Eye of Horus Liquid Define Liner review

Eye of Horus are a natural Australian brand which have recently launched in the UK. With a range of cruelty and paraben free makeup all based on natural, yet high quality ingredients, they've developed a fan base of makeup artists and bloggers alike. 

The Liquid Define* is one of the initial product lines to land on our shores and is a felt-tip style liquid liner, perfect for create feline flicks. These types of liquid liners are my favourite as I find the felt pen nibs are much easier to control and allow you to create both thick and thin lines with ease. They're also great for liner beginners as you don't need such a steady hand to apply it. 

I've been impressed with the deep black colour of the liner and found the nib flexible and soft on my lids. The lasting power is also impressive - once dry, there was no smudging, flaking or fading throughout a ten hour day, making it hold up well against my trusty DHC liner. 

One added feature of this liner is that the nib can actually be reversed. So often these types of liners can get clogged up with product and stop working effectively. Being able to reverse the nib is a definite bonus, as your liner will last a lot longer! 

The Liquid Define costs £13 and at the moment can only be bought online from Eye of Horus and Cocktail Cosmetics. I'm hoping that they'll expand in to further retailers soon as they get more established on UK shores. 

What do you think of Eye of Horus? 

*PR sample 

Eve Snow nail polish review

Nail polish is one of my favourite beauty products. I have far too many in my collection, but just can't stop myself buying more and more. I think I like it even more than cake, which is saying a lot. 

Up until recently I was an Eve Snow virgin, which let me tell you, I'm very glad to have rectified! Eve Snow are a cruelty-free, luxury British nail polish company founded by Yvette Snowden and made in the UK.

Their polishes focus on being '3 added' - as well as being free from several toxins like formaldehyde and DBP, they also enrich their polishes with ginkgo biloba, vitamin e and argan oil to nourish nails while you wear them .

I've been testing out two of their shades from the upcoming SS14 collection*: a bright pink and a soft, creamy nude. Both applied well and were opaque in two coats and dried pretty quickly. I was really impressed with how glossy the formula was without a top coat - perfect for lazy people like me that can't always be bothered to add one! The polishes have a large brush, which made application quick and easy, however I did find the formula to be quite thick, so do take care when applying or you could end up with a very thick coat of varnish. 

Wear time is pretty average, and I got around three days before my first minor chip. I do seem to have  knack for chipping polish in my sleep (no idea how that happens), so this is pretty normal for me and may wear a lot longer on people with normal nails. 

The only small downside for me is the price. At £14 for 10ml, these are pretty pricey, so are definitely more of a treat purchase than a whimsical buy. You can find them stocked in store at Fenwicks Bond Street, online at Space NK (not in stores at the moment) and Feel Unique. 

Have you tried Eve Snow polishes? Do you like the idea of a '3-added' polish? 

*PR samples

My winter survival kit

With winter well and truly upon us, and the freezing weather showing no sign of disappearing any time soon, we can all use a helping hand against the elements. I've picked some of my top products to help protect your hair, skin and immune system against the cold.

Melvita echinacea, propolis, honey capsules* - winter often equals colds and flu, but these handy Melvita capsules can help strengthen your immune system and fight of signs of an oncoming cold. Pop the contents of a capsule into a glass of water or drink neat and enjoy the health boosting powers of echinacea and propolis and honey. £17 - 20 capsules

Tommy Guns Weather Protect Dew Drops Serum* - I don't know about you, but winter mostly leaves my hair in a rather large, fluffy state. This tiny bottle of serum from Tommy Guns is my secret weapon against frizz, as just a drop or two fights against the elements, keeping hair smooth and silly. You can also pick it up in Waitrose with your food shopping which is a bit of a bonus! £6.15 - 50ml

REN rose otto body oil - perfect for dry skin in need of a treat, this body oil is packed with luxurious rose otto oil and leaves skin feeling super soft and hydrated. It also smells amazing! £34 - 100ml

Liz Earle Superbalm*

Perfect for running on to extra dry areas, this rich balm from Liz Earle is the perfect multi purpose product. I've been slathering this on my elbows, cuticles and hands to help fight back against the effects of the cold. It contains vitamin E and rosehip oil to hydrate and soften and despite being very rich, doesn't take long to sink in. £16.25 - 30ml

Aldi lip balms - more hydrating than far more expensive lip balms, these will be seeing me through the winter months. They contain no mineral oil, and work to soften lips and protect from cold weather chapping. I've currently got one in every handbag! 99p for three.

