Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick - Kiss Me Coral

I am surprised how much I like this lipstick - I purchased it about six months ago and having just returned from holidays and having a bit of colour to my skin, I thought I'd try it out.

Although it is described as coral, I'd say this definitely veers towards orange!

However it's somehow a flattering shade that I think would suit a variety of warmer skin tones, and it makes a change from the usual pinks, berries and nudes I would normally sport.

Excuse the arty photos but they actually showed the colour the best! In fact they're making me want to go on holiday again, or at least waft around in a floaty kaftan wearing lots of jewellery and generally being fabulous.

I think it would look great with nude skin and a strong brow.

The formula is lovely - creamy and moisturising and stays on for ages. I've only worn this round the house so far and don't normally wear bright lipstick, but I might just have to be brave and go public with it this summer!

Revlon Superlustrous Lipsticks retail at a reasonable £7.49 and can often be found on special offer.  Based on Kiss Me Coral, I'd like to try more in the range - I do also have the cult shade Cherries in the Snow but it is even louder than Kiss Me Coral so I'll have to work up to that one I think. Have you tried any of the Superlustrous lipsticks?

Eve Lom moisturiser SPF 15

This could (whisper it) be my holy grail moisturiser. It's thick without being heavy, it has a pleasant, non-overpowering fragrance, sinks in beautifully to a matt but glowy finish, makes my make-up look about a million times better and most of all makes my skin look and feel soft and healthy, and perhaps (again, whisper it) even a bit younger! Plus it has an SPF - what is not to love?

I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and couldn't wait any longer to report - will update this review if anything changes but at the moment, my skin and I just love this stuff.

At £40 for 50ml it is by no means cheap, but for me it's worth every penny, and has inspired me to investigate some other items from the Eve Lom range. So far I've only tried the Rescue Mask which I wasn't blown away by despite the rave reviews it seems to get, however I do like the sound of the TLC Radiance cream and the Kiss Mix and have been meaning to try the cleanser as well for some time.

Do you have any Eve Lom recommendations?

Essential measures #7 Batiste dry shampoo

I know I know nothing revolutionary here but actually this has revolutionised my haircare regime! I have very fine curly hair that tends to get oily if I go more than a day without washing. I also like to straighten and curl the layers that frame my face quite regularly with my GHDs - however due to their proximity with my oily skin these are also these bits tend to get even more oily! Batiste is an absolute godsend for those mornings when I haven't got time, or can't be bothered, to wash my hair. Just a couple of sprays (from a good distance, this stuff comes out like a bullet train!) and my hair is soft and oil free (you'll need to brush it through to avoid the talcum powder look). It's also great for when you want to add a bit of volume - I'm quite into a subtle backcomb at the moment and this provides fantastic root-boosting effect. And all this at the fantastically bargainous price of about £2 for 150ml. I know there are other more expensive dry shampoos on the market but when something this cheap is this effective I just don't even see the point of looking elsewhere. Love.

NB Batiste is currently on offer in Superdrug: 3 cans for £3.49, making it even more unbelievably bargainous!

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask

Despite receiving Sisley's Radiant Glow Express Mask for Christmas, I greedily purchased the Express Flower mask when it popped up on eBay a few weeks ago, having been wanting to try it for a while.

I've used this mask a few times now, normally applying it at night.  It is kind of a tricky one to review as the effects are actually kind of hard to describe. You apply in a thick layer, leave for 3 to 5 minutes then simply blot away any excess - don't rinse (apparently this is so the plant extracts will continue their 'beneficial effects'). I have to say I love the convenience factor - you can just apply it then go to bed basically, without having to worry about rinsing, toning and moisturising etc.

Sisley describes this mask as 'hydrating, toning and firming' and according to the website it is designed for  dehydrated skin, which is why I think it doesn't work quite so well for me as it has for others - my skin is on the oily side, though I have had a few dry patches this winter. Whilst I do like it, I don't like it quite as much as I do the Radiant Glow express mask (reviewed here) which is probably in my top five products of all time.

The Express Flower mask feels lovely and soothing when you apply it, and certainly makes my skin feel moisturised. My skin the next day definitely looks healthier and more hydrated and a bit more rested (not sure about toned and firmed). However the effects are not quite as pronounced as the Radiant Glow mask, which really does do exactly what its name suggests. For me I would say the Express Flower mask is more of a treatment mask if that makes sense, something I'd use to give my skin a moisture injection rather than to give me a glow for a night out or special event (although the Sisley website does say the mask is ideal before an evening out to make the skin look 'rested'). The effects aren't quite enough to make me want to forego wearing make up, which the Radiant Glow mask frequently does, however I do think my make up looks better after using the Express Flower mask.

I'll certainly use this up, and it will be a nice treat for the rest of the winter when my skin is a bit dehydrated or stressed, but I think my skin is perhaps a tad on the oily side to see the real benefits of this so whether I'd repurchase I'm not sure. If you have skin that's on the drier side however, I think this would be a real treat.

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask costs £72.50 for 60ml.

Kiehl's Original Musk perfume oil

I never used to understand those people on Make up Alley who made dramatic statements about how their lives would be ruined should a certain favourite product ever be discontinued - always seemed to be a little over the top. But so help me if Kiehl's Original Musk ever becomes discontinued I may have to lay siege to Kiehl's HQ because I love this so much it has become almost a part of my identity - it is MY scent!

