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.

20 Under £20 - My Best Cheap Beauty Buys

I started this off to test myself. It started off easily and then got harder. I've kept it in the order in which these came to me. Which means sometimes you'll be able to see my train of thought. I tried to keep it varied. I could probably name twenty great black liners for under £20 but I've limited myself - you all know I love MAC Smoulder so I've tried where necessary to go for something less obvious. For certain others, like the product that is first on the list, there is no question that it deserves it's place here. It's unrivalled. I've been recommending it for a decade or so.

What are your favourites? Have I missed anything you think deserves a place? Let me know down in the comments.

Face of the Day - 9th March 2017

I love wearing a bright lip in the spring and recently found one of my all time favourites, Dangerous Retro Matte from MAC. This will be too dry for some but I love the fact that this is a very wearable colour that lasts all day - I only reapplied it once and that was with eating a millionaire's shortbread, having a coffee and eating lunch!

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I've linked to all the products used below (some are affiliate links so if you don't feel comfortable using them then do google the products yourself). Below that are links to any full reviews, from me, of products featured.

Products Shown:
This Works In Transit Camera Close-up
Lola Eye Base
Louise Young Essential Eye Palette
Louise Young LY19 Brush
Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner 
Lancome Artliner
Benefit Rollerlash mascara
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation
Clinique Bottom Lash mascara
Clarins Instant Concealer
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush (Rose Glow)
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
Maybelline Brow Drama (in Dark Blonde)
Rimmel Exaggerate lip liner (in discontinued Passionate)
MAC Retro Matte lipstick in Dangerous
Real Techniques Brushes
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit (which was a limited edition - you can buy the powders separately. I used Dim Light and Diffused Light Ambient Lighting Powders and Iridescent light highlighter).

Product Reviews:
My current morning skincare routine
Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner
Lancome Artliner
MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks 
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation 

Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Eyeliner

When I review something and say it's a great product (like Perversion from Urban Decay) but I don't really know why I don't like it I always feel wishy-washy. Like I should make a decision either way - I should love a good product and not like ones that are a bit rubbish. Well the Supercat Fat Eyeliner from Soap & Glory is deeply flawed but for some reason I keep using, and liking it. Bear with me.

I love a felt-tip liner and nowadays there's lots to choose from. They seem to be something that high street brands do quite well. This one has an incredible shaped tip - rounded on one edge and flat on the other - so you can be as thick or precisely thin as you like. This makes it really easy to use and the angle of it makes a flick in a matter of seconds. Seriously, seconds. It's great.

Quick Day to Night Eyes using Urban Decay Naked - Friday Video

When I worked in an office I'd often have to go out straight from there and having to do quick, easy make-up in the badly lit office loos was always a pain so here's how I'd do it using the Naked Palette from Urban Decay.

I've linked to all products below. This may look brush heavy but actually the one I use most comes with the palette and the most recent palette has a double ended brush which means I'd only end up taking the angle brush with me. So all you'd need in your make-up bag is the palette, mascara, lipstick and eye kohl. Pretty simple.

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MyFace My MixFoundation - sadly no longer available
Clarins Instant Concealer
Louise Young Blusher in Coop
Hourglass Diffused Light Ambient Lighting Powder
Dior Rouge Baume in Lili
Urban Decay Original Primer Potion
Urban Decay Naked
Soap & Glory Supercat Fat Jumbo Liner
Crown Brush Deluxe Crease Brush
Real Techniques Angled Brow Brush
Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara
Daniel Sandler Intense Volume Pro Mascara
MAC Smoulder
Louise Young Lip Trio in Pin-up

The Sunday Spend

Some deals so good it would be rude not to...

• The Ultimelt from Soap & Glory (and in fact a lot of Soap & Glory products) are 1/3 off at Boots right now making it £6.67 instead of £10. 
• Cult Beauty have some very tempting promotions worth looking at 
• As do Escentual - worth looking at if you want 1/3 off Bioderma, Vichy Aquila Thermal Dynamic Serum and La Roche Posay.

September Favourities - Friday Video

Only nearly a whole month late...
Hourglass Brow Arch Sculpting Pencil
Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum
Art & Makeup by Lan Nguyen-Grealis
Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Home Candle
Soap and Glory The Ultimelt
Label M Rejuvinating Oil Mist

Soap and Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser

I was a bit unmoved by this when I was first using it. It had a lot of things that were good about it but it didn't set my world on fire. That is until 90% of my skincare products started to set my face fire post the birth of my second baby. Then all my trusted products turned me to a burning tomato.

I'm hoping this is temporary but until then how was I supposed to clean my face? Well I went to go old Clarins - the saviour of many an allergic reaction or sensitive bout. £25 later and I was burning again. Not as bad but still definitely burning. Then I realised - there was one cleanser that wasn't having this disastrous affect on my skin and that was The Ultimelt from Soap & Glory. I used it again. No burning. No redness. No despair.

So why didn't I originally rave about this?

What's in my hospital make-up and washbag - Friday Video

Here's a little peak inside my make-up and washbag that I've packed to go to the hospital to have the baby. I'm really sorry if I seem a little lack luster - I was feeling exhausted and not very well when I filmed this but bare with me - it may be useful! I've listed below all the products I mention that I have used and would recommend. There are some here that I wouldn't necessarily buy again or that I haven't tried so I'm not linking to them...

• Balmi 
• Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray 
• This Works In Transit Camera Close Up 
• Blistex Lip Brilliance
• Avon Quad in Mocha Latte
• Maybelline Better Skin concealer
• MAC Eye Kohl in Smoulder
• Benefit Sugarbomb
• Real Techniques Shading Brush
• Daniel Sandler Smudger Brush
• MAC Blot powder
• Paperchase Watermelon Washbag
• Halo Antibacterial Wipes
• Soap and Glory Clean on Me 
• Soap and Glory Righteous Butter 

Soap and Glory Fab Pore 15 Minute Facial Peel

It's a bad time for money by all accounts - many have had to cut back on their little luxuries but there is no reason why you have to let yourself go! I've been doing at home facials for my sister before her wedding (I do the facial and get paid in sushi - fair deal I say!!) and have been testing the products out for myself beforehand. A fantastic, cheap and easy at-home face peel is Soap and Glory's The Fab Pore 15 minute Facial Peel (£5.88).

I just love Soap and Glory products - I've yet to try out something that I don't like and it's so affordable, even their spot cream works! The 15 minute facial peel is great for either a quick five min refresher or a full on at-home facial. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and not at all dry (which I can find a problem after using some scrubs and peels) and really makes your skin look replenished and healthy.

I had a red blotch on my cheek for a couple of months. It just appeared and wouldn't go away no matter what I used. I wish I'd taken before and after photos now because it's nearly completely gone in the three times I've used this peel (which seems more like a scrub crossed with a face mask to me). Great as a stocking filler or indeed just as a present for the girl who has everything - I'm planning on buying a couple and keeping them as reserves for those surprise Christmas presents that always get sprung on you and make you feel useless!! xx

Soap and Glory Dr Spot

I'm lucky as I've never really suffered too badly from spots (touch wood). I get the ooccasional whopper though, and when I do I try out different things to get rid of it. Some products have helped (Origins Blemish Buster Spot remover for example), but finally I found a miracle worker. Or at least I think it's a miracle worker. Mr J and I both had spots appear over Easter and both of them have gone or nearly gone after one application of Dr Spot Invisible Spot Fighting Gel by Soap and Glory. It's actually worth it's £6.50 price tag and doesn't dry your skin out. Try it.