IT Cosemtics CC Cream

The coverage of this is great a little goes a long way and the finish is beautiful. It's easy to apply and lasts all day. As I explain in my quick review video below my only problem with this is the dimethicone in it - a silicone which can make people break out - but this only effects some not all and basically this is a lovely product. 

It has an SPF 50 in it using Titanium and Zinc Oxide better for your skin and the environment. It's £31 but a little of this goes a long way so it should last you at least 6 months if you like a light-medium coverage. It is buildable but even if you like a fuller coverage it shouldn't take much! 

You can get the CC Cream from Boots, Cult Beauty, IT Cosmetics, 

IT Cosmetics is cruelty-free but owned by L'Oreal which is not. 

I was sent some of these products as a gift or for review purposes but the choice to feature it was entirely my own. 

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Modern Apothecary

I love a small brand that does a few products really well and Modern Apothecary is one of those. Their products are formulated using Cacay Oil which is naturally full of Vitamin E, Linoleic Acid and Retinol so it targets signs of aging, dehydration whilst providing a huge antioxidant boost to the skin. Research has shown that Cacay Oil can improve firmness, hydration, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, reduce redness and sensitivity.

I've been using three of their four products for the past couple of months and have really loved them, especially the Total Face, Hair & Body Hydrator and the Skin Elixir. A little of both goes a long way which makes these incredibly reasonably priced - the Skin Elixir is £19.95 and the Face, Hair & Body Hydrator is £14.95. And it's really lovely to work with such an ethical company.

emJ Company Make-up Brushes

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you can never have too many make-up brushes. Sometimes I review a product on here and I think 'how many XX do you really need?' but if you use make-up brushes, new ones are always welcome (means you are cleaning less often) and I've been looking forward to these emJ ones for months. It was such a treat to receive some through the post pre-release and I'd like to say that I was sent this as I know the founder not necessarily to review.

I was a little bit anxious. I know how long these have been in the making. It's hard to be critical of something when you know the hard work behind the product but these brushes are absolutely fantastic. Big relief for me. Not ideal for you because you really should get some. I've used all three on myself and clients and they have gone straight onto my recommends list. Everyone I've used them on has asked me the make.

Soap & Glory Brow Archery Sculpting Pencil & Gel

Sometime it's like your children hate you. I have particularly, smug-makingly well-behaved children. They are pretty good sleepers. They are funny, polite and not bottom of the class. You see, smug. But sometimes they will do something that convinces me that they have been sent to derail my existence, and that they good behaviour is just to ensure that I not only make plans for them to destroy but will have no idea what to do with them as they set fire to the restaurant we are in.

So it was when I met the lovely PR team who not only represent Soap & Glory but, among others, Hourglass, makers of my beloved Ambient Lighting Powder. Ned must have been about 3 and Jim 9 months. Both well behaved and happy to watch the iPad, eat croissants and hang out. Having laid this stealthy groundwork they came with me to meet the lovely PR's in High Road House somewhere not hugely ok with kids. I batted not an eye lid at the thought of this. My children would be like adorable little bunnies.

Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara

I try to keep negative views to a minimum because what might not work for me may be great for someone else but I hate it when good brands do something mediocre. And the new Troublemaker mascara from Urban Decay is mediocre at best.

Regular readers know I was a reluctant convert to the Urban Decay Perversion mascara (which it turns out I reviewed nearly exactly a year ago). I frankly find the make-up business's desire to name products 'sexily' completely wrong and ridiculous - this is not Urban Decay specific, loads of other brands do it, NARS and Too Faced to name but two. I was quite keen to try the Troublemaker mascara despite it announcing itself 'sex proof' (why Urban Decay? Why?) but god is it a big fat disappointment.

Younique Moodstruck Epic Mascara

One thing I always want to be on this blog is honest and fair so here's a review I would never have dreamed of writing! I've heard (not great) things about Younique and have been approached by some of their reps but haven't actually looked into or tried any of their products. Then lovely Gina who has followed me on Instagram for a while and who I actually didn't know was a rep said she wanted to send me a mascara to try because she thought I'd love it. I messaged her back and said I really thought I wouldn't and she replied that she'd take that risk and send it anyway.

