Archives for all posts tagged Skincare
Buy 5PM Vouchers Now - Treat Yourself Later
The Coronavirus pandemic has closed the hair and beauty salons, but you can do your bit to make sure they open again by buying Gift Vouchers. Keep businesses like 5pm and its salons ticking over – and have a much-needed salon treat when the virus has gone, and normal life is resumed. Vouchers are valid...
NEW Liz Earle Skin Repair Bespoke Skincare
It’s all about the Base – and the Boost – with Liz Earle’s newest skincare collection, launched this week. Skincare Made Personal is a pretty simple concept -three moisturisers with a trio of textures, and three water-based boosters to add to them to empower you to personalise your skincare routine...
Hand Washing and Hand Cream
One thing we have all been doing a LOT of since the Coronavirus pandemic arrived is washing our hands. AND WE MUST KEEP DOING IT. Constantly. Washing our hands is one of the most important things to do in the current Coronavirus climate. However, all that handwashing is going to take its toll on our...
Beauty Sleep with It Cosmetics
The clocks spring forward this Saturday, meaning we all lose an hour’s beauty sleep. But if you get yourself a tub of It Cosmetics brand new night cream, no-one will ever tell! It’s called Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream, and I’ve been trialling this cream this week, and I have to admit ...
Beauty Kitchen Launch Subscribe & Save Service
Scottish brand Beauty Kitchen is making sustainable beauty even more attainable with its brand new subscription service – Subscribe & Save. Beauty Kitchen aims to save 100 plastic bottles a year per household from ending up in landfill with this new initiative. It’s available exclusively from the Beauty...
5pm Beauty Fixes for Friday 13th
If you are feeling a little down on your luck beauty-wise this Friday 13th don’t despair! 5pm Spa and Beauty has something for every beauty woe – from lacklustre skin to lank hair, to nails that have been gnawed. And the best bit is they’re all at brilliant prices, as ever. We’ve highlighted a few of...
Wash Your Hands Well with Jo Loves and Floris
Are you washing your hands properly, and often? In the face of the Coronavirus outbreak, we’ve all been told to wash our hands more. We should be washing them regularly anyway, and always with soap and water. You might want to carry a hand sanitizer when you are out and about, but only one with alcohol...
Facial Fun with 5pm and Estee Lauder Essence
This new Estee Lauder Micro Essence with Sakura Ferment is £79. That’s not a cheap product. It’s a really light essence-in-lotion, which Lauder say will ‘work deep within the skin’s surface to stabilise the skin and reveal an angelic glow’. Infused with Sakura Ferment, this innovative formula with ...
Skin Sapiens Skincare
Skin Sapiens is the latest sustainable skincare brand to land in my inbox. These independent brands are popping up more and more, and this one is really simple, stylish and superbly packaged. It’s also certified natural and 100 per cent vegan. The brand believes in total transparency from ingredients...
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Launches
I do love an Estee Lauder product. There’s something about the brand. It’s one of the original beauty brands, and it’s probably one of the first I ever used. I was a big fan of Lucidity Face Powder back in the day, way before I was a beauty writer. I love the smell of the Daywear products, and I’m ...
Big Beauty Deals for Spring
It’s the end of another month – almost, as February has another day this year, don’t forget! But it’s time to think about treating yourself once again for making it through another month – and a pretty crazy one weather-wise. Perhaps time to indulge in a Spa Treatment + Prosecco in the luxurious Fairmont...
Barry M NEW Lip Rehab Lip Mask
I featured a few lip masks and treatments around Valentine’s Day, and there must be a trend on the loose, as here’s another new one from Barry M – Lip Rehab. If your lips need a little bit of TLC after winter (if it ever ends, of course!), then a mask is a great way of treating them, and they are a ...
Pancake Day Lemon & Sugar Beauty
It’s Shrove Tuesday – time to eat all the pancakes -and then give something up for Lent, if that’s your thing. So, I thought I’d have a little bit of fun with my favourite pancake toppings – lemon and sugar – and find some beauty buys inspired by that combo. LEMON Let’s start with three luscious lemon...
Caudalie's New Vinosculpt and 5pm Body Care
Caudalie launches a new body product next month – the Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream. It’s a natural body sculpting product, a firming solution that targets four areas that need a little bit firming and lifting assistance. Apply it every morning, and let it do its magic. Use it on the arms, bust,...
REN celebrate 20 years of Clean Skincare with Infinity Recycling
REN has always placed itself at the forefront of the sustainable debate. I recall my first meeting with the brand many years ago and hearing how the team used electric vehicles before we even knew what they were. REN is truly a brand for other beauty brands to aspire to when it comes to the elephant...
Love Your Lips
It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow, and if you are planning on any smooching with a special someone, you probably want your lips to feel soft! Lips are a pretty overlooked part of our face generally, am I right? And they needn’t be, because you can get all sorts of lip care products – masks, scrubs, balms...
MGC Derma New CBD Skincare Trio
Yes, it’s another CBD brand – they are everywhere. You will use cannabinoids in your beauty regime! Okay, let me try to explain the science part of this. The skincare line was founded by pharmaceutical company MGC Pharma – trailblazers in the Phytocannabinoid industry. They’ve created this new collection...
Multi Tasking Beauty All-In-Ones
There are two times of year when these all-in-one products come into their own – winter and summer. At this time of year, we’ve all got those annoying dry patches in our skin – on face and body – and our hair can be a little out of whack thanks to the heating drying it out. Basically. everything sort...
End of January Big Beauty Deals
It’s the end of January. Finally! Spring is coming, payday is here, and it’s time to treat yourself. There are loads of Big Deals on 5pm Spa and Beauty that will give you a post-January boost – and help kick those blues into touch! How about a Choc Scrub and Massage at 200 SVS in Glasgow? You can take...
Clinique announce Global Ambassador is Emilia Clarke
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke is Clinique’s new Global Brand Ambassador for skincare and make-up – and she looks fantastic in her first campaign shots for a new Clinique iD collection addition. Blonde is definitely her colour! We were drawn to Emilia because she is optimistic, happy in her skin...
Face Mask for Men with Beards!
Sometimes beauty products land on my desk that seem a bit absurd. This was one of them – the New Skinbuddy mask for men with beards. Granted it does look a bit mad, but there’s method to the madness! Facial sheet masks are one of the most popular and effective treatments to help improve the appearance...
Beauty brands react to Australian Wild Fires
None of us can have been left unaffected by the terrible coverage of the wildfires in Australia. It’s Australia Day this Sunday, and beauty companies have pledged some help. British-based brand Beached was inspired by Australia and created by Aussie girl in London, Meg Gallagher. This weekend she is...
L'Occitane Liquid Soaps and Eco Refills
I tend to become obsessed with soaps and cleaning at the start of a year – I’ve already posted about new organic liquid soaps I’ve been trying, and now I’m going to get in a lather over L’Occitane’s Liquid Soaps! The French company has been making solid and liquid soaps since 1980, when founder Olivier...
Lunar New Year Reflexology and Jo Malone collection
It’s the Lunar/Chinese New Year next Saturday (January 25), which got me thinking about the reflexology I had last week. It was the first time I had had this treatment in years, and it was fantastic. Loved every minute of it, and it pretty much cured the remains of my cold virus, and I haven’t coughed...
January Beauty Blues for Skin, Hair and Face
The January Blues might already be upon you – but I say try to fight them with a little bit of the January BEAUTY blues. I’ve rounded up a whole load of beautiful blue beauty products so if you are feeling down, have a good pour over these instead, and pop them on your payday list if you want properly...
NEW Erborian Milk & Peel Mask and Balm
Sesame is a key ingredient in Korean cooking, so it makes sense it works in Korean skincare, right? The new Milk & Peel products from Erborian utilises sesame milk – extracted from freshly crushed seeds. Sesame offers a boundless reserve of minerals, iron, essential fatty acids and vitamins, and is ...
Hand Care with Alteya and 5pm
We’re all about the body in January, right? Gym memberships renewed, trainers on for running, and diets started. But how about focusing on something else? Maybe your hands? I was gifted some absolutely gorgeous new organic liquid hand soaps before Christmas, and I don’t think I’ve ever washed my hands...
bareMinerals launch the Poreless Collection
Here’s another brand launching a new line perfect for Veganuary. bareMinerals launches its Poreless Collection – three products designed to help reduce the appearance of pores. It’s a three-step skincare routine – so each product works in tandem with each other. It’s not aimed at any particular age ...
Lush launch new Ultraplant Cleanser
It’s Veganuary, and Lush has launched a new cleanser called Ultraplant – with the hashtag #TryVegan. The brand states this is its most luxurious, cold cream facial cleanser yet, and if you want to treat yourself, and the planet, then give it a go. It is a pretty innovative product – a vegan blend, completely...
REN launches new Jelly Oil Cleanser
If you are in the market for a new cleanser, then look out for this new formula from REN, launching at the end of January. It’s a rich, unique tri-phase formula that transforms from a jelly to an oil, and then to a milk to dissolve waterproof makeup, pollution and even SPF, whilst at the same time, ...
Clarins launch Plant Gold
Clarins has launched yet another pretty innovative product with Plant Gold. This new product fits into the Clarins Aromaphytocare range – more on that later – and is a facial oil, with a difference. It’s absolutely perfect if you haven’t used a facial oil or you are a bit wary of it. Clarins is the...
NEW POREfessional Hydrate Prtimer from Benefit
First, there was the POREfessional Pore Primer, then came POREfessional Pearl Primer, and now Benefit is introducing the POREfessional Hydrate Primer. This one has two new key ingredients – and they are both beauty stalwarts – Hyaluronic Acid, and Shea Butter. Basically, this is the POREfessional original...
Goldfinger (and face and hands and toes) with KIKO!
Here’s a bit of fun for the festive season – gold masks! KIKO has gold masks for your face, hands and toes in the Magical Holiday collection. The extra good news is that there is money off everything in the collection at KIKO right now, so go grab yourself a treat or some stocking fillers. The Magical...
Apothem new CBD brand launches in Harvey Nichols
I was very fortunate to be invited to a gorgeous breakfast at Harvey Nichols a couple of weeks ago week to learn all about the latest CBD brand on the block – Apothem. This is a high-end CBD brand – the clue is in the stockist, right? I have to confess that the CBD beauty revolution has sort of passed...
Christmas Beauty Crackers
Christmas Crackers are getting a bit of a name for themselves this year, for being wasteful. But hopefully, there isn’t too much in these lovely beauty crackers that isn’t recyclable or reusable. And all of the plastic cracker pieces I have used here are vintage ones I purchased to make into jewellery...
Christmas Beauty Baubles
If you need a cute little gift for the beauty fan friend or relative (or cat-sitter, or Secret Santa!) then how about a cute beauty bauble? Festive fun with beauty benefits – you can’t go wrong. AND…they won’t break the bank. These lovely little gift sets are a token of affection, and some of the baubles...
Face Scrub, Peel and Exfoliate
Scrub that skin! Well, use a scrub, but don’t physically scrub it, of course – that is not good beauty practice! My skin gets drier and drier as the winter months move on, and I like to incorporate a once or twice weekly exfoliation into my skincare routine. We should be doing this most weeks anyway...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Boxes for Christmas
Over the next few weeks, it’s going to be all about Christmas beauty gifts on here – from the high street, and 5pm Spa and Beauty – so you will not be short of ideas! First up, some really sleek Christmas beauty boxes from Marc Jacobs. These are a real treat, and the prices are fantastic – lots of savings...
Beauty Advent Calendars 2019
Have you got your advent calendar yet? There are SO many to choose from out there, it’s crazy. Some of the beauty calendars are ridiculous prices, but if you love a brand, and can afford it, why not indulge. LUSH launched its first advent calendar ever on August 29 – and it sold out almost as soon as...
Clinique launch Age Transformer Dual Moisturiser
You can always rely on Clinique to baffle with science when a new product launches. This one has a double-sided A4 press release to go with it, and I have to admit, it’s quite dry reading. So, let me try to simplify it for you – and myself! The Clinique Smart Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Age Transformer...
End of Summer Beauty MOT with 5pm Deals
The clocks go back this weekend, marking the official end of summer, and sometimes it can be a bit depressing thinking about all those dark nights, and winter weather ahead. So, pamper yourself! Give yourself a treat. Think of it as a wee MOT for the new season – change your hair colour, paint those...
Sleeping Beauty
The clocks go back this weekend, as British Summer Time officially comes to an end. The dark nights are coming, but the good news is we get an extra hour in bed this weekend – and that’s an extra hour of beauty sleep! Make the most of it, and use specific night time products that will treat your skin...
Autumn Beauty Buys!
I just love autumn. The colours are great, you get to be super-wrapped up, and super-cosy, the nights draw in, and there’s Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night. What’s not to love?! There are also loads of lovely products that are autumnal out there, so here are a few of my absolute faves for this season. I...
MONAT launches skincare range in UK
I’m never sure how I feel about direct selling companies, having had some pretty awful reactions to, and interactions with, Arbonne in the past. I had never heard of MONAT until recently. American, they’ve been trading for five years and started as a haircare company. They recently branched out into...
Perfectly Primed with REN
REN launched the Perfect Canvas Clean Primer last month, and if you are in the market for a new primer, then this one is worth a look. It’s weightless, silicone-free, and doesn’t sit on the skin like some do, but sinks in beautifully upon application. You only need a couple of drops, and you should ...
NEW No7 Laboratories Skin Pastes and No7 Foundation
Pastes. That’s a formula I keep hearing. Yesterday it was the new Alpha-H paste, today it’s two new pastes from Boots No7 Laboratories. This new No7 range has passed me by, but I am hopeful I’m back on the press office radar now. They kindly sent me the two new pastes that launch to the Skin Paste range...
Alpha-H Vitamin C Paste
The best beauty ingredients for your skin seem to change like the wind – one month it’s charcoal, the next Centella Asiatica, the next retinol. They all have their worth, but it is safe to say that Vitamin C is one that should always stay near to, or at the top of your list. It stimulates collagen production...
L'Occitane NEW Precious Immortelle Dynamic Youthcare
L’Occitane has reformulated its Precious Dynamic Youthcare range for a new season, and if you are beginning to notice the first signs of ageing, then you need to check it out. At the heart of the collection lies a duo of complementary active ingredients – Immortelle essential oil and the dynamic Hyaluronic...
Boost that Complexion with Erborian - or a Facial from 5pm Salons
At the end of the summer season, you need to give your skin a little bit of a boost. I know my skin starts to lose that summer glow the minute the calendar changes to September, so time to boost it, agreed? Erborian is launching a new CC Dull Correct Cream which – well the clue’s in the name. This will...
Barry M Helps You Maintain That Summer Glow
It’s been a funny old summer – rain one minute, sunshine the next. And repeat. But it is almost September, so autumn will soon be on us. However, the lovely people at Barry M have created a couple of products to help you maintain that summer glow – and they won’t break the bank. First up, the Crystal...
After Summer Offers from Time Bomb x QVC .. and 5pm
It’s time for another QVC x Time Bomb massive deal -and this one really does have a whopping saving – of 80 per cent on the RRP. The Après Summer Shimmer Collection also includes a new product – the SHOW-OFF Shimmer Lotion. The deal will cost £43 + £4.95 P&P, and separately the products would actually...
Make a date to exfoliate!
Exfoliation is key to good skin. You have to sometimes slough off those dead skin cells to let the new ones shine through. I find it particularly helpful at a few different times of the year – as spring appears, before summer holidays, at the end of summer, and in the middle of winter. Exfoliating face...
Friday Face Mask: Erborian Matte & Glow Shot Masks
Face Masks had that moment where everyone was doing them, all the time. The more instagrammable the better it seemed. How they looked on seemed to be more important than what they did (if anything) for a while there. I think we reached ‘peak masking’, and something else came along to draw the influencers...
Beautiful Big Deals
It’s a new month, time to treat yourself to a BIG DEAL – and 5pm Spa and Beauty has plenty of big deals to choose from. Maybe a Spa Day is up your street, it’s time for some serious massage, or a simple manicure is on the menu. Whatever your beauty needs, there’s a deal for you on 5pm. Let’s start with...
Facial Mists and Setting Sprays
There’s a big beauty trend for setting sprays. They’ll keep your newly applied makeup in perfect position – even if the heatwave weather of last week returns in spades. There also seem to be more and more new misting serums and moisturisers on the market – a new and efficient way to apply product to...
Wonder Balm from A Pony Called Steve
Confused by that headline? I’m not surprised! But let me explain. The product is Wonder Balm, and the brand is A Pony Called Steve. Simple. The Glasgow-based company is two women, and no pony – just the imaginary one they used to envisage using as a mode of transport in the busy city! Emma and Aminah...
Skin Brightening with Emma Hardie and 5pm Deals
Wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots – all very annoying, and inevitable as we age. We can’t stop then. We can help limit them and slow down the march, but we all age – it’s inevitable. What we can do is brighten our skin though – give it back a little of the youthful glow you see in all those old photos...
Six Sunny Summer Sets
Maybe it’s just me, and a love of all things ‘mini’, but I do love a wee travel set for the holiday season. Here are six of the best! SOL DE JANEIRO BUM BUM JET SET, £24, WORTH £28, SPACE NK This brand is so much fun, and sunny yellow/orange bag and products are super-summery. The set contains Bum Bum...
Emma Hardie Skincare Celebrates 10 Years
Emma Hardie launched her eponymous beauty best-loved decade ago – and to celebrate has launched a special edition of her launch product – the Moringa Cleansing Balm. The London facialist burst on to the beauty scene 10 years ago this September, and I wrote about the brand on my now-defunct blog, Beauty...
Crabtree & Evelyn Announce New Brand Identity
Crabtree & Evelyn has announced a new brand identity, more in keeping with the ethos of its founder, wanderlust and nature enthusiast, Cyrus Harvey – and one that is aimed at bringing it right into the 21st Century! The brand is obviously looking to move away from an old lady gift set image, to one...
Specific Suncare
If you are off on holiday soon, then don’t forget your sunscreen! It’s one of the most important things you can pack, so make room in your luggage for at least a couple of bottles of suncare to suit you. And use something different on the face to the body – you wouldn’t put your regular body lotion ...
Facial Suncare
If you are off on holiday soon, then don’t forget your sunscreen! It’s one of the most important things you can pack, so make room in your luggage for at least a couple of bottles of sun care to suit you. I’ve popped another post on here looking at new, innovative, specific sunscreens, and one that ...
NEW L'Occitane Cleansers
L’Occitane has a whole new cleansing range out this month, with pretty much every type of cleanser, for every occasion, and every skin type covered. All of the new cleansing range products are infused with extracts of fruits and vegetables from Provence or the south of France, chosen for their specific...
NEW Bobbi Brown Cleansers
Bobbi Brown has launched two new cleansers for summer – although technically one of them is a relaunch of an old favourite. The Soothing Cleansing Oil has been reformulated with all sorts of good-for-skin ingredients to make sure your skin is instantly soothed, clean, calm, and nourished, as well as...
Alpha-H launch Clear Skin Tonic
I love a beauty launch that is something new, and innovative. Alpha-H rarely lets me down, and the Australian brand has come up trumps once again with this new Clear Skin Tonic. Acids are great for the skin – we know this. They are excellent exfoliants and are brilliant in the pursuit of glowing skin...
Rose Beauty
The other week I wrote about the new Jo Loves Rose Petal fragrance, and it got me thinking about how much I love rose. So I thought I’d have a little call-put for some other rose scented/coloured/themed/inspired beauty products, and share what I found. Apparently, Holly Willoughby likes the Korres Wild...
New Origins Dr Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom additions
Origins has partnered with Dr Andrew Weil for years now on the Mega-Mushroom line, and here are two new products in the range for 2019. First up the Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Sheet Mask. Who doesn’t love a sheet mask? This one is made from the pulp of trees...
Cactus Beauty
If you don’t have at least one cactus, or something cacti-themed in your house in 2019, then who are you?! The ultimate in hipster houseplants, the humble cactus is super-cute, easy to look after, and there are SO many different kinds. But do you have any cacti-based beauty products in your collection...
Clinique launch new Moisture Surge products
Moisture Surge was a huge launch for Clinique around a decade ago, and the line has grown and grown over the years. Products have come and gone, and some have stood the test of time. And now, Clinique has added four new products to the best-selling hydration range for 2019. The star of the show is the...
Sunny Summer Beauty
Are you in a summer state of mind? I can’t help drifting constantly to the beach in my mind, which is a nightmare, as I won’t be heading there until at least August! This time of year is when we all start craving our sunny summer holidays, and who isn’t keeping everything crossed that we get the summer...
Cleansing Day and Night!
I learned, quite late in life, that the key to good skin is not the moisturiser, or the toner, but the first step – the cleanser. So, I’ve collated (thanks very much to everyone who gifted me a cleanser for this piece) ten cleansers to try – all different formulas, some for day, some for night, and ...
