Review: Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick

Firstly, I would like to apologise for the lack of posts recently. I was going to wait until my camera was fixed before I posted again but it looks like that is going to take a while so I decided to post anyway and make do without my camera :(

I grabbed Sexy Mother Pucker because I had fancied a berry shade lipbalm and had heard good things about the Soap & Glory lip range, so I went for the shade Plum Jam as it was a lovely purple colour but wasn't too pink.

First impressions were mixed. I loved the packaging for a number of reasons; the black tube with pink writing looked slick and sophisticated, so you don't mind showing it off to everyone else and the name retains that playfulness which we love Soap & Glory for. Also, the applicator is a good shape (like a large crayon) and when you wear it down you simply twist the bottom to get more, so it goes a long way. However, I found that the product itself didn't last very long and created these weird solid lumps of product on my lips. Not good.

I really liked the colour though, so decided to give it a wipe and see if that helped. Miraculously it did and I haven't had a problem since! Admittedly you do have to reapply it fairly often but since it's a balm that doesn't really matter, plus it really does keep your lips moisturised. I tend to get quite dry lips but since that initial problem it has been absolutely fine and hasn't dried them out at all!

Might have to get a few more shades...

You can pick it up from Boots for £8 and they currently have an offer on. The other shades are Nudist, Fushia-Ristic, Bashful and Raplumsel.

Much love,
Sasha Monday x

Tips for Getting to Sleep

I am one of those people who have always struggled to get to sleep, even if I'm tired it can take me hours to actually drift off but over the years I have developed a few tricks which help me get to sleep when it really counts and I thought I would share them with you.

1. Start to relax long before you plan on going to sleep. Take the time to slow down before you go to bed by turning off the tv and not worrying about the washing or anything like that. Read a book, listen to an audiobook or take a bath. I often  treat myself to a LUSH bath bomb, my favourite is Twilight which smells like lavender to help you drift off.

2. Speaking of lavender, a couple of drops of essential oil on the inside of your wrists and the nape of your neck can help, alternatively get a pillow spray, it'll have the same effect.

3. Make sure your room is dark. This sounds like an obvious one but if you can still see across your room when you turn all of the lights out it might be too light and be stopping you from sleeping properly. If you can't use blackout blinds, pick up a comfy sleep mask, mine came with the bed I bought(!) but this one from Boots would do the trick.

4. This next tip I technically stole from an interview with Jeremy Paxman on Radio 4. He said that he had struggled with sleeping but that having a good book by the bed really helped. This is so that if you can't sleep you have something distracting but it also means you are being productive instead of just lying there worrying about not sleeping. Once you have done this a few times the fact that the book is there just helps to relax you as you know you have something to fall back on if you can't sleep. Cheers Jeremy!

5. Above all, DON'T PANIC! If you find yourself lying awake worrying about stuff, quickly jot down anything you need to remember, then try to forget about it and if you can't then it's time to reach for that book…

Hope that there is something useful for you in this, let me know if you try any of these, I'd love to know if they work for you too. What helps you get to sleep?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I am always searching for a good foundation for pale skin and until quite recently drugstore foundations were a no-go, always too yellow or dark. But since Rimmel brought out their new shade "Light porcelain" I have been trying out every kind! My most recent purchase was their Wake Me Up Foundation because I already have and love their Wake Me Up Concealer. Here are my thoughts…

I have to admit that I was put off by the bright orange lid. This is probably because being pale I have a natural dislike of the colour but I got over that pretty quickly. The pump gives a good amount of product and doesn't squirt it too far either.

The consistency of the product is lovely and creamy and it blends into your skin really easily. The colour also blends fantastically well, not too pink or yellow and it doesn't sit heavily on the skin. It gives a medium coverage but it can be built up and it gives your skin a natural healthy glow, which is good for people like me who have dry skin. One thing I would say, is that if you have dry patches it does sit in them and make them a bit obvious, so make sure you put on plenty of moisturiser before applying it.

As for it's staying power I have taken it on a very hilly walk on a sunny day (it is SPF 15, woo hoo!) and it didn't budge! At the end of the day my skin still felt soft and had a nice glow to it, without getting oily, and my blush had stayed in place as well.

Conclusion

Really pleased with this product! It's fantastic for pale skin in terms of colour and that all-important SPF and it wears really well as a foundation too. You can currently pick it up for £8.99 from Boots.

