chanel spring 2014 collection

Nothing says 'bring on the spring' like a newly launched Chanel make-up collection. We might all still be stuck in the gloominess of February but by no means is that an excuse to be stuck with dull shades of make-up too.

The creme blush in '67 chamade' (£27) may look daunting at first but used lightly it creates the most beautiful natural looking pop of colour on the cheekbones that lasts all day long. I'm in love with nude nails at the moment and have found the ballerina nail colour (£18) to be the ultimate nude-pink nail polish shade, it's very sheer so needs a good three/four coats to build up a good coverage depending on if you want just a delicate light pink shade or a more milky nude colour. I used the illusion d'ombre shadow  in '93 impulsion (£24) to create a super sparkly glittery effect all over my lid, it's a cream shadow so is super easy to blend and apply but get rid of the brush as it's useless. I'd never have normally picked up a pink eyeshadow but I'm so pleased with how well the colour goes with my green eyes, and I'm a huge fan of glitter on the eyes so it gets a big thumbs up from me. Last but not least, the lipgloss in '179 murmere' (£21), this simply creates a beautiful peach sheen on the lips without feeling too sticky. 

The shades all come to together to create a glowing, natural everyday look, as much as I love a bright lip and bold eyes these products have completely converted me to using my cheeks for colour and leaving the rest of my make-up looking as natural as possible.

CHANEL COLLECTION NOTES DE PRINTEMPS SPRING 2014

new launch: ren cleansing gel and emollient rescue cream

Ren are currently one of my favourite skincare brands, they have a no-nonsense feel and have no nasty ingredients too which is great. They've very recently launched two new ranges of cleansing products and hydrating products, I've been sent a product from each range to try out; the Cleansing Gel and Emollient Rescue Cream. 

ROSA CENTIFOLIA CLEANSING GEL - £17: This is a really gentle cleansing face wash that has a faint rose scent and feels like it's giving the skin a truly good wash. It's really nice to use after a cleansing oil at night to give the skin a thorough deep clean and also feels wonderfully calming due to the relaxing scent. 

VITA MINERAL EMOLLIENT RESCUE CREAM - £19: This is my favourite product of the two and one which I'd look into repurchasing again, it's a very thick cream which acts as instant hydration for dry skin. More often than not my skin is looking dull and dry if I don't look after it properly which is where this product comes in a dream, I warm a small amount between my fingers and then apply to any dry areas and leave to sink in overnight. I can sense this being an amazing product for winter time when my skin needs extra nourishing, it would also be great for those of you who travel a lot and need an emergency fix for dry looking skin.

Marks and Spencer are currently offering a free travel kit with the purchase of any two Ren products and also currently have 20% off all beauty products for today only!

new launch: l'oreal neon pop nail collection

Summer is well and truly here and although the weather can't make up it's mind it's time to embrace bright colours and neon shades. Summer is my favourite time of year for makeup launches but I get most excitement seeing new shades of bright nail polish to add to my never ending collection. I had a very exciting package delivered a couple of days ago containing a balloon filled with bright shades of confetti along with the Neon Pop nail collection by L'Oreal. It's certainly one of the best deliveries that I've ever had and being the nail polish junkie that I am it put a big smile on my face. On to the nail polishes, there are four shades in total Acid Watermelon, Flashing Lilac, Wasabi Hint and Banana Pop. The formula of the polishes is quite watery so three coats is needed but the brush is absolutely amazing and only requires two strokes to complete a nail. My favourite colour is a hard one to pick but I'd probably go with Banana pop as it's completely different to any other shade that I own and is flattering to my skin tone which was a surprise. Although I'm a fan of the bottle design I noticed that these polishes only contain 5ml of product, and whilst Models Own have 14ml it's quite a let down that you pay the same price for around 1/3 of product. Overall I'd definitely recommend checking out the polishes but just be aware of what you are paying for.

The polishes will be available this month at a price of £4.99 each.

new launch: chanel l'ete papillon collection

Chanel and Summer. What two things could ever combine to rival the concept of such a dreamy new make up collection. Chanel is the ultimate in luxury make up as far as I'm concerned, the packaging is always beautifully chic and rarely does something disappoint. Call me a sucker but I'd happily fork out a small fortune for any beauty product stamped with the CC logo. I'm head over heels for the L'ete Papillon (meaning Summer butterfly in French) collection and have added many products to my lust list, the nail polishes look incredible. I've had the privilege of being able to feature a couple of products before the launch date and have been so excited to put this post up.

First up is the Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in '457 Idylle', which in basic terms is a super hydrating peach shade of lippie. I find peach lipsticks usually quite tricky to wear as they don't go well with my skin tone but I'm in love with this as it's so sheer and just gives a hint of colour.