Summer Breaks with 5pm Trips
Earlier this week I was writing about the new Clarins Suncare range, and it got me thinking about a holiday in the sun. If you aren’t ready to book up your big holiday, or if you already have, but fancy another wee break in between, or a few days away is all your budget will allow, then 5pm Trips is...
NEW suncare from Clarins
Last weekend’s heatwave was wonderful, and it put me right in the holiday mood! Luckily I had some of the new Clarins suncare to use when I was out in the sun. The new range is packaged beautifully, there is LOADS to choose from and all sorts of amazing formula. The all new Clarins High Performance...
Have A Lush Easter!
If you don’t want chocolate this Easter, then head to Lush for some brilliant Easter goodies, without a calorie in sight. Lush always has brilliant themed goodies for every occasion, and this Easter is no exception. Did you know that previous research carried out by governmental body WRAP, found 3,000...
Easter Egg Beauty from Too Cool For School
If you don’t want chocolate this Easter, you could still have your eggs, with Too Cool For School’s EGG range! Don’t you just love Korean beauty brands? They’re cute, fun, and effective. This one has recently launched into larger Boots stores, and is available at online beauty sites, including lookfantastic...
Cannabis Beauty
Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Cannabis – all on-trend beauty ingredients that have been everywhere for the last few years. The latest brand to land on my desk to contain Cannabis is French holistic self-care (there’s another buzzword that is everywhere right now) brand Ho Karan. The name means I love ...
Unicorn Beauty
It’s National Unicorn Day. Yes, that is a thing. The unicorn is Scotland’s national animal, so why should we not celebrate this lovely, mythical, omnipresent, beast? Unicorns are EVERYWHERE! You can pretty much get anything unicorn-shaped, themed, or printed in 2019, but let’s concentrate on some unicorn...
New mums Mother's Day with L'Occitane
A friend of mine is due to give birth this week, just in time for Mother’s Day! How lovely. This gorgeous gift would be perfect for her, and all new mums! L’Occitane’s Cuddles & Bubbles Baby Collection is a lovely gift set featuring products from the brand’s Karite Bebe range – which is its shea for...
Ren Clean Screen Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 for happy skin!
It’s International Day of Happiness! Smile! The sun is shining – or it will be soon, trust me! Spring is in the air, and that means time to look at protecting your skin from the sunshine. Yes, I know, Vitamin D is important, but red is not a good look, and those wrinkles the sun causes are also not ...
Facial fun with 5pm and Elemis x RIXO
It’s Friday! Here’s a great beauty deal for you – available from today. The Limited Edition Elemis x RIXO Beauty Edit is a super cool weekend treat, packed with fab products. The set features four radiance-restoring Elemis bestsellers and an on-trend RIXO Love Heart print scrunchie – I’m not going to...
Masterchef beauty brand?!
Sometimes I live under a rock when it comes to certain beauty brands. How did this one pass me by? Are you a Masterchef fan? I am – and currently loving the latest series. And now I’m casting my mind back to 2014, and one of the contestants – Angela Langford. Who knew she had a skincare line? Not me...
Estee Lauder NEW Perfectionist Pro UV Fluid SPF45
I’m not sure what category you’d put this new Estee Lauder product into, but it is the last step in your skincare regime, so probably a primer – with SPF benefits. The new Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro UV Fluid SPF 45 is a hybrid to help protect your skin against those damaging UVA/UVB rays, and a ...
NEW Origins Plantscription Retinol Night Moisturizer
It’s been a while since I’ve used an Origins Plantscription product, but I am looking forward to this one. Back in 2011, I reported on, and subsequently reviewed, the launch of the original Plantscription Anti-Ageing Serum. I loved it. I had SO many compliments on my skin, and it probably was one of...
Clarins launch new Extra-Firming Eye Serum and Serum
Clarins launches two new products in its successful Extra-Firming range this month just in time to add a little spring to your skin for spring! The Extra-Firming range gives instant and long-term lifting effects to the skin, and was created specifically for women in their 40s. The products are excellent...
New Night Creams from Filorga and Caudalie
Night time is the best time for beauty products to work their magic – if you are any sort of beauty geek, you will know this. So, a night cream is a vitally important part of any skincare routine. I keep mine by my bedside, so I never forget to apply, and I alternate creams with glycolic based liquids...
REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream
I think we’ve determined now that Vitamin C is one of those beauty ingredients that works. It’s something that isn’t going anywhere, and if you aren’t using a product with Vitamin C in it, why not?! The latest to land on my desk is the REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream. Vitamin C as an ingredient helps...
Sunny 5pm Beauty Deals!
I’ve been all about the sunshine these past few weeks. I’ve been writing about sunny beauty products, smelling sunny scents, watching the glorious sunshine on Shipwrecked (I know, I know, it’s addictive) and dreaming of sunnier days. I was also sent this new sunscreen brand, which has me looking out...
Cute little beauty bits from REX London
I was kindly gifted some cute little beauty bits from the newly launched range at online store, Rex London – formerly dotcomgiftshop. If you are a lover of all things cutesy, kitsch and kawaii, or you have a tweenie who is, then this new range is perfect for little gifts- and the bunny bits are brilliant...
Sunshine Yellow Beauty
Inspired by the launch of the Marc Jacobs Daisy Sunshine I blogged about on here this week, I decided to pull together more beautiful sunny yelllow beauty bits. How bright and beautiful a colour yellow is, and I defy you to not be cheered up just looking at this sunny lot! 1.This gorgeous yellow nail...
Shiseido NEW Benefiance Moisturiser
Shiseido has launched a new range of three moisturisers – Benefiance. It’s been a long time since I have used any Shiseido skincare, and I have yet to try this, but one of the brand’s foundations – the Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation is worth every penny of the £35 and more. I have never...
Pesky Tech Neck strikes again!
I’ve written about this thing ‘Tech Neck’ before – it’s something of an obsession of mine just now. I’m noticing some lines and crepiness in that area, and am trying anything I can. So, I was pleased to receive the MGC Derma CBD Neck & Décolleté Recovery Serum last week. Now, neck issues were once the...
Vegan beauty in Veganuary
Veganuary! It’s everywhere – even here! Yes, there are loads of vegan beauty products out there. Probably loads more than you’d even think – but why would beauty products have loads of animal product in them?! Anyway, I’ve been bombared with Veganuary press releases since, ooh, way back in October, ...
Get Happy Ahead of Blue Monday - 5pm Deals!
Next Monday – January 21 – is Blue Monday – the day we are all meant to feel absolutely awful and unable to cope with the hell that is January. It’s all pseudoscience, and was first created by a travel company in a press release, using an actual equation, worked out by many factors, including weather...
The Eyes Have It - with 5pm Deals
The eyes have it. Or maybe it was just because no-one was that familiar with the brand – whatever the reason, Filorga’s Time-Filer Absolute Eye Correction was the most Googled beauty product of 2018,according to Google’s 2018 Year in Search, thanks mainly to its inclusion in the M&S Advent Calendar....
NEW Clinique iD skincare system
Clinique has launched a new bespoke skincare system – Clinique iD. I’m not sure how much of a fan I am of these skincare systems where you mix and match your own products – it’s all a bit schooldays chemistry and fiddly for me, but I can see the appeal to some. This custom-blend hydration system means...
Super Moisture Mens Collection from Clarins + MEN'S DEALS
Men, this is a real treat from Clarins. Super Moisture products in different formulas, so you choose which suits you best. No ‘one formula fits all here’. These three new hydration products will intensely moisturise and strengthen the skin. Harsh weather, stress, sports, shaving, and even testosterone...
New Year Night Repair
New Year, new night cream. Did you know that your skin regenerates more when you are asleep? So any anti-ageing creams you use work harder and do more overnight. The idea of beauty sleep isn’t so daft after all! And at this time of year, when we all miss a lot of sleep, even moreimportant to get a good...
Winter Body Care
If I have one beauty resolution for the New Year it’s to take more care over my body care. I am fastidious with my application of facial skincare, and completely random and hit or miss with my body care. And in the winter, you can’t be like that. Dropping temperatures and rising heating temperatures...
Gift of Glow Time Bomb QVC TSV and 5PM Facial Deals
Don’t you just love TV shopping channels? They’re so cheesy! And the TV shopping challenge on The Apprentice this season was hilarious. But they are the home of great deals. And there’s a great TSV (Today’s Special Value) on QVC this weekend (Sunday 16) featuring a brand I love, Time Bomb, and a new...
Christmas Gifts for Her
Got someone female to buy a gift for? Of course you have. So here are a few suggestions, for all beauty fans, from skincare to makeup, big and small. A beauty gift is a gorgeous, pampering thing to receive, big or small. We hope your gift recipients like some of our suggestions. BENEFIT MAGICAL BROW...
Christmas Gifts for Him
Christmas shopping still to do!? Gift for him required? We hope we can be of help! He’s hard to buy for? Just get him a grooming gift. All men love it – many of them probably just don’t spend any time buying stuff like this for themselves. And if you do have a grooming guru on your hands, impress him...
Jo Malone London Christmas 2018
It’s not even December, but a lot of this lovely festive Bring on the Baubles range from Jo Malone London is already sold out online, so you might need to head to stores if you really want something. I’m not going to lie – it’s not my favourite Jo Malone London collection. I was a little underwhelmed...
Clinique Fresh Pressed Clinical Daily + Overnight Boosters
Clinique has this habit of launching new products with impossibly long names. Here’s another one that has recently hit counters – Fresh Pressed Clinical Daily + Overnight Boosters with Pure Vitamin C 10% and Vitamin A (Retinol). See – long name. Basically this is Clinique’s take on hot beauty ingredients...
Black Friday Beauty Offers
It’s Black Friday this week – and there are all sorts of deals out there, on all sorts of products,from all sorts of brands. It’s a bit overwhelming, and who knows if it’s really worth it? Or are you just buying because you get caught up in the hype? I’ve had loads of info sent to me for beauty offers...
Face Vinegar? Yep, it's a thing.
I love a new product press release when it’s something I’ve never heard of before – because that’s rare after 15 years plus doing this job – but Face Vinegar?! Doesn’t sound that appealing does it? However, don’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case, the name. For a start, this isn’t really a ...
Korean Beauty Brand J.One launches in Boots
I’ve been all about the K-beauty of late, as more and more brands launch into the UK. Boots now stock Sephora’s best-seller J.One. The J.One Jelly Pack sells four units EVERY MINUTE in South Korea. This hero product is joined in Boots by the J.One Black Jelly Pack, and the J.One Jelly Cream. The J.One...
Algenist ALIVE Prebiotic Balancing Mask
What’s better than a face mask? A colour-changing face mask! But this new Algenist ALIVE Prebiotic Balancing Mask is far from being a gimmick. It’s formulated with a prebiotic from algae, a good-bacteria probiotic and patented Alguronic Acid. It balances, detoxifies and boosts radiance, giving you a...
Elemis x Savannah Miller GWP
The concept of the beauty brand gift with purchase (GWP) is as old as time itself, it seems! I used to love these as a teenager. Sometimes they’re not that great, but this one is excellent. Elemis x Savannah Miller Nine for Debenhams – and it’s leopard print! It is also jam-packed with goodies, and ...
Superdrug Skincare Boosters
It’s November! How did that happen?! The clocks have gone back, the weather is getting colder, and summer is a distant – if not lovely – memory. Your summer skincare routine should also be in the past. Time to reassess your skincare for winter. Helpfully, Superdrug’s B range has just launched two new...
Pumpkin Beauty
It’s Hallowe’en on Wednesday, and pumpkins are everywhere! Who doesn’t love the orange vegetable – maybe not to eat, but to make a jack-o-lantern out of at least?! But did you realise that pumpkin is good for your skin? Pumpkins have SO MANY skincare benefits! It is packed with fruit enzyme and alpha...
YourGoodSkin launch Revitalizing Foam Wash
YourGoodSkin is the Boots brand I blogged about last year – it launched with a fanfare, a US collaboration sold in Walgreens and Boots exclusively, co-created with scientists, dermatologist, and a community of thousands of women. Today there’s a new product in the range, which fits perfectly into the...
Drunk Elephant lands in Scotland
Yes, that is a beauty blog post title, and not a strange wildlife story! If you’re a new beauty brand fan, then chances are you will have heard all about the latest buzz-brand to launch in the UK – Drunk Elephant. It hit Space NK stores this month, and there’s a tour going on – more about that later...
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Beauty Buys
It’s October again, and in the beauty world that means a plethora of pink products for Brest Cancer Awareness Month. It seems a little low-key this year. Maybe I’m just not getting the right releases. It’s not only Estee Lauder Companies that run breast cancer charity initiatives in October, but it ...
Treat your skin with a facial
A facial is a great thing to indulge in – especially at the change of seasons. Slough off that dead skin, and glow again for the upcoming party season! Elemis has just launched a new Amethyst Roller so you can indulge in a little bit of a facial at home. Facial rolling gives great beauty benefits to...
Temple Spa support MIND with Repose
This month, Temple Spa is supporting the charity MIND, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on October 10. The offer they have put together is great, and features their best-selling, cult product, Repose. I do have a bit of a problem on this, because Temple Spa is a UK-wide brand, but MIND is an ...
Caudalie Vinopure Anti-Blemish Collection
Caudalie recently launched a new anti-blemish range – Vinopure, targeted at women who, long after their teenage years, still have issues with the appearance of blemishes, shine and clogged pores on combination to oily skin. Our skin has never been subject to such harsh conditions, thanks to things like...
GLAMGLOW launch STARPOTION Charcoal Clarifying Oil
Charcoal is still riding high in the beauty world, and is the main ingredient in GLAMGLOW’s latest launch – STARPOTION Liquid Charcoal Clarifying Oil. It’s their ‘magic potion’ and GLAMGLOW say it will transform your skin right before your eyes. Not sure if that’s actually going to happen, but maybe...
NEW Night Serum from L'Occitane
L’Occitane launch a new night serum this month – Immortelle Reset. The idea is that this serum will reset your skin after a night’s sleep – which might not be as good as you think. Accoridng to L’Occitane research, we sleep a whole two hours less each night compared to the 1960s. Couple that with our...
End of month big beauty deals
It’s end of August, time to treat yourself to something new for the coming autumn months. And no, we don’t mean a coat! We’re talking a new beauty treatment to refresh your look for the months ahead, or a spa break to just get away and recharge for the winter. If you have never had microdermabrasion...
Colour Correction with new Erborian CC creme
I have mild rosacea and I do suffer from flushing (mainly with heat or alcohol) which is very frustrating. I’m always looking for new correcting products., and this latest one from Korean brand, Erborian, is the latest I’ve tried. The Erborian CC Red Correct is changes colour on contact with your skin...
We all love a cleanser, according to new stats
It seems that our love affair with skincare shows no signs of ending, with British women spending £1.15bn on facial skincare in 2017, with sales set to increase by three per cent to reach £1.18bn this year, according to Mintel research. Over the next five years alone, Mintel expects the category to ...
Evolve Organic Beauty NEW Superfood 360 Serum
I love a serum. I don’t feel like my beauty routine is complete with just one face product of a morning. As a beauty writer and editor, I am lucky enough to get lots to try – so I don’t have one particular serum as a favourite. Some last the distance, others get passed on to family and friends to try...
Cucumber beauty with Boots
Boots has rebranded and reformulated its own-brand beauty ranges, including some old favourites. Boots’ Cucumber range takes me straight back to my teenage days and my first beauty buys. So, I had to take a look at it again, obviously. And it’s still fab. That familiar smell is amazing, and the facial...
Clarins launch NEW Pore Control Serum
As we start to see a shift in beauty launches from summer to autumn, Clarins has just launched a new Pore Control serum . Yes, the sun might still be shining, but the beauty companies are autumn-ready, and lots of new launches will be appearing in the next month or so. Let’s face it, during the summer...
High Summer Spa Deals
How good has this summer been? It’s been so warm, it’s hard to imagine summers that weren’t like this! But summer can’t last forever, so why not treat yourself to a big beauty deal that you can enjoy when it’s maybe not quite as sunny as it is now – if that ever happens! Have you ever tried a smoothing...
Clinique launch Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly
There are a lot of gels and jelly formulas appearing at the moment, none as big a launch as this new Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. Dramatically different from the original Dramatically Different Lotion indeed – in that it’s a jelly. And not yellow! So, why? That was my first question. I’m ...
Bare Minerals NEW Complexion Rescue Defense
This is a big launch for bareMinerals – a moisturiser that protects against the modern phenomenon of ‘Blue Light Damage’ – the Complexion Rescue Defense Radiant Tint Protective Moisturizer. What is Blue Light Damage? Well, research says it occurs hanks to our obsession with #selfies and social media...
ELEMIS Rose Pro-Collagen Balm for Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Awareness month in the beauty world is generally October, and started by Estee Lauder, but ELEMIS has launched its BCC product this month – Limited Edition Pro-Collagen ROSE Cleansing Balm. ELEMIS is proud to support Breast Cancer Care for the 18th year running, with this product, and ...
Sporty Beauty
I’m not really very sporty. I like to watch sport, but taking part? Not really me. However, I have undertaken a charity thing this summer which means I have to run. A lot. (You can find out more about that here if you want) Now, being a beauty writer, editor, and, above all, fan, I am not one for just...
International Kissing Day Lip Prep!
It’s International Kissing Day tomorrow – did you know? So, if you fancy smooching/snogging/necking/tashing on, then you better make sure you’ve done some lip prep – an there are loads of ideas and offers on 5pm Spa & Beauty. Also, you need to make sure you have your favourite lipstick at the ready ...
Queen of Pop by Poppy Delevingne for Jo Malone London
POW! Look at this cute collection from Jo Malone London. Curated by Poppy Delevingne, this bold and bright collection contains colognes, candles and brand new bubbles! New for 2018, Jo Malone launches Bubble Bath. It comes in three scents – Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Black Cedarwood & Juniper (both ...
Are you pool ready? Summer beauty buys!
Love Island. Pool party. Loads of shimmer and shine. We’re in. But not Dr Alex’s sunburn, okay? He really should know better. Here’s our pick of some of the best summer beauty available this year. Don’t get mugged off! THE BODY Keep your body hydrated, moisturised, add a bit of shimmer, keep it cool...
Cocoa Brown by Marisa Carter Fresh Start Self Tan Eraser
As long as we’re being careful in the sun, it might be an idea to ditch the fake tan this week and see what natural tan you can get. But that fake stuff can be stubborn, right? So, invest in this new Cocoa Brown Fresh Start Self Tan Eraser. Brilliant for fake tan faux pas, this removes traces of old...
Lancer Skincare Like Kim K
Kim Kardashian. She’s not on my list of role models, but heck, she’s pretty popular, right? And anything she does is popular. So, if you are a big fan of KKW, then you will probably already know that Lancer skincare which she swears by has recently launcehd in to Edinburgh’s Harvey Nichols. Created ...
Classic Beauty Salon Treatments
Inspired by Bobbi Brow’s #CantLiveWithout campaign, highlighting classic Bobbi products – we wrote about this on the blog this week – I decided to pick a few classic beauty salon treatments available on 5pm Spa & Beauty. We’re all creatures of habit, and we all love to indulge ourselves with our favourite...
Big Beauty Deals for Summer
It’s June, you’ve been paid, and summer is here! Time to treat yourself to a beauty deal. Fancy a manicure maybe? Or a facial to get your skin set for summer? Or a relaxing massage? Let’s start with the Summer Skin Facial at Glasgow’s Glow Skin Centre and Tanning Salon. The Big Deal is for a Dermalogica...
Be Safe in the Sun
Sunshine! Hallelujah! And with some heat in it too. But, that also means it has some UVA and UVB rays in it, and those aren’t such good news. So, if you are out in the sunshine make sure you have some sun protection on. This is particularly important for us fair-skinned Scots. Your fake tan may give...
(Royal) Wedding Prep
There’s a wedding this weekend, did you know? Some ginger guy is marrying a TV star. Yep, it’s finally here – the Royal Wedding. Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle in Windsor Castle this Saturday. I’ve had TONS of press releases about the wedding for the last ooh, seems like a lifetime, and lots ...
Reveal magazine Bargain Beauty Hotlist
We all love a beauty bargain, right? Well, you will definitely want to get your hands on the latest copy of Reveal magazine today then. Reveal has announced the winners of the Reveal Beauty Hotlist – the first and only media awards that recognise the best beauty products under £10. The expert judging...
Murad Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel Mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one once a month on Fridays from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. MURAD HYDRO-GLOW AQUA PEEL MASK, £40 FOR PACK OF FOUR This mask is a wee bit different, as it comes in two steps. First you swipe...
Get yourself a Love island Look
Love Island is back on our screens next month – don’t pretend you’ll not be watching! It’s TV-crack, and we love it. Superdrug has launched a range of Love Island beauty goodies – including glittery sprays, bronzers, tans, and more, available at the end of May. Bronzing Set, £8 And it got us thinking...