Have you tried this foundation? What is your go-to drugstore foundation?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Friday Favourites #1

So I have decided to start a weekly favourites series on Fridays, partly because I'm so fickle with my favourite products and partly because I felt it would allow me to add a few more fashion/lifestyle pieces.

This week the weather's been pretty rubbish and the one good thing about this is that I can get roll out my standard autumn look with my leather jacket from ZARA paired with a scarf, this one from New Look is my favourite at the moment. 

As I said in my perfume post, I've been absolutely loving Agent Provocateur Fatale perfume. I've even worn it on days I'm not going anywhere because it makes me feel better about myself and the scent stays so well that you only need a little and it'll stay all day!

As for makeup, a friend of mine introduced me to Topshop's Lipstick in Mink a few months ago and it is great if you just want to emphasise your natural shade, or you can build it up to give a darker purpley brown. It has a matte finish but doesn't dry your lips out making it ideal for daywear. It does need topping up occasionally but it has generally pretty good staying powder. Annoyingly it seems to have been discontinued (again) I have also been loving Bobbi Brown's Cream Blusher in Fresh Melon because I was finding that powders were sitting a bit on my skin and not blending well. Plus I've been favouring a more natural look lately and the creaminess of this blush blends so well that it doesn't look like you're wearing anything.

Also pictured: Rimmel Rita Ora Nail Varnish in Pillow Talk, NARS Tinted Moisturiser and Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara. 

What products are you loving at the moment?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Battle of the Drugstore Dry Shampoos

I don't know about you but dry shampoo has been a bit of a lifesaver for me because I insist on having a fringe. I don't wash my hair everyday because I find it makes it less manageable (I have curly/wavy hair) and I have heard that it isn't good for it. Sadly, fringes tend to require maintenance after about a day and a half, thankfully dry shampoo comes to my rescue at that point. I have tried out a few drugstore brands (all bought from Boots) and here are my findings!

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume - Big and Bouncy 

This was the first dry shampoo I ever tried because Batiste were originally the big dry shampoo brand in drugstores. Back then I had a few issues with it and sadly, it would seem that Batiste haven't done anything about them. I do find that it absorbs any oil but it also leaves a slightly white powder in my hair and makes it look a little dull and grey. Also, after a few hours it gets oddly sticky and stiff… Not attractive in a fringe. I have tried a few varieties of Batiste but I have found none which solve the issues. Then again, it is the cheapest option I have tried, at £3.99, so there is that.

TRESemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo 

This is the most expensive dry shampoo I have tried (£5.25) and it is definitely better quality than the Batiste. It doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky and stiff and there is very little (if any) greying of the hair. The only issues are the smell, which is like a cross between talcum powder and hairspray, and that it makes my hair a little flat. If you can get over the smell and you have straight hair then these wouldn't really be issues but if you have curls or waves it might weigh them down.

Dove Style + Care Dry Shampoo 

I had heard a fair bit of hype about this dry shampoo and once again, you guys were right! I have used this a few times now and have had no problems with it at all, I even used it two days in a row and there was no weird stickiness, no white powder, it didn't make my hair all flat and it smells really nice. It's quite a sweet smell but as long as it's not that typical dry shampoo smell I don't really care. Oh and it does absorb any excess oil whilst keeping my fringe cheerfully swishy. You can get it for £4.49 from Boots and they have a 2 for £5 deal on Dove hair products at the moment. Woohoo!

Have you tried any of these?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Products I'm Repurchasing

One of the ways I know if I've really loved a product is if I feel disappointed once it is almost empty (and I try to squeeze every last bit of usage out of it). Those products are the ones I know I will be repurchasing asap. Weirdly, I find that several products often run out at once, so I thought I'd share with you the products I will be buying again pretty shortly.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I had heard so much hype about this that I was left thinking that there was no way a toner could be that amazing. I had always thought of a toner as being a bit of a pointless part of a skincare routine, except for when Dermalogica had their Soothing Protection Spray, which they sadly discontinued, and I certainly hadn't found any which were as life-changingly great as Beauty Elixir was said to be. Well, I stand corrected! Beauty Elixir is all the things I liked about Dermalogica's toner but without the price tag and a better sprayer (seriously, that's important in a toner!). I've found that since I started using it, any redness has been reduced and my skin seems to better absorb my moisturiser, plus it smells lovely and doesn't feel at all heavy on your skin. Definitely worth trying.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

