palettes. In this case, it’s a swirly, retro looking thing (no image yet) so the whole effect is flower power and then some. It’s rather special because its their 30th anniversary collection.

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic

You can get the picture from the campaign image above. Pucci on fire!

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic

So, the line-up from left to right: Purple, Yellow Brown, Coral Pink, Green Blue and a blush duo, in Orange. The shadow refils are £22 and the blush is £22.

One of the best things is that the combinations aren’t pre-chosen for you – pick what you like and stick it in the palette (£10), which takes one eye combo and one cheek or two eyes or even two cheeks. I’m sure there is a maths equation that would result in there being 8,337,000 different ways to combine but sadly, I can’t find my calculator (*not even looking*).

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte

I’ve got a couple of the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte – above is Pink 345 while below is Beige 930.

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte

A word of warning on the above beige shade matte.. I’ve just tried it (beautiful, silky texture) but it is SO beige it literally blots our your lips. It’s a very odd look – I certainly can’t get away with it – very stylised and very sixties.

Shu Uemura Eye-Conic Rouge Unlimited Swatches

As well as the above, there are some beautiful rainbow lashes and a couple of liners too. I’m not sure when this launches into stores but I’ll update when I know.