Vegan Body Yoghurt from The Body Shop
The Body Shop launch a new range of body moisturisers this month – Body Yoghurts. And they’re 100 per cent vegan. Let’s be honest, body moisturising is a pain, agreed? According to research 35 per cent of women in the UK don’t use a body moisturiser – because it takes too long to apply. So, these new...
REN launch AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum
REN launches its AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum in May – a body serum that works to improve the skin by boosting the natural exfoliating process – using AHAs – or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. You might be familiar with them in facial skincare, but not so much in body care. There is a big debate over the use of...
Clarins NEW Hydra-Essentiel Lip and Eye
Clarins added a couple of new products to its Hydra-Essentiel range last month – the Moisturising Reviving Eye Mask, and the Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. I love the Hydra range from Clarins – it works brilliantly on my dry skin. The range was recently rebooted, and now Clarins is adding more to it...
Scandi Skincare from VERSO
We all love everything Scandi, right? From Scandi Noir on the TV to hygge at home, we’ve fully embraced the trends from Scandinavia in recent times. So, why not embrace the beauty brands too? Well, one of them at least – VERSO from Sweden. I was lucky enough to meet up with brand founder Lars Frederiksson...
Emma Hardie Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one every other Friday from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. EMMA HARDIE MORINGA RENEWAL TREATMENT MASK, £49. SPACE NK OKAY, so I’ve been a bit lax with this blog post series – it’s been a few months...
Tanning Deals
Snow. Right, that’s enough of that, I think. What is going on with this neverending winter?! So, let’s NOT talk snow, and talk tanning instead. Okay, you might not be showing off your limbs, still wrapped up in winter clothes, but surely having a bit of a tan will make you feel better at least. I was...
GlamGlow Waterburst Moisturiser
I am not a massive GlamGlow fan – the products are fun, and I love the concept. But whilst I’d use the face masks, because they are fun, I’m not completely convinced with the moisturisers. However, I am going to give the latest a go, because it’s been created for dry skin, and that’s me! The new GLAMGLOW...
Easter Beauty!
It’s Easter this weekend, and if a chocolate egg doesn’t do it for you – or you want to gift someone something a little different – then check out these Easter beauty-themed eggs. L’OCCITANE EASTER EGGS These are SO cute. An adorable alternative to a chocolate egg for the beauty fan. The egg comes in...
Spring Body Beauty
The clocks spring forward this weekend, and, fingers crossed, as the days get longer, we get better weather. And that means, maybe, we shed our winter wardrobe, and actually show a bit of flesh! So, it’s probably a great time to have a bit of a spring overhaul on that body you’ve been hiding under layers...
Boots No7 New Radiant Results Cleansers
Cleansing is key to a good skincare routine. It all begins with cleansing – in the morning – and ends with it, in the evening. As well as getting your makeup off, and cleansing your skin from the grime of the day, choosing the right cleanser is important in anti-ageing, and your skin’s wellbeing. With...
Clarins New Extra-Firming Day and Night Creams
Never mind a spring in your step, Clarins aim to put a spring in your skin this spring, with their new Extra Firming Day and Night Cream Duo. Are you experiencing small lines around the eyes? A less defined facial shape? Maybe the first signs of slackening? If the answer is yes, then these new creams...
Clinique's new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
As far as beauty products names go, this one from Clinique must be the longest yet! The new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator has just launched, and I think to save us all we should ust call it their new 72-Hour cream! This new addition to the popular Moisture Surge line (of which I ...
Mother's Day Gifts
It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, and I always think the best gift you can give is spending time with your mum, or mum figure in your life. I know my mum would much prefer to have some time with me, than an expensive gift, and if I was a mum, I’d feel the same, I am sure. That’s not to say you turn up...
Origins Original Skin additions
Origins added three new products to its Original Skin range this month – a primer, a cleanser, and a matte moisturiser. Aimed at skin 25+, the range first launched with a serum back in 2015 Since then, there’s been a Face Mask and an Essence Lotion (like a toner) – and now these three new products have...
Clinique Fit Post Workout Beauty
This range from Clinique was a genius January launch – but if you’re still in the gym now in February you might want to investigate it. It’s only available in store at Selfridges, but you can get it online. I love the packaging, and the idea is great – CliniqueFit has everything you need for after a...
New masks from GLAMGLOW
GLAMGLOW is a fun beauty brand. That’s not to say the products don’t work, of course, but fun is a big part of this brand – and they are brilliantly instagram friendly. I’ve had the pleasure of trying two of their latest releases this last week – the #GLITTERMASK which is essentially the GravityMud ...
Roots of Strength from The Body Shop
There’s a lot of ‘lifting and firming’ in the beauty world this year so far – it seems to be the anti-ageing focus for the start of 2018. The Body’s Shop are calling their new Roots of Strength skincare range ‘firming and shaping’, which is essentially the same. This range has been influenced by ancient...
Chanel launch Blue Serum Eye Concentrate
Last January, Chanel helped with the ‘blues’ with the launch of their Blue Serum. This year, they launch the complementary eye product – the Blue Serum Eye Revitalizing Concentrate. The Blue Serum range is aimed at younger women, who want to begin their anti-ageing routines, and it contains top ingredients...
Caudalie launch Premier Cru The Serum
CAUDALIE launches a new addition to its Premier Cru range this month – The Serum. The Serum features Vinergy, an exclusive new technology co-patented by Caudalie and Harvard Medical School, no less. The idea of this serum is to help the skin correct signs of ageing and boost the effect of your daily...
Clarins launch SOS Primer range
Clarins launch a new range of primers at the end of the month – the SOS Primer collection. It’s a biggie, and it’s great. I am already regularly using two of the six available and I love the results. Basically, these primers all do different things, targeting different imperfections on your skin. There...
Veganuary beauty
Yes, I know, every time I mention the word ‘Veganuary’ my husband’s face contorts. It’s fair to say annoys him, this constant marketing of months! But it is what it is, and if you are going vegan for January you might want to extend it to your beauty regime. This new brand – Utopia – is a vegan and ...
Bea Skincare Super Vitamin C Serum
I like discovering new beauty brands – there are so many of them out there. The latest to land on my desk is Bea Skincare, developed by Skin Specialist Bianca Estelle. Developed in conjunction with an FDA-certified laboratory in the US, and with her background in ‘cosmeceuticals’ (I don’t really like...
Go Ultra Violet with Elemis
Elemis’s Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream-Oil is the perfect January product in so many ways. Firstly, it’s the perfect shade of Ultra Violet – Pantone’s color of the year for 2018. Secondly, it’s a nighttime product – and we plan to spend a lot of January hibernating/sleeping/in bed. Finally, it’s packed...
Yes To...coconut hydrating mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one every other Friday from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. YES TO … COCONUT ULTRA HYDRATING DIY POWDER-TO-CLAY MASK, £4.99, ASOS The first thing about this mask is the smell.It has a potent coconut...
bareMinerals launchAgeless Genius collection
It’s another new year, and we’re getting another year older. So, maybe time for a new anti-ageing range? bareMinerals will provide this month, with their new Ageless Genius collection, powered by gold. Formulated with a powerful complex of mineral gold and age-defying peptides, the new range delivers...
REN launch Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
REN launch their latest AHA product this month – their Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic. AHAs, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids have sparked a lot of debate in the beauty world of late. Nothing like industrial strength acids, like hydrocholric or sulfuric, cosmetic products containing AHAs – and usually glycolic...
Janjira Massage Candles
Brrrr. It’s January – what a month! It’s cold, it’s dark, we’ve all got the post-festive blues, but I think one of these beauties might help warm you up! Janjira Massage Therapy Candles can be lit, filling the room with a gorgeous aroma, and warming up up, and then you can actually use the soothing ...
L'Occitane x Rifle Paper Co designs
L’Occitane partner with stationery brand Rifle Paper Co. this month to bring us a beautiful collection of Limited Edition Shea Butter products. I started Rifle Paper Co. with the hope of bringing beauty to the everyday. I’m thrilled to partner with L’Occitane, a brand that shares the same sense of small...
Get an Extra New Year Glow with Bobbi Brown
Bobbi Brown launches it’s first collection of 2018 this month, and it’s all about creating fresh, glowing, radiant skin. The Extra Glow collection is a small collection of products, the perfect mix of skincare and colour, and features the ever-popular Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm (£44.50) in new...
Benefit launch Porefessional Pearl Primer
Benefit launch The Porefessional Pearl Primer just after Christmas – perfect for the whole Korean K-beauty-led ‘glass skin’ trend that you are going to know all about come 2018 – trust me. The idea behind it is, of course, perfect skin. But rather than the matte perfection we’ve all been after this ...
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Powerfoil Mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one every other Friday from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR CONCENTRATED RECOVERY POWERFOIL MASK, ONE MASK £16.50, FOUR MASKS £60, EIGHT MASKS £105 This mask ...
Stocking Fillers and Last Minute gifts from Aveda, L'Occitane and more...
Need some last minute beauty gifts? Then here are a few to choose from. I love hand cream, and Aveda’s Hand Relief is great. Hand cream is a perfect gift for everyone, and this cute little gift set is just that – super cute. The Limited Edition Renewal For Your Journey Gift Set (£20) isn’t expensive...
How to beat Christmas stress
I love Christmas. But as well as being the most wonderful time of the year, it can be the most stressful. All that seasonal joy is great, but all the pressure on us to get the right presents, cook the perfect meal, decorate the perfect tree – well, it can all get a wee bit too much. So, we asked Julia...
Winter Lip care
Brrr! It’s cold out there. The winter weather plays havoc with our skin, and our lips. Hands up who gets chapped lips this time of year? That’ll be down to the heating, then the cold, etc, etc, and it is a horrible, uncomfortable condition. So, you need to prevent it, and look after them with just a...
Oh K! Gold Dust Peel Off Mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one every other Friday from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. Oh K! GOLD DUST PEEL OFF MASK, £13 (FOR TWO), BOOTS Oh K! is a Korean beauty-inspired brand with all sorts of goodies shaped by the trend...
Zelens Z Balance Pre and Probiotic Facial Mist
Facial mists. I’m never that sure. I love a water spray in the summer on holiday, but really I’d probably be as well spraying tap water on my face, agreed? But how about a facial spray in the winter? Zelens recently launched their Z Balance Prebiotic & Probiotic Facial Mist, and I was sent a bottle ...
Time Bomb Festive QVC TSV
If you have never watched QVC, or bought one of their TSV (Today’s Special Value) offers, why not? They offer some brilliant deals on excellent brands. This Saturday it’s the turn of Time Bomb, and a really fab festive deal. Time Bomb’s Christmas Collection is available on Saturday at a whopping 75 ...
Christmas Gifts
It’s December tomorrow, so if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet, then you better get a move on! Here are a dozen beauty gifts you might like for the beauty fans in your life – just need to wrestle them back from that pesky Elf on the Shelf*! CLEAN Reserve 6 Piece Travel Spray Set, £39,...
Clinique Pep-Start Double Bubble Purifying Mask - Face Mask Friday
Beauty masks are everywhere these days – so let’s trial one every other Friday from now on. From sheet masks, to clay masks, to cream masks, and everything inbetween. CLINIQUE PEP-START DOUBLE BUBBLE PURIFYING MASK, £24 First up is Clinique’s latest addition to the Pep-Start line, the new Pep-Start ...
Palmer's Facial Skincare range
Whilst researching a beauty feature for a newspaper this week, I came across Palmer’s facial skincare range- and am ashamed to admit I had no idea it existed! It launched at the start of this year, and there are seven products in total, all at really competitive prices, so it’s perfect for a budget ...
The Body Shop Advent-ure Calendar
There are so many beauty advent calendars out there, it’s hard to see where to start – but let me introduce you to one of three lovely advent-URE calendars from The Body Shop. This gorgeous green box – the 25 Days of Game-changing Advent-ure Advent Calendar – contains 25 smaller boxes, but not just ...
Tom Ford Winter Soleil Collection 2017
I always love when the Tom Ford Winter Soleil Collection release drops in my inbox. It’s always so pretty and makes me wish I was heading off for some winter sun. I am not, however, off to the winter sun. Nor am I really in a position to spend loads of money on this collection, but, if you are a fan...
Which Lulu (Vaseline) Girl Are You?
Love Lulu Guinness? Vaseline fan? The the LULUxVASELINE collab is right up your street! But which Lulu girl are you? Violet, Lily, or Poppy? This mini collection has three products – Lily Doll Face Hand Cream (£3.65), Violet Doll Face Original Lip Therapy Tin (£2.99), and Poppy Doll Face Tinted Lip ...
Body Care Beauty
I’m very neglectful of my body care beauty routine it has to be said. I rarely moisturise, I use the same shower soap all the time, and I hide my dry limbs under thick tights in the winter, and ignore. I do have palmoplantar psoriasis, so, even in clear spells, I am wary of using anything on my hands...
Eye Creams and Masks
Look after the skin under and around your eyes. It’s the key beauty rule, and one that I know I at least, so often forget to follow. The delicate eye area skin ages first. It’s fragile, and needs a lot of TLC if it’s to make it through life without developing bags, puffiness, lines, wrinkles, droopiness...
Latest GlamGlow skincare launches
GLAMGLOW recently launched two new products – a moisturiser, and an overnight skin treatment duo. Both come, as ever, in shiny chrome pots, and both have great names. There’s the GLAMGLOW Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturiser (£39) which, GLAMGLOW say, is a first of its kind – a matte satin moisturiser which...
John Lewis and M&S beauty advent calendars
It’s not Christmas without a beauty advent calendar now, is it? There are SO many of them, it’s impossible to keep track. But, I am lucky enough to have two of the best to open this year – roll on December. First up is the John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar. The retail giant hasn’t had a beauty advent...
Kiko Milano Halloween Bat Mask
Here’s a little cute mask for Hallowe’en from KIKO Milano – it’s a bat that lies across your nose and cheekbones, hydrating that area of your face? Does it do any good? I don’t know. But it’s fun, right? So get into the Hallowe’en, er, spirit, and create a spooky selfie-ready face with this fun mask...
My bedtime beauty routine
The clocks go back this weekend and we get an extra hour in bed – hoorah! That means an extra hour of beauty sleep, so extra time for those products to do their magic whilst you sleep. I wrote a feature about extra hour beauty sleep products in the Daily Record last week – you can read the article here...
Favourite cleansers from Clinique and Eve Lom
I thought I would share my two current favourite cleansers with you – Eve Lom Gel Cleanser, and Clinique’s 2 in 1 Cleansing Micellar Gel. I am sharing them because I am really surprised that I like these cleansers so much – I really didn’t expect to. I have experimented with how and when I use them,...
YourGoodSkin at Boots
There’s a new skincare range at Boots – YourGoodSkin. I saw it sitting, a wee bit forlornly, in a makeshift ‘display’ at a local store last week. It was a bit of a sorry old Boots store in need of refurb, but the new range was there. This is a US collaboration I guess, as it’s sold in Walgreens and ...
La Creme Main from Chanel
Handcream. I am never without it. Since the end of 2013 I have been plagued with palmoplantar psoriasis, and my hands have been – on and off – a distressed, peeling, cracking mess. Touch wood – this year they are free from my psoriais, BUT…I am still applying handcream. Chanel’s new La Creme Main might...
Beauty News - Blythswood Spa and Deciem
A bit of beauty news this Friday from the Blythswood Square Spa, one of 5pm’s spas, and cult beauty company Deciem… Spa Therapists at Glasgow’s five-star Blythswood Square Hotel have graduated from a specialist cancer touch spa course from the Made for Life Foundation making them the only hotel to offer...
Adult Acne Products Tried and Tested
Acne AND wrinkles? How can this be true?! But spots aren’t just for teenagers. And even if you had clear skin all through those teenage years, various factors might mean, as you approach your more, well, mature, years, spots might appear. There are so many causes for skin eruptions, and various types...
Estee Lauder mark 25 years of their Breast Cancer Campaign
Evelyn H Lauder was the visionary behind the Estee Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign – now the Breast Cancer Campaign – 25 years ago this year. In 1992 pink ribbons were handed out at the brands’ beauty counter around the world, and a year later, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation...
Be Boring with Neom Organics!
NEOM Organics has launched a cute campaign this October – with the hashtag #HAPPYTOBEBORING. It’s all about embracing the ‘hygge’ that was so on-trend last autuumn, and cosying down. Treat yourself to new pyjamas, make a Shepherd’s Pie, or your favourite comfort food, slide on your slippers and relax...
Origins Limited Edition BCA Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Origins has once again made a Limited Edition of one of their best-sellers their BCA product – the Drinkup Intensive Overnight Mask. I cannot get enough of this product – I love it. It’s probably one of my top five beauty products of all time – and that’s no mean feat, as I have tried A LOT! Replenish...
Aveda's Helping Hand for Breast Cancer Awareness month
The global Aveda network will aim to raise $330,000 to help fund cruelty-free breast cancer research – with a helping hand from their Limited Edition BCA Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme, as well as other fundraising efforts. Since 2001, the Aveda network and their customers have donated over $4m to Breast...
Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign Box
If you love a beauty box, then here is one packed with goodies that will make you feel good inside too. The Estee Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign Beauty Box is packed with iconic products from some of the EL brands. For every £25 box bought, £15 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research...
MZ Skin Breast Cancer Awareness month
MZ Skin is a luxury brand, designed by Aesthetic Doctor, Dr Maryam Zamani. I’ve never tried it, but it looks absolutely lovely, and if you are a skincare addict, then you might want to check it out. And if you buy anything from the site during October, you will be supporting the Breast Cancer Haven...
Origins NEW Origins GinZing Ultra-Hydrating Energy-Boosting Cream
Summer – what we had of one – is pretty much over, and whilst September does tend to be a decent month sometimes, it’s never too early to think about winter skincare – and there are plenty new launches to help with that. You are maybe thinking about changing back to your winter moisturiser, or experimenting...
Elemis September TSV on QVC
If you love Elemis, and a beauty bargain, then make sure you tune into QVC this weekend and snap up this great TSV. The 4-Piece Pro-Collagen Real Results Collection, from the multi award-winning Pro-Collagen range, is a great deal. The Pro-Collagen range is centred around a powerful blend of marine...
Eve Lom launches NEW Gel Balm Cleanser
I’m going to make a bold statement – Eve Lom is the Queen of Cleansing. Liz Earle may be next in line, but Eve Lom has this throne, and her latest launch looks set to secure her position on it. I, however, am not an Eve Lom cleanser user. I’ve used it in the past, but I prefer Liz Earle’s Cleanse & ...
NEW Murad Rapid Relief Spot Treatment
Murad has a whole range called Blemish Control, and this is the latest addition – the Rapid Relief Spot Treatment. If you are bothered by spots and blemishes then this maximum-strength product aims to reduce them in just four hours.The invisible gel formula can be applied at any time of day to reduce...
NEW Clarins Double Serum relaunch
Clarins Double Serum – a bestseller since it’s introduction – is now going through its eighth incarnation! The latest version has a new ingredient – turmeric. There’s a lot of beauty buzz about this ingredient. I just read a recent article about beauty bloggers advocating making home made masks from...
Aldi Lacura Exfoliating Mud Mask
Aldi’s Lacura range of beauty products has had some excellent reviews. This is the first thing I have tried from it – the Exfoliating Mud Mask. I’m pretty late to the party, as well. It launched on July 20, and is now selling on Ebay for double the retail price! I used it last Monday night, and when...
Estee Lauder launch NEW Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix
Estee Lauder launch another product in their Advanced Night Repair line next month – the new Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix. However, this can be used in the morning and at night. It has a custom-designed, 360 degree, massage applicator, which you gently roll under your eye three times...
Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti Ageing Instant Refinishing Facial
This new product from Estee Lauder is a facial exfoliator. Or as they like to call it – the Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti Ageing Instant Refinishing Facial. It’s a bit of a ridiculous mouthful, right? I also am not entirely sure that using this turned my shower into a spa, as promised...
Beau-TEA-ful! Afternoon Tea Week beauty
This week is Afternoon Tea Week – and there are lots of lovely afternoon tea offers on 5pm – but, if beauty if more your thing, then how about these tea-inspired beauty products! Tea, as a beauty ingredient has all sorts of antioxidant properties, and it comes in everything from moisturiser to shampoo...
Boots launch No7 Face Study online portal
According to new research from Boots, and their new No7 portal, The No7 Face Study, nine out of ten (87 per cent) of British women admit to being confused by their skincare choices. That is a lot of women to be admitting to not really knowing what they are using, and what they should be using. Over ...
Italian Soap
No, not a bad soap opera, but actual soap – you know the stuff that we used before shower gel was invented. And not the liquid variety, but actual bars of it! I have become addicted to soap in recent times, mainly because my psoriasis was not coping well with shower gels. I picked up a bar of Nesti ...