As you can see, I have hit pan here! I actually picked this product up because I had forgotten to powder my face as I ran out of the house, so nipped into Boots to grab a cheap, temporary solution. To my surprise this has become one of my favourite products! It actually does keep your skin matte, although you may need a top-up after a few hours and it hasn't clogged my pores or irritated my skin. The powder isn't wasted every time you use it because it doesn't break up or clump like some powder products do. Admittedly it does notice a little on the skin but it's perfect for the evening. Link to it here.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil

This is my other powder and is what I would recommend if you wanted a highend product. What I really love about this is how natural it looks when you put it on. Whilst the Rimmel product is a little visible, this one is invisible and manages to mattify areas which need it, whilst not drying up the rest of my skin. It's just perfect for a natural, understated look so I tend to use it during the day more than the Rimmel one. You can get it for £20 here.

Champneys Oriental Opulence Shower Cream

I was given a little gift set of these for Christmas years ago and have been rebuying it ever since. I never thought I could become loyal to a shower product but I was wrong. This stuff smells amazing and has a lovely glittery sheen to it without actually leaving glitter all over you and the shower. Basically, I can't explain why I love this so much but if you are anywhere near a Boots and are looking for a new shower wash, go and smell this! Then let me know if you agree with my obsession.

What products have you emptied? Are you as attached to any of these products as me?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

My Evening Skincare Routine

A good evening skincare routine is essential to keeping your skin clear and making sure that your skin is the best possible base for your makeup. I have slightly dry skin, with a tendency for oiliness around my t-zone. I also find my skin can be quite sensitive so I try to stay away from anything harsh or soap-based. So here are the products I use in my evening routine.

1. I start by taking off any makeup either using a cleansing water or oil, depending on what makeup I have on. Currently I'm using Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water, I absolutely love the smell and I find it does a good job of removing my makeup without irritating my sensitive skin. I will admit I am thinking of changing it either for Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water or Bioderma Crealine H2O because I have heard so many good things about them. Thoughts? The cleansing oil I use at the moment is L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Cleansing Oil, which has managed to get rid of my most stubborn waterproof products and is really good if my skin needs some extra moisture, I can't recommend cleansing oils enough if you have difficult skin.

2. Once I have removed my makeup I like to properly cleanse using Rituals Sensational Soft Cleanser. This starts off as a thick gel which you massage onto dry skin and then wash off with lukewarm water. It's a lovely consistency which turns milky when you add water and has a very slight herby smell. I have quite sensitive skin and this hasn't troubled me at all, plus it makes my skin feel gorgeously soft.

3. Twice a week I follow my cleanser with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant (you can use it everyday but I'm a little lazy and find my skin doesn't need it that often anymore). It comes in a powder which you mix with a little water which turns is into a fine paste. At first it doesn't really feel like your typical exfoliator, there is no grainy or abrasive feel, but it does feel lovely on your skin and once you wash it off it leaves your skin feeling soft and clean. This was particularly good during my teenage years when I had very bad skin.

4. I used to think that toners were a little bit pointless but can confirm I have been proven totally wrong by Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I have been using it for quite a while now and can really tell if I forget to use it for a few days. It makes my skin radiant and seems to really help my serum and moisturiser be absorbed. It also smells lovely and the nozzle (I guess that's what you call it!?)  makes it a really fine mist which spreads evenly over your face, I find that a lot of spray toners leave heavy drops on your face and you have to pat them in a little, not so with Beauty Elixir!

5. Then I put on my serum, I use Rituals Intense Moisture Serum and I normally wait for it to be absorbed into my skin by brushing my teeth. Since I've started using it I've noticed that foundation blends much more easily into my skin and I'm not nearly as oily in my t-zone. Hooray!

6. I set my serum with a moisturiser but at the moment I'm in between moisturisers, so I'm living off my hoard of samples! I used to use The Body Shop's Aloe Soothing Night Cream but I found it made my skin a little oily and it felt a little heavy. If you have any suggestions for replacements I'd love to hear them!