I actually didn't like the smell when I first tried it in Liberty a couple of years ago.. I detected something vaguely potentially headache-inducing in it, the same thing that prevents me from using Hei Poa monoi oil even though I love the idea of it and the pretty bottle! However this only seems to last a few seconds (in fact I don't even notice it now) before the oil 'dries down' to a beautiful powdery musky floral sweet something or other. I wish I knew how to describe scents in more eloquent terms but I can't - all I know is that I love this scent and it seems to work well with my skin.

(I will however copy some of the ingredients from the Kiehl's website for those who are curious):


Our special Musk “recipe” begins with an initial creamy, fresh citrus burst of Bergamot Nectar and Orange Blossom...followed by a soft floral bouquet of Rose, Lily, Ylang-Ylang and Neroli. Finally, Original Musk Eau de Toilette dries down to a warm, sensual Oriental finish of Tonka Bean, White Patchouli and, of course, Musk...the soul of this distinctively modern scent...


Can't say I get anything citrusy - it smells much softer somehow than that but hey - them's the ingredients!


Original Musk is the only scent I've ever worn that multiple people have commented on. Not in an 'ooh, what perfume are you wearing?' way - it's not that obvious. More likely what will happen is that someone in close proximity will start sniffing the air with a slightly puzzled air, and enquire as to what that lovely smell is (cue smug flourish of wrist).

I love how the oil melts into the skin, and the scent lingers. Something about it is just more sensual than spraying some harsh sneeze-inducing perfume on your skin. I wear this year round; it seems as appropriate on sultry summer days as it does on cold winter ones.

I also adore the glass vial, pictured above (although the label has faded away somewhat). Unfortunately Kiehl's has changed the packaging of it's perfume oils to a roller ball format (and they're now called Essence Oils) which I am a bit dischuffed about. Something about upturning the small vial, and how it sits on my dressing table like a secret potion, I love. I haven't run out of my vial yet and when I do I will purchase the roller ball, but I'm even wondering if I can somehow transfer said rollerball contents to my vial - that's how much I love it.

The oils come in three other scents - Grapefruit, Vanilla, and Coriander. If the vanilla one is anything like Kiehl's discontinued vanilla body lotion which I absolutely loved I would certainly love to try that, and I like the sound of the coriander one too. I think the oils used to come in Cucumber too as I purchased a cucumber roller ball off eBay a while ago. However it smelled so unpleasant and artificial I threw it away - maybe a dud or had just gone off or something. Anyway I digress...

Have you tried any of the Kiehl's perfume oils, or are there any other musky oils you'd recommend?

Kiehl's Essence Oils with roller ball applicator retail at £21 for 7ml.

Sisley Eye Contour mask

Oh Sisley. Just for once I wish you would come out with a product that isn't amazing! I'm trying so hard to curb my beauty spending this year, but alas, having tried a sample of the Eye Contour Mask over Christmas, it is only a matter of time before my bank balance is £70 lighter (and my eye contours are considerably smoother).

My boyfriend received a sample of the Eye Contour Mask when buying me the Radiant Glow Express Mask for Christmas (amazing product - you can read my review of that here). I'd never used an eye mask before, so was intrigued and also a little dubious if I'm honest. I should have known better - this is Sisley, after all.

You apply the mask thickly all around the eye, including the lids and underneath (the 'contour' area if you will). You then leave for ten minutes, and wipe or tissue off without rinsing (I used a cotton wool pad). After that, you apply your normal skincare regimen.

After wiping the mask off, I was a bit bemused. Something was definitely different, but my eye area just seemed to look shinier. Then I smiled, to see if the fine (and less fine) lines under my eyes looked any different. And they'd gone. Not only that, but the whole cheekbone area seemed to have been lifted - the skin there looked tighter and firmer, almost botoxed. I applied my normal skincare afterwards, a touch of undereye concealer afterwards and some eye make up, concerned that it would all look a bit greasy, but I actually think my make up looked better. My eye area looked revitalised.

According to the Sisley website, as well reducing fine lines, puffiness and dark circles the mask also offers protection against free radicals. Personally I'm more than sold on the effects alone. I'm only mildly exaggerating when I say this stuff is like a demi face lift in a tube, and the effects lasted a good couple of days as well. Now if Sisley could only invent something like this for the chin and neck I'd be a very happy girl....

Sisley Eye Contour Mask can currently be bought from Harrods for £64.95 but it seems to retail from between £65 - £95. The tube contains 30ml.

Dior Vernis - Aztec Chocolate

Mmmmmm! Dior is starting to dominate my nail polish collection somewhat but when they come out with beauties such as this I'm kind of powerless to resist.

Aztec Chocolate is so stunning and oddly wintry. It's kind of a medium brown with beautiful cool shimmer, not too obvious until you catch it under the right light and then.. wow! As you can see from the photos it does appear slightly purple in some light but in natural daylight it just appears brown.

Excessive number of pics coming up...

Dior has changed it's polish brushes and I did find application a bit trickier than usual, but not for long. I may be imagining it but the consistency also seems slightly thicker.. perhaps not, but application is still good and no chips at the end of day one despite some nail unfriendly activities such as food shopping, washing up and buying a Christmas tree!

There are a few more Dior polishes I like the look of at the moment - next on my list is Czarina Gold, a brown/black with gold shimmer, which I hadn't been that interested in until I heard someone else lemming  it (thanks Vex in the City!) and now predictably I NEED it! I also love the look of Bond Street, a blue-grey I first saw on British Beauty Blogger and which is on sale exclusively at Selfridges.

I also purchased a hot pink Serum de Rouge, Diorskin Nude Concealer and Diorshow Mascara, which I hope to review shortly. Anything from Dior caught your eye of late?