Lavera orange hand cream* - the perfect size to pop in your handbag, this orange scented hand cream from natural brand Lavera will stop hands drying out in the cold. It's got a rich formula that sinks in easily and the citrusy scent keeps me thinking about sunnier times! £3.49 50ml

What are your winter essentials? 

Bargain beauty: W7 In The Buff palette

The recent launch of Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette got beauty addicts across world rather flustered. Urban Decay are probably my favourite eye shadow brand, however, they do come with a pretty high price point that's not always wallet friendly. I've made it my mission this year to find some quality products at bargain prices as part of my bargain beauty series and this is where W7's In The Buff eye shadow palette* steps in.

L-R: buff, camel, sand, dust, chocolate, topaz, earth, storm, silk, wave, thunder, onyx

A fantastic dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, this tin is packed with 12 shadows in a mixture of shimmer and matte shades, all of which are perfect for creating simple day time looks and can also be vamped up for the evening using some of the more smokey shades in the tin.

The formula of the shimmery shadows definitely feels more expensive than they are, and are easy to apply without much fall out. The matte shades are slightly more chalky, and do produce more fall out when applying them, however, all the shadows in the collection blend together really easily. I get around 6-8 hours wear from the shadows before fading, which can be extended slightly with a primer.

My current favourite look uses sand as an overall wash, with camel across the lid and dust added to the crease for extra definition.

The brush/applicator that's included in the set is pretty flimsy, and I would recommend throwing it out and using your own brushes instead, as mine fell apart after about two uses. That said, I think this is an amazing value palette, and at £5.49 you can't really go wrong. If you've been looking for a neutrals palette that won't break the bank, then I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. You can find it online from Xtras along with lots of other W7 ranges (the nail polishes are also very good!)

What do you think of this palette?

*PR sample

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush review

Real Techniques make some of the best value makeup brushes on the high street, so when I heard they were laucnhing a new range, I was really excited to see how these would compare to their current kits. 

The new range consists of retractable brushes, perfect for popping in your handbag, without having to worry about product getting all over the lining. I've been testing out the Retractable Kabuki Brush*, which is designed to be used with a range of powder products. 

The brush itself is quite large, and features slanted bristles which work fantastically for applying blusher or highlighter and also for when you're contouring. The bristles are very dense, and feel incredibly soft on the skin. They make it easy to get a soft dusting of powder, but you can also apply more pressure in order to get a more defined look on the face. 

Like all Real Techniques brushes, these are cruelty free and are made of super-plush synthetic fibres. I found that the Kabuki Brush washed up really well - laying it flat to dry meant that no water ended up leaking down into the handle area and it dried reasonably quickly overnight. 

The retractable element is a real bonus for me, as I don't always carry a proper makeup bag around, but like to have a brush with me for powder top ups throughout the day. I can now carry this brush with me without having to worry about product ending up all over the inside of my bag. The packaging feels very sturdy - the brush handle is made of metal and the lid is quite thick plastic, so they should hold up well to being carried around.

There's also a bronzing brush available as part of the range, which is slightly larger, and has a more flat head, so perfect for a big sweep of colour across the face. 

The retractable range should be filtering into Boots stores as we speak and the Kabuki Brush costs £11.99, with the Bronzing Brush slightly more expensive at £12.99. I think these are excellent value, and can see myself buying the rest of the range as they launch! 

Have you tried Real Techniques before? Do you like the look of these retractable brushes? 

*PR sample

Guest post: how to beat the winter blues

The last of this month's guest posts comes from the fantastic Michelle from Thou Shalt Not Covet. I love reading Michelle's blog and I'm really pleased to have her here on Tales of a Pale Face. Make sure you pop over to her blog for a read, and take a look at her beautiful wedding photos. Over to you Michelle...

Hey guys! My name is Michelle from Thou Shalt Not Covet and today I'm so happy to be guest posting for Kat! So, it's January, it's cold, and many of us are pretty skint after Christmas - there's not really too much to look forward to at the moment! :( with this in mind I'd like to share with you five tips for beating the winter blues.