Clarins launch Sheet Mask in Super Restorative range
Sheet masks! Everyone is doing them, and why not. But this new one from Clarins is a goodie, because, let’s face it, a lot of them are, well, a wee bit of a let-down on the actual ‘is it doing anything for my skin’ front. The new Clarins Super Restorative Instant Lift Serum Mask (catchy!) will lift ...
Hydration Heroes
Hydrating your skin is hugely important all-year round, but in particular when it’s too hot, or too cold. I tend to suffer from bouts of dehydration these days rather than all year round dryness. There are a few products I can’t live without – my Hydration Heroes – and a few new ones I have thrown into...
New SOS face masks from Clarins
Clarins launch three new SOS face masks next month for three different skin concerns. These lovely masks will address dehydration, unbalanced skin, and dryness. Each of them comes in a 75ml tube. The SOS Hydra Refreshing hydration mask is not, as you may think, for dry skin, but for dehydrated skin...
Love Island's Olivia is the new face of Cocoa Brown By Marissa Carter tan
Olivia Buckland has been announced as the new ambassador for fake tan brand Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter. As Love Island is over for another year – with another Olivia making headlines – 2016’s Olivia, who is engaged to her Love Island beau, Alex, is taking some of the ITV2 show spotlight back again...
Summer Beauty Essentials - Part 2
It’s summer (the least said about the last weekend the better!) – and that means you need to add some summer beauty essentials to your beauty haul – home or abroad. I need my 20kg luggage allowance for beauty products alone – I am a holiday product junkie. So here are loads of my favourites for you ...
Estee Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae range
Estee Lauder’s Nutritious Micro-Algae range has been sitting in my office for weeks, and I keep forgetting about it! That’s not a good start! To be honest, it’s probably because it’s not really for my skin type. It’s more for anyone who has blemish issues, or an oilier complexion. But I am trying to...
Escape with Estee Lauder Companies...
Hello Beautiful Escape! This is such a cute little buy from Estee Lauder Companies, featuring many of their top brands, perfect for a summer escape! Housed in a cute tropical print makeup bag, there are products worth £73, and the whole thing will set you back just £25. How fab is that? It’s a great...
Love Island Superdrug suncare!
Are you watching Love Island? Yes, you are! Even if you say you’re not, I know you are! It’s trash TV at its very finest. But, as well as watching the islanders shenanigans, I’ve been watching the constant shots of Superdrug’s Solait sunscreen bottles, strategically placed around the villa. Superdrug...
Origins GinZing SPF40 Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturizer
Origins are a great brand – they have ranges to suit all skin types, and I defy you not to find a product you love once you start trying them. The GinZing range is for all skin types, and focuses on brightening, and refreshing the skin, and is perfect for younger Origins fans too. The latest addition...
Fake tan news!
Fake tan is here to stay, that’s a fact. I’m not a fan, but if there was one beauty trend I would say will most likely never end, it is this. I learned long ago that, pale-skinned and Scottish, even when I did get a hint of a tan, I was never going to have that beautiful olive skin I wished for. I spent...
Tata Harper Skincare
It’s always great to find a new beauty line I’ve never seen before, and even nicer to find one that is natural. USA brand Tata Harper is a 100% natural and non-toxic brand, created by Tata when her stepfather had cancer and she started to really look at what was in products. The first thing that struck...
Murad's City Skin Detox
I don’t live in the city anymore. but that’s not to say that my skin isn’t vulnerable to environmental damage, because of course it is. And that damage accelerates the visible signs of ageing and shows on your skin in the form of lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. But with Murad’s new City Skin Detox...
Bare MInerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Eye Gel Cream
Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Eye Gel Cream does NOT trip off the tongue! As far as beauty products name go, that one is up there with the best when it comes to ridiculously long names! And, it’s a tiny jar! This little 15g jar of eye gel cream, does, however, pack a punch. It has four features...
Clarins Citrus Collection
Clarins’ new Citrus Collection ticked a few boxes for me, being obsessed with grapefruit, and a big fan of their iconic Hand and Nail Treatment Cream. This little mini summer collection has a citrus scented Hand and Nail Treatment Cream Trio, which is just a lovely gift – to someone else, or yourself...
Kiehl's NEW Ultra Facial Cream SPF30
Reese Witherspoon loves it, as does Cameron Diaz, Olivia Palermo, and Alanis Morrisette. Oh yeah, and Kim Kardashian. What? Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, of course. Now, they’ve updated it by adding a broad spectrum SPF30. The original Ultra Facial Cream is a top seller worldwide – six Ultra Facial Creams...
Elemis Misting Toners
I have to hold my hands up and admit that I don’t use a toner. I never have. I have always found it drying. But, as my skin has changed a little bit over the years, I am starting to embrace new things in my routine. And these Elemis Misting Toners are a great way of introducing a toner to your skincare...
Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream
This anti-ageing cream from Kiehl’s launched late last year, but I’ve only just become aware of it. I was instantly drawn to the yellow glass pot it comes in – anything yellow is a winner for me. But I was also impressed with the research and science behind this cream – and the fact that the ingredients...
The Ordinary skincare
Don’t believe the hype? Or do believe the hype? The Ordinary, created by Deciem, is a beauty collection that arrived on the scene last year with a LOT of hype. Sali Hughes devoted a whole column to the range in the Guardian, and Caroline Hirons interviewed the man behind the brand on her blog. The products...
Bespoke Skincare with Alpha-H Vitamin Profiling
There is a lot of chat about vitamins and bespoke skincare in the beauty world right now. The Ordinary – an affordable, targeted beauty brand – has caught all the headlines of the last six months or so – more on it here next week. And Alpha-H – one of my favourites – has created its own bespoke skincare...
New sun care from Clinique
Clinique launch two new sun care products this month – one body, one face, both high protection. The SPF30 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream is more of a skincare than sun care product, and the SPF30 Virtu-Oil Body Mist is already one I am looking forward to using. So, lets start with that one. The new SPF30 ...
Clinique launch Moisture Surge Concentrate
Clinique add a new addition to their hugely popular Moisture Surge range this month – the Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. I mistakenly thought it was a serum but it’s a moisturiser in its own right. I love the Moisture Surge range, but I don’t love this offering as much. Probably ...
Organic Beauty Week 2017 - organic round-up
We’re in the middle of Organic Beauty and Wellbeing Week 2017 – so I thought it might be nice to have a wee round-up of some organic beauty brands. This year’s campaign from the Soil Association, who run Organic beauty week, aims to weed out the true organic from the fake. The Campaign for Clarity highlights...
May's TILI Box from QVC
Subscription boxes are a thing, right? Everyone has them, for everything – beauty, coffee, gin, stationery, the list goes on. Beauty boxes are where it started, and they’re hugely popular, but sometimes it’s difficult to commit to a monthly payment – or perhaps we’ve got too many monthly payments coming...
Spring Clean your Skin
Spring Clean your skin! Much more fun than spring cleaning the house. And essential to your beauty routine. Cleansing is where it’s at, and we don’t just mean rubbing at your face half-heartedly with a wipe. Spring Cleaning your skin is about proper cleansing. Double cleansing. Exfioliating. Using masks...
Pore Perfection with Clarins
Benefit don’t have the monopoly on minimising pores (see yesterday’s post) – Clarins have introduced a new Pore Perfecting range this spring, for the non-Benefit fans out there. The French brand has launched two new products – Pore Perfecting Foundation, and Pore Perfecting Kit. This duo of products...
REN launch Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Body range
REN is a lovely brand. Natural, eco-friendly, great products, and excellent packaging. This May they launch a brand new body range, Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium, all about renewing your energy levels. The range does this thanks to a rich source of magnesium and anti-oxidants to help cells detox, which...
Alpha-H launch Liquid Gold Rose
Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold is one of my absolute favourite beauty products. it launched back in 2000, and utilises Glycolic Acid to thoroughly cleanse/exfoliate your skin. You use it once, every other day, in the evening before bed, and I cannot stress enough how good it is. If I stop using it, I feel the...
GlamGlow GravityMud Mask - Beauty Fun!
It’s Monday, so I decided to have some beauty fun with Glam Glow’s GravityMud Firming Treatent Mask. This stuff is great – and, actually, as well as being fun, it made my skin feel fab. But back to the fun part. You paint this stuff on white, and it turns chrome/silver! It looks great, and is particularly...
Boots No7 launch Neck Serum
I do have an issue with my neck. Being in my mid-40s, I’m more and more aware of that part of me ageing. I think I look okay for my age, but sometimes, when I move the wrong way, there it is – crepey old neck. So, I am more than happy to be trialling the latest No7 product – Restore and Renew Face &...
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
There are some beauty products that seem so, well, indulgent, and yet I still love them so. The new Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist takes all the intense moisturising and multi-asking properties of iconic Eight Hour Cream and puts them into an ‘instantly invigorating facial spray’ ...
NEW KORRES Castanea Arcadia Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Skincare Collection
There’s always a new anti-ageing ingredient on the block – this week it’s something called Lupeol, derived from the chestnut tree, brought to you by Greek brand Korres in their new anti-ageing collection. The Korres Castanea Arcadia collection has harnessed the potent anti-wrinkle power of pure Lupeol...
Dr Barbara Sturm Skincare in Space NK
I met Dr Barbara Sturm last week in Edinburgh’s Space NK. She’s a German scientist in the field of molecular medicine, who is most famous for creating a skin cream from your own blood. Celebrities love it – and it has a celebrity price-tag, at around £1000 a pop. Read more here. But, thanks to clients...
Filorga NCTF-Reverse Intensive Anti-Ageing Cellular Skincare
French brand Filorga have their roots firmly in the science of beauty, being pioneers of injectables with their NCTF (New Cellular Treatment Factor). NCTF is the brand’s signature and is at the heart of all the products from the brand, and, now, after three years + of research, Filorga have produced...
Fresh Vitamin C Beauty from Clinique and No7
There’s a new buzz in the beauty industry right now, powered by Vitamin C. Clinique and Boots No7 have launched Vitamin C products in the last month, so I thought I should take a look at them! But, the power of Vitamin C in skincare is not really that new. I recall using Philosophy’s products waaaay...
Prime Time with Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder launch a revolution in priming this month with their Double Wear 3 Minute Priming Moisture Mask. They also launch The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer to add to their primer family. I wrote a feature for the Daily Record all about primers recently- read the article here – and most makeup...
Mother's Day at Lush
If you’re looking for just a little thing to gift your mum this Mother’s Day, then head no further than your local Lush store where there is a whole range dedicated to mums. These three are my favourites of the products on offer, and I am sure any mum would love any of these. 1.It says it on it – the...
Mother's Day Gifts from Boots No7
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, so make sure you have flowers ready for the most important woman in your life, maybe some chocolates too, maybe a treat from the fabulous salons on 5pm Spa and Beauty. Or, one of these lovely sets from Boots No7 range. Choose from four different sets to suit different mums...
Harvey Nichols Big Beauty GWP
If you are going to spend over £195 on beauty products from this week, then make sure you do it at Harvey Nichols, and on three or more pieces. That way, you qualify for their big beauty Gift With Purchase, which this year is a beauty, if you’ll pardon the pun! Beauty addicts you are going to love this...
MTV STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION & LEONA LEWIS ANNOUNCED AS KIEHL’S UKI 2017 UK CHARITY PARTNER
Leona Lewis joins forces with Kiehl’s. New York skincare brand Kiehl’s has announced it is partnering with MTV Staying Alive Foundation for the third year running as part of its commitment to philanthropy within HIV prevention. MTV Staying Alive, a global charity dedicated to stopping the spread of ...
Greenery Beauty
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017 is Greenery. Its a lovely, fresh, spring shade, and it inspired this post – exploring some Greenery Beauty. A refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings.Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of ...
New Clarins Hydra Essentiel Collection
The beauty industry can be frustrating at times. Take this new Clarins Hydra Essentiel collection. It replaces the Hydra Quench collection which was my absolute favourite. My absolute, absolute, favourite, was their Hydra Quench Rich Cream, which saw my poor dry skin through many a winter! But they ...
Morris & Co Love Is Enough Collection and Bags
Fancy buying yourself a little treat this weekend? How about a new cosmetic bag? I just love cosmetic and toiletry bags, and these two Morris & Co from Heathcote Ivory bags, in the new ‘Love is Enough’ print are beautiful. The delicate leaf patterns, balanced with a traditional typeface, are based on...
Clarins Multi-Active Eye
Clarins launched their new Multi-Active Eye treatment earlier this month, but I’ve only just gotten round to trying it out, after getting hooked on Estee Lauder’s Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Eye Gelee! One plus point for the Clarins product is the name is shorter! Did you know ...
Alpha H Serum and Body Cloths
It’s no secret I like Apha-H products. I do. They’re great. They give great results. So, I’m thrilled that they have recently launched two new products – the Vitamin B Serum, and the Body Cloths. The Vitamin B Serum is BRILLIANT. It has made my skin literally glow, has helped me eliminate those pesky...
Aveda's Tulasara Wedding Masque
Did anyone get engaged on Valentine’s Day? Well, you can look forward to, according to Aveda, your wedding day skin – which will be more radiant than ever before! I have to say that I did feel like I was glowing on my wedding day – it was the most joyful and fun day of my life. But, my eyes also had...
KORRES Lavender Blossom
I love a KORRES shower gel. They’re not too expensive, nicer than run of the mill shower gel, and there are always great offers on. From Feburary 9 to March 15, its BOGOF (buy one get one free) across the whole KORRES shower gel collection, excusively at Marks and Spencer – so you get two for £8! Fantastic...
M&S Night Cream Waiting List
If you haven’t tried it yet, then get on the list, because, apparently, Marks and Spencer’s Formula The Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream is THE beauty musthave of 2017! It promises to give skin eight hours of sleep – or at least look like it has – and the results don’t disappoint. So much so that the cream...
New Primers and Concealers from NARS
NARS are concentrating on our complexions for the start of 2017 – they launched new primers on January 1, and are following up with a new concealer on February 1. There are three new Face Primers to choose from – to boost it, blur it, and smooth it, say NARS. The Radiance Primer SPF 35/PA+++ contains...
Boots N o7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Skincare
Boots No7 has recently revolutionised and relaunched it’s entire Lift & Luminate range, including Day, Night and Eye Cream. Following on from No7’s Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum, they’ve added the same powerful technology to the skincare range. So, this new and improved blend of ingredients make...
Origins Plantscription Powerful Lifting Concentrate
January seems to be all about working out and lifting – and there’s no escaping it in the beauty world either. Origins Plantscription Powerful Lifting Concentrate actually launches in February, keeping this lifting momentum going! But, keeping our skin as toned and lifted as the rest of us (and definitely...
Chanel's January Blue(s) Serum
It’s January, and if you have the January blues we hope it’s in the form of the new Chanel Blue Serum! This latest skincare launch from the French giants, is an anti-ageing serum that harnesses three key ingredients from three atypical locations characterised by population with exceptional longevity...
Estee Lauder Double Wear Wipes
Beauty wipes get a raw deal, but they are hugely popular, and it’s not rocket science as to why. Easy and quick to use, they are brilliant when you are feeling lazy. However, make sure you use a decent brand. Throughout most of my 20s I wiped with baby wipes to take my makeup off, and I do not recommend...
Estee Lauder's new Daywear Matte moisturiser
If you have oily skin then I expect you are delighted with any product that says goodbye to the shine. This new moisturiser from Estee Lauder promises to do just that. The new DayWear Matte Oil-Control Anti-Oxidant Moisture Gel Creme transforms into a matte finish. It’s oil-free, oil-controlling and...
Masking January
If there is one thing you do to to treat yourself this January, slap a face mask on! Masking is big in the beauty industry, and it’s a simple way of indulging yourself and giving your skin the nourishment it deserves. January is a long, cold, hard month, and we’re all expected to be pounding away in...
Bobbi Brown Remedies
January seems to be a month when everyone wants to ‘fix’ things – their bodies, their ambition, their personalities even. To fix anything you need a remedy and Bobbi Brown has just that if it’s a beauty issue you want to address. Bobbi launches her Remedies collection to help with various skin issues...
Bobbi Brown Skin Glow Collection
It’s January, and it’s a bit dull, but your skin needn’t be. Illuminate your world with beautiful glowing skin, and the new Bobbi Brown Skin Glow Collection. This little collection of illuminating and hydrating formulas for cheeks, lips, and skin is the perfect antidote to the January blues. It’s all...
New Skincare Sets from Elemis
The New Year is a time to make a positive change, and a positive change to your skincare regime is a good place to start. Elemis can help this year, with the launch of five new skincare sets, targeting five different results you want to get from your products.So, there are sets to Brighten, Hydrate,...
NEW Bare Minerals Skincare
Bare Minerals kick off 2017 with a range of new targeted skincare products. Four products, for different skintypes and results, in various formulas. I’ve not tried these products, but here’s a guide to what’s on offer. Blemish Remedy Imperfection Serum (£36) was formulated with a holistic approach, ...
Illuminate your skin for the New Year!
If you’re heading out on Hogmanay, chances are you’re going to feel a little bit under the weather on the first day of the New Year – and that means your skin will be a little lacklustre and tired too. The hangover, I can’t help with (though I do think a fry up and some full fat Coca Cola helps!). The...
Sisley Beauty Subscription
There are TONS of beauty subscription boxes to choose from. Some are great, some not so, but none are probably as luxurious as this one from Sisley. The French beauty brand launched their subscription earlier this year, and it is a little different to others. You can purchase a six-month, or a year-...
Beauty Crackers
I love a Christmas cracker, but let’s be honest, the contents can disappoint. A tired old paper hat, a rubbish joke, and another useless keyring/plasticring/puzzle are not things we need. But the contents of these fabulous beauty crackers – now we’re talking! There are loads out there, and whilst they...
12 Gifts of Christmas - Estee Lauder
It’s Christmas! Well, almost. So, for 12 days on the blog, I’ll be bringing you 12 Gifts of Christmas – a delightful dozen that every beauty fan will love! This is a great bargain from Estee Lauder. It’s the Skincare Superstars set, and is just £40. It’s a fan way to get into the Estee Lauder brand....
Beauty Baubles
Who doesn’t love a little extra gift at Christmas? I know I do! So, for any beauty lovers you know, a beauty bauble is the perfect little extra. Here are a few cute little tree gifts to choose from. Boots No7 Lip Duo (£8) contains two lip glosses – Deep Pink and Nude Pink, perfect for lip gloss fans...
12 Gifts of Christmas - Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour
It’s Christmas! Well, almost. So, for 12 days on the blog, I’ll be bringing you 12 Gifts of Christmas – a delightful dozen that every beauty fan will love! Today, our gift comes from Elizabeth Arden, and includes the iconic Eight Hour Cream. I love this multipurpose beauty balm, full of restorative ...
12 Gifts of Christmas - M&S Feet!
It’s Christmas! Well, almost. So, for 12 days on the blog, I’ll be bringing you 12 Gifts of Christmas – a delightful dozen that every beauty fan will love! This is the Queen of foot spas – not one of those gifts you get and then send to the charity shop a few months later. Margaret Dabbs is a leading...
12 Gifts of Christmas - Clinique
It’s Christmas! Well, almost. So, for 12 days on the blog, I’ll be bringing you 12 Gifts of Christmas – a delightful dozen that every beauty fan will love! Today, this lovely Clinique Pep Perfect kit. Featuring the brand new, brightly coloured Pep Start range from Clinique, this is a fab Christmas gift...
Esthechoc Advent Calendar
Chocolate IS good for the skin, says Esthechoc, so if you want an advent calendar that tastes good, and does good, then this is it! Gone are the days of feeling guilty for enjoying a chocolate every morning in December! Revolutionary youth boosting ‘smart chocolate’ Esthechoc, has launched a limited...
Black Friday Beauty
We can’t escape Black Friday – it’s finally here, so let’s just join in! There are fabulous deals all year long on 5pm of course, but today is the uber-deal day for many brands, and putting cynicism to one side, some of these beauty deals are pretty good. Here’s a round-up of a few deals that I think...
Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
Elemis launched their Superfood Facial Oil recently – packed full of nine oils with skincare benefits. It’s safe to say that facial oils are a bit of a beauty norm these days – so, any new oil on the market has to offer something that little bit different. Elemis’s Superfood Facial Oil is all about ...
Face Inc by Nails Inc and Oh K! Sheet Masks
Who needs Snapchat filters when you have sheet masks like these?! Pandas, floral headbands, cat faces, and more, adorn the new Face inc range from Nails inc who are branching out of just nails. These fun masks, launched in September, are a perfect weekend treat, at just £5 a pop. How can you resist!...
Beauty Advent Calendars
There was a time when there were just a few beauty advent calendars out there – now? There are DOZENS of them. It’s actually almost impossible to collate them all. So, I have picked 15 for you to have a look at, with varying prices and designs. Bear with me, this is a LONG post! First up is this year...