I'm not shy of bold make up looks that's for sure so when I spotted the coloured mascaras the make up addict voice in my mind told me that I needed to try one (or two) out. These mascaras are the first of any colour than black that I've ever tried, and they really are quite brilliant. You'd think that using a bright colour on dark lashes probably wouldn't show up all that well or manage to thicken the lashes and work as a proper mascara, but both of these work in every way that you'd hope. I was pretty shocked at just how good the colour pay off was on my dark lashes and was equally impressed that my lashes were just as thick and defined as when I use my favourite mascara. I'm so excited to work with these for lots of different eye looks for Summer, I will be making the most of them that's for sure. As they are waterproof they can be a little tricky to remove but on the plus side it means that they last all day long. Inimitable Waterproof Mascaras in 57 Blue Note (left) and 47 Aqua Blue (right).

And last but not least we have the Levres Scintiallantes in '437 Eden' - a shimmer free bright pink shade of lipgloss. As most of you will know I am no lipgloss fan and pretty much hate the stuff unless the formula is just right. By just right I mean doesn't feel sticky and lasts long on the lips thankfully this one ticks those boxes (Chanel packaging always sweetens the deal too) but the colour comes out clear on the lips and if asked would I repurchase it I'd have to say no.

Overall I'd recommend checking out the nail polishes and coloured mascaras from the collection, I predict that they will be the most popular and sought-after due to being unique shades. The L'ete Palillon collection launches in stores and online tomorrow (31st May). What are you loving the look of from the collection?

new launch: nivea in-shower body moisturiser

I'm aware that near enough every beauty blogger has wrote about this product in the last few days, but here I am to let you all know about it too. Nivea have just launched an 'in-shower body moisturiser' which you use after your shower gel and acts as a moisturiser, think of it as the conditioner and the shower gel as your shampoo. It's a bit of an odd concept and you'd expect most of the product to wash own the plug rather than benefiting your skin, but it does actually seem to work. I turn off the shower for a few moments, slather my body with the product and then wash it off as instructed. After I've dried off my skin once out the shower it definitely feels more hydrated and dewy than usual, not quite to the same extent as if I'd applied a normal moisturiser but it's still impressive. I'm super lazy when it comes to moisturising my body (who isn't?) so I'm hoping that using this with every shower will help towards keeping my skin looking and feeling tip top for Summer time.

NIVEA IN-SHOWER BODY MOISTURISER FOR DRY SKIN - £3.56

new launch: ciaté chalkboard nails

Yesterday I had this rather exciting arrival through my letter box which I had been intrigued to try out ever since I heard it was launching, luckily I happen to be one of the first bloggers to try it out. The idea is that you paint on a black matte base coat to create the chalkboard as it were and then doodle on designs with the nail art pens in the kit that act as the chalk and then seal your design with the matte topcoat. I had a play around with a few of the designs that I spotted in the booklet and whilst it was really fun I discovered that the tips were far too thick to create thin lines which was a bit of a shame, they would of been much better if they were pointed at the end rather than rounded. I still managed to create a set of really cool and unique looking nails in the end with a little patience and practice though. There's no doubting that the colours really stand out on the nails and literally look like chalk but the blue is a bit dull and would of been better if it were a neon green in my opinion. All said and done I think the concept for the kit is really fun and imaginative but it's been let down by a few overlooked flaws, but I will still be having a play with it as the pens are perfect for nail dotting and creating hearts. 

CIATÉ CHALKBOARD NAILS - £25 - LAUNCHES AT SELFRIDGES 20TH APRIL

new launch: benefit fake up concealer

I was super thrilled when these new concealers by Benefit came through the post the other day as I've been becoming increasingly eager to try them out after seeing them featured on lots of blogs. A good concealer is an absolute must in my beauty routine as I have such dark under eye circles but I've always found most of them drying and they usually crease easily too. Benefit have put on their thinking caps to create a concealer that eliminates both of those problems resulting in the perfect solution. In the middle part of the concealer is the pigment which is surrounded by an outer layer of balm which means that the concealer glides over your skin and also works to moisturise the under eye area. I was a little worried that it wouldn't be pigmented due to all of the balm but was really surprised to find out how much colour pay off they have. As you can see from the picture above the coverage is excellent and really makes my whole eye area look refreshed and counteracts any redness. I use the medium shade which I have found is suited perfectly for my skin tone which I was pleased about but I think the range is pretty versatile as the light shade works for me too. Overall I'd definitely repurchase the concealer as so far I haven't seen anything else like it in terms of it's hydrating properties, hats off to Benefit as this product is a triumph.

BENEFIT FAKE UP CONCEALER - £18.50

models own ice neon collection

I always love to see new collections from Models Own, they never fail to come up with something interesting yet on trend and I was very pleased to receive two nail polishes from the new 'Ice Neon' collection to have a go with. The twist with the range is that it's advised that you keep the polishes in the fridge to prolong the neon effect, this is probably a bit of a marketing ploy but petty cool nonetheless. The bottles have a frosted effect and come with lids that match the colour of the polish which I really love. If you already have lots of neon/bright shades of polishes I wouldn't say you need to rush out and buy the whole collection however there are definitely a few shades well worth a look.