Firstly, what are the winter blues? The "winter blues" are mild depressive feelings characterized by low mood, lack of motivation and low energy levels that many people experience during the winter months. The winter blues, in a more severe sense can be classed as Seasonal Affective Syndrome, this is where people are affected negatively by the lack of daylight during the winter season. I suffer from the winter blues myself so I've put together a few tips to try and help beat these feelings and set you on the right track! :)

Source

1. Eat and Drink Healthily - Ok I know, when you're not feeling great, the last thing most people want to do it eat healthily, if you're anything like me you'll be reaching for pasta, pizza, cakes and chocolate - I'm all about the comfort food! Though eating these foods may give instant gratification, in the long term they're really not good for you in vast quantities. Full of fat, sugar and lots of other artificial nasties these foods will rot your teeth and aid weight gain. Alcohol is another baddie - there's nothing like a stinking hangover to bring your mood down! So if you can, try to eat and drink healthily, try to eat lots of 'feel good' foods such as berries and broccolli which are high in antioxidants. Your body will thank you for it.

2. Chill Out - Winter can be a stressful time, Christmas can bring money worries and family issues, add this to the miserable weather and lack of daylight and you may feel like things are getting on top of you. It's important you make time for yourself so you can relax. Take yourself out of any stressful situations, read a book or watch a film. I't s also important that you allow yourself this time out, so you don't feel guilty about it afterwards. If you're feeling tense or stressed you could also practice some breathing exercises to help calm your body and mind.

3. Get Some Exercise - I know for a fact that when I feel down, the last thing I feel like doing is exercise, I stay in bed as long as I can and generally just mope about the house. But when I manage to scrape that last tiny piece of motivation up off the floor and make myself do a bit, just a tiny bit of exercise like a brisk walk, I feel a zillion times better. So try to exercise if you can; walk the dog, take your kids to the park, go for a bike ride, it doesn't have to be too strenuous. You'll feel great afterwards and have more energy in the long run.

4. Treat Yourself - It's very important to treat yourself, especially in winter as we mostly think of others, buying Christmas presents and looking after friends or family. Get together with your friends and have a shopping trip, you don't have to spend much to have fun! I love nothing more than treating myself to a new lipstick as a little pick me up :) You'll feel great for having a nice day out with friends too!

5. Think and Act Positive - We all know negative thinking breeds negative thinking. You need to start thinking positive thoughts and acting on those thoughts to help lift your mood if you have the winter blues. Again, this is a hard thing to do when your in that situation, but if you take small steps it can really work! Set yourself small tasks and congratulate yourself when you complete them. Write a list and cross tasks off as they are done. Even though small, this will create a sense of achievement and you can gradually build up to bigger things :)

Well I hope this is helpful, I'm really going to try to take my own advice now! If you get a moment, please come and check out my blog for fashion, beauty and lifestyle posts at Thou Shalt Not Covet. Michelle xxx

Beauty news in brief - new launches

The end of January and start of February is looking more than  a little exciting for new product launches. I've picked out a few key launches that are already making my bank balance break out into a sweat.

Sleek: two new Blush by 3 palettes and a new i-Divine eye shadow palette are launching into Superdrug stores very soon. Californ.I.A has a selection of three peach and tangerine shades, and looks like it will be gorgeous on darker skin tones, and Pink Lemonade features three soft pinks. Both sets are £9.99 each. The Garden of Eden i-Divine palette features 12 eye shadows in a range of greens and purples, inspired by the garden of eden. This will be £7.99 and I can't wait to get my hands on it - Sleek shadows are usually such good quality and at an excellent price point.

NARS: at the opposite end of the price spectrum we have two new launches from NARS. Yes, I did get dry mouth when I saw these photos. First on the list is the NARSissist eye shadow palette. Featuring 15 eye shadows, this is going to be a neutral lovers dream. At £55 it's not exactly cheap, but it's a bit like the mothership of NARS shadows and is calling my name despite owning enough neutrals to last a lifetime.

There's also a new blusher set (£35), which includes the infamous Orgasm blusher, as well as cult favourite Laguna bronzer and limited edition Devotee highlighter. It also comes with it's own brush, which is a nice touch, but if you already own one of the blushers, it may not be quite as exciting as the eye shadow palette. Both launch into stores on 1st February, however you can pre-order now from Space NK.

Revlon Matte Balms: a new take on their Kissable lip balm stains, Revlon have launched a new set of matte balms, designed to give a matte finish, with a balm feeling. Coming in every shade from a barely there nude, right through to a violet mauve, there's something here for everyone. These have just hit the shelves in Boots and Superdrug and are £7.99 each. I've got my eye on the hot pink shades, and as they're 3 for 2 in Boots at the moment, it seems rude not to test them out (in the interest of the blog you understand, *ahem*).

Which of these have caught your eye?

Purminerals Bare It All collection

The Bare It All collection* from Purminerals is designed to have everything you could need to create a simple make up look (minus the mascara). 

