Natural Collection Pressed Powder

Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Warm has become the powder that I use every day. It's not necessarily the powder that I would use if I was doing someones make-up for a photo shoot or for their wedding but then I'm not getting married or having my photo taken every day.

This powder is incredibly easy to apply, light and smooth. It doesn't leave patches or add colour, it takes shine off the face and is really invisible. It's £1.99, fragrance free and dermatologically tested I can't see what is not to like about this incredibly good value for money product.

What You Need to Know - Natural Collection Pressed Powder

• £1.99
• Reduces shine without adding colour
• 3 shades - cool, neutral, warm
• Available in the UK from Boots, 

Friday Treat

For a while I thought I would never be able to have a conversation with my husband again... he only seemed capable of singing this song... it makes me laugh so much I cry. Prepare to be surprised by Michael Bolton...

Does contain swearing...

MyFace Lil'bling Black Ice

I usually have red nails in the winter and coral nails in the summer but I fancied a bit of a change this week so I tried out MyFace Lil'bling Nail Chrome in Black Ice. I don't really know what I was expecting - well I think it was a sort of 90's style silver  - but what I got was dark, dark grey with fantastic metallic finish. Pretty easy to apply although you will certainly need two coats and it is hard to clean up the edges (as you will see from my terrible picture - I'm afraid Joe has gone off with my camera in his pocket so this is taken on my phone).

For those who like a bit of understated nail drama I really recommend this. I am big believer in red being the most glamorous and smart of nail colours but for those who want grown-up, glam nails this is definitely worth a try. Only £5.99 and a great addition to your colour collection - I just love these nail colours more every time I try them. 

Facing Beauty

There are quite a few make-up books that I should probably be putting up here - they are either great for inspiration or for technical know-how but Facing Beauty: Painted Women and Cosmetic Art which I received for Christmas is the best book on beauty, it's history, what has been, and is, considered beautiful and what women have done to accentuate their image in the eyes of the world.

Professor Aileen Ribeiro focuses on the period between 1540 and the women in Renaissance paintings to 1940  where the cosmetics industry really started to influence how women were able to change and adapt they way they looked. Facing Beauty: Painted Women and Cosmetic Art is full of beautiful colour plates showing real and ideal women throughout history and the costumes, fashion and cosmetics that influenced them. 

Charles Worthington Hair Repair

Charles Worthing Salon at Home Strength and Repair Kit

DIY hair treatments are a necessity in these financially difficult times and Charles Worthington have come up with the Salon at Home range which includes a fantastic, affordable, solution to damaged hair. I've raved about Ojon products before now and although they do work and are environmentally ethical they are not exactly money saving so I've been on the hunt for something to help my damaged hair, at home, that isn't going to break the bank.

Charles Worthington's Strength and Repair Hair Repair Kit is a three part treatment that you can use once a week and really does make a difference. It contains oils which penetrate the hair, smoothing it and making it less prone to damage. It's only available at Boots and is £19.99 - not so cheap you may be thinking but you get three treatments with this and as you only use it once a week it should last you some time.