MakeupDrop Silicone Beauty Applicator

This silicone applicator for liquid make-up products and though it doesn't flick my switch I can see this really working for those who worry about the various hygiene issues raised with using brushes and even worse (my favourite), beauty blenders.

Rather than being like a sponge this feels more like one of those gel pads you use in your high heels to stop your feet from completely dying. But it's thicker. In fact it feels rather wonderful - like a make-up related stressball.

There are some major pros to this product. You lose no product when using this, all of it goes directly onto your face and any tiny amount that doesn't is very easily washed off. You just need to rinse it in warm water and soap. Because no product, or anything, is absorbed into it then there is nothing to go off, encourage bugs or whatever other horrors can happen to more traditional make-up sponges. You don't have to worry about drying it in a certain way as you do with brushes. This also means you should technically save money as you will end up using less product and fewer brushes and sponges. It feels lovely to apply make-up with and although the price seems quite high you should, in theory, be able to use this for a very long time.

Gold Collagen Hydrogel Face Mask

I don't have a lot of time for face-masking. That's what I think but actually I do, I just need to be a bit more organised about it. I often feel like a face mask, like a bath bomb, is best enjoyed when you have actual time to sit and relax it but in reality, unlike a bath bomb, a face mask will do what it does whether you sit with your feet up in a zen like state or just stick it on while you're doing the online big shop (or indeed the in-store big shop if that's what floats your boat!).

For the Gold Collagen Hydrogel Mask I do like to use it in bed while I read my book. It's a sheet mask so you can wear it when you are up and about but being propped up in bed with my book is enough for me and it encourages me to go to bed with enough time to actually have time to read which is something I really miss since having the boys. I also like to give the ingredients time to themselves on my skin which they probably wouldn't get earlier in the day (not able to do a barefaced school run sadly).

Jo Loves Pink Vetiver

Jo Malone is a household name. Everyone has their favourite (Lime Basil & Mandarin since you ask) and for some of us it's the ultimate house gift. However, not so many people know that Jo Malone (MBE) left the eponymous brand in 2006 and 2011 after trouncing a particularly aggressive form of cancer came back with a new company Jo Loves.

As a brand Jo Malone, now owned by Estee Lauder, is huge and available worldwide - everything about it, even the black framed cream packaging is luxurious. Jo Loves feels different. Of course it's on a smaller scale, it's a relativley new company created by someone who has her name on products she created, in a design she wanted but is no longer affiliated to. That must be incredibly difficult. You need to it look different, you need to come up with a whole different range of fragrances and ideas. And she's done it. Jo Loves feels intimate, personal, boutique. She seems to be able to create the most amazing and unique smells and Jo Loves doesn't disappoint. Pomelo, Mandarine, Mango Thai Lime, White Rose and Lemon Leaves or my favourite, Green Orange and Coriander.

Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette

One of the most talked about palettes of 2017, the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette sold out over and over and seems to appear several times a day in 'looks' on my Instagram feed. As its release coincided with the release of my latest child I assumed it would be a palette that would pass me by but one appeared in the post for me a week after I got home from the hospital and there's nothing like being trapped under a new born to make you desperate to get some new make-up on to your face.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Customisable Colour Set for Cheeks

Definitely one of my favourite releases of this year and one of those products that you long to try and doesn't disappoint. I've been a fan of the Watercolour Blush's for years. I use them on every bride, over 90% of my other clients and they are definitely in my top five most recommended products and the one I get asked most about ('what colour should I get?' - bit of a responsibility!). Getting a full set in my kit has been the dream and one day I will achieve this (though doing make-up seems like a distant dream as I sit next to my 5 week old!). These have been out for a little while but arrived the day I properly went into labour with Jack so this review has been a bit delayed!*

Ilia Illuminator

The Ilia Illuminator in Cosmic Dancer was on my wishlist of products to try in 2017 and I was lucky enough to be sent a whole bunch of products to try from Ilia including the illuminators in Sway and Polka Dots & Moonbeams and I've used them both lots since I received them.