Liner, lipstick, blusher, highlighter, bronzer

Inside the kit you'll find a dual highlighter and contour compact, soft powder blusher (in the shade Peep Show), liquid liner pen and a soft pink, creamy lipstick. On the back of the box is a helpful diagram of how best to use the products, making it simple to achieve a similar look. 

I really love the two in one highlighter/contour compact - the shades work nicely on light to medium skin tones and I found it easy to create a soft contoured look with my Real Techniques brushes. 

Felt tip style liners are my favourites and this one is really good for getting a fine line. I also think they're great for liquid liner novices as you don't need as much of a steady hand to apply them as you do with traditional liners and they dot tend to flake or crease in the way some cream liners do. This gives a good, true black colour which lasts well throughout the day, but isn't particularly waterproof, so not one to wear if you're getting hot and sweaty or running around in heavy rain. 

The blusher gives a hint of pink that will look natural on paler skin tones, and offers a nice matte finish. It lasts well on the skin and the colour is easy to blend out. 

While the shade of lipstick in the box might not be up my street, the formula is lovely and creamy and feels very moisturising on the lips. 

I think this collection would make a great introduction to the brand, or be a great gift for someone who likes to wear simple makeup on a regular basis. It's good value at £29 and can be found in Marks and Spencer beauty halls. It is a limited edition kit, so snap it up fast if you find one! If you can't, then I definitely recommend buying a full size of the highlighter and bronzer - these are definitely my top picks from the box! 

*pr sample

Guest post: 5 steps to a January detox

This week's fab guest post comes from Becci Ireland, who blogs over at My Little Book of Style. Becci also used to write for teen favourite Mizz magazine and i'm thrilled she's put together a post for Tales of a Pale Face. Make sure you pop over to her blog and give her a follow if you like what you read. You can also find her on Twitter: @becciireland and on Facebook: mylittleblogofstyle. Over to you Becci...

Whether you end up doing it for a week or a month – a January detox could be exactly what you need to give you that get up and go, which appears to have got up and gone after the latest festivities. Start as you mean to go on by following these five golden rules when it comes to detoxing for a healthier January.

1. Therapie bath salts 2. Fudge Detox Shampoo 3. Dr Organic pure lavender oil 4. Morrocanoil hair mask 5. Nike trainers

1. A long soak - turn your bath into a pool of detox heaven by adding Mineral Salts. These will help detoxify your body and improve circulation. Try adding a tablespoon of salts to a body brush and exfoliate your bod from head to toe, moving the brush in strokes towards the heart. This will leave your skin feeling amazingly smooth and thoroughly cleansed. Himalyan Detox Salts - £35

2. Drink more water - you’ve heard it a million times before but it’s true and will help fix your body after too much partying. It’s like taking a shower from the inside! It cleanses and refreshes you. Try drinking a mug of hot water and lemon first thing each morning, before your brekkie! It has so many benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting your immune system.

3. Sleep more - as if we needed an excuse! Catching a few more zzzz’s this month will help your body, skin and hair to repair and regenerate itself. If you find it hard to sleep, try popping a couple of drops of lavender on your pillow or have a relaxing bath before you get into bed. If your face is looking a little dull and tired, apply a rich moisturising cream at night, as your skin will absorb the nutrients better whilst you’re asleep, therefore giving you glowing, healthier skin when you arise. Dr Organic Pure Lavender Oil - £6.19

4. Repair locks - if you’ve been turning up the heat on your hair during the festivities with too much straightening, curling and blow-drying, you’ll need to treat your locks to some TLC. Strip your hair of all the hairspray, mousse and whatever else you have afflicted it with by shampooing a couple of times using a Detox Shampoo, then treat it to a Conditioning Hair Mask for frazzle-free results. Fudge Detox Deep Cleanser - £7.14 and Morrocanoil Restorative Hair Mask - £29.39

5. Run girls run! Get those running shoes ready, as a quick sprint around the park might be just what you need, even if it’s not what you want on a cold, dreary January morning. A short, quick run is great after all the over indulgence you’ve had lately. The sweatier you become, the better as this will help rid those unwanted toxins from your body. Nike Air Max 2014 Trainer - £130

What are you top products for detoxing this month?

Beauty Boost: Revive Active supplement review

Like a lot of people, my goal this January was to do some exercise, lose the Christmas chocolate pounds and generally get a bit healthier. To help with this, I wanted to take some extra vitamin and minerals supplements to give me a bit of an extra boost, and hopefully avoid all of the lurgy that seems to be going around my office faster than you can say ‘Kleenex’.