First off I tried the shade 'Luis Lemon'. After seeing the colour in the bottle I couldn't wait to give it a go but was a little disappointed with how sheer it was upon application. It took around four coats to get a good finish but it is worth it as the colour turns out gorgeous neon lemon. In my opinion this is the stand out and 'must have' shade in the collection.

Next up I got to have a play with 'Pink Punch'. Although you can tell just how bright this shade is, in reality it's slightly more pink toned, think fiery fuchsia. I do already have many neon pink shades in my collection but was surprised to find that this colour is different to them all. This polish has a shine to the finish compared to the semi-matte finish of 'Luis Lemon'.

The collection will launch in Boots stores on 22nd March and will retail at £5 a bottle.

radox fresh and fruity shower gels

I always get excited by new launches from Radox, even though they aren't a luxury brand I love to try out what's new. Today's post gives a little insight into their new Fresh & Fruity range, consisting of two shower creams and one shower gel. My personal favourite of the range is Cherry Blast but I do recommend getting your hands on the whole range as they are a bargain at just £1.99 each.

BERRY BURST 

"If you live life in the fast lane why not indulge in Berry Burst: Scrub up in your shower with this sumptuous shower gel containing berries and milk. It's bursting full of energy so you will be feeling fully charged and ready to face the day with a spring in your step."

COCONUT KISS

"For girls who like to chill and un-wind why not try Coconut Kiss: Why stop dreaming when you get out of bed in the morning? This blissful shower gel containing coconut and milk has a deliciously Caribbean scent that will allow you to calmly daydream into your very own world of paradise with super soft skin."

CHERRY BLAST

"For girly girls who like to feel gorgeous all day long then use Cherry Blast: This cherry-licious shower gel containing juicy cherries, milk and citrus oils has a sweet, tantalizing fragrance that will invigorate your senses and energize you in the morning as well as leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth so you can feel gorgeous whatever the day throws at you."

RADOX FRESH AND FRUITY SHOWER GEL - £1.99

wilkinson health & beauty event

Recently I popped along to the Wilkinson Health & Beauty event for a sneak peak at some of their new beauty products. Personally I've never been on a budget as such when it comes to beauty products so have always favoured well known brands over supermarket own brand products so being talked through products that retail for such a low price was something new for me. However I'm by no means a snob when it comes to beauty products and am more than happy to keep open minded when trying out different brands. I was told at the event how the products are put through rigorous testing to ensure that they match up to well known brands, to the point that I was ensured that if I was blind tested between the Wilkinson dry shampoo that costs just 97p compared to the best selling dry shampoo on the market by Batiste that costs double the price I wouldn't be able to tell a difference, I will be doing a comparison review soon to find out. Overall I was very impressed with the range as even given the low prices the packaging certainly isn't cheap looking and doesn't scream budget beauty whatsoever. I will keep you all updated with reviews on the range very soon..

benefit 'hello flawless' foundation launch

On Tuesday evening I was lucky enough to have been invited to the launch event for the new Benefit 'Hello Flawless' foundation held at the prestigious tower 42 on the 24th floor with views of the night time London skyline glowing in the background. It was definitely one of the best events that I've been to due to the sky high location, the fact the room wasn't jam packed full of bloggers like at most events and the yummy bite size food that was served. The Benefit team are always so lovely at events and you can always have a good laugh and chat with them which is fab, the head make up artist Lisa is one of the most enthusiastic people I've ever met! 

(the picture above is the only one I have of myself at the event, typical that I was on my phone..)

I think most of you will agree that after all the years Benefit make up has been on the shelves it was most definitely about time they came out with a liquid foundation and Hello Flawless definitely didn't disappoint. The foundation has a built in SPF25 while giving a medium dewy coverage and comes in nine different shades broken down into light, medium and deep categories. I'm a massive fan of the sleek and simple packaging of the product, you even get a little tester of the Porefessional primer in the box. I've heard that 'i'm pure 4 sure' ivory, 'cheers to me' champagne and 'i'm so money' honey are set to be the most popular shades.

I personally got matched up with the champagne shade and find it perfect for my olive toned skin. The coverage is medium so you will still need to use a concealer for imperfections but all in all it gives the appearance of dewy looking almost flawless skin. The best bit about this foundation is that it feels so light and buffs beautifully into the skin, it literally has that heavenly formula of making your skin look naturally perfect without looking like you are actually wearing any foundation. So say goodbye to caked up foundation and hello to a natural radiant complexion. I can see this becoming the new 'big thing' in the beauty world and definitely giving other foundations a run for their money, so well done Benefit on creating a great foundation in lots of great shades.

In this picture above I am wearing the foundation and a touch of concealer. I have a few breakouts at the moment and the foundation did a rather good job at covering them up as you can see and transformed my skin from dull and pasty looking to radiant and glowing.

Benefit 'Hello Flawless' foundation will be available from the 31st March at £24.50.

Click here for more pictures of the event!