Elizabeth Arden Preen Gift With Purchase
It always seems quite an old-fashioned thing, doesn’t it, a Gift With Purchase ((GWP), at a beauty counter? In a world of subscription beauty boxes and discount sites, like our very own 5pm, and the like, it seems like something from when I was a teen, back in the 1980s. But who doesn’t love an incentive...
Jo Malone make Merry Mischief for Christmas
This year’s festive offering from Jo Malone isn’t perhaps traditionally festive, but it’s still lovely. Merry Mischief features a harlequin/clown theme with masked beauties, and amazing campaign images. I was a HUGE fan of Pierrot as a kid, and perhaps that’s why I love these images so much. Okay, they...
Aveda's NEW Hydrating Treatment Lotion
At this time of year, it’s important to remember to change up your skincare routine a little bit. As the temperatures outside drop, and the central heating gets cranked up, your skin can really suffer. I get dry patches in winter, but not if I properly hydrate my skin, and add extra hydration to my ...
Estee Lauder's Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti-Aging Creme and Wake Up Balm
Estee Lauder have added two new products to their Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti Aging collection – a Cell Power Creme and a Wake Up Balm. This range is all about anti-ageing, and the key ingredient in these new products is Moringa Extract. Not just any extract though – this is an exclusive extract...
Beauty Sleep Skincare
We get an extra hour of wonderful sleep this weekend, as the clocks go back to bring British Summer Time to an official end. And as beauty products work best when you are asleep, make sure you make the most of them this weekend! I love my nighttime beauty routine and I also like to vary the products...
Tom Ford Soleil 2016 Collection
This is a bit different from Tom Ford – a sunshine-themed winter collection. For those of us who scoot off to the sun when the temperatures drop (not me, then!).Or for those of us who want to fake a sun-kissed glow in the winter months, perhaps? Encased in the white packaging TF fans will know from ...
Halloween 2016 at Lush
If you want Halloween beauty buys, then look no further than Lush who come up trumps every year with fab halloween-themed treats. To add to some already there, and as well as the usual range of gifts, Lush have introduced these new Halloween beauties for 2016. First up, the super-cute Goth Fairy Shimmer...
Darphin's new Lumiere Essentielle skincare
Darphin are a beauty brand that have that classic ‘old-school’ feel, but they were only founded in 1958, so they’re mere babies in the beauty business really, founded after the likes of Estee Lauder, Chanel, Givenchy, Clarins and Guerlain. But they have that ‘old-school’ feel, with rich sumptuous creams...
Aveda Hand Relief for BCA month
I love a hand cream, and if you are in need of a new one, and want to help charity at the same time, then why not buy Aveda’s Hand Relief Limited Edition for Breast Cancer Awareness month? This hand cream is fabulous. Its name does make me snigger like a teenage boy, but maybe that’s just me. The cream...
Origins RitualiTea Masks
Masks. Everyone’s talking about masks. One minute it’s multi-masking, the next it’s Korean sheet masks. Even Nails Inc have launched some. (Yep, they’re not just a nail brand any more!) Masks are, of course, an integral part of a beauty routine. Most salon facials involve a mask, and the iconic comedy...
Pep-Start your Day with Clinique
Earlier this year, Clinique launched their Pep-Start Eye Cream. In zesty orange packaging, it was quite a departure from the clinical Clinique look. I did wonder if there was more to come, and here it is – the rest of the Pep-Start range. In bold, bright packaging, this skincare is more generic, and...
Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2016
It’s October and that means it’s breast cancer awareness month, the month when loads of beauty companies launch lots of ‘pink’ products, and donate to various breast cancer charities. Estee Lauder started the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign back in 1992, with the creation of the pink ribbon, the universal...
Super Serums for Winter Skin Hydration
It’s cold! October is almost here, and that means we’re definitely into the Autumn/Winter season. Time for a change of not just your clothes wardrobe, but your skincare wardrobe too. If you do one thing this season, introduce more hydration to your skin, and the easiest way to do that is with a serum...
Bobbi Brown NEW Extra Repair Nourishing Milk
Bobbi Brown launches a new addition to the Extra skincare line next month, in the shape of Extra Repair Nourishing Milk, which combines the hydrating benefits of Extra Face Oil with the rejuvenating benefits of a repair treatment. It’s for all skintypes, and it’s lightweight, and is an addition to a...
Clarins and FEED for 2016
For the last two years Clarins and FEED projects have collaborated on the ‘Gift With Purpose’ (a clever playom the beauty Gift With Purchase) beauty gift program. Every customer who purchases two Clarins products (one of which must be skincare) will get a lovely cosmetics bag, containing five of Clarins...
Tom Ford AW16 Runway Beauty. Grooming. Private Blend
TOM FORD’s AW16 Runway Collection – products for men and women, and a new Private Blend fragrance – has confused me a little bit. It has existing products and new products in it, and it’s just a tiny part of what I believe is to come from Tom Ford this AW, so if I find out more, I will share. In the...
Awaken Your Skin With Tulasara from Aveda
Sometimes, it can get a bit stale in the beauty world – same old colour stories each season, same old moisturiser launches, etc, etc. But, on occasion, there are some super launches that get beauty editors sittingup in their chairs, and really noticing. Aveda’s Tulasara is one of those. It’s something...
Bare Minerals Dirty Detox and Polishing Grains
Bare Minerals launched two new skincare products this month – and they’re fun! Effective, yes, but fun. I love the idea of mixing lotions and potions, and I love gunky products, so these two get the thumbs up from me. First up, it’s the Dirty Detox. This is a super purifying mud to give your skin a ...
Kelly Hoppen and L'Occitane collaboration pouches
Here’s a sneak peek at something lovely for Autumn – these Kelly Hoppen x L’Occitane pouches aren’t out until October, so get saving now if you want one! I am not a huge fan of the interior designer, and former Dragon on Dragon’s Den – I find her a bit ‘meh’ to be honest. BUT – these pouches are really...
Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules
Estee Lauder’s iconic night treatment, Advanced Night Repair (ANR), launched in 1982. Since then, it’s gone through a few changes, and an eye serum has been launched to go along with ANR. Back in July, Estee Lauder added a new ANR addition in the form of Intensive Recovery Ampoules. These little pods...
Happy Hands with Hand Cream!
My mum always had a tube of handcream kicking about when I was growing up, and I love the stuff. There’s something soothing and ritualistic about rubbing cream into your hands, one, two, ten times a day. With hand psoriasis, hand cream is a vital item in my handbag/on my desk/beside my bed. I love trying...
Elizabeth Arden's NEW Prevage Foundation and Brush
It’s rare to get a foundation these days that is simply a foundation, and this new one from Elizabeth Arden definitely does not fall into that category. The new Prevage Anti-aging Foundation SPF30 is for women who want a gorgeous foundation, an extra layer of environmental protection, and anti-ageing...
Sunshine Yellow Beauty
The sun’s been shining for the last few days, and how happy does it make us? I love yellow – so, because the sun is now disappearing again, I thought we’d have some fun with some sunshine yellow beauty! Here’s a few beauty products -yellow, or in lovely yellow packaging, to bring a little bit of that...
T-Zone Skincare
It’s probably one of the most bandied about phrases you will hear in beauty – the ‘T-zone’. It’s one of the first recognisable skincare phrases I can remember. All the products from my early teens were for the ‘T-zone’ It refers to the forehead and nose area; an area that generally tends to be the oiliest...
Elizabeth Arden Megan Hess Gift with Purchase
I love a beauty GWP that features a smart makeup bag. I think most of my makeup bags are from such promotions. This one is a really lovely collaboration between international fashion illustrator Megan Hess – who has worked with the likes of Prada, Dior, Balmain, etc, etc – and Elizabeth Arden The lovely...
Estee Lauder's Genuine Glow - K-Beauty style
Let’s talk about K-Beauty. What is it? Well, it has nothing to do with the Kardashians (for once!), it’a actually Korean-inspired beauty. If you’re a beauty fan, you will know, and you will no doubt already be influenced by beauty from the Far East. The Korean beauty aesthetic isn’t like ours. They ...
The Body Shop Clear Skin Superheroes
The Body Shop launch a new range of tea tree products next week, The Clear Skin Superheroes, because #zithappens! Geddit?! Yeah. I know. But bear with me. It’s going to get a whole lot worse.. There are three products in the range, all with skin-clearing properties, so, if your skin needs a little bit...
Summer Beauty Essentials
Summer is here! For a few days at least, so get those summer beauty essentials bought! You might need them again this year, and we should all be changing up our beauty routine in the summer months anyway. For Face, Body and Hair, there are loads of fab products you should try – these are just some of...
PURE Spa launch skincare range
PURE Spa have launched a skincare range, so you can, effectively, take the spa home with you. The range, which has recently launched in to the PURE Spas in Scotland’s cities, and is also available online. It consists of five products to begin with, concentrating on facial skincare, and is predominantly...
Roger & Gallet launch The Vert range
Here’s a lovely new fresh summer scent for you to try, from Roger & Gallet, and exclusive to House of Fraser – The Vert. Green Tea, in case you didn’t know! This energising scent inspired by the splendour of Mount Fuji at day break, rising above the tea fields, Thé Vert perfectly combines the delicacy...
Pinita Coladas with The Body Shop
Who doesn’t love a Pina Colada in the sunshine?! Pineapple and coconut with a dash of lime is a totally tropical taste sensation, and The Body Shop have channeled that very thing into their Pinita Colada body range which is just perfect for summer beauty. The Special Edition Piñita Colada range is bursting...
Murad Invisiblur supports The Prince's Trust
Murad have launched a Limited Edition version of their skincare hero product, Invisiblur, to support The Prince’s Trust in their 40th year. The skincare brand will be donating £10 from every one of their Limited Edition Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF30 (£69.50) sold. “At Murad we strive to make younger...
Alpha H Beauty Sleep Power Peel
I am a big fan of skincare brand Alpha-H. I use their Liquid Gold every other night, and my skin definitely benefits from it. So, a new Alph-H product has me interested immediately – but I will admit I am a little bit scared of this one. Okay, I’m not really scared, but the Alpha-H Beauty Sleep Power...
Emma Hardie Vitamin C
I’ve been a fan of Emma Hardie skincare since its launch in 2009. Can it really be seven years since it launched?! Emma herself is an incredibly fun and lovely woman, and the most amazing facialist. A facial from her is truly something else. Her Amazing Face range has won many awards, and is a simple...
Clarins launch Limited Beauty In Bloom Collection
This is a lovely little collection of Limited Edition versions of some of their hero products. The Clarins Beauty in Bloom Collection has given the products a lovely floral twist. There’s a Hand and Nail Treatment Cream Trio (£25), beautifully presented in a leaf print pouch, and each 30ml tube contains...
NEW Super Facialist by Una Brennan Sleep & Reveal Night Cream
I keep changing my night cream. I use oils, creams, masks – you name it, I’ve slapped it onto my skin at night. I’m not that fussy when it comes to night creams, but I do always use one. The most recent on my bedside table (I find keeping it right beside my bed means I never forget to use it) is the...
Travel Sets and Minis
There are SO many good things about holidays, but sometimes the cosmetic limit isn’t one of them. If you only have hand luggage, and are a beauty junkie, it’s a nightmare. Likewise if your hold luggage limit isn’t that high – what do you leave behind? Luckily, there are now travel versions of pretty...
Rituals The Ritual Of Karma
Karma. Now there’s thing. Be good, and the good will come back, say Rituals on their latest Ritual of Karma range. According to ancient Hindu belief, living with good intent attracts good karma. I love the colour of this range almost as much as the scent. The gorgeous aqua green is super stylish. The...
NEW Sweet Orchid from Elemis
Elemis are a lovely brand, and their body ranges are always delicious, nourishing and luxurious. The new Sweet Orchid range is no exception. However, I do laugh sometimes when I read some of the ‘beauty speak’ from brands. Take this for example: “Layer the products and let the Sweet Orchid scent rise...
Four facial scrubs
Scrubbing at your face doesn’t sound much fun, but a facial exfoliator should be part of your cleansing routine. There are so many types out there, from those that ape peels, to those that scrub gently, to those that give a deeper cleanse. Here are four that I quite like, with varying prices, and actions...
Sunscreen for the Longest Day...
It’s the longest day of the year today – more hours of daylight than any other. But will those hours be sunny, that’s the question? Last year it was my wedding day, and it was beautiful! We lucked out with our weather, but will we need suncream on our anniversary? Most likely not, but if you are in ...
Father's Day Grooming Gifts
Surprise your dad this Father’s Day with a grooming gift. He doesn’t need a new tool kit, an oversized Toblerone, or another silly slogan T-shirt, does he? But he probably does need some lovely grooming products in his life! I’m right, right? Boots now stock a fab men’s beauty brand – Johnny’s Chop ...
All-in-One Beauty Balms
Recently I’ve been using more of the ‘all-in-one’ beauty balms products that land on my desk now and then. I think it’s because of my psoriasis on my hands, and a flare of rosacea on my face. I’ve been drawn to more natural products, and just things that do it all at once – products I can use on both...
Garnier Pure Active Spot Control
Acne is not just for teenagers. Even if you didn’t have as much as a pimple in your teens, you might be one of a huge number of women in the UK who are suffering from adult acne. Hormones trigger this at various stages in a woman’s life, and sports are the primary skin concern for over half of the women...
NEW from Lab Series Skincare for Men
Father’s Day is on the horizon, so no harm in starting to think about a gift for dad now. And Lab Series Skincare for Men is here to help with two new launches just in time! First up, the Lab Series Skincare for Men PRO LS All-in-one Shower Gel (£19). This tube holds a product that is multi-tasking,...
Bobbi Brown's Instant Confidence Stick
Bobbi Brown launched her Instant Confidence Stick this month, and I’m not sure I love the name to be honest. I don’t know if I think a little stick of makeup primer can give anyone instant confidence, nor should it. Maybe you’re absoutely confident and fine without it?! But, if you feel the need to ...
Legs, legs, legs - prep for summer
It’s officially summer, so that means NO MORE THICK BLACK TIGHTS! Time to put the opaques back in the drawer and get the legs out. And that means facing what the winter, and our cold spring, months have done to our legs. No-one is saying you have to do anything, but who really doesn’t want to look after...
Bare Minerals launch skincare line
bareMinerals’ skincare line lands on (some) counters today. Called Skinsorials, the line has nine prodiucts, with the SkinLongevity Vital Power Infusion serum at the heart of it. The SkinLongevity is a first of its kind, lightweight serum essence designed to reawaken and help maintain skin’s most vibrant...
Origins Dr Andrew Weil Mega-Defense
It’s incredible to think that four decades ago, the term SPF had yet to be coined. We used reflectors, we sunbathed too much, and we used no skin protection at all. Now we know that unprotected exposure to UV rays exacerbates skn ageing, and causes cancer, we do all we can to keep the sun off our skin...
New Gradual Tanner and BB Body from St Tropez and Ambre Solaire
Regular readers of this blog will know that I am not very good with fake tan. I actually don’t really like having a tan. Am I allowed to say that in 2016?! It seems that we’re all obsessed with a golden glow, and looking ‘sunkissed’ and as a beauty writer and editor, yes, I talk about fake tan a lot...
Bobbi Brown Beach Collection 2016
Bobbi Brown’s Beach fragrance has been around for a few years now, and it smells deliciously of summer. It makes me yearn for the beach. As I’m not heading to a beach anytime soon, I’ll have to make do with this collection. For Summer 2016, the collection has been updated and includes a new product,...
Lancome's new Energie De Vie skincare
Lancome have just launched a new skincare range, packed full of natural anti-oxidants, to bring energy and radiance to your skincare routine. Energie De Vie has a ‘liquid moisturiser’ at the heart of it, an innovative new formula. The Smoothing and Glow-boosting Liquid Care (from £28) is full of moisturising...
Feel Unique Skincare Superstars Box
Beauty boxes are a great way of getting to try a lot of beauty brands, before committing to them, with sample or travel sizes. There are lots of beauty subscription boxes out there, but this one from beauty e-commerce site Feel Unique isn’t a subscription, just a one-off box that you can buy and try...
Earth Day/Week/Month Beauty News
It’s Earth Day tomorrow – April is Earth Month, and this sees the start of Earth Week. I am a wee bit confused, but the beauty companies have their hearts in the right places when it comes to this cause. Lush are celebrating Earth Day by encouraging us to strip off the excess packaging and trial a range...
Oils, oils, oils
It’s all about oils in beauty of late. For the last few years beauty oils have become more and more mainstream – and in more and more products. The latest to land on my desk is Smashbox’s Primer Oil, which might be a step too far – but more on that later. Oils for the face, for lips, for hair, for body...
Clinique's NEW Anti-Blemish Solutions Blemish + Line Correcting Serum
Acne is mostly associated with teenagers, or young adults, but the truth is that this skin condition can occur at any time in life. And for many women, hormonal changes at various stages in life are the catalyst. Adult acne is very real. Clinique’s new Anti-Blemish Solutions Blemish + Line Correcting...
Clarins NEW Self Tanning Milky-Lotion
Clarins have brought out a new self tan for summer, their Self Tanning Milky-Lotion. It contains all sorts of lovely ingredients to provide you with a golden glow, with skincare benefits. The self-tan market is huge these days, and a self-tan can no longer be just that. This new tan has a smooth, milky...
Drops of Light from The Body Shop
Radiance. There’s a beauty buzzword if there ever was one. We’re always looking for radiance in our skin. Or luminosity. Brightness. Glow. You get the idea, right? The Body Shop have a complete skin-brightening regime, with their NEW Drops of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Range. It’s suitable for ...
Good April Showers with Korres
Oh, look, it’s raining again! April showers really are a thing. And quite annoying. But Korres have a lovely deal on on another tpe of April shower – the lovely warm variety we indulge in every morning! Throughout the month of April, when you buy one Korres shower gel you get another one absolutely ...
Beauty Transformers!
If you fancy yourself as a bit of an alchemist, and love playing about with all things makeup and skincare, then you’re going to love these new beauty transformers from Clarins, Illamasqua, Autograph M&S, and Smashbox. Clarins were the first to produce the fake tan booster product, launching their facial...
Origins By All Greens Foaming Deep Cleansing Mask
Origins’ latest mask (and they are the No1 mask brand in the UK, in case you didn’t know), is all about deep cleansing the skin – with a very different formula. This self- foaming mask is unlike any other I’ve tried, and is packed full of detoxifying ingredients, so you can give your skin the flush-...
Fake Bake Flawless Coconut Tanning Serum
Fake Bake have just launched another tan – just in time for the start of British summertime! The clocks went forward at the weekend, the nights are lighter, and, HOPEFULLY, the weather will warm up too! When that happens, we have to bare our skin, and, even those of us who don’t normally tan, sometimes...
Darphin latest to launch cleansing brush
These cleansing brushes are a proper’ thing’ now, right? If you don’t already have one, or are looking for a new one, then check out the latest – from Darphin, launching in April. It’s called the L’Institut Facial Sonic Cleansing and Massaging Expert. Catchy, right? Can you imagine the meeting where...
Clarins Urban Oasis in Edinburgh
If you are in Edinburgh this week and this Easter weekend, then escape to the Clarins Urban Oasis at the bottom of Castle Street, at the west end of Princes Street, for a pamper. It’s a brilliant innovation from Clarins, marketing at its very best. I spent around 40 minutes there this week, and it was...
Mother's Day with Olay
It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, so don’t forget to treat the most important woman in your life. But, there’s no need to go overboard. I am overwhelmed with press releases and gift ideas at this time of year, and I know that my mum would be mad if she thought I had spent a fortune on her. The best thing...
Origins Maskimizer and new Mask!
Did you know Origins are the No.1 mask brand in the UK? Well, they are. So, it’s no surprise that they have come up with something new and innovative in the face mask game – The Maskimizer! It is a bit of a rubbish pun-based name, but I will forgive them that for because it’s an interesting, new, product...
Aveda's Daily Light Guard
Aveda’s latest big launch is a sunscreen for the face, to help prevent ageing from the sun. Sadly, when the sun shines, mixed with our joy is fear of it burning, or ageing us. The sun is wonderful – and we do need some Vitamin D, but we have to be careful of its rays, and not getting too much of it....
Limited Edition Liz Earle Rose & Cedrat Cleanse & Polish
I’ve been living in a bit of a rose-scented world of late, with last week’s products and fragrance post, and now this lovely new Limited Edition Rose & Cedrat Cleanse & Polish. I was a bit of a late convert to the glory of Cleanse & Polish, and I am still not completely in love with the scent of the...
Smelling of Roses...
Who wants roses for Valentine’s Day? Yep, me too, but I’d also be equally happy with something rose-scented, because I love it. Rose is a bit of a Marmite scent – many of us love it, or really dislike it. But when you think of rose today, it’s not the cloying, sickly, fake scent your granny’s talc used...
Clarins launch Multi Active Day & Night Cream
If you are aged between 30 and 39, then you need the new Clarins Multi Active Day & Night Cream collection in your beauty regime. Using cutting-edge technology and the power of plants, Clarins has created a non-stop skin care duo, which will help the key cell responsible for youthful skin – the fibroblast...