Revive Active* is daily vitamin supplement designed to give you a bit of a boost. I was kindly sent a week’s supply to test out and see if it made any difference to how I felt on a day to day basis. I’m notoriously rubbish at remembering to take vitamins, and rely on the odd Berocca when I feel a cold coming on, but I was sure I could stick to this for a week!

Rather than coming in a capsule format, Revive Active is a powder which should be mixed with water and drunk first thing before breakfast. It’s got an orangey-tropical flavour that isn’t particularly offensive, but I did find it had a bit of a bitter aftertaste, so I’ve been drinking mine pretty fast, rather than sipping it. You could mix it with juice instead if you have that in the mornings, but I just stuck to the water.

Inside a sachet, you’ll find a mixture of Coenzyme Q10, B vitamins, Vitamin D3 Selenium, Magnesium, Vitamin C, plus a whole host of others. Together these are designed to help with cardiovascular health, offer anti-ageing properties and also support your body’s healing process.

After taking my sachets for a week, I haven’t reported any massive changes in my wrinkles (probably too soon to hope for that!), however I’ve definitely felt like I’ve got a lot more energy and the 6.30am alarm call has been a little less painful. I would definitely continue to take them for a longer period of time now I’ve gotten into the swing of my daily glass.

You might find you experience the ‘Berocca wee’ effect (ahem) from taking lots of vitamin C in the supplement, but I would definitely recommend giving these a try as part of your January detox.

A one month’s supply costs around £55 and can be found at selected pharmacies across the UK. You can find all the details on stockists over on the Revive Active website.

Are you on a health kick? What supplements would you recommend?

*PR sample

Becca Beach Tint review

Becca are a brand I've been wanting to try for a very, very long time. Created by makeup artist Rebecca Morris Williams, they've recently relaunched in Space NK in the UK, and their Beach Tints were top of my list to try from this cult brand.

Becca Beach Tints are designed to be lip and cheek stains, and come in a choice of 8 shades. They come in a squeezy tube, and are really easy to apply with your fingers. 

Swatched, not blended

I've been testing out Lychee* and Papaya*, which are two of the brightest shades in the collection. Lychee is a hot pink which looks seriously bright in the tube, but can be blended out to a lovely soft tint which looks very natural on both the lips and cheeks. Papaya is more of a red shade, which would look lovely on darker skin as a blusher, but works well for most skin tones as a lip stain.

Beach Tints are perfect for those days when you want to add a touch of colour to your complexion, but don't want to do for a full on lip colour. As the name suggests, it's that sort of perfect product for days at the beach for subtle makeup, and as they're water resistant, they'll also last well throughout the day. 

Despite being a stain, I don't find these drying to the lips at all, and once applied, I pretty much forget that I'm wearing them! I prefer to use them as blushers rather than lip colours, purely as I like a stronger lip shade, but for a hint of colour, these are great. For me, these are a fantastic product, and will also be perfect for the summer (already thinking ahead!) when going on holiday as they're really multi-functional. 

At £20 each for 7ml, they aren't cheap, but I can definitely see myself getting a lot of use out of these and can't wait to try some more products from Becca once my spending ban comes to a close! 

You can find Becca online from Space NK and in selected Space NK stores. Have you tried anything from Becca before? 

*PR samples

Bargain beauty: Lacura lip balms

Aldi aren't exactly the first place most people think of when it comes to  using their beauty products, but over the past year I've discovered a few gems from them that are not only bargains, but more than perform against products that are triple the price.

Their lip balms are the latest item to go into my 'must buy them all' category. I was introduced to them at an event late last year and after slapping on the mandarin flavour like its going out of fashion for the past few weeks, took the opportunity to stock up on a recent trip there. 

Before I start raving about how soft and moisturised these leave my lips, even in the icy weather, I feel I need to tell you these are 3 for 99p. Yup, you read that correctly, 3 lip balms for under a pound. Now, initially this low price made me a but suspicious, but they're free of mineral oil, and contain olive oil and jojoba oil to help hydrate your lips. 

There are three flavours - unscented, mandarin and cranberry and I highly recommend you run to your local Aldi store and stock up. The multi packs aren't always in stock, so when you do find them, buy a lot (I bought enough to last me the year, ahem). 

I've got a few more Aldi treasures up my sleeve that they're releasing in the next month or two, including a facial oil, so keep your eyes peeled for a post on that very soon. 

Have you tried these lip balms or anything from Aldi beauty before?

