Best in Beauty: August

I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to post my August Best in Beauty picks but better late than never, no?

This month I headed off to Lanzarote for a chilled holiday with a few of my girlfriends for sun, sea and sangria. I had a wonderful time in Spain, and was grateful for the opportunity to try out some sweet Summery beauty products.  

So, here are some of my top beauty picks for the month of August, with each and every product tried and tested by yours truly.

If you have any questions about any of the products please do just post below or tweet me @SWfashion_ .

Ooh what's that? Urban Decay NAKED Skin Face Ultra Definition Finishing Powder - £22 here
And what does it do? The latest addition from Urban Decay's NAKED collection, this finishing powder proposes a high-tec alternative to traditional chalky products. The product is jet-milled for a fine, buttery texture that works to airbrush imperfections without masking skin or caking with foundation.
How do I use it? Just as you would any other finishing powder. Though the product comes with a sponge, I far prefer to use a small dense brush to apply the powder in swirling motions. Apply your foundation or base of choice, dab on concealer wherever necessary and set your base with this light, almost invisible powder.
So does it work? I have to admit that I was very impressed with this product. I have always worn a powder with my foundation, as my skin is prone to oiliness, but even my favourite powders have the tendency to go rather dense. This powder is lighter and far more subtle on the skin. Provided you don't overload your skin and use sparingly, this product blends seamlessly and gently mattifies without dulling. 

Ooh what's that? Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Serum- £45 here

And what does it do? A daily-use moisturiser, rather than a post-CTM boost, this is a simple but effective product.  With extracts of virtuous grape seed, panthenol and parsley seed, Aesop's fresh serum offers deep nourishment for dehydrated skin, particularly in humid climates. 

How do I use it? A little goes a very long way with this aromatic serum. Simply remove make-up, cleanse thoroughly once again and then apply a few drops of the serum to your face in sweeping upward motions. It will feel light but nourishing, cool but conditioning. 

So does it work? To say I am obsessed with Aesop is to put it very lightly, but this product really is worth an investment. It smells so beautiful and refreshing, making it a great product for high Summer or for those living in sunnier climes. My skin is dry in parts, and this serum brightens and softens my skin without clogging pores. This is an essential, whatever the season. 

Ooh what's that? Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Cream - £4.79 here

And what does it do? The Bee Strong collection is the latest from good old Herbal Essences, and this leave-in conditioner is one of two styling products in the range. Enriched with honey and apricot extracts,  this sweet scented spray-on conditioning creme claims to simultaneously strengthen and protect damaged hair while leaving a great shine. 

How do I use it? Spray a three-five times into hands and work into towel dried hair. If you have fine hair just work it into the midlengths and ends. Don't be tempted to use too much product- it could weigh the hair down. 

So does it work? I actually bought this product right before going to the US. I was having a bit of a trolley-dash around Boots, searching for a strengthening or conditioning creme to stop my hair drying out on holiday. I grabbed this one without really thinking much of it- it's such a bargain!- and didn't realise how impressive it was until I actually used it. The first treat is the sweet honeyed fruit scent, closely followed by the light but moisturising texture and the ease of application. It was the only styling product I used on holiday, save a few droplets of MoroccanOil light, and it really was my Summer hair saviour. . 

Ooh what's that? Soap & Glory One Night Tanned Instant Beach-Bronze Buttergel - £11.50 here or here

And what does it do? With such a fabulous name, it's hard to believe that this delicious treat is actually an instant tan. Boasting a tropical coconut scent, a rich blend of shea and illipe butters and unique "tanwrap" technology, this "buttergel" sounds just like a beach body in a bottle! 

How do I use it? As per other self tans, I would suggest applying this luxurious product with a mitt. The chocolatey tan gives an instant caramel colour, so it is easy to see any streaks or imperfections, but do make sure you work the product in fully to ensure a natural appearance. Prep skin beforehand with a sugary scrub (Soap & Glory do the best budget ones) and skip the moisturiser if tanning.  

So does it work? Though the only tan for me this year is the pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan by Vita Liberata, this one comes in a close second. Firstly it smells like a creamy tropical cocktail and secondly it has a gloriously rich texture which just glides effortlessly. It is an easy-breezy instant tan that lasts well and softens skin. 

Ooh what's that? Vita Liberata Capture the Light Translucent Illuminator in Gold - £29.95 here

And what does it do? The ultimate tan enhancer, Capture the Light highlights skin with a golden luminescence while also protecting skin with SPF 25. It is a rich, creamy texture to be used on both the face and the body to invigorate dull skin. 

