Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Product of the Week

For the past couple of weeks my face has really taken a hit. Firstly I used some beautiful Eldora lashes for Halloween and was too lazy to get my Duo glue from my kit so used the Eldora glue instead. Big mistake have had an inchy, sore patch under and around my eye ever since that seems impossible to fix. It opened the floodgates for the change in temperature to make my skin incredibly dry and bumpy and to be honest my whole face has felt pretty awful for the past week.

Then I remembered my Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and have used it a couple of times in the past five days and my skin has really taken a turn for the better which is a relief. An incredibly gentle exfoliator this has removed the dry, bumps from my forehead and chin and meant my moisturiser can actually mositurise my skin rather than sitting on top of it sadly unable to penetrate. I'm not a huge fan of Dermalogica but I recommend you try this.

What you need to know - Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

•  £37-£42 for 75g
• Available in the UK from Look Fantastic, Selfridges, Beautyflash

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick - Product of the Week

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Rose

Is it a bit weird to have two Hourglass products on consecutive weeks? If it is then I don't care, it's my blog and I love them both and have been using them constantly since I bought them in New York. Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick has the best staying power of any lipstick I've tried without a doubt and the colours are so beautiful I found it quite difficult to limit myself to one, which I had to, these products aren't cheap even though I got mine in New York where they are a bit more manageable for the purse. I ended up getting Rose which is a beautiful pink that suits me for every day, unlike Ballet which was the colour I originally wanted to get this is a browner pink so more suitable to have in your handbag for any occasion, it goes with whatever you are wearing and whatever the situation. If money was no object I would have Ballet, Muse, Edition and Riviera too. When checking these out online be aware that they don't really look like any of the swatches I've seen.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser - Product of the Week

When I first bought this in New York I was a little dubious. It came highly recommended from everyone I spoke to in Sephora but it seemed slightly cakey to me. This week however I've been in such a rush all the time that I've just been slapping it on with my hands and that seems to be the way to do it. A great medium to full coverage tinted moisturiser Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser is perfect for those who need that little bit more now autumn is finally here. I know I do.

What you need to know - Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser

• £45 
• 6 shades
• SPF 15
• Medium coverage
• Warning - this does not last long 
• Available in the UK from Space NK, John Lewis,

Inglot Gel Liner - Product of the Week

I got this on the spur of the moment at Olympia Beauty and it has shot straight to the top of my favourite eyeliner list. Blackest, black and beautifully matte it really does glide on and lasts for ages. If you want a professional looking feline flick then Inglot Gel Liner is the product for you. Full review to follow...

And here it is my full review

Bad Gal Lash by Benefit - Product of the Week

Definitely one of my top three favourite mascara's. Haven't used it for years and a friend recently bought it for me when she went through the airport. 'They're Real?', 'Bad Gal', 'Are you sure?'. Tried They're Real and just didn't love as much - I know I'm in the minority and maybe next time I'll bite the bullet and buy it to try for a longer time but for now I'm loving have a flash-back to my mid-twenties with this gorgeous black, black mascara.

What you need to know - Bad Gal Lash

• £17.50
•  Black
• Available in the UK from Feel Unique, Benefit, Boots, Debenhams, Look Fantastic, John Lewis

L'Oreal Gelmatic Liner - Product of the Week

At the moment I can't get enough of L'Oreal's Superliner Gelmatic liner which I kindly got sent as part of their Line of Beauty box. Really easy to apply and the ideal size pencil for getting a fine, thick or flicked line, easily blendable and stays put pretty much all day. OK so it doesn't really go on the waterline very easily or thickly but if you don't want that then this is by far the easiest gel liner I've used to date. It is all a screw pencil so no need to faff about with sharpeners - which, with gel liners, is a messy business believe me. For quick, precise baby proof, non-waterline application this is the one for me at the moment.

What you need to know - L'Oreal Gelmatic Liner

• £5.99
• Available in 3 colours - black, deep violet, taupe grey
• Available in the UK from Boots, Feel Unique, Superdrug

Hampton Sun Aftersun Moisturiser - Product of the Week

So although I didn't get sunburned on holiday (thanks to the amazing Adaptasun by Institut Esthederm) I have been using Hampton Sun Aftersun Moisturiser everyday to keep my lovely tan lasting as long as possible. Cooling, moisturising, and gorgeous smelling - this will be my go-to aftersun from now on. Expensive at around £30 but totally worth it - a little goes a long way and it really gives your tan longevity. Available from Space NK

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow - Product of the Week

I've not had a lot of time to do my make-up recently and I've been feeling in a slightly darker mood. To reflect my mood and bring out my eye colour (dark green) I have been using a wash of Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans which, although it looks like quite a dark, pewter grey can in fact be really lightly applied. Easy to use and a beautiful range of colours available - if you act quickly there's a sale on.