Food: make your own granola

Granola is one of those foods that I can easily eat by the bucketful, but shop bought ones often have a lot of refined sugars added to make them taste extra sweet. I've been making my own this month and was surprised at how easy it was and wanted to share my recipe with you. I like to mix mine with some greek yoghurt and berries, but you can eat it alone with milk if you prefer.

Ingredients (for around 15 servings):

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

130ml honey or maple syrup (whichever you prefer)

1tsp vanilla extract

300g rolled oats

120g seeds of your choice (I use a mix of sunflower and pumpkin)

120g nuts of your choice, chopped

100g dried fruit or dried berries

Method:

- Heat your oven to 150 degrees/gas mark 2

- In a big bowl, mix all of the ingredients together except for the nuts and dried berries

- Tip your granola onto two large baking sheets (line with grease proof paper to stop any sticking) and spread out evenly

- Bake for 15 minutes

- Add the chopped nuts and dried fruit and mix together again, baking for another 10-15 minutes

- Leave to cool, and store in an airtight container for up to a month (if it lasts that long!)

Simple! You can adapt the recipe by adding whichever nuts/seeds/dried fruit you have to hand and all of them taste pretty good! It works out to around 250 calories per portion, so like all granola, will never be low calorie, but at least you know exactly what's gone in to yours! 

Have you tried making your own granola before? Let me know what you think of this recipe! 

Guest post: The Clear Skin Cookbook

This week's guest post comes to you from the fabulous Vanessa from The Other VW (@theothervw). After reading it, I'm adding this book to my Amazon wishlist pronto! Over to you Vanessa...

Hello to Kat’s readers. I’m Vanessa from The Other VW. Throughout December I was thinking about how I could kick start my skin health in January as it had really started to suffer throughout the last few months of 2013, and I don’t doubt that too many mince pies, mulled wines and late nights were to blame!

With that in mind, I reached for The Clear Skin Cookbook by Dale Pinnock. This cookbook focuses on the body’s largest organ, the skin, and how what we eat can improve various skin conditions and general skin health. I’ve had acne on and off for over a decade and after a period of 18 months of having clear skin, it reared it’s ugly head again around October. I’ve tried so many products (both prescription and non) but this time, I want to try and tackle it from the inside.

The Clear Skin Cookbook has a section on acne which goes into great detail about the causes of it and how it forms. The book gives details of top acne-fighting nutrients, such as omega 3 fatty acids and zinc, as well as listing particular foods such nutrients can be found in (hello sweet potatoes!). Whether or not you have a skin complaint, this book provides some really interesting information on what the skin is and does and how it ages. There’s a variety of recipes for all three courses as well as breakfasts, snacks and drinks. My favourite main has to be salmon and tomato skewers with nutty quinoa and spinach salad. I’m going to try and make a big effort to stick to foods that will be beneficial to my skin (as well as my overall health) and this book is proving to be very useful!

I was doing a bit of research into this book and discovered it was the inspiration for Viridian’s Clear Skin Complex capsules. These are a formulated blend of targeted botanicals, key minerals, fat-soluble antioxidants and digestion-boosting probiotics. I’ve been taking these for 6 weeks now, and my skin genuinely feels brighter and the last fortnight or so it has been showing signs of clearing up.

A final product I’ve introduced to boast my skin health is Viridian’s Organic Milk Thistle Tincture. To use, add 15 drops into juice or water up to 3 times a day. Milk thistle can increase liver function and as a result of helping the liver this can help skin to be healthier. It’s meant to be good for hangovers too! Ensure to check with your doctor before taking as it can affect some medications and medical conditions.

I’m hoping that by choosing recipes from the Clear Skin Cookbook and using these supplements that my skin will really benefit. After all the turkey and chocolates I ate in December, I’m sure my body will welcome some antioxidant packed healthy food!

What are your top tips for good skin health?

January blog sale

As part of my annual January de-cluttter, I decided it was time to have another makeup clear out and have a bit of a blog sale.

If you see anything you'd like, please leave me a comment with your email address so that I can send you a final sum and payment details. I'm happy to take offers, especially if you're buying multiple items, so feel free to ask! 

 - Items will be reserved for 24 hours, if payment is not received then they will be released for another purchaser

- All payments must be paid via Paypal

- Postage will be £3 for up to 4 items, extra items will be 30p each. All items will be sent standard 2nd class - if you would like recorded delivery, I can add this as an extra, please just let me know. 