7. I finish off with bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment, which I reviewed in this post and which I highly recommend, especially if you are trying to tighten your pores. I find it succeeds in making my pores smaller without drying my skin out. Fantastic stuff!

Wow! That was a very long post. It normally takes me about five minutes to do my routine (if I'm exfoliating) so it's definitely worth it!

Do you use any of these products or have any recommendations? 

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Tips for Dry Lips

As it would appear that summer is pretty much over in the UK I am starting to think about autumn and winter (jumpers at the ready!). One of the things which I tend to suffer from in the colder months is dry lips, so here are my tips for keeping your lips lovely and healthy.

Exfoliate!

I know it might sound a bit weird to exfoliate your lips but honestly this is a great way to get rid of any dry skin and make them feel lovely and soft. You can buy lip exfoliators, my favourite is LUSH Sweet Lips, which is vanilla and chocolate flavour.  Sadly, I think they have discontinued that particular flavour but they do still have bubblegum, popcorn and mint flavoured lip scrubs. The little pots contain large sugar crystals which buff away the dry skin and essential oils which soften and provide the flavours which mean you can then lick it off your lips. I have found these really useful to carry around in my handbag (especially in the winter months) for when my lips need an extra bit of TLC.

If you would rather not go to the trouble of buying some lip scrub, you can use your toothbrush instead. Simply buff your lips with the toothbrush if they are feeling a little dry and it will remove and dead skin, although obviously that doesn't have the added bonus of tasting nice or essential oils.

Choose Wisely

There are a number of lip products out there which don't actually help your lips (or even make them worse!). So it's worth making sure that you pick one which is going to protect your lips and keep them in good condition. You can't go wrong with good old petroleum jelly if you have sensitive skin and I am a big fan of Vaseline's Rosey Lips because it lightly tints your lips as well. I also like Body Shop Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15 and Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Original Ultra Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF15 because, as you all know, I love a good SPF (see here for my blog on moisturisers with SPF). Or if you want a really good quality lip balm and are willing to splash out a little more, I can really recommend Molton Brown Protecting Vitamin Lip Saver. I use this most nights before I go to bed and every morning my lips feel much better, the only thing I would say is that it does coat your lips in a similar feeling substance to petroleum jelly which can feel a bit weird when you're going to sleep but it's worth it!

As you can see, these are all very well-loved!!

Drink More Water

I'm sure you've been told many times that if you've got dry skin anywhere then you should drink more water but it's especially noticeable with your lips. If I'm a bit dehydrated my lips are the first to show the effects and to recover afterwards. I'm really bad at making sure I drink enough water during the day, so have taken to keeping a glass by the sink in my bathroom so that it reminds me everyday to drink first thing, then that's one glass out of the way and it sets me up for the day.

Hope these tips have helped! Do you have any lip-care favourites which you can't live without?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

My Essential Perfumes

Whilst I don't own that many perfumes (except for all of the samples I've hoarded!) I have always found that three is all you really need. One for the summer, one for the winter and one which you can wear anytime, anywhere which makes you feel fantastic! So here are my perfume picks...

My Summer Perfume

In the summer I like to wear a perfume which is light, fresh and delicate and just adds a hint of scent without being obvious, for me the perfect summer perfume is GHOST Sweetheart. I have used this perfume for years because I just don't get bored of it. I am useless at describing scents but according to The Perfume Shop it has an oriental floral scent with heart notes of lemon, pineapple, spearmint, white flowers and sensual woods. Now I think "oriental floral" sounds quite heavy but it's really not, if I wear it people tend to say "Oooh, you smell nice" instead of "Oooh, what's that perfume?" which is exactly what I'm aiming for.

My Winter Perfume

This has got to be Jimmy Choo by Jimmy Choo, I absolutely love this perfume! It's a little heavier than my summer one but when I first tried it I just couldn't stop smelling my sample, it makes me feel warm and cosy, which is exactly what I want for winter. The notes include pear nectar, orange and toffee, making it distinctive but also giving it that warm, wintery feel. I like that it is a little stronger than my summer one, on the basis that normally it has to make it's way through a lot more layers of clothing! I sometimes use this one in the evening during the summer but generally it’s a winter day perfume.

My All-Year All-Rounder!