How do I use it? There are a number of ways to use Capture the Light. You can use it to highlight a tanned decolletage, arms, legs and even an exposed back. It also works well on the face worn over a dewy base on cheekbones, cupids bow and under the eyebrow arch. It is quite a powerful product, so use sparingly as a little goes a long way. For a gentler sheen mix a couple of pumps with your favourite moisturiser and use all over your body to brighten your skin tone. 

So does it work? This is the first body illuminator that I have actually liked. I found it made my skin look glossy and healthy, rather than glittery and cheap. I used it in Spain when wearing low-cut and strapless dresses to highlight my collarbones, and also mixed with my Philosophy Almonds and Cream body lotion to give my legs a subtle sheen.

Pursuit of Prettiness: June's Best in Beauty

It's been a long time coming, yes, but June has been a very busy month so I have only just had time to pull together this rather comprehensive edit of my favourite new (and some, not-so new) beauty products, ideal for all manner of pre-Summer preening.

Here are my seven favourite products of the moment for top-to-toe pampering. So whether you are jetting off somewhere exotic, or simply soaking up some home-grown sunshine, make sure you give yourself a little bit of extra pamper time. It's only fair, after all. 

As ever, if you have any other products you are particularly loving, please do tweet me at @SWfashion_ or comment below!

1. ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, £31 tub here

If you're reading this, Mum, I am sorry for pinching this when you were on holiday, but desperate times... 

During my internship, I absolutely destroyed my feet by wearing impractical Zara shoes, and they have since needed some serious TLC. When I was last home, my Mum told me the ESPA assistant in Harvey Nicks had recommend this hair masque for use on dry feet, which I laughed off with "don't be daft- it's for hair." Still, I threw caution to the wind this weekend and tried this rich creamy masque on both my hair and my heels and it made an immeasurable difference to both.

For my hair, I applied a generous dollop to damp hair and wrapped up in a towel for 20 minutes to work all that pink mud magic. When I then rough dried my hair, I was astounded at how silky it was- the purifying pink mud works wonders in soothing the scalp and adding oodles of gloss to hair. 

For my feet, I simply pumiced my soles before showering - where I also scrubbed top-to-toe with Laura Mercier Almond Coconut scrub- and after towel drying my feet I slathered on a little masque and put on some cotton socks. Et voila.

2. L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil, £32 here 

It is all about the oil for beauty buffs these days, and this sweet, satisfying L'Occitane offering is my absolute all-time favourite. 

I find that skin can get horribly dry during warmer months, and this oil is nourishing but not greasy, leaving skin strokeably soft and smooth. However, do not use it before sun exposure- that's just silly now. You don't want to look like this. 

1. Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme, £12.99 here

Do you like Piña Colada? Good, then i'm sure you'll be all over this Bounty-tastic natural foot balm from Burt's Bees. With a scent slightly infused with cooling peppermint, this buttery Coconut foot creme is so nourishing. It is the perfect way to tackle post-sandal feet.

4. Origins GinZing Energizing Moisturiser, £23 here

I must admit that I have never really used Origins products before, but when I was sent this lovely moisturiser I fell a little in love... Primarily with the scent, but that's not important.

A morning "espresso for the skin", this light moisturiser is oil free and charged with Panax Gingseng Coffee Bean optimise hydration. 

1. Le Labo Eau de Parfum in LYS 41, £95 for 100 ml here

When I sampled the two new scents from Le Labo, a New York fragrance institution, I was truly impressed with their new interpretation of florals. LYS 41, in particular, struck me as a unique, fresh and feminine scent with a little edge.

The artfully balanced white floral is sweet but still sophisticated with light floral notes dancing alongside sweet vanilla and subtle jasmine tones. It is long lasting and distinctive, without being overpowering or overbearing. I really am quite enthralled with this scent, and feel a purchase coming on when holidaying in New York this Summer... At £95 for 100ml, Le Labo scents are not a throwaway purchase, but with personalised labels and wonderfully innovative scents, surely you deserve the treat.

6. Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed Mask, £11

Think you've seen all Soap and Glory have to offer? Think again ! Their repackaged, revamped "SkinGenius" skincare collection is worth getting excited about. At the recent blogger launch event, the lovely Soap & Glory team set up a skincare dispensary, with each blogger handing over a skin prescription following an evening spent chatting over sushi, detox juices and, of course, bubbly.