- Becuase of the change in UK postage, only 4 nail polishes can be posted per package - if you'd like to buy more than that, I will have to send them as two packages and will therefore need to charge per package (sorry!).

- If you are from outside the UK and would like to buy something, please contact me and I will calculate postage costs for you. 

- All items are sold as seen - if you have any questions on specific items, please just let me know. 

Happy shopping! 

Clarins The Essentials eye palette - used x2, brush still sealed - SOLD

Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Punch - new, sealed - SOLD

Max Factor giant stick pen Vibrant Pink - used x2 - SOLD

No7 BB lips Blink Pink - used x1 - SOLD

Revlon Kissable Lip Balm Stain Cherish - new, sealed - £3

Butter London Lippy Shambolic - used x2 - £2

L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick Doutzen's Nude - used x1 - SOLD

Sleek i-candy eye palette - swatched, black shade has small amount of damage - SOLD

Wet n Wild Petal Pusher 8 shadow palette - new, sealed - SOLD

Milani Glimmer Strips - new, sealed - £2

Sleek Sweet Cheeks Candy Collection blusher trio - used x2 - SOLD

Cowshed Cow Slip hand cream 50ml - new - £3

Philosophy Purity cleanser 90ml - new - SOLD

REN Active 7 eye gel full size - new - £8 

Percy and Reed Hydrating Mask 100ml - new - SOLD

Kiehls Creme de Corps 30ml - new - £2

C.O.Bigelow Rose Salve - new, sealed - £3

Ciate Corrupted Neon manicure set Shout Out - used x1 - £7

Lip Rock metallic red lip foils - new - £1.50

Revlon Baby Stick Pink Passion - used x1 - £2

Topshop black cream eye liner - swatched - £2

Illamasqua Liquid Metal Electrum - swatched - SOLD

Urban Decay 24/7 eye liner Perversion (black) - new, boxed - SOLD

MUA Immaculate Collection - some shadows new, some used x1 - £3

MUA Glamour Days palette - new, sealed - £2 

MUA crackle gold - used x2 - 50p

Models Own Nude Beige, Tropical Sun, Lili's Pink, Indian Ocean - all new - £2 each

Barry M Silvery Lilac - SOLD, Matte Espresso - used x1 - £1.50 each

M&S limited collection English Rose - used x1 - £1

No7 top coat - used x1 - £2

Butter London Fiddlesticks - used x4 - £4

American Apparel Light Year - used x2 - £3

Essie Off the Shoulder - used x1 - £3

Orly Haute Red - new - £3

Wet n Wild Wild Shine Sparked - new - £2

Revlon Nail Art French Mix Sweet Revenge - used x1 - £2

OPI mini (shade not on bottle, but it's a red) - new - £1.50

Nails Inc St James - used x1 - £2

Nails Inc Elizabeth Street - new - £2.50

Ciate full size Pocket Money - new - £4

Ciate full size Serendipity - new - SOLD

Ciate minis Halo, Ladylike Luxe, Vintage - new - £1.50 each

Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl Review

The Babyliss Perfect Curl was one of the most exciting hair launches of 2013. Promising to make it simple to get effortless curls at home, it's innovative design looked like nothing else on the market, and even a little space age.

I was kindly offered the chance to test out the Pro version of the Perfect Curl* by the team at Sally's, which is a slightly more expensive version of the standard one, and is designed to be used in hair salons (but still available to buy at home!). 

The Perfect Curl is a simple way to curl your hair - it uses a cylindrical design which sort of 'sucks in' your hair, and spits it out with a perfect looking curl. The Pro version has three heat settings, 3 time settings and can also be set to curl hair left, right, or alternate, for a more natural look. It also has an auto-release function, which should stop hair getting stuck in the device, should anything get tangled.

Straight after curling

Finger combed out curls

To use the Perfect Curl, simply take a small (3cm or less) section of hair, and place this into the gap in the chamber. Clamp the Perfect Curl shut and let it work its magic. Your hair will be sucked in, and after the allotted time selected on the handle, released in a curl. You'll hear a 'beep' once the time is up, so you know it's time to move on to the next section. 

I found the Perfect Curl really simple to use. The front and sides of my head were really quick to curl, although the back was slightly more fiddly, I still found it easier than using a standard tong and without any risk of burnt fingertips! As I have quite fine hair, I used the lowest heat setting and shortest time, which produced medium-tight curls, however for tighter curls or thicker hair, you can adjust the heat and time settings accordingly. My curls lasted all day without much dropping, and I can see myself using to do my hair it for a friend's wedding next month, knowing it will stay that way all day! 