Bioderma - Product of the Week

An oldie but a goodie. Staying at my father-in-law's cottage in Norfolk which can, at best, be described as rural. We've been here for ten days due to the illness and sadly death of my father-in-law. Although I'm a big fan of a proper skincare routine but when time is short and utilities are functional at least Bioderma gets all your make-up off, whatever you may do next, re-cleanse with a balm or just wash and moisturise.

Premae Harmony Balm - Product of the Week

When I get sample sizes of things I usually put them in my make-up or wash bag to use when I'm away from home. That way they don't take up too much space and I get to try that one thing out for a continued period of time rather than trying out lots of different things at once. Premae's Harmony Balm was in my washbag for a recent visit to Norfolk and was the only facial moisturiser I took with me.

It is not only a lovely moisturiser but a fantastic primer for make-up or perfect if you are going for bare skin reducing oil and redness and giving a really silky finish. I was surprised how in love with this I was. When my spending ban is over I shall definitely be buying a full sized version of this.

Dermaviduals Soothing Toner - Product of the Week

For mainly hormonal but partly heat related issues I've been a bit spotty this week and my Dermaviduals Soothing toner has been really helping it all calm down. The weather in London has been so humid and sticky that your face feels grubby by the end of the day whatever you've been doing so do properly look after it in the evening feels even more necessary than usual - I love this toner.

Collection Way-to-Glow Shimmer Shades - Product of the Week

Perfect for adding a bit of shimmering bronze to your cheek bones and high points now that summer is finally here. Way-to-Glow is a great quad of colours that add subtle, highlighted colour without making you dirty or orange. Add to the top of cheek bones and high points of brow for a summery shimmer. Loved it two years ago - my original review is here.

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm - Product of the Week

This product makes me want to sing Beyonce's Irreplaceable to all my other cleansers... it is my desert island cleanser, my newest love and my biggest recommendation of the year so far. Can't really say more than that! Full review soon

Darphin Intral Toner - Product of the Week

I'm always hot and cold on toners because I'm never sure if they are actually doing anything. I've just started using Darphin Intral Toner and I'm sure it's to become a regular in my morning and evening routines - not harsh but reviving and my skin is looking great so it must be doing something. I will look into the technical side of toners to find out more as this has definitely converted me. Post to come soon.

L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel - Product of the Week

My mum got me some L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel as a treat on a recent visit to Sherborne and although I've been using it in my bath rather than as a shower gel I absolutely adore it.

My husband has been away a lot over the last couple of weeks with work and I've been solely in charge of the baby and trying to get stuff done in the evenings so a really hot bath with this Verbena shower gel at the end of the day has been a real treat and one of the few times I can relax without feeling that I should be doing something else - I mean we all need to wash! So for that reason it's my product of the week.

Peter Thomas Roth - Product of the Week

Hurrah - there has been actual sun in the UK over the past week (it seems to have mostly gone now) but that means I have been up-ing my SPF usage. For use under make-up I love Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-lite Oil Free Sunblock SPF30. It's not great if you have oily skin, even though it's oil free, but if you have normal to dry/dehydrated skin this will not only give you great sun protection but a lovely base for your make-up.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream - Product of the Week

So this week, with my husband away in Barcelona, I have been single parenting and sweating so I have worn Make Up For Ever's Aqua Cream in 13 Fuchsia Pink every day. Fuchsia Pink sounds a bit brighter than it actually is - in reality its more peachy pink and blends beautifully onto my eyelids and whether I've worn it on it's own or as a base for other products it has stuck it out through sweat, heat and baby swimming... twice. It's waterproof, long-lasting, easy to apply with a finger
and even though it's £18.25 it will last you a long time (as long as you keep the lid on tightly). Loads of colours available - I love 15 Taupe too. Well worth investing in.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13

Skinetica - Product of the Week

Here is the first in a new weekly post which will give my Product of the Week be it an old faithful or something brand spanking new it'll just be the thing I'm loving most at the time. It'll be short and sweet not a full on technical review just the product and why I love it.

As I mention in my disclaimer I don't really like to write bad reviews on here because what doesn't work on me may be fantastic on someone else but sometimes companies ask for your feedback and I want to give my honest opinion. When I had just had Ned Glossybox sent out Skinetica and then asked our opinion on their website. Having babies makes you hormonal in all sorts of ways and mine was manifesting in spots and rage. Skinetica did not get rid of my spots (because they were baby related) and this made me angry so I waited for the baby to nap and then went on the Glossybox survey and said how crap it was.

Then I stopped breastfeeding, got my life back and my skin started going back to normal. I got a normal spot, used Skinetica and it disappeared. Almost instantly. And it's worked on every spot ever since and I don't know what I'd do without it. Kind to skin, great size and reasonably priced at £9.99 for a spot treatment that really works.

So it is my first Product of the Week really worth having in your washbag.