Though it's always lovely to be sent exactly the thing you want where's the challenge in that? When I first saw these two I thought I'd try them once and then formulate and opinion as neither would really suit my skin tone but, though I think Cosmic Dancer is probably the right colour for me I have worn the other two a lot. Polka Dots & Moonbeams probably does need skin darker than mine to show up - for those who want a silver-y highlight but Sway is a really pretty way to add a bit of bronzey shimmer to my pale skin and in fact is probably the most universal colour even though it looks scary.

Rosie for Autograph Cream Eyeshadow Stick

Almond Eyes, Sparkle & Magic, Feline Fox

I called these in (rare for me) when I did my piece on eye shadow sticks because I'd heard great thnigs about them was really impressed. I'm not in to celebrity make-up or skincare ranges. Geekily I'm much more impressed by people in the make-up/skincare business and what products they come up with - I'm not sure I'd watch them sing in a music video.

They are actually the first products I've used from the Rosie for Autograph range purely because the stand in my local Marks and Spencer (Hammersmith I'm looking at you) is badly stocked and dirty and generally yeugh. The packaging is beautiful, vintage looking and not dissimilar to Charlotte Tilbury's but I feel like you really pay for the Charlotte Tilbury packaging whereas the Rosie for Autograph products are more affordable (dare I say it reasonable).

Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

You all know how I'm a bit 'meh' about setting sprays. They do sometimes work but most make-up is pretty long lasting nowadays and frankly I'm happy to look a bit worn in and then take it all off asap as soon as I get home. I'm not out partying that much at the moment. I was sent this to try however, and try it I did and was very pleasantly surprised.

Now I don't want to sound completely bonkers but this actually worked. I managed to conincide testing it with a bit of a heatwave in the UK (don't worry it's rained all day so normalty is restored) and my make-up stayed on my face. It not only stayed on but looked really fresh and nice. I sort of became addicted to using it because it was such a novelty even though frankly my kids don't care what my face looks like and my husband is avoiding me as much as possible because I have late-stage-pregnancy rage.

Eye Shadow Pencils Spend or Save

I love an eye shadow pencil. They make application so easy, they travel well and are often a great base for eye shadows if you need to give them a bit of oomph or longevity. You can use them as an eyes shadow or straight liner, or as a blended liner or base. They make for a great, quick and easy smokey eye too. But they not only vary wildly in quality but also in price. So I've gathered together all the ones that I've either been using for a while myself or have been recommended and have been testing them out to see how they compare. Do you really get what you pay for? Are they actually all the same?

There are so many things to take into consideration so I've tried to test take the same things into consideration for each pencil. Longevity, price, packaging, whether they are sharpen or twist up. In my opinion there is less to go wrong with a pencil that you sharpen - the product doesn't dry out and you don't get a fault with the mechanism. It is a bit of a ballache to have to sharpen. I feel I should just mention the difference in shimmery and sparkley here. For me 'shimmery' means a not matte but not noticable glittery finish, 'sparkley' means there are noticable bits of glitter of whatever size. I've included some swatches below so hopefully you'll be able to see what I mean. I've used these a lot but when testing and re-testing for this post I've worn for a couple of days on their own to see how they looked and lasted and a couple of days more as a base with a shadow over the top.

Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer

Face and eye primers I can generally get on board with. Lash primers not so much. I understand them. I see a difference with them but they are just not something that would end up in my personal or pro-kit. Some love a lash primer, and to be fair I haven't tried that many and though Subversion by Urban Decay is the best I've tried I'm not in a rush to repurchase.

So Subversion claims to give 'thicker, longer, stronger' lashes but for me what I overwhelmingly found was that it made my mascara clumpy. I'm also usually in a rush and with whatever mascara I'm using it takes a while for me to make sure all the white is covered and the clumps combed out. Maybe I would love a black lash primer. But what I really think is, I don't need one. I'm happy to whack on a load of mascara but I still like a reasonably natural look - not like fat spiders legs - and therefore it's better for me to have an extra layer of mascara rather than a primer.