The auto-release function for me was a bit of a godsend. I was really excited when I first tested the Perfect Curl out and wasn't as rigid as I should have been when sectioning my hair off and it did lead to a few moments when it got stuck in the device. The auto-release meant that for the most part, it released and I was able to carry on as normal. I did have one unfortunate incident where the auto-release didn't work and a small clump of hair got stuck, which I had to pull out (ouch). This didn't put me off, however it did make me realise you do need to be careful when using it, and make sure you put clean sections of hair into the Perfect Curl. 

If you have medium to long hair, I think the Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl will be great for you. My hair comes to just below my shoulders, and it worked really easily, however if you have very short hair, I don't think there'll be enough hair to grab on to and curl, as the device is quite large when held against your head. 

The Pro version is a little more expensive than the regular one at £149.99, but I think it's definitely worth the investment if you regularly curl your hair. 

Are you tempted by the Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl? 

*PR sample

Jonning and Riashi hair salon review

Jonning and Riashi is a small, boutique hair salon that’s recently popped up in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia district. Run by Steven Riashi and Nadia Jonning, the salon is based in what used to be a motorbike garage, just around the corner from Goodge Street.

I recently popped along for a cut and colour with Steven, who managed to fit me in just before Christmas
thanks to their unique approach to flexible opening hours. Rather than working to a set schedule, they work around their clients – so if you need a late evening appointment, or an early start, they’ll try to accommodate you any day of the week, rather than just having set late/early days.

Steven and Nadia

Please excuse the dodgy iPhone photo, but I wanted to show the final hair before the wind got at it outside!

Comfortably settled in my chair, Steven chatted to me about my hair (I did get a small amount of scolding for letting my boyfriend be my fringe trimmer for the past 4 months) – I only needed a bit of a trim up, but was keen to add a slightly richer tone to the colour, so we agreed on a semi-permanent copper-gold shade, to enhance the red in my natural colour a little.

I have to be honest, I’m usually not one for talking much while in the hairdresser’s chair, but Steven is hilarious and it was impossible not to sit there giggling away and chatting for the entire two hours I was in there. I think the only time we were both quiet was when my colour was being washed off and I was given the most amazing head massage which almost ended in me falling asleep in the chair. Full marks on that score.

As well as being a comedy genius, Steven is a bit of a hair whizz (as is Nadia) and has worked internationally for people such as Vivienne Westwood, as well as a whole host of other fashion designers. While the quality of the stylists might be extremely high, they’ve still managed to achieve a really relaxed, informal feel to the salon, and you won’t find interns or receptionists greeting you as you enter, just Nadia and Steven, which makes a really lovely change.

Prices for a cut and finish start at £60, so are pretty standard for central London prices, and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough. I was kindly provided my appointment free of charge, however when it comes to my hair I’m a fussy b**ch, and will quite happily pay for many a return visit. Get yourself down to Goodge Place pronto (Their website is coming soon, but in the meantime you can book your appointment on 0207 637 9509).

*My appointment was provided free of charge for review purposes

B Stunning Vibrant Eye Shimmer Review

B. is a relatively new, own brand range that Superdrug launched last year. The B. range concentrates on offering quality cosmetics at drug store prices, in easy to wear colours. All of their products are cruelty-free, suitable for vegans and paraben-free.

B. Stunning* are cream shadows, and come in a range 10 gorgeous shades. They have everything from simple nudes, right through to vibrant purples, greens and bronzes. All are shot through with a subtle shimmer and are very flattering when worn.

They apply really easily using a small eye shadow brush, and are very easy to blend. I've been using the lighter goldy colour (Lizzie) as a base, and then adding a small amount of the darker shade (Rockstar) to the crease for a soft, smokey effect, which works well for daytime. The color is buildable, and you can get a really dramatic finish if you want to create a stronger look. You do need to be a little careful when dabbing your brush into the pot, as the texture is quite soft and you could pick up some excess product, but this is no different from most of the other cream shadows I've used before.

As cream shadows go, these last pretty well on the lids without fading or creasing. I get around 8 hours wear without a primer before needing a little top-up, easily lasting me through a day at work.

At £6.99, I think that these are a bit of a bargain (they're also a third off at the moment, so just over £4.50)! They remind me of the Dior cream shadows that launched a few months ago, but with a much lower price tag. I will definitely be trying some more shades in the future and also taking a better look at the rest of the B. range.

Do you like the look of these eye shadows? Have you tried anything from B. before? 

*PR samples