The revamped collection has a retro/clinical look and is split into four different ranges of cleansers, treatments, moisturisers and serums. As someone with seriously stressed out skin, I was immediately drawn to the No Clogs Allowed self-heating mask and I have since become something of an addict.

This thermal mask feels like a high-tech facial, without the cost, and leaves skin totally clear and smooth.

1. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan, £37.50 here

If you are looking for a fake tan that goes the extra mile, then you really are in luck. I have always been intrigued to try Vita Liberata, having heard great things, and I have not been disappointed.

This high-tech mousse formula is the first long-lasting tan I have seen on the market, and so far, so good. It goes on smoothly, and the colour is wonderfully golden brown, not even remotely orangey. It also doesn't leave the hideous tell-tale tanning smell, which is such a bonus! Definitely worth an investment if you are going off on holiday, ready to bare all in that itsy-bitsy bikini.

Best in Beauty : May 2013

Another month, another wave of gorgeous new beauty products to splurge on... After all, we must get beach-ready. What else are we supposed to spend on?

I've tried some fabulous products this month, so just thought i'd do my duties in sharing them with you !

Have you tried something particularly yummy? Comment below and let me know !

Looking to tone up before you have to squeeze in your bikini? If you're anything like me, then this is sure to be the case. Actually, if you're anything like me then THIS will be the case... Anyway, I digress. If you're looking for the easy-ish way out, then treat yourself to this minty cream from Soap & Glory with the most pun-tastic name imaginable. Brace yourself, ladies, for THE FIRMINATOR (£12 here). Slather all over your thighs after a shower and wait for the firming to begin. Of course, this works better with a bit of toning work at the gym!

 Bourjois are known for their best selling Little Round Pot blushers. Soft, delicate and easy to blend, Bourjois' powder blushes are the best on a budget but it does not take a genius to know that during the warmer months, powder blushes are not always a good idea. Usually in Summer, our skin is a little better and it's all about getting a dewy glow. Praise the beauty lords, then, for Bourjois have now launched these amazing creamy blushers. A snip at just £7.99 exclusively at Selfridges, these blushers go on so smoothly and offer wonderfully buildable colour.

With a new beauty collection inspired by cupcakes, this powder from MAC is great for adding a little pearlescent sheen to a beauty look. It is £21.50 here. 

If you're lucky enough to go lovely and bronze during the Summer months, then this Bobbi Brown multipurpose product is sure to be your saviour over the holidays. A bright bubblegum pink with plenty of delicate shimmer, this Summer Pink blush stick will add a little glow to your barefaced beauty look. Add a little slick to lips and finish with No7 BB lip balm for a killer look. It is £18 here. 

A lovely light scent for Summer, my current fragrance obsession is See by Chloé's suitably chic new fragrance. You can buy it here- £49 for 50 ml. 

A foundation that has the power to actually heal spots? Count. Me. In. This full coverage foundation from Seventeen has just launched and i've been lucky enough to try it already. While i've not been using it long enough to notice a huge difference, the coverage of this foundation is just ideal for Summer, especially if you have problem skin. The formula contains salicylic acid which works to dry out pimples while the creamy foundation provides just the right amount of coverage. Just what the doctor ordered for a cool £6.99 here.

Best in Beauty: Early April

I can't believe that my Easter holidays have been and gone and I am back to London today until Summer holidays. Yup. SUMMER.

Without risking sounding like a grandmother, WHERE has this year gone?

Oh to be young again.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my first best in beauty picks for this month- i'll do another batch towards the end of the month because i'm that much of a beauty junkie.

Hope you likey! 

My first picks this month have to be two of the finest mascaras of the moment. Stila is a cult label that last year saw a long overdue relaunch. While their nourishing, super-shiny lip glazes are particularly iconic, I must admit that I have heard nothing but great things about their Stay All Day mascara (£15 from Space NK here). It really is in the name on this one, girls, for this mascara supposedly does not budge all day long. I am thinking that this shall be one for my Summer beauty bag (back off panda eyes- just back off) and will keep you posted when i've tried it. If anyone has already just pop a little comment below.