I only recently discovered this perfume, as it's new, but I am already totally in love with it (as is my boyfriend) and wear it all the time. It's Agent Provocateur Fatale and if you buy a 50ml bottle from House of Fraser, they currently give you a pair of Agent Provocateur hold-ups with it! This perfume is ideal for so many reasons, like Sweetheart it blends so naturally with your own scent that it doesn't smell like you are wearing perfume, you just smell lovely! My boyfriend is really picky about perfumes because they tend to be too strong but he can't really tell I'm wearing this one. When you first spray it on it smells quite citrusy and fresh but then slowly the base notes come through and you get a very sexy musky vanilla and chocolate smell, heavenly! I have found it works well during the day or the evening and I'll be wearing it in winter and summer whenever I want to feel special.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, which are your three must-have perfumes?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Beauty Haul Review

Okay, so last week I was out shopping and ended up in House of Fraser which is always a dangerous situation for my bank balance! I also picked up a few things from LUSH and Boots so I thought I'd share my haul with you and give you my thoughts so far.

Estee Lauder Haul

I arrived at the Estee Lauder counter looking for lipstick. I came away with lipstick, eyeshadow, eyeliner and an enormous gift bag of samples which House of Fraser were giving away if you bought three things (I'm weak!). The lipstick is their Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in the shade Cocoa Rose which is absolutely gorgeous! It has a nice deep colour but is still subtle enough to be worn in the day and it feels lovely on, not at all sticky or drying. Admittedly it does need topping up over the day but that's the same with most lipsticks, so I'm not too bothered about that.

 I also picked up Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow in Surreal Skies. I love the natural colour palette and find it absolutely ideal for the day with the central dark colour being good for lining or creating a smokey eye for the evening. I do find that the powder dusts a lot in the palette although that may be a problem which lessens the more I use it. The eyeliner is their Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Coffee, I have used their eyeliners before and always find their staying power to be unbeatable for a pencil and I like to use brown eyeshadow during the day as black can look a little harsh on fair skin.

LUSH Haul

I like to go to LUSH about once a month and stock up on a couple of bath bombs, I like to treat myself to a pamper evening with a bath once in a while and LUSH bombs are always my go-to. This time I opted for Twilight for when I need to relax a bit, Brightside Bubble Bar for when I need perking up and Sex Bomb just because I fancied something a little musky as well. 

So far I've only used Sex Bomb, which turned the bath water a lovely pink colour and smelt absolutely gorgeous. The Brightside Bubble Bar has quite a strong citrus smell which I adore but I know can be a bit much for some people. The difference between the bubble bars and normal bombs is that bubble bars are designed to be crumbled under running water, so if you like you can only use half of one at a time and save some for another day.

Boots Haul

Having heard really positive reviews of Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer and Scandaleyes Mascara I thought I would give them a go. I had tried the Wake Me Up concealer and foundation before but found the colour to be far too yellow for my skin tone but they seem to have either changed the colouring or added a new one because the Ivory concealer and (I think) True Ivory foundation blended perfectly on my quick test in the store but I decided to only grab the concealer for now (partly due to the "buy one get one half price" deal they had on) although I will definitely be going back for the foundation! The concealer has been pretty good so far, it is perfect for under-eye circles and covers up redness as well. The only slight niggle is that it has a slight sparkle in it which over the day really shows up unless you top it up. So far the Scandaleyes Mascara has been pretty good, it really does make your lashes longer and gives a good coating without being clumpy. It is sometimes a little sticky and the mascara tends to stick to the end of the wand, sometimes making it a pain to apply but it's nothing a quick wipe won't solve.

Sadly, one of the products I picked up has been a massive disappointment. I have curly hair which I'm currently growing out, making it quite difficult to manage, so when I saw John Frieda's new Frizz Ease Go Curlier Heat Activated Spray I thought I would give it a go. It claimed to create salon smooth curls but even though I followed the instructions, all it did was gave me dry frizzy curls which looked very messy and felt sticky. I decided to try using less the next time and all it did was make the bottom half of my hair fluffy with no curl at all! Sorry John Frieda but I won't be buying this again.

Phew, that was a bit of a rant! Hope my thoughts on these new products have been helpful, let me know if you have tried any of these or had any hauls yourself recently.

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Emergency Skin Saviours!