Get a Pep-Start with Clinique
Clinique’s new eye cream, Pep Start, has launched with a heavy social media campaign, and its very own hashtag – #imin. Are you in? The new eye cream contains a blend of seven peptides (hence the name) to help maintain collagen that can be threatened by stress, fatigue and lack of sleep – the tell-tale...
Estee Lauder's New Dimension Phase 2
Last September Estee Lauder launched their New Dimension transformative collection – and now comes New Dimension Phase 2. The hashtag for this collection is #BestAngle, and it’s all about shapes and angles – empowering women to transform and define their appearance, without fillers, surgery, etc. The...
Gorgeous Rose from Melvita
Melvita’s new Nectar de Roses collection Rose Petal Shower Gel has kept me sane this January! Showering every morning has been made that little bit easier with this lovely product. Melvita captured the freshness of rose petals from three wild roses in their lovely Roses Sauvages Eau de Toilette. Apparently...
Winter Skincare regime
Have you changed your skincare regime this winter? If the answer is ‘no’, then tut tut to you! You really should change your regime in the winter. Your skin needs a little bit more TLC when the weather isn’t great, the central heating is up higher, and we all feel a little bloated and lifeless after...
Cult Beauty - Alpha H Liquid Gold
Whilst it’s always great to celebrate new launches in the beauty world- and there are more than enough of them to do that on this blog every week – there are some cult beauty products we just love to celebrate. Classics that have stood the test of time, maintained their best-selling status, and products...
New brands at M&S beauty for 2016
Marks & Spencer Beauty has been a big hit, and this year seems more brands launch into M&S beauty halls across the country, and even more online. Josh Wood, Coriolis, Pulsaderm, Micro Pedi/Nail, Amerliorate, Magnitone, Eyeko, LGFB Make up brushes, Fillerina, and Alpha H are all new to M&S. So, who are...
Face Masks from Bobbi Brown
Here’s something brand new from Bobbi Brown – Face Masks. It’s all very well applying great makeup, but the canvas on which you work has to be the best it can be, right? So, this Face Mask trio should help – particularly at this time of year when skin can really suffer. Bobbi’s Face Masks address three...
NEW Benefit POREfessional Weapons!
Benefit launch two new weapons in their fight against pores at the end of this month, and I just love the creativity of this little franchise in the Benefit brand. The POREfessional lauched a few years ago, the original primer, and with these two new additions, that makes five in the line. First up ...
Elizabeth Arden's Flawless New Year start
Elizabeth Arden start the year with a new primer that promises to make you look five years younger. I’m not sure that can actually happen, but let’s look at the primer in question. Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer, out this week, fuses skincare benefits with cosmetics, and smoothes...
Estee Lauder's NEW Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme Oil Free
When face creams are succesful, it’s not unusual for another formula of the same cream to follow. Estee Lauder are doing just that in January with their new Revitalizing Supreme Light Global Anti-Aging Creme Oil-Free. It is what is says it is – oil-free. If you are not familiar with the range, or the...
bareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer
It’s wee bit of a sneak peek into the future with this one, but bareMinerals will launch a concealer to complement their bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation next year. bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer will launch in February, continuing the trend for hybrid skincare/makeup which has...
Creme de la Mer The Lifting Eye Serum
Here’s a new one for all you Creme de la Mer fans to spend any Christmas cash on – The Lifting Eye Serum, out next month. Continuing its commitment to deliver optimal benefits that lift the look of skin, Crème de la Mer introduces The Lifting Eye Serum with its new Stretch Matrix Complex to visibly ...
Clarins Super Restorative New Launches
Clarins Super Restorative range is targeted at women aged 45+ and in the new year adds two new products to its range – Super Restorative Hand Cream, and Super Restorative Decollete and Neck Concentrate. Let’s star with the latter. The decollete and neck is an area of the body often exposed to external...
Hangover remedies for New Year
Hogmanay in a few days time, and that means we’ll all most likely be over-indulging in alcohol as we say farewell to 2015 and usher in a new year. Always a good idea at the time, but never a good idea the morning after and there really is no cure for a hangover, or is there? Apparently this little bottle...
Accessorize Sweet Lotus Collection
This Accessorize Sweet Lotus collection seems an odd one to launch in November, but really, when you think about it, it’s nice to have something floral and fresh at this time of year, yeah? And this lovely collection is aimed at travel – so time to daydream about long summer nights, high temperatures...
Eight if you're late! Last Minute Gifts!
Still got Christmas gifts to buy? Don’t worry, you still have a little bit of time! And here’s a wee bit of help with my ‘Eight if you’re late’ round up of beauty gifts! If you have a teenager to grab something for then you could do a lot worse than Japanese fashion brand Superdry’s beauty range. They...
Estee Lauder Micro Essence Infusion Masks
Skin feeling and looking a little bit tired and dull? Then what you need is a boost from Estee Lauder’s new Micro Essence Infusion face masks. These new sheet masks (a pack of six will set you back £50), have been produced to complement Asia’s best-selling Estee Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating ...
Cult Beauty - Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Whilst it’s always great to celebrate new launches in the beauty world- and there are more than enough of them to do that on this blog every week – there are some cult beauty products we just love to celebrate. Classics that have stood the test of time, maintained their best-selling status, and products...
Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream All Over Miracle Oil
Now, here’s a launch that made me sit up and take notice! I am a big fan of Elizabeth Arden’s iconic Eight Hour Cream (watch out for it in the cult beauty category soon), so I was thrilled to try their new Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil. It’s one of those multi-taskers that are actually brilliant...
Brrrr...it's bathtime!
Who doesn’t love a long, hot, soak on a winter’s night? It’s cold out there, so get cosy and relax in the bath! I love a bath, and I am always looking for something new to put in it. So, here’s a round-up of some of the best bathtime products out there. Scottish Fine Soap’s Au Lait Milk Bath Powder ...
Aesop comes to Scotland
Aesop are an Australian beauty brand, founded in 1987, in Melbourne, and now a worldwide name, with lots of stores – and last month they opened their first in Scotland, in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge area. Nestled in the Georgian New Town, Stockbridge is an area full of well-heeled Edinburghers who will...
Cult Beauty - MAC Strobe Cream
Whilst it’s always great to celebrate new launches in the beauty world- and there are more than enough of them to do that on this blog every week – there are some cult beauty products we just love to celebrate. Classics that have stood the test of time, maintained their best-selling status, and products...
VENeffect @ Space NK
For the past week I have been using a completely new skincare beand, VENeffect. This American brand, stocked at Space NK in the UK is the brainchild of two sisters – Rebecca Booth, MD, a gynaecologist and hormonal wellness expert, and Cecil Booth, a 28-year-old beauty industry veteran. Chicago-based...
Beauty Advent Calendars 2015
Forget the chocolate, or the even more retro pictures behind the windows of your advent calendar – we want beauty products! And full-size ones too! Where there used to be just one or two beauty advent calendars to choose from, there are now, well, loads! Here are eight of the best! Clarins Beauty Advent...
Preen Elizabeth Arden Gift with Purchase
If you love a beauty gift with purchase, and you’re a fashion fan, then you’ll like the latest from Elizabeth Arden and their fashion favourites, Preen. Their festive Gift With Purchase collaboration with the brand sees Preen design another cute makeup bag, which is filled with Arden goodies. Originally...
Halloween Beauty Bits
It’s Hallowe’en this week and I am ridiculously excited – far too excited for an adult! I shared my favourite spooky Halloween makeup tutorials last week, and today it’s less frightening than that post, I promise. Let’s start with something completely non-spooky from Oskia Skincare. The only Halloween...
Winter Skincare
The clocks go back this weekend, signalling the end of British summertime. Of course, any ‘summer’ we had ended a while ago, right? But have you changed your skincare routine accordingly? What you use in the summer is probably not good enough come the shorter nights and colder days of the autumn/winter...
Niche Brands New Beauty
There are more beauty ranges and lines that I could ever possibly list, or even imagine. So, it’s not surprising when new (to me) brands land on my desk every week. This week I’ve been playing with three new products, two of which come from brands that are totally new to me. First up was Swell Ultimate...
Origins Comfort Mood Body Range
New from Origins, the Comfort Mood body range addresses, well, a pretty neglected part of us – our whole body! Whilst you may have the best skincare regime for your face, I bet you neglect that body. I know I do! I know I keep going on about this, but when I look down at my poor, dry, legs, I have to...
Cult Beauty - Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Whilst it’s always great to celebrate new launches in the beauty world- and there are more than enough of them to do that on this blog every week – there are some cult beauty products we just love to celebrate. Classics that have stood the test of time, maintained their best-selling status, and products...
Skinade Collagen Drink
For 30 days recently I drank Skinade every morning, one of the latest collagen drinks on the market. I have to admit I have never been one for beauty supplements. I dislike swallowing tablets of any sort, so popping collagen pills has never had much appeal. Drinking something not that pleasant every...
Body Moisturiser Bargains
You know how it is. You get back your holiday and you try to eke out the very last of your tan. I’m not one for faking it, so when I get a little bit of a natural glow, I do like to hang on to it as long as I can. So, I get very regimented with my body moisturising, er, regime. But…hands up who forgets...
Alpha-H Liquid Gold is 15!
Are you familiar with Australian skincare brand, Alpha-H? If not, then I suggest you get yourself familiarised with them immediately! One of my faves, their cult product and best-seller is Liquid Gold, and it’s 15 years old this year! To celebrate Alpha-H, who regularly sell on TV shopping channel, ...
Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream
Here’s another night-time treat, a rich and luxurious oil-based cream from Darphin. Their 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream delivers the ingredients from Darphin’s 8-Flower Nectar Essential Oil Elixir in a rich oil cream. The ‘recipe’ is an oil emulsion in water. So, when you apply the cream on the skin, the...
Clinique Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer
Apparently, every day, women are doing at least four things at once. Of course we are! So, at night, Clinique reckon we should let our skin be the multi-tasker, resting and repairing whilst we get much-needed sleep. And, of course, Clinique have the perfect product to help make your skin work as hard...
Breast Cancer Awareness Beauty
October heralds the beginning of a month of pink products in the beauty world, as Breast Cancer Awareness month begins again. The charitable initiative provides you with the opportunity to buy some lovely Limited Edition products with the knowledge that you are donating to a worthwhile cause. So, let...
Gardener's Hands? Here's some help!
For as long as I can remember my parents have spent time in the garden. Probably out of necessity more than love, having a large garden, but they have to enjoy it too, right? So, also for as long as I can remember, I have bought my parents gardening themed gifts. I know my mum in particular therefore...
Melvita's Nectar Supreme
Melvita launch Nectar Supreme this month – a face cream that is apparently for all skin types, and all ages. Which is thanks to something called Kniphofia. Which is a flower, more commonly known as a Red Hot Poker. My parents have these beautiful flowers in their garden, but I had no idea that they ...
Pixi by Petra
It’s always nice to discover new beauty brands -and there are hundreds out there, trust me! The latest I have come across is Pixi by Petra, a brand created by Petra Strand, over 10 years ago. (So, yes, I am late to this party!). I haven’t tried much of the brand, and there is, obviously, a huge makeup...
Origins Three Part Harmony Range
Origins have a huge launch this month – their new Three Part Harmony range for mature skin. This one is aimed at skin that’s 50+ and comprises – at the moment – two products, a cream and a serum. The number one concern in mature skin is dryness, and products you like when you hit 50+ tend to be more...
Holly Fulton for Simple
Simple has teamed up with Scottish fashion designer Holly Fulton to create a Limited Edition Design Collection for their No.1 selling Kind To Skin Cleansing Wipes, making them the fashion week must-have beauty essential. As well as being a leading figure on the Fashion Week circuit – London Fashion ...
Clarins FEED 10 Gift With PURPOSE
Once again Clarins launch their Gift with PURPOSE, in the shape of their Feed 10 Gift With Purchase. Buy two skincare products and you will get this lovely gift for nothing, and help the UN World Food Programme. Clarins successfully ran this initiative last year, so they’re doing it again. The collaboration...
Weekend Break Beauty
It’s the September weekend in Edinburgh this weekend, and Glasgow next weekend, so, are you heading off anywhere? Maybe a wee city break? A sunshine weekend? Or just hanging out in Scotland. Wherever you are off to, you will need to take your beauty essentials. But what beauty essentials?! It’s always...
Lovely Lip Balms
Lip balms aren’t really my friend. I really hate watching people jab their finger in a pot and swirl it over their lips, again, and again, and again. However, I do have to use lip balm from time to time, and particularly when the colder weather starts to kick in. No-one wants chapped lips. But..I’m ...
Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum
There seems to be a lot of new lauches of late for the more mature, or very dry skin. There is a new Origins range coming soon – more on that next week – but for now, it’s Liz Earle launching their Superskin Face Serum. Every launch in beauty seems to have a hashtag with it, and this one is #slowtheticking...
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Corrector and Concealer
Bobbi Brown launched their Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40 in April this year, a hybrid foundation/skincare product which also was brilliant at concealing redness. Now, they’re releasing two new products to sit alongside the foundation – the Intensive Skin Serum Corrector, and Intensive Skin Serum...
Philosophy The Microdelivery Overnight Peel
Philosophy launch a new skincare product this month – an overnight peel. It’s a two-stage, leave-on, anti-ageing peel which will help with wrinkles, loss of firmness and enlarged pores. Bring it to us! So, this two step product combines the micro-exfoliation of a peel, with the restorative benefits ...
Five Facial Oils
I have a sort of love/hate relationship with facial oils. I have tried LOADS over the last few years, and they just keep on coming. Facial oils are NOT just for dry skin. Many of them are actually much better for oily skin than any moisturising cream. However, sometimes, I find them too heavy, sometimes...
Estee Lauder New Dimension Transformative Collection
It’s ALL about contouring at the moment in beauty. Those saggy jowels are being dealt with! After Clinique’s new range, and Temple’s Spa’s The Contourist mask, comes Estee Lauder’s New Dimension Transformative Collection. That’s not the snappiest name in the world, but it does promise to allow women...
The Contourist with Temple Spa - and Lady Gaga!
Only Lady Gaga could pop on sunglasses for a face mask #selfie! Apparently loads of celebs love taking pics of themselves with masks on, hey, why not? But Lady Gaga’s sunglasses-selfie back in May is just brilliant. The mask she’s wearing? The Contourist, by Temple Spa. ©ladygaga/instagram Not familiar...
Clinique Sculptwear Lift and Contour
Clinique’s latest launches focus on lifting and contouring – sculpting that face. No-one wants to mention saggy jowls, let alone have them! But, as time progresses, things do tend to head south. Beauty products are here to help! There are two new products, and a new head for your Clinique Sonic System...
Candle with Benefits
Occasionally I get VERY excited about a beauty product, particularly a multi-purpose product – I like innovation in the beauty world. So, when this lovely Oskia Rose De Mai Massage, Body Oil and Treatment candle landed on my desk, I was intrigued – and excited. Made using the finest May Rose, nourishing...
Superfood Beauty!
We are all aware of superfoods, right? Things like pomegranate, kale, goji berries, quinoa are all, apparently, very good for us. We should be consuming large amounts of them. And perhaps we should be using them in other forms as well. Like in beauty products, for instance! Superfood beauty is feeding...
Danielle Romeril for Neutrogena
Irish fashion designer Danielle Romeril has designed some really smart packaging for Neutrogena’s Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit range. I have to admit to not being that au fait with the Dublin designer’s work, but she will present her sixth collection at London Fashion Week this September, so that’s...
Alpha H Absolute Eye Cream SPF15
Here’s one to set the TV timer for – the launch of a brilliant new Alpha H product as part of a QVC TSV (that’s a Today’s Special Value, in QVC-speak!). Let’s deal with that deal first. The date is August 13, and the Alpha H Absolute Eye Cream SPF15 will launch on that date exclusively as part of this...
Neom Treats On The Go
I LOVE these little treats from Neom. If you haven’t heard of the brand before, they’re a lovely natural beauty company based in Harrogate in Yorkshire, and they make gorgeous products, all with a wellbeing, feel-good factor. I have long been a fan of their candles, but this is the first time I had ...
Bubble T for the bath!
I couldn’t quite get on board with the craze that was Bubble Tea. Thankfully, it’s never quite taken off. I couldnt bring myself to sip a hot drink with tapioca balls floating around in it. But…I do quite like the Bubble T brand, who have taken the concept of this drink, and made it into a lovely beauty...
Label.M Honey & Oat Mask
Hair masks. Or masques, depending on brand. They really need to be my friend. If you have coloured wrecked hair like mine, then don’t do as I do (forget to use them!), do as I say, and make hair masks your friend. Start with this new one from label.m, the latest addition to their Honey & Oat range, ...
Clarins Super Restorative Remodelling Serum
I’m not sure this will entirely remodel your face – I think only surgery can do that, but the latest anti-ageing skincare from Clarins promises to reshape, redefine and restore radiance. The latest in the Super Restorative range, aimed at more mature skin, which has been affected by hormonal changes...
Origins Original Skin Face Mask
Origins have added a mask to their Original Skin range, the Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay. The Original Skin range was developed with 25+ age bracket in mind. Their hashtag #quarterlifecrisis goes with any social media chat on this range. So far, the range consists of two items – the...
After Sun
What do you use after a day in the sun – particularly if you have overdone it a bit, and are a wee bit pink – or even lobster-red. But let’s hope, after reading our facial suncare, and body suncare posts, you won’t be the latter. After sun is a tricky one. Do you buy a specific after sun or do you just...
Clarins' Charity Bracelet offer
Part of my summer holiday ritual is to stack my wrists with bracelets – friendship bracelets, silver bangles, you know the kind of thing. I don’t wear bracelets much any other time of year, but I love the look in summer. So, when I saw Clarins’ latest online offer, I was all over it. Buy a product, ...
Super Suncare
Okay, I know, we’ve had more rain than sun of late, but there are moments when it shines (today is a good day, yeah?!), and if you are off on holiday soon, you will need this super suncare guide! Following on from last week’s facial suncare post, it’s the turn of your body this week Don’t leave home...
Facial suncare
Gone are the days of just slapping on a bit of your bottle of sunscreen onto your face. If you really care about your skin, then you should invest in a tube or two of dedicated facial suncare when you head off on your holidays. You should probably wear an SPF daily anyway, to keep ageing at bay – those...
Emma Hardie's New Protect & Prime SPF30
I love Emma Hardie products – if you read this blog regularly, you will know that. But I am not exaggerating when I say her latest is my favourite of hers yet! The new Emma Hardie Amazing Face Protect & Prime SPF30 cream is absolutely brilliant. I used this the other morning, and then when I looked ...
Kaffe Fassett Achillea Hand Cream
I’ve tried loads of hand creams over the past 18 months thanks to my hand psoriasis. It has, touch wood, gone into a bit of a remission period at the moment, but handcream has become my best friend, and I am always on the look out for new ones to try. I have to admit that it was the amazing packaging...
Jo Malone Bath & Body range
Here’s something new and lovely from Jo Malone London – a new bath and body range. There are a few body products from Jo Malone already, but this is a brand new concept – with one lovely new fragrance as well. Hands up who loves having a bath? I do. There’s nothing more relaxing than lying in the hot...
Fake tan Bronzer and Night Cream?!
If you read this blog regularly you will know that I had a bit of a pre-wedding tanning moment, before deciding (again!) that fake tanning was not for me! However, I did really like my Vita Liberata fake tan, and was interested in a couple of their latest products which were sent to me. First up is ...
Flowers & Other Stories ...
My poor garden was battered by the poor spring we had. It currently looks like a bit of an overgrown jungle, and the poor spring flowers didn’t survive those crazy winds we have been having. I’ve not had time to plant any new summer plants. In short it’s a mess. So, I’m going to get my floral treat ...
Fake Bake Beauty At Home
Fake Bake isn’t just about tanning you know. The Scottish-based beauty brand has launched three new lines – in skincare, body treats and makeup – and a whole new home party shopping concept. Let’s have a wee look at the products first, starting with the makeup collection, Scream & Pout. All the essentials...
Eight Hours with Rachel Stevens
Elizabeth Arden are doing quite a cool social media promotion right now, called #My8Hours, related obviously to their iconic Eight Hour Cream (which I love!). They’ve enlisted the support of eight inspiring women from varius professions, and they’re giving an insight into their life -and thair beauty...
MAC Mineralize Timecheck
Now, here’s a product I’ve been advised to wear on my left HAND at my wedding, to make it look beautiful, soft and smooth in any ‘wedding ring photo’! MAC’s new Mineralize Timecheck is a primer, essentially. MAC are getting heavily into their skincare again – watch this space. This product is infused...
Boots launch NEW Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Skincare range
It’s hardly a surprise, given the recent success and validation of their Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum, No7 are now upgrading the Protect & Perfect Intense Skincare range to the ADVANCED level too. Consisting of three products – a day cream, a night cream, and an eye cream, it’s targeted ...