VO5 Plump It Up Dry Backcomb Spray

One of my big disappointments with dry shampoo is it never seems to give my hair the oomph it gives other people. I was sent this a while ago and I have to say I just sort of put it to one side as I had just never really tried anything from VO5 that I liked. I just assumed it wouldn't really do anything. How wrong I was. I now use this at least once a week, often after using some dry shampoo on the roots (it's Klorane at the moment) first and then adding this to give volume.

The daughter of a religious backcomber I rarely remember that it is even a thing and when I do I go about it all half-heartedly. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm lazy. I want hair like Dolly but with minimal effort. This is the closest I've got to that. You don't need very much to give a real boost and it's really quick. I lift and spritz in the roots, leave it for a couple of seconds and then use my fingers to sort of push the roots are.

It also some how manages to give the hair texture but not in that horrible sticky way. If you are someone who likes to style your hair properly this would be great for that. And it's long lasting - even if it flattens a bit a bit of a boost with your fingers and back up it goes. I can't believe I've had this and ignored it for so long. It's great!


What You Need to Know - VO5 Plump It Up Dry Backcomb Spray

• £3
• 200ml
• Part of the Plump it Up range with five other products
• Available from Boots, and pretty much any drugstore/high street chemist

Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Oil

If you've read through my previous two pregnancies you'll know that I'm a little dubious as to whether any stretch mark oils/creams/gels/potions actually work or whether it's just down to your skin, the baby, the time of year, whatever. I mean. It's a hard one to judge.I hardly used anything at all with Ned and was fine. I used Rosehip oil all the way through Jim and thought I got away with it until a sad looking (huge) jelly fish of stretch marks appeared about two days before he was born. Thanks Jim.

I jumped at the chance when offered this to try though as this is not only a bit pricier than I would normally pay - do you get what you pay for with stretch marks? But I have heard great things about it and it has a lot of good reviews.

I'm not entirely comfortable paying £27 for something that is, to my mind, not guaranteed to work. But, so far, there is not a new stretch mark in sight and a little of this goes a long way. I have been using it for three months now and I'm pretty sure it will last me until I've had the baby in July. I've been using it mostly on the bump and a bit on the tops of my thighs which are the places I usually get stretch marks. If there's any left over then after the baby is born I'll use it on my boobs as it's when the milk comes in that they tend to get stretch marks. If I run out before I have the baby I may while buy a new bottle.

Ilia Multistick

Ilia is one of my favourite brands of the moment and I have been using their multistick pretty much daily since I received it a few months ago. Even though the colour, Tenderly, isn't necessarily one I would choose myself it blends so beautifully I'm a complete convert to a paler pink.

I've never been much one for multisticks - I can see their usefulness but I'm not that into matchy-matchy make-up though I do keep meaning to try this as an eyebase, it would probably work well under a taupe. This has completely converted me, it has such a beautiful finish, lasts for ages and is so incredibly easy to use. I've even dug out my old Kiko one that I bought and never really got round to using.

The multisticks are made using Shea Butter and Vitamin E so they feel great on the skin but these seem to last a lot longer than other cream blushers that I've tried. Really easily blendable too you can draw it straight onto your cheeks and blend out with your fingers or use a brush if you prefer. I think this would a great - if pricey - place to start for those who want to try a really natural-looking cream blusher.

Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation and Concealer

This is one of the products that was on my 2017 wishlist and in fact I have been meaning to try for years. The reason I haven't is that I sometimes see Daniel at make-up events and wanted him to colour match me as it was his product and he's such an amazing make-up artist... but it never happened. Then he very kindly sent me some to try and it was probably one of the highlights of 2017 so far. Seriously, I have been desperate to try it.

And of course, as with every Daniel Sandler product I've tried I have not been disappointed. The finish is beautiful and one thing I've noticed is that I can't stop stroking my face when it's on. Not in a weird way, well, not in that much of a weird way. But it feels really soft, and not clammy like some foundations.