Okay, so when I was a teenager I had really bad skin which I was really self-conscious of, especially since red spots are super obvious on pale skin. I really struggled with my skin for years but fortunately it cleared up as I neared my twenties, although I still get the odd breakout now and then. One of the things that having bad skin teaches you is exactly which products work in a crisis and which ones don't, so here are the products I turn to when my skin needs a bit of TLC.

Cleansing Oil

If you have bad skin the last thing you would think of doing is putting oil on it but honestly it could be exactly what your skin needs. If your skin is dry it can produce excess oil in an attempt to compensate and this can cause you to break out. Using a cleansing oil can help rebalance your skin and it doubles as a great make-up remover. I currently use L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Cleansing Oil because my skin is much better now and at £7.99 it's well worth having in your skincare routine. However, back when my skin was really bad I invested in Dermalogica Precleanse which at £10.95 for 30ml is much more pricey but I couldn't fault the results. It has a lovely fresh smell and it helps to get rid of nasties by prepping your skin and allowing your cleanser to be much more effective.

Tea Tree Oil

A very simple but really effective way to get rid of a spot quickly is to put a dab of Tea Tree Oil on it before you go to sleep (the smell is maybe a bit too strong to use it during the day). The oil dries the spot making it smaller and eventually getting rid of it. Seriously great stuff and you can find it in most drugstores. If you're suddenly caught without your Tea Tree Oil then you can use regular toothpaste  (again only use at night!), I know it sounds a bit weird but it also dries out spots, although not as effectively as Tea Tree Oil.

Mask Treatments

My go-to mask no matter the problem is Dead Sea Spa Magik Delicate Boosting Mask. I still use this if my skin feels a little dull or if I'm starting to break out and it's just fantastic, I'm yet to find a mask that beats this one. My skin feels gloriously soft after using it, it has a lovely creamy texture and it smells like a fresh seaside morning. The only quibble I would have is that the mask doesn't dry when it is on your face, so I tend to end up smudging it off on other things when I put one on, but otherwise I would highly recommend it!

One thing I will say is, if you have bad skin I know just how horrible it is to look in the mirror, only see your imperfections and want to cover them up with makeup. I made that mistake and it can just make things worse, so try to resist piling on the makeup everyday and, trust me, it's not as bad as you think it is. Chin up, it will get better.

So those are my skin saviours. What products do you reach for when you have a skin emergency?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Moisturisers with SPF

As anyone with fair skin knows, SPF is an essential part of our skincare routine, but really it doesn't matter whether you burn easily or not, it is a good idea to protect your skin from the sun (especially at this time of year). I don't know about you, but I have always hated the feel and smell of sun cream so if I can find an alternative I am all over it! Quite a lot of moisturisers have an SPF in them now so I am going to talk you through some of my favourites.

On a Budget?

For me there are two contenders for this particular category as it depends on what you're looking for. The first is Simple Kind to Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser SPF 15, what you see is what you get, a basic moisturiser with a low SPF, it tends to be my go-to in winter when the sun isn't as strong and at £6.99 in Boots (plus they have a 3 for 2 offer on at the moment) it's very affordable. The second is The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30, which at £13 is twice the price but also twice the SPF… Tricky. I tend to use this one more in the summer because of the high SPF but also because I find it brightens my skin and has a slightly lighter texture than Simple's version making it more pleasant in the heat.

The Tinted Moisturiser

I have already discussed NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in my Summer Favourites post but it is worth adding it here as it is SPF 30 and is taking over as my daytime moisturiser at the moment. Although it is a little pricey at £29 it's well worth it for the colour match and effect on your skin as it acts a little like a BB cream and improves your skin over time, what's not to love?

Body Moisturiser

Again I have two which I tend to use depending on the season and the strength of the sun. The first (and easily my favourite) is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula SPF 15 Body Lotion, which happily is also on offer at Boots for £2.86 at the moment (normally £4.29). It is only due to the low SPF that this is my winter moisturiser, if the SPF was higher I would use this all year round and be a really happy bunny. I adore the chocolate smell, it makes my skin feel wonderfully soft and it also helps with stretch-marks and scars! Palmer's, if you ever read this, a higher SPF moisturiser would be amazing. As it is, during the summer months I am forced to use Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Lotion SPF 50. I'm aware that it is technically a sun cream and I'm cheating a bit by including it in this list but it manages to avoid the nasty smell by masking it with coconut and it does act as a good moisturiser. At £15 it's about the same price as an average sun cream but it smells better and doesn't add an extra-white tint to your skin.