My second mascara pick is one that I have been using for a little while and must say that I do swear by it for giving me super fluttery eyelashes in just a couple of coats. Don't be perturbed by that snazzy looking old tube, for this MAC False Lashes mascara is certainly a keeper (£18 here). While it is certainly not smudge (ahem - tear) proof, this glossy mascara is thick but not clumpy and is perfect for lengthening and volumising without too much hassle. I always curl with Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers beforehand, of course. 

I shudder to think how much money I have spent in this lifetime on lipgloss. I go through it at the speed of noughts, and buy way more than I really should. I just love a good lipgloss, I do. I also am pretty pernickety about the glosses I go for, as nothing is more off-putting than an overly viscous or oily "gloss", it's got to be suitably sticky and preferably sweet. 

My favourite, month by month, is always the NARS lipgloss. It is thick but not gloopy and has just the right amount of pigment to remove any need for a base lipstick or colour. It is a little bit more expensive than your average Superdrug shot (£17.50 here), but it is also a big bit better. This Turkish Delight colour is a pale, powdery pink and is soon to be the latest addition to my ever expanding beauty bag. See ya in Selfridges... Or Space NK... Or Harvey Nicks. I'm not fussy. 

Another product I am really keen to try is the Benefit Dandelion lipgloss (£14.50 here). If anyone has any feedback on it just let me know- I love the blusher personally for it's delicate touch of petal pink, so I can only imagine that the lipgloss is just as lovely. 

I featured these Urban Apothecary candles in my Mothers Day post a while back (after spotting on the amazing Discover and Escape) and I just had to feature them again because they sound SO delicious! I still haven't found an excuse to treat myself just yet, but don't they sound so lovely? Inspired by french macaroons (mmmmm...) these delightfully sweet candles come in an array of sugary scents that sound so very decadent. I felt as we edged into Summer, I should stay true to good old Great Britain and bring out the strawbs and cream! This luxury candle comes in a beautiful little glass jar which is perfect for storing trinkets once the candle is all gone. You can treat yourself here for £30. 

You know i'm off to New York this June, right? Don't know if i've mentioned...

Eep! I am so very excited to visit the Big Apple and on reading a book called The Stylist's Guide to NYC, I got even more excited about checking out some of the cities' big name perfumery stores such as Le Labo.

Le Labo scents are a tad expensive, but they are delightfully unique and can even have the labels personalised. What could possibly be a better souvenir? 

I think I shall be inclined to go for Jasmine. A light but floral Spring scent, this charming and distinctive scent is ladylike but still powerful. You can buy for £95 here or at Liberty (as per the one in the image)

Yesterday over lunch, my mother, sister and I spent a good half hour talking about our favourite nail polish brands, which made for a riotous old time for dad, as I'm sure you can imagine. 

While initially I flew the flag for Essie (I love Splash of Grenadine and Ballet Slippers- call me cliché!) and OPI, my mother plumped for Leighton Denny and my sister full on championed Butter London polishes. 

I must admit that my sister and I rarely agree, but on this one I could not argue. Butter London polishes really are quite fabulous and for Spring they have some delicious shades around. I just featured a couple of my favourites here- Fruit Machine, a poppy candy pink and Kerfuffle, a sugary soft coral. 

The polishes offer great coverage and don't go as streaky as other luxury polish brands tend to. Both these soft new interpretations of pastel shades would be great for the warmer months whether on your fingertips or tootsies. (both £13 at Butter London)

While skincare is not among the most girly or glamourous of beauty products, it is undoubtedly the most important, particularly if you suffer from skin problems like myself.

My skin is scarred from acne, dry in parts and oily in others, and also extremely blemish prone, so I spend my life in pursuit of a regime that will balance all of the above or, perhaps, make it all go away?

While this Eucerin DermoPurifyer hasn't quite cleared everything up, it really is helping. I have been using the cleanser (£9.18 here), toner (£9.18 here), concentrate (£9.50 here) and moisturiser/night here (both £9.18 here) every day and night for the past few weeks and I have noticed a great improvement in my skin.

My skin is nourished and no longer as oily, and spots are far rarer than they have been in the past. I have also been eating a far more nutritious diet since being at home, with more fats than I care to think about, which probably is a contributing factor, but I really would recommend this regime if you're a little conscious of your skin. 

Last but not least, a little touch of luxury from Anya Hindmarch. I really do wish I could call this make-up bag my own, but I think it's something I would need to ask for as a gift!

How adorable is it? This "Face Repair Kit" in soft metallic leather is £135 (here) but is perfect for carrying around all your favourite beauty essentials! 

How could you resist?!