Creme de la Mer's Blue Heart
This is one for the hardcore Creme de la Mer fans – their annual charity collector’s pot. If you have £300 and you want a pot of your favourite face cream, and to help celebrate World Ocean Day (today, June 8) and Creme’s ongoing commitment to the ocean, though their Blue Heart philanthropic mission...
Creme de la Mer Treatment Massage Tool
There has been a HUGE trend in the last couple of years for beauty gadgets. Cleansing brushes are a particular favourite – everyone seems to have one, or at least have tried one. I’m not that much of a gadget fan, but I was impressed with Creme de la Mer’s addition to the trend – their Treatment Massage...
Estee Lauder's Clear Difference NEW products
Estee Lauder add two new products to their Clear Difference range from today. Clear Difference helps those with blemish-prone skin, which, as we all know is not just for teenagers. “Hormones in particular can cause previously clear skin to become prone to blemishes. “Blemishes aren’t just for teenagers...
Fake Tan Fan?
During my many years as a beauty writer, I have had many fake tans. Before I was a beauty writer, I had many fake tans. I spent most of my teenage years, in the late 1980s, feeling completely let-down by my peely-wally Scottish skintone, and used anything at all to give me, what I thought, was a golden...
Origins Night-A-Mins Facial Oil
Sticking with Origins, and another new launch – their High Potency Night-A-Mins Skin Refining Oil, which they say is like a ‘sleeping peel’. I am up for any beauty products that work whilst you sleep. In fact, the more I can put on my face before my head hits the pillow, the better! So, I have added...
Clear Improvement with Origins
Origins launch a new body wash and body scrub duo next month that is totally unisex, but particularly great for men – just in time for Father’s Day, perhaps? It’s not just on our faces that we get blemishes – environmental toxins, dirt, oil and debris can get trapped below skin’s surface and the blockage...
Creme de la Mer's NEW Reparative Skin Tint
Creme de la Mer fans will love the NEW Reparative Skin Tint SPF30. Creme says it is ‘far beyond a BB, and light years past a CC’. I’d say it was pretty similar to both of those. It gives you a healthy tint, whilst simultaneously working to repair and protect the look of your skin. I’ve used this for...
Clarins' Aquatic Treasures for summer
Clarins’ summer collection captures the textures and shades of the sea. It’s not, however, what you might expect, with stereotypical aqua blues, etc, etc. It’s actually much lovelier than that, with gorgeous bronzes and golds to reflect the silky sands, and iridescent shades to mirror pearls on the ...
Stress-Fix with Aveda - new products
Hooray for Aveda Stress-Fix. You know all those stories you hear about weddings being stressful things to plan? Yeah, the ones I dismissed as rubbish. Well, turns out they’re true. I get married one month today and it can’t come quickly enough! I am thrilled to be getting hitched, but if I could drink...
Boots Protect & Perfect really works!
I am always being asked ‘does it work’ by friends and family when I try some new beauty product. It’s hard to give a definitive answer. If you don’t use something regularly, you may not see results. What works for you, might not work for another. But, now, after a 12 month clinical trial, scrutinised...
Vitamin C and your skin
Vitamin C is one of those ingredients that comes up in beauty products a lot. It helps with radiance,they say, and energising the skin, and it is true that it does have some excellent qualities. As much as you should try to ingest Vitamin C in lovely orange juice, or in tablet form, for well-being and...
No Socks Day Scholl Pedicure
No Socks Day is a thing, apparently, and it’s today! So, time to get those socks off, an expose those feet! But not until you’ve given them a little bit of a pedicure at least! Now, when this landed on my desk, I had a flash back to when I was a teenager, and ordered something similar, though clearly...
Mask It! 12 Top Face Masks
For most of March I was exfoliating my skin all the time, the results recorded in this post on this blog. Last month it was the turn of hydrating face masks. Face masks and exfoliators are extra additions to your skincare routine that you really should embrace. I learned a lot from using them over the...
May Day Cleanse with Suti
It’s May Day, and that means washing your face in the first morning dew, apparently. Er, no thanks! I’ll stick with my latest favourite cleanser, if it’s all right by you! Suti Facial Cleansing Balm is a gorgeous organic cleanser – as fresh as the morning dew, but with a lot more skincare benefits! ...
Liquilift
I’ve tried lots of different products and treatments over the years as a beauty writer. Sheep placenta facial, all manner of fake tans, face creams worth more than £500, every false nail ever invented…you get the idea. I have drawn the line at injectables, any other cosmetic procedures,and this bonkers...
New serums from Zelens
Zelens is the brand from renowned authority in skin ageing and skin cancer, Dr Marko Lens. His products are, quite simply, excellent, and he launches two brilliant new serums this summer. Zelens are one of those brands that I feel duty-bound to share with as many people as I can. They are, what the ...
Turnaround, with Clinique
Whenever I read or write about Clinique’s Turnaround range, Bonnie Tyler’s classic 80s hit, Total Eclipse of the Heart comes into my mind… Bonnie sang ‘turn around, bright eyes’, but lovers of this range might sing ‘Turnaround, bright skin’ because that’s effectively what it does. it turns your dull...
Baby Sleep Pillow Spray
With the new Royal baby’s birth imminent, we’ve all gone a wee bit baby-mad – and so have the brands! This Works have brought out a Limited Edition Baby Sleep Pillow Spray – in pink and blue of course – to celebrate the new Royal baby. The packaging is lovely – that’s the lid in the middle – how cute...
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation
Another new foundation? Yes, but this one is a wee bit different. Inspired by her holistic approach to beauty, Bobbi has created a luxe hybrid foundation, the perfect blend of skincare and makeup. Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40 ‘beautifies from the inside out’ with super-charged serum ingredients...
(Green) Tea Ceremony with The Body Shop?
The Body Shop has a lovely new range – Fuji Green Tea – with eight products to pamper yourself with in a tea ceremony all of your own. We all know that green tea has antioxidant qualities. With its detoxifying health benefits, green tea has been revered for over 400 years in social and cultural activities...
Clinique's trio of masks
Clinique have a trio of face masks landing on their counters at the end of next week; two are new, one is repackaged and revamped. Let’s start with the revamped,and repackaged Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Instant Facial (£35). (There will be more on the Turnaround range later this week.) So, to ...
Renewed Hope from Philosophy
Can it really be EIGHTEEN YEARS since Philosophy launched their iconic moisturiser, Hope In a Jar? YES! I reckon it arrived a few years later than 1996 in the UK, but I can remember trying it as a rookie beauty writer, about 15 years ago! As it comes of age, Hope In a Jar has been renewed – Renewed ...
Energy Bank from This Works
Come Sunday morning, when you’ve lost an hour’s sleep, you will thank me for this post! Introducing Energy Bank from This Works, a lovely range of products guaranteed to give you an instant pick-me up and boost of energy after a bad or good, or shorter than usual, night’s sleep. I love spring, but this...
Melvita L'Or Rose Firming Oil
Lovely French organic brand Melvita have a new body oil out next month – L’Or Rose Firming Oil. An anti-cellulite oil, with a much lovelier name! It’s a toning oil, really, promising smoother, and firmer skin, thanks to a combination of four oils, actually. So, it tones, moisturises, nourishes and enhances...
Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Body
Clarins launched their Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face a year ago, and we blogged about it on here. It instantly became a huge hit, and Clarins themselves were taken aback by the instant response the product generated. It finished the year as the number one self-tan product in the premium...
Darphin Exquisage Duo
I had a good read through the press release for this new range from Darphin, and what it essentially is is collagen-boosting. Collagen is one of the key words in the beauty world – we all know that diminished production of collagen as we get older leads to the classic signs of ageing – less firm skin...
#nobodysperfect say Clarins
Clarins want to remind us all that everybody is different, or more specifically everybody’s body is different, and, more importantly, it’s okay not to be perfect. This is all part of an offer that runs throughout the month of March at Clarins, and involves all their lovely body care products. You can...
Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Handcream
Origins have had huge success with their Plantscription line, and it’s no surprise – it’s great! I love the facial serum, the eye cream is my current favourite, and the facial oil is brilliant. There are face creams, a cleanser and a treatment lotion in the range as well, and if you are looking for ...
Kate Hudson's Beauty Faves
©Kate Hudson Instagram Don’t you love following celebrities on Instagram? Okay, not all celebrities, but those you like, and those who give GOOD Instagram, like Kate Hudson. Follow her, you’ll see what I mean Back in January she posted this fab picture of her beauty faves as she was getting ready for...
Chanel's CC Cream
Here’s a lovely new Chanel product for you; the CC Cream. Yes, CC Creams are still around! Chanel’s is offering the ‘strength of simplicity‘, and by that they mean five actions in one single step. I kind of wish they had used their interlinked iconic double C for this, but maybe that is taking it too...
Mother's Day Lush Fun
Here’s a funny – maybe a bit cheeky – little Mother’s Day gift! Is there any Mother more superior than your own?! This fab little Mother Superior character Bubble Bar made me chortle. I love it! It is scented with cherry blossom, and is the perfect relaxation aid for any mums this weekend! This isn’...
Origins Original Skin
Apparently, being 25 isn’t that great. You fall in the Millennials demographic, or Generation Y, and, it is, apparently, the most stressed-out demographic in history. Finally a reason to be glad to be old! Anyway, why am I rambling on about Millennials, Generation Y and being 25? Well, it’s all about...
Clarins SPF50 Daily Sunscreen Primer
I’ve asked many beauty experts their key anti-ageing advice, and almost all of them have replied with one word: sunscreen. The sun, as wonderful as it is, causes our skin no end of problems. We do need a dose of Vitamin D, but if you want to keep the wrinkles at bay, then that feeling of the sun on ...
Chanel's Hydra Beauty Micro Serum
The press release to launch Chanel’s latest skincare product – their Hydra Beauty Micro Serum – was 43 pages long. Okay, a lot of that was for notes, as it came in a school notebook form, but there is a LOT of science and info behind this latest launch! Essentially what Chanel have done is listen to...
Lancome Miracle Cushion
Lancome’s latest makeup launch is not a foundation, nor a compact – it’s a cushion! The Lancome Miracle Cushion is a genuine innovation in beauty, and stems from Asia, where women’s demands for new product formulas and textures offer a constant source of inspiration. ‘Complexion make-up’ – that’s base...
Jo Malone's Red Roses for Valentine's Day
It’s never too early to leave some Valentine’s Day hints around the place. Subtly, or maybe more upfront, sometimes it’s good to give the other half in our life a little helping hand. So, send them this blog post link if you fancy some Red Roses of a beauty kind, rather than a cliche kind this Valentine...
Smoky Poppy from The Body Shop
The Body Shop launch a new Limited Edition range next month which is really new to me – Smoky Poppy. Don’t think I really thought about the smell of poppies before, have you? Well, according to The Body Shop it’s the most seductive range they’ve ever released! Laced with the extract of oil-rich poppies...
Beyond Perfect Skin with Clinique
After a year or more of BB, CC,DD and even EE creams, it seems the beauty world has returned to good old foundations – and high coverage ones at that. Last week I reviewed Clarins newest formula, this week it’s Clinique’s new 2-in-1 Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer. This latest addition to the...
The Body Shop Bouncy Sleep Mask
I love the name of the new Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleep Mask.It promises bouncier skin, which is a new one one me – I think they mean firmer skin, obviously, but I like bouncier! Enriched with Edelweiss stem cells, it’s designed to be left on overnight to do its magic. The bouncy also refers...
Bargain £1 Beauty at Tesco
So, it’s the middle of January and we are all probably feeling the pinch in our purses just a little bit. After the excesses of the festive season, we don’t usually have much spare cash to splash. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t treat ourselves at all – and we need treats at this time of year more than...
Clarins new Everlasting Foundation + SPF15
A new foundation for a new year! And a proper foundation. I am a bit of a BB or tinted moisturiser fan, but sometimes, in the winter in particular, I want something with more coverage. I’ve had a few breakouts of late, and I am not feeling so skin-confident as I am sometimes, so I felt the need for ...
The Body Shop Hemp Soap on a rope
Soap on a rope! That’s a blast from the past, and actually quite a brilliant alternative to shower gel! I love soap, so I was thrilled to try the new Body Shop Hemp Soap on a Rope. After I had stopped staring at the ad campaign image! Right, pay attention! I know, it’s difficult, isn’t it?! Anyway, ...
Smashbox Primer Water
I was a little bit sceptical about this latest launch when I first saw it last year. Essentially, it’s water. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water launches next month, and it’s a spritz of, well, water, which will prime, hydrate and give radiance. Essentially it’s the iconic Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation...
New No7 Nail Care Treatments
These new nail care treatments from No7 at Boots launched just after Christmas, in perfect time for when your nails take a bit of a beating. The weather, lots of change of nail colours, and treatments like Shellac can all have a bearing on the heath of of your nails. I had Shellac done before Christmas...
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Nudes
After all the glitter and sparkle of the festive season it’s time to pare back that makeup and embrace a nude look. Bobbi Brown’s latest collection is the Illuminating Nudes Collection. It’s more of a look, than a new collection, with just one brand new product, and a few new shades of other favourites...
My 2014 Beauty Favourites
Hundreds of products go through my hands every year in this job. I don’t blog about them all, I don’t love them all. Some I like, some I really don’t; some work for me, and not for others, and then there are those I love! People always ask me what my favourite products are, and although I do have small...
Body Beautiful with Aveda
Aveda has two gorgeous new body products out early next year – Beautifying Creme Cleansing Oil, and Beautifying Body Moisturizer. The gorgeous Beautifying Aroma originated in the Beautifying Composition, which was one of the earliest composition oils in the Aveda collection. It is one of the absolute...
Creme De La Mer Illuminating Eye Gel
Creme de la Mer have a new product launch in January, all about awakening your eyes – and also trying to bring a new consumer towards the brand. The Illuminating Eye Gel will retail for £100, which, although still a premium price, is lower than the usual Creme prices. If you fancy trying out a Creme...
Clinique Repairwear Sculpting Night Cream
Sagging skin. Is there a more horrendous prospect. I really hate this term in beauty parlance. But, it happens, let’s face up to it. As well as lines, wrinkles, dark circles and age spots, the older we get, the more our skin heads south! Clinique’s latest night cream deals with that, however, and whilst...
NEW Aveda Botanical Kinetics
A new year, a new moisturiser? Yes, please. Particularly if it’s as good as the new Aveda Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Rich Creme. it’s one of three new products in this plant-based range, which will replenish and protect the skin. The Rich Creme, and the Intense Hydrating Soft Creme contains...
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Neck and Decollete cream
If you want to really impress a beauty fan this Christmas, then why not gift them something that isn’t launched officially until March? Okay, it’s exclusive at Boots.com, right now, but, well, they might not know that! Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage® Anti-aging Neck and Décolleté Firm & Repair Cream is what...
Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Mask Boost
Okay, it’s not the snappiest product name ever, is it?! The new Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Mask Boost is a new addition to the Revitalizing Supreme range which is their skin-intuitive anti-ageing range. This new mask will bring out a more rested, radiant and energised look in...
Clinique's Aromatics in White
Clinique’s Aromatics Elixir is one of my favourite scents. Clinique call it their ‘intriguing non-conformist fragrance’, and it is very different to anything else. It’s almost impossible to describe, with notes or rose, jasmine, ylang ylang and vetiver, but is hard to pin down exactly what it is. It...
Lush's Colourful Christmas
I once spent time in New York working with a woman who had an aversion to colour. She wore black all the time, and baulked at my love of all things bright and bold. I was reminded of her when I spent an evening in Lush in Edinburgh recently getting acquainted with their amazing – and colourful – Christmas...
Christmas Nails - the easy way
The internet is awash with Christmas nail art. But, as much as I love creating little pictures and patterns on my nails, I just don’t have time at this time of year for the indulgence. I am going to head to a salon next week to get a Christmas Shellac I think – there are plenty of salons to choose from...
NEW Aveeno Skin Relief Handcream
My whole year seems to have been about hand cream, thanks to a particularly nasty flare-up of psoriasis. Since February, my hands, and to a lesser extent my feet, have been cracked, broken,weeping, and sore. I was prescribed Aveeno by the doctors to soothe them, so I was delighted to try out a new Aveeno...
Dear Santa ...Christmas Beauty wishlist!
What beauty gifts are on your Dear Santa letter this year? There are so many fantastic beauty gifts to choose from, I whittled my list down to, er, 11 (I couldn’t decide between the Benefit gift sets!) and here it is! Is there anything on mine that takes your fancy? Let’s start at the top! How fabulously...
Pure Spa Glasgow West Nile Street
The Christmas to-do list is a mile long, the streets are filled with harassed shoppers, and it’s less the nights are drawing in more, there may be a patch of daylight between 1-3pm. Pure Spa West Nile Street December is wonderful but it also can be brutal, which is why it is important to set aside an...
Smashbox Contour Kit
I am not, and probably never will be, a big fan of the Kardashians. They’re not really on my radar, if I am honest But, of course, you can’t completely escape them, can you? And one thing I have paid a wee bit of attention to is how their love of contouring sent that particular makeup trick to the top...
Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil
If you read this blog regularly, you will know I am a huge fan of Emma Hardie and her products. She’s a brilliantly warm and funny person, and her products are gorgeous – and they work. back in the summer I had a very early sneak peek at her most recently launched product, the Emma Hardie Brilliance...
Aveda Hand Relief Serum
I’m already a big fan of the Aveda Hand Relief handcream, so was thrilled to learn of the new launch, the Aveda Hand Relief Night Renewal Serum. It’s another product for your night-time beauty routine. Hand cream is one of those products you always see the heroine rubbing into her hands in those old...
Nanette Lepore for Origins GWP
Nanette Lepore is an American fashion designer who has teamed up with Origins to create a cute little cosmetic bag which is free at counters just now, with purchases £50 and more. Nanette is known for her vibrant colours and feminine prints reminiscent of cultures around the world. She loves travelling...
Perfume for Christmas?
It’s maybe not the most original gift to give or receive, but who doesn’t love a new fragrance? I definitely do, so, for your pleasure- and mine – I’ve been expertly sniffing a few of late that you may want to buy for someone special (or yourself!) for Christmas. Fist up the DKNY Be Delicious Sparking...
Body Scrubs for winter skin
Time to slough off those dead skin cells, and get that body ready for winter parties! Winter is NOT an excuse to neglect your bodycare routine! Just because your legs are, for the most part, under trousers or thick tights, doesn’t mean you can relax on the hair removal! And, as your skin dries out in...
Moschino 'Toy' Perfume - it's a teddy!
How about this from Moschino to brighten up a dull November day? It’s only a perfume disguised as a teddy bear! It’s another bit of kitsch Moschino genius from Creative Director Jeremy Scott. (And if you are in London today get along to Harrods between 1230pm and 2pm, where he will be presenting his...
Eye Creams and Serums
I’m regularly asked about eye creams and serums by my friends. The eyes are the first place to show the signs of ageing. The skin there is more delicate, so you really do need to use a separate cream for the eye area. So, here are five eye creams and serums I’ve been using recently – these are at the...
Clinique's Nutcracker Suite
Clinique’s sugary-pink Christmas collection is inspired by the world-renowned Christmas ballet classic The Nutcracker. “The collection was inspired by the characters, costumes and scenery of the performance,” says Janet Pardo, Senior Vice President Clinique Global Product Development. “The tulles and...
Aurelia Probiotic Skincare
I get a lot of new skincare brands on my desk, which means I can get a bit blase about another moisturiser, or cleanser, blah, blah, blah. However, if I get to meet the brand creator, well, that makes a difference! Not that Claire Vero, founder of Aurelia Probiotic Skincare, had to impress me much. ...
Jo Malone Christmas Limited Edition Pomegranate Noir
Let’s talk Christmas, and in particular Jo Malone Christmas! There are so many fab goodies and services on offer at Jo Malone London this year, it’s hard to know where to start. But I will begin with the Limited Edition Pomegranate Noir Cologne. One of the company’s best-loved fragrances, and so evocative...
Paul & Joe Autumn Winter Beauty
Paul & Joe Beaute are one of my absolute favourite beauty brands – but more to look at than use! Don’t get me wrong, the products are great. But they are, as you may expect from a fashion brand, an absolute joy to look at! The general product packaging is lovely – gorgeous glass, retro shapes, and pastel...
Clinique Sonic Cleansing System & Facial Soap
I sort of missed the bandwagon on the facial cleansing brushes. I think it took me so long to even embrace a proper cleansing routine (bad beauty journalist!), this was just a step too far! However, I was sent a Clinique Sonic System Cleansing Brush to try, I was a little scared. Clinique launched this...
AERIN Lauder new fragrances and body lotions
AERIN Lauder have launched two new fragrances to add to their original line-up of six this Autumn, or Fall, as Aerin would say. The fabulously New York lady has created two lovely new scents, in her trademark stone capped bottles. Iris Meadow embodies today’s modern busy life, and the desire to dream...