I'm currently on the hunt for a new moisturiser for my evening routine. Any suggestions?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

My Summer Favourites

This year we have had an actual summer in the UK (hooray!) and this has meant a little overhaul of my old summer makeup, which was well past its best. Here are a few of the products I've been loving this summer.

Makeup

Most of my makeup collection can be used in any season but some of it is particularly suited to the summer months when I want to look a little more natural during the day (or at least have less of an ice princess look!) My summer must-have is NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in the shade Finland, it has a lovely light texture, blends flawlessly into my skin and is even SPF 30. If you have pale skin I can highly recommend NARS as they have a wide-ranging colour palette and an SPF is always very welcome as the lobster-look is not good no matter the season!

As a part of my more natural look I have found that bareMinerals READY Blush in The Whisper is perfect for adding a subtle healthy glow to your cheeks. It's easy to blend and removes the need for bronzer (which can be a difficult look to pull off if you're fair).

If I want to look super-natural I'll just apply Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm and leave it at that. It has been my favourite for a long time, I just love the chocolate flavour and the SPF15 is an added bonus for the summer. If I fancy adding a little colour though, L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash lipgloss in Lolita is my go-to for the summer months. Its lovely texture, cherry scent and staying power are second only to the gorgeous colour, I find it really shows off blue eyes. I originally looked into them because Fleur de Force (link to the post here) rated them as a good dupe for YSL Glossy Stain and she was right! So if you are looking for a cheaper option these are a good place to go.

Skincare

I had a bit of a haul at Rituals recently (I'm weak!) and have been really impressed with what I bought. Their Sensational Soft Cleanser is great for removing makeup at the end of the day and feels really lovely on your skin. It's also tailored to sensitive skin which is great for me as fair skin tends to come hand-in-hand with sensitivity.

I always follow my first cleanse with a cleansing water and I am currently in love with Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water, it's a must-have for me, despite being a bit of a mouthful to say. I have always been a big fan of cleansing waters and the peachy scent is heavenly.

My other skincare favourite is Rituals Intense Moisture Serum. My skin veers between combination and dry depending on what it's feeling like on the day and a lot of serums leave my skin feeling too oily, but not this one! It hydrates the parts of my skin which need hydrating but doesn't make my T-zone oily or sticky and I love its light texture, just perfect for summer.

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Review: bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment

I have always been really sceptical about products which claim to reduce the size of your pores. I had never found one which had any effect on my pores (perhaps they are particularly stubborn?). Anyway, I had read several glowing reviews for bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment but didn't really want to splash out on something which I wasn't very optimistic about, but I put my faith in my fellow bloggers and took the plunge... Happily I was proved very wrong! Even after one use I could already see an improvement to my pore size and my complexion, my skin looked healthier and felt lovely and soft. Now this is a product which I couldn't be without anywhere in the world.

Who knew that putting makeup on before bed was good for your skin? I was a little concerned that it might stain my nice white pillows but  that hasn't been a problem. There is also something therapeutic about putting it on. Using a brush which is built into the lid, you gently buff the powder into your skin.

You can buy bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment here and it comes in four different shades: Clear, Light, Medium and Tan. I use Clear but the other shades are available in case you want a little bit of coverage after your nightly cleanse (perhaps after going to the gym in the evening) and you can use this without having to worry about it clogging up your skin. If you do have fair skin and are worried about the colour match it's probably best to start with the Clear version as I have found that even that one provides a little coverage. When you wake up in the morning your skin feels softer and has a lovely natural glow to it.

A product I highly recommend!

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Welcome to my blog!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my beauty and lifestyle blog.

I have always been a big fan of beauty blogs and have learnt a lot from them but because I have very pale skin most makeup recommendations (especially for foundations) would end with me looking like a goldfish or a sheet of paper - not very attractive...

So I decided to start a blog which would include my tried and tested recommendations for makeup and skincare which suit us fair maidens, as well as a few lifestyle posts. I'm by no means a professional makeup artist but I have spent many years trying to find the right products for my skin and I would love to be able to share my finds with you.

Even if you aren't fair-skinned, I hope my reviews will be useful, you can just ignore any colour recommendations! 

Much love,

SashaMonday x