Scottish Fine Soaps new look for 40
Who doesn’t need a makeoever when they hit the big 4-0!? (I should know, been there, done that!) So, it’s no surprise that The Scottish Fine Soaps Company has relaunched its website, and given two of its best-selling lines a makeover to celebrate their landmark anniversary. Taking inspiration from contemporar...
Halloween at Lush
Lush never fail to deliver, do they!? Hallowe’en at Lush for 2014 sees the arrival of a few new – and amazing- treats. Makes me want to spend the whole of Hallowe’en in the bath – and not dooking for apples in it! Their new Northern Lights bath bomb (£3.35), inspired by The Night Circus book by Erin...
Shimmering Skin from Becca
If you want subtle shimmer rather than full on sparkle this Christmas, then the Becca Holiday 2014 Collection is for you. Just launched into Space NK stores, and QVC, it’s not really much of a collection in just three pieces, but it is just lovely. The Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights Kit (£20) ...
Overnight beauty
The clocks go back this weekend, so that means another hour of beauty sleep! Yay! But no point in that if you don’t have the right products, is there? So, here are a few of my favourite nighttime beauty products, from creams to balms, to serums and my favourite foot cream! Photographed by my bed! That...
Olay Total Effects Pore Minimiser CC Cream
Here’s another recent launch from a brand I’m not that familar with – Olay. I know, how can you not be familiar with Olay, I hear you cry! Well, of course, I know all about Olay, but I’ve never used that many of their products. But, after trying out the new Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizer CC Cream...
Nail Decals from Shop Keeki!
I am in LOVE with Instagram. I’ve discovered all sorts of wonderful clubs, and people, and shops through it, it’s definitely my favourite social media forum. It’s on Instagram that I discovered these fab ShopKeeki nail decals. Odd name, yes! But they’re so good, and so cheap and so easy to use. The ...
Chanel No.5 for Christmas?
Oh, go on then! Who wouldn’t love something Chanel No.5 for Christmas? This year they have brought out a few lovely gift items, to go along with that big bottle you’re getting of course…! Why is Chanel No.5 so popular. Jacques Polge, Creator of Chanel fragrances, reckons it retains all the mystery of...
Beauty-full Breakfast!
I’ve been at a few beauty breakfasts in my career as a beauty journalist, but never had actual beauty products for breakfast! Okay, not that I am actually going to eat these new Kellogg’s beauty products, but you get the idea! From Mad Beauty, and available at Tesco, these three sets are so kitsch and...
Beauty News with Olay, Jo Malone, M&S & Bourjois
So much beauty news comes into my inbox each week, so I thought I’d condense some of it here into a little Beauty News round-up! Katie Holmes looks beautiful… * Katie Holmes was the face of Bobbi Brown, and I’m not sure if she still is or not – I don’t think so, considering she is now the very first...
Beauty Advent from Jo Malone and Boots No7
Whilst I was on the subject of Christmas, with the Benefit Advent Calendar, I thought I might as well mention another couple of beauty-full advent calendars on their way soon – at opposite ends of the price spectrum. First up, Jo Malone’s AMAZING Advent Calendar, which launches on November 10th, and...
Holly Fulton at Elizabeth Arden
I’m a sucker for beauty Gifts with Purchase (GWP) – always have been. I have a ridiculous amount of makeup bags in my house, as well as unused sample sizes of countless products. There’s something childlike about getting a FREE bag full of stuff when you buy something else – it’s like an extra birthday...
Dr Murad John Lewis Edinburgh counter launches
Dr Murad launched their Edinburgh counter in John Lewis late last month, following the launch of their Debenhams Glasgow counter in the summer. I blogged about that launch here, and the brand’s innovative YouthCam, which gives you a complimentary Skin Health Assessment, measuring five key skin health...
Think Pink beauty for breast cancer awareness
It’s October, so in the beauty world that mean time to think pink for breast cancer charities. These days it’s more than just the beauty world that embrace the ‘think pink’ style in October, but it began in the beauty world in 1992, as the late Evelyn Lauder founded The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast...
Clarins NEW Super Restorative Day & Night Cream
Clarins have renewed their Super Restorative Day & Night Cream with Organic Plant Extracts and relaunched them. This range is aimed at menopausal skin – or as Clarins put it “mature skin challenged by natural hormonal changes due to the ageing process”. Women have challenges throughout our lives, aren...
Georgia May Jagger Angel Interview
Earlier this year we told you Georgia May Jagger was following in her mum, Jerry Hall’s footsteps in becoming the face of Thierry Mugler’s Angel. Wells, she’s officially that girl now, and here’s a little interview with Georgia May about fragrance, her beauty secrets, and other things! 5PM: What is ...
On the trail of Sandalwood Smugglers with Lush
If you are interested in the beauty business at all – and in particular the dirty, nasty business of the sweet, seductive sandalwood, then you MUST buy the latest book from Lush. Their graphic novel, On The Trail of The Sandalwood Smugglers, is a fascinating, informative and fun insight into the dirty...
Emma Hardie Midas Touch Face Serum
Emma Hardie is a lot of fun. She’s also a brilliant facialist, and her products are fantastic. Her Moringa Cleansing Balm wins award after award and if you have ever used it, you will know why. It is brilliant. This autumn she launches two new products which I first saw back in the summer. The first...
Darphin's Revitalizing Oil
This new Darphin Revitalizing Oil is an interesting one. It’s a three-in-one product, at a great price, and is perfect if you want to try a top end beauty brand, but don’t want to overstretch your budget. It’s a do-all oil that will sort out your skin which may have hydration issues, your body hydration...
Enlighten with Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder’s latest skincare range launches next month – and their EE Cream. Yes, I said EE!! Not BB, CC, or DD, but EE! More on that later, but first the skincare products in the new Enlighten range. The Enlighten Skintone Correcting Collection is for night and day, for naturally glowing, even-toned...
Scottish Beauty
Scotland is all over the news this week, and today we go to the polls to decide our country’s future in the Independence referendum. Let’s leave the politics behind, but celebrate our fantastic little country, by celebrating Scottish beauty! Here are a few of my favourite Scottish beauty brands out ...
Estee Lauder Modern Muse Chic
After the mega-launch – and success – of Estee Lauder’s Modern Muse fragrance, their first in years, it’s no surprise they are now launching a new version of it. You can read about the original Modern Muse on last year’s blog post here, and now I’ll try and explain the differences in the new one! Modern...
Holistic Silk Beauty Cocoons
AS well as the usual lotions and potions, I get sent some very odd things in this job. You may recall my post the other month about the sticky patches to help with anti-ageing? Well, here’s another one of my category ‘ Weird and Wonderful Beauty’ – Silk Cocoons. Let me explain a little more! Holistic...
bareMinerals bareSkin Foundation
Yep, it’s another new foundation! This one is quite interesting, because it’s a liquid foundation, from bareMinerals. Mineral makeup is powder, right? Well, yes and no. bareMinerals is a long-time detractor of liquid foundations so how do they justify bringing one out? Er, like this. Okay, I’m not actually...
Burt's Bees 30th Anniversary Facebook campaign
Do you want Burt from Burt’s Bees to read out your birthday message to him and the bees? Yes? Well, get over to the Burt’s Bees UK Facebook page and get wishing them a very Happy Birthday! More on how to later. First, a short history on this lovely brand. Burt’s Bees turns 30 this month and have come...
BIOEFFECT Daytime moisturiser for Dry Skin
Come the winter months – and they are coming – skin can get a lot drier, thanks to the weather and the use of central heating. I have dry skin anyway, so in the winter I am always layering on the moisturiser, and looking for anything with an extra moisturisation quality. So, I was thrilled to find the...
Clarins Gift with PURPOSE
Yes, that’s right, not just a Gift with Purchase, but a Gift with Purpose from Clarins this month. When you make two Clarins purchases you will receive a lovely gift with purchase, which has purpose too, in the shape of the FEED 10 Cosmetics bag. Each FEED 10 bag contains five of Clarins iconic discovery...
Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil
This was the perfect antidote to my post-holiday blues – Sisley’s first facial skincare oil on my desk. Three years after the launch of the Black Rose Cream Mask comes the Black Rose Precious Face Oil. The mask became a cult product in record time, and is number one on the French luxury face mask market...
New Foundations from Estee Lauder and Clarins
Foundation is BIG news this autumn/winter in the beauty world. It seems like everyone is launching a new base product – and all with new technologies and claims. More and more, foundation is becoming an integral part of a skincare routine, not just a makeup base. Estee Lauder and Clarins are the latest...
Darphin Ideal Resource Anti-Dark Circle Eye Illuminator
Loads of AW14 beauty collections seem to be about eye makeup, and the focus on the eyes, so, it’s just as well this little beauty from Darphin is launching then, isn’t it?! Darphin’s Ideal Resource Anti-Dark Circle Eye Illuminator is a big name for a little product, but it has big claims. It’s a specialised...
Cachette SteamCream
I’ve seen SteamCream on and off in my time as a beauty writer – it seems to pop up in my inbox every now and then. What is it? Well, it’s a moisturiser, simple as that. It comes in cute tins, and contains 11 specifically selected natural ingredients, and is packed with raw plant extracts. The reason...
BeneFit Majorette & Just Confess, You're Obsessed
September sees the launch of two fabulous new BeneFit products -and this pair are absolutely full of BeneFit sass and fun! First up, it’s Majorette, a cream-to-powder booster blush which promises to give your cheeks an instant ‘cheer up’! It’s a prerppy-pink shade, you can ‘twirl’ it on bare cheeks ...
Tom Ford Private Blend Patchouli Absolu
The other new launch is in Tom Ford’s Private Blend range, and is a very personal one for Mr Ford. He absolutely loves patchouli (so do I!) and has reinvented it in this wonderful private Blend, Patchouli Absolu. Patchouli is famed for its rich and mysterious sensuality and its long history in perfumery...
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid
We are being utterly spoiled with not one, but TWO gorgeous new Tom Ford fragrances this autumn! Both are out on September 1, and are very different! First up it’s the BIG launch – the first mainline Tom Ford new fragrance for a while – the beautiful Velvet Orchid. I am going to come right out and say...
Handcreams and Foot Treatments
This week I’ve gone shopping with my trusty 1980s jelly basket for handcreams and foot treatments. I have had a horrendous flare-up of palmoplantar psoriasis this year – that’s psoriasis of the soles of your feet and palms of your hands. As well as treatments from the doctor I have been using more hand...
Seascape Natural Beauty
It’s nice to try new brands so I was happy to trial out a couple of products from a brand called SEASCAPE ISLAND APOTHECARY recently. They are a Jersey based company, and the products are full of natural goodness and not full of parabens, silicones SLS, petroleum,artificial colours and synthetic fragrances...
Origins NEW Plantscription - FREE!
Yes, the headline is right – FREE Origins new Plantscription Power Serum! The best-selling, award-winning serum gets a new version this September, and Origins are giving away free samples in the weeks leading up to the launch. So, if you are a fan of Origins Plantscription Anti-ageing serum, then you...
Lush launch sun care
Lush have just launched their sun care and, of course, it’d not like any sun care you will have used before. It’s innovative, natural and I can’t wait to try it out properly on holiday in a few weeks. There are five products in the new range – Million Dollar Moisturiser, Lifesaver, The Sunblock, Sesame...
Realine Beauty Patches
In my decade+ as a beauty writer, editor and blogger, I have been sent all sorts of crazy products. There was the spray that was supposed to protect your skin from harmful computer rays, fake tan tights, and, well, stick-on anti-ageing patches. Yep, stickers to stick on your face, to prevent lines and...
Sanctuary Spa launch Wonder Oil Serum
Hands up those of you who use a serum and a moisturiser or facial oil? I know I do. So, I was intrigued to try this new Sanctuary Spa Wonder Oil Serum which has been created it seems to simplify our beauty regimes. Simply apply this after cleansing and then put your makeup on. Sounds perfect, the one...
YSL Fusion Foundation
YSL launch their Fusion Foundation today (exclusive to Debenhams, until August 20), with a mass of science behind it, apparently much of it the same as the science NASA use. This is not a new claim int he beauty world but it seems to be a true one this time, as Jane Cunningham from British Beauty Blogger...
Tom Ford's Flawless Complexion collection
This is Tom Ford’s new Flawless Complexion collection. “As human beings, we all respond subconsciously to symmetry. It is a universal beauty standard. A symmetrical and balanced face is considered beautiful in our society,” says Tom Ford. I get the feeling Tom Ford likes symmetry in everything, don’...
Seven Shimmer products for Summer!
Who doesn’t like a bit of shimmer in the summer? Here’s seven of my current favourite shimmery products! I’m not a huge shimmery, golden glow kind of gal, but I do love a bit of shimmer on a summer evening. Any tan looks instantly lifted with a bit of a shimmer added to it, be it from a bronzer, an ...
Estee Lauder relaunch Advanced Night Repair Eye
Estee Lauder will launch new versions of their Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum, and Eye Cream from August. Last July, Estee Lauder relaunched their Advanced Night Repair – the new Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II was born, and I absolutely love it. I blogged about that relaunch...
YSL Black Fetish Collection
It’s sunny outside, summer is here, and we’re all feeling, well, summery, so … it’s a great time to talk about Autumn /Winter makeup! I know, I know, but the Autumn/Winter beauty collections hit the counters in August, and this one hits in July! So let’s start this week with this GORGEOUS collection...
Radiance Revealing Masks
Face masks are one of those things that I have odd memories of. Always portrayed in movies as white or green chalky things, and always on women’s faces at completely inappropriate times in almost every sitcom written. Just applied a facemask? That must be the doorbell and it must be the man I love at...
Dr Murad in Debenhams Glasgow
A brand new, shiny Dr Murad counter opened in the Debenhams Argyle Street Glasgow beauty hall this week. Who is Dr Murad? Well, he’s Dr Howard Murad, an American Board-certified Dermatologist and trained pharmacist, who has treated thousands of patients over more than 30 years in practice, and who has...
Summer Beauty Bases
This week I’ve gone shopping with my trusty 1980s jelly basket for summer bases. Do you change your foundation in the summer months? You should, if you don’t already. Summer means we can get away with something lighter, more of a tinted moisturiser than an actual foundation. You want to let any summer...
All the fake tans!
Okay, that’s not strictly true, of course, because there are loads of fake tans out there. We all know the salon brands, St Tropez and Fake Bake, of course. They have great reputations and there is a reason for their popularity. But what about other fake tans out there – and all the different formulas...
The Body Shop Sorbets Face and Body
Earlier this week, I was enthusing about gel products – today it’s more of the same, with these excellent new sorbet products from The Body Shop. First up is Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet, a gorgeous cooling skincare treat. on. Refreshingly cool, with a velvety soft texture and deep hydration, it’s a ...
Origins and Indeed Labs Gel Beauty
I’ve been trying out a couple of new gel prodiucts over the weekend. The first is an innovative moisturiser from Indeed Labs (the brand behind the successful Nanoblur, which I blogged about the other year) Hydraluron Moisture Jelly (£24.99, Boots) is a little pot of moisturising gel which you simply...
Don't Step on a Bee Day beauty!
Today is National Don’t Step on a Bee Day. Who does that anyway? Shame on you! I love bees, and we should all embrace these colourful buzzy creatures. The recent press surrounding the ‘Bee Crisis’ has been hard to ignore. Bees are essential to life. Did you know that without the tireless work of our...
Festival Survival Beauty!
It’s T in the Park this weekend, and, if you are heading for the last ever T at Balado, before they move to their new home, then here are a few essentials you should take with you. Warning! This is not a beauty feature about all-in-one makeup products, lovely lipsticks, or festival ready beauty balms...
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Cream QVC launch
Elemis launch their Frangipani Monoi Body Cream to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their multi-award winning Frangipani Monoi range in August. absolutely love this range- the scent is amazing, and the Body Oil is an amazing three in one product, perfect for holidays, it nourishes your body, hair and...
Garnier Funshine! Weatherproof Your Beauty Routine
The weather is being classically British at the moment – bright sunshine one minute, rain the next, then overcast and cloudy. Lovely! But Garnier are having some #GarnierFunshine despite this, with products for every type of weather! I’m having a BBQ this weekend, so please let’s have some sun! I have...
Fake Freckles from TopShop
I’m not entirely sure about this latest beauty trend – fake freckles! It’s not the first time I’ve heard of it, and I am sure for catwalk shows, if the look requires freckled faces, then it can look great. But are you really going to pencil on some freckles and go out like that? TopShop think so and...
Eve Lom Radiance Lift Foundation Review
The Eve Lom Radiance Lift Foundation was launched back in February. I was sent some to review, and I am finally getting round to trialling this foundation. The price tag of £50 a bottle put me off a bit – although it’s not the most expensive foundation I have ever used, that accolade goes to Sisley,...
Glasgow's Miles Better... For Your Skin
A survey by beauty brand Simple exploring the negative impact that living in a city has on our skin has revealed Glasgow as the UK’s most skin-friendly city. The stress levels of 1100 women living in the UK’s busiest cities were monitored over a 12-month period to develop this ‘City Skin Scale’. Three...
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
The Smart Custom-Repair Serum a pretty interesting launch from Clinique – it’s a ‘one-size-fits-all’ serum, in effect. It delivers targeted repair as and where needed, and clinical tests have proven its performance. Apparently, after a 12-week study, results showed visible improvement in treating uneven...
Beauty News!
* It had to happen – we’ve had BB creams for skin, and hair, and now US brand Orly is to launch an industry first – a BB cream for nails! BB, or blemish balm, creams have been one of the biggest things in the skincare market of late, bridging the gap between moisturiser and foundation and are popular...
Origins GinZing Scrub Cleanser
It’s all about lacklustre skin, skin brightening, and radiance in the beauty world at the moment it seems! Here’s another product I’ve been trying out, to get that ‘glow’ back to my complexion. (I should be shining like a beacon by the time I’ve tried all of these products!) Origins GinZing Refreshing...
Instant Facial from Alpha-H
If lacklustre skin, lack of radiance, and just a bit of a ‘meh’ complexion are your problems, then you might just need this Instant Facial from Alpha-H. Who needs an Instagram filter when you’ve got an Alpha-H Instant Facial!? This product will guarantee you can use #nofilterneeded! It’s a bit of a ...
Darphin's Vitalskin
Last week I was treated to a Darphin facial featuring one of their latest products , Vitalskin Relumping Energic Cream. More on the facial later, but first let’s look at the product. Darphin research shows that, like your body, your skin has a metabolism that slows over time. That’s not rocket science...
Father's Day Grooming Gifts
It’s Father’s Day on Sunday – don’t forget! Don’t buy dad a pair of socks, or a mug, or a box of chocolates. Treat him to something he may never go out and buy himself – a grooming gift! Men may be more and more into grooming than ever before, but is your dad? Would he really splash out on a new shaving...
Aveda Shampure Bodycare
More Aveda, this time a really exciting new range with that familiar ‘Aveda smell‘. Do you know the ‘Aveda smell‘? You will if you have ever walked past a counter, or a salon, or used their Shampure range. A potent elixir of 25 pure flower and plant essences, it’s instantly recognisable as Aveda. It...
Get into the World Cup spirit - with a tan!
The World Cup starts next Thursday in Brazil, but you don’t have to be into football to be inspired by the country. From TV documentaries, to Havaianas flip-flops, Brazil is in the headlines at the moment, and looks like staying there for most of the summer. Famous for its beaches, it’s thong bikinis...
Stress- Fix Body Creme from Aveda
I love a big pot of body cream that I can get my hands into, and use far too much of, don’t you? Aveda have added a Body Creme to their Stress Fix line. The Aveda Stress Fix range now comprises Bath Salts, a rollerball, a Body Lotion, and this gorgeous, moreish cream. Did you know that the number of...
Pure Lochside Best Sellers kits
If you’re not familiar with Pure Lochside, then here’s the lowdown – they’re a luxury Scottish skincare brand, organic-rich, created by aromatherapist Fiona Tutte, and inspired by her experience creating bespoke oils for clients in her private practice. Fiona received incredible feedback on an anti-...
Origins Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads
I love Origins Modern Friction facial and body exfoliators, so I was excited to try these new Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads – but, beware – do not overdo usage of this product! I used these twice last week and my forehead reacted in a pretty insane way – my skin was dry and peeling when I...
NEW Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser
All the BB, CC, and DD creams sending you a bit Zzzzz?! Fear not, Clarins are bringing it back to basics with their new HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer SPF15. Actually, it’s not that basic a product, but you get my drift! This new addition to the HydraQuench range – my absolute favourite skincare – is...
Korres at Tesco Beauty
Who remembers the Korres shop in Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries. I recall the launch night of the Greek brand’s stand-alone store – must have been about nine years ago now, maybe? Sadly, it didn’t last long, and Korres seemed to diappear from my radar, save from seeing it in a